The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Author:Sarah Loudin Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;FIC042030;FIC026000;FIC027200
ISBN: 9781493411962
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-09-13T04:00:00+00:00

Back at the church, Larkin prepared to take Kyle out for his promised walk. Kyle picked up a coal hod on his way to the door.

“I’ll show you the old mines and we can fill this here bucket for Pastor Ben.”

Judd’s ears perked up. “What old mines?”

“It’s alright,” Kyle said. “My ma sends me there sometimes when we’re short of coal. Anybody can take it if they don’t mind it not burning clean. ’Course, it’s getting kind of scarce.” He puffed out his chest. “Might have to go inside a little ways to find anything good.”

Judd took the bucket from Kyle. “It’s not the coal I’m thinking of,” he said. “Abandoned mines are dangerous places. I don’t want you or Larkin anywhere near one.”

Kyle deflated, and Judd felt a little bit bad about spoiling his fun, but the notion of those two anywhere near the overwhelming blackness of a mine—especially one that was abandoned and likely unstable—made his hands shake and his knees go weak. “Larkin, promise me you won’t go near those mines.”

She wrinkled her brow but nodded. “We won’t, I promise.” She turned to Kyle. “Besides, there are probably lots of other good things to see, right?”

Kyle perked back up. “Sure thing. We can go down to the creek and see if the high water washed anything good up on the bank. I found an inner tube one time that we patched up and used for a sled.”

Judd watched the pair amble off through a pasture, worry needling his mind. “Which direction are those mines?” he asked Ben.

“Other way entirely. Don’t worry. Kyle’s a smart kid. Now come help me stack this firewood before I let Granny work you to death.”

The men worked in silence for a while, Judd lost in his own thoughts and wishing he could keep the people he cared about safe from harm.

Ben finally spoke. “I’ve been trying to get Granny to let me fix her place up since we met,” Ben said. “She’ll convince other folks to let me step in but won’t have any of it herself. Says she’s old and it doesn’t matter if her place falls down around her ears. Of course, she’s been threatening to die for as long as I’ve known her, and as you can see, she’s healthier and sharper than some women half her age.”

“I’ve run into one or two like her,” Judd said.

“Sure as shootin’, she’s playing matchmaker between you and Larkin.” Ben paused and stretched out his lower back. “How do you feel about that?”

Judd flushed but kept working. “I’m pretty sure your father wouldn’t approve, so I’m not sure it matters how I feel.”

Ben laid a hand on his arm. “Judd, my father is a determined man who often loses sight of important details in the pursuit of what he wants. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing that matters is how you and Larkin feel. I don’t suppose you’ve driven her all this way and then stuck around just because you’re a gentleman.

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