Read Getting Lucky for Free Online Page B

telling her why. He joined the army during World War II and when he came home he didn't try to explain. The feud actually started back when her aunt was left high and dry at the altar. The strange thing was that Edna fell in love with one of that man's relatives, like it happened back in the Hatfield and McCoy days. Then he pulled the same stunt and Edna just holed up on her five acres and died an old maid."
       "That's sad," Julie said.
       "Not really. She was a spunky old girl. Said her piece and didn't let anyone get ahead of her, even if she was a hermit of sorts."
       "Wow! Since I bought her property does that make me a Hatfield or a McCoy?"
       "Hmmm," Mamie eyed her closely. "I think you look more like a McCoy with that red hair. Got to be Irish or Scottish blood in there somewhere. I bet you've got a hellacious temper, too," Mamie teased.
       "You a prophet or a fortune teller?" Julie asked.
       Mamie giggled. "Now, onto the other reason why I stopped by today. We've got this big fight going on in the city. We have a Fourth of July shindig and no one is against that; it's solid tradition. But I'm heading up a committee to do a thing for the holidays. Maybe a parade on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to kick off the season. A drawing on Saturdays with tickets you get when you shop in town. Something to bring some winter trade back to Saint Jo. I think it's a wonderful idea. Old folks like Clarice Utley don't want any part of the thing. Come to the City meeting with me next Thursday night. I'd love to have some young folks, especially teachers, to help me out. But right now I'm running late, so I'd best be going. You think about the canning business and you don't let that McCoy temper get the best of you," Mamie said.
       Julie walked her to the door. "Wouldn't think of letting the McCoy temper have upper rein. I'm going to spend the afternoon searching for those recipes and deciding if I want to make jelly."
       "See you later. I live just up the road a ways and my shop is open six days a week most of the time. Tomorrow morning I'll open late because I have to go to Wichita Falls. Where's those clothes?" Mamie said.
       "In the shed. I'll haul them around to the front. Stop by anytime. I'd love the company," Julie said.
       They quickly threw the sacks into Mamie's car and she waved as she drove away.

    Lizzy rode her pony right up to the fence line and looked at the little girl on the quilt playing with a whole litter of yellow kittens. She slung her leg over the side, slid off the Shetland pony, and tethered it to a mesquite tree. She wasn't supposed to ride past the fence, and she'd get in big trouble if her father found out that she'd not only gone through the gate but ridden more than a mile down the road to Annie's house.
       But the idea of knowing where Annie lived drew her to the house like ants to the syrup bottle in the pantry. She had to make sure her new friend was aware of the witch who used to live in the house and tell her to be careful. That mean old lady might make her a spawn, too.
       Annie looked up to see the little girl sitting on the ground staring through the chain link fence at her. "Lizzy! How did you get here?"
       "I rode my horse. I'm not supposed to ride him outside of our ranch, but I saw where you lived and I wanted to talk to you."
       "Come around the end of the fence and play with me. I'll show you my kittens," Annie said.
       Lizzy shook her head. "I can't come in your yard but we can talk. Daddy says we're like doubles. He says that there's somebody out there who looks just like somebody else and we are like that."
       "My momma said the same thing. Do you believe it?"
       "I guess so. Did anyone ever call you a skunk?" Lizzy asked.
       Annie blushed. "A little boy did one time in the grocery store."
       "He was a mean little boy just like those little girls were mean that called me one. Hey, I got black and white kittens.