Read Courting Holly for Free Online Page B

to school today, but I must write my book report.”
    The men retreated out the door. Holly could tell they were as nervous as she. Tiffany ran back up the stairs and Holly headed into the kitchen. The fresh smell of baking bread filled the room.
    “Good morning, Mrs. Jarvis.”
    “Good morning to you, child. How did you sleep?”
    “Not very well. The sun was coming up over the horizon by the time I started to slumber.”
    “You set yourself right down and I will serve you. I made some fresh berry juice. Would you like some?”
    “Yes, thank you.” Holly sat at the small maple table in the kitchen. “Is Bryce here?”
    “Out in the barn. He said to let him know when you woke.”
    Mrs. Jarvis placed the warm plate in front of her. A couple slices of French toast with a pool of butter on top stood proudly in the center. Next to that were three slices of bacon. She also placed a gravy boat with hot cane syrup beside her plate. “Coffee, tea?”
    “Tea, thank you.”
    “I will have the juice in a moment.”
    Holly lowered her head and silently offered a brief prayer of thanks for the food. She paused then poured the hot syrup.
    The back door squeaked open. Bryce stood in the doorway. “I will fix that squeak later. How are you?” He smiled. He looked as tired as she felt. But he was still...handsome. Six feet tall, with broad shoulders and the most comfortable chest to snuggle into...
    Holly quelled her impure thoughts and went back to her breakfast.
    “Awake,” she answered. “You look like you didn’t get much sleep, either.”
    “I had some work to do.” He stepped up to the sink and washed his hands.
    Mrs. Jarvis placed the juice in front of Holly. “Can I get you something, son?”
    “Coffee, thanks.” She nodded and he sat beside Holly. “How did you sleep?”
    “Not well, I fell asleep around dawn.”
    “I was up before. I had an interesting visitor this morning.”
    “Oh?” Holly continued to eat her breakfast. It looked and smelled great but she noticed it had little taste. Food and health were important so she would continue to eat even though food had lost its flavor.
    “An old schoolmate of mine. His name is Henry Rushton. He hails from Augusta, sailed down the river on his father’s old plantation pole boat. He said he was on vacation, resting and relaxing after a hard summer and taking some time off before the harvest. He converted the boat so it has a long narrow room with a bed and a small kitchen.”
    “How’s he going to move it upstream?”
    “Apparently he put a small steam engine on it. It won’t go too fast, but enough to go up the Savannah River.”
    Mrs. Jarvis handed her son his coffee.
    “Are you up for reading the letters with me this morning?” she asked, hoping he still wanted to.
    “If that is your wish.”
    “I have no choice. My father is here and I need to know what is in those two letters before I can even consider speaking with him.”
    Bryce nodded and sipped his coffee.
    “I told Tiffany this morning. I realize my parents had a reason for keeping this a secret, and I am not inclined to telling the entire city, but I don’t feel it is right to keep the family in the dark.”
    Bryce placed his mug on the table and cupped it with both hands. He blinked with tired eyes. His honey-brown eyes penetrated her foggy mind. Confidence and trust shone deeply into his soul. Yes, she’d picked the right person to help her wade through the confusion that overshadowed her life.
    Only her mother would have been better. If only they’d been blessed with more time together....
    Holly pushed the plate away. She couldn’t continue to eat. She stood and grabbed Bryce’s hand. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

Chapter 5
    B ryce held Holly’s hand and followed her up the stairs to her room. A room he’d been in many times before. He stopped at her doorway. “I’ll wait here. You fetch the letters and we’ll read them in your father’s den.”
    “I’m not