Read Lanterns and Lace for Free Online

curiosity.
    “I’m going upstairs to talk to Jenny,” Grant said. “Rebecca said she was crying.”
    “I saw.” Mimi moistened her lips. “Rebecca, sweetheart, why don’t you help me by carrying the spoons into the kitchen?”
    The child smiled happily. “Yes, ma’am.” Scooting off Mimi’s lap, she gathered up the utensils.
    “Walk very slowly,” Mimi said, “and put them on the kitchen table. You can count them, too.”
    Grant watched Rebecca disappear. “Did you hear anything?”
    “I’m old, not deaf. I heard more than I cared to.”
    “Didn’t handle it well, did I?”
    “Better than I would.” Her dark blue eyes smoldered. “Left to me, you’d be calling the sheriff by now. I’d have given her more than a piece of my mind.”
    Grant sighed. “I wasn’t a gentleman. Not only did my shouting upset Jenny and Rebecca, but it also displeased God. I’m going to apologize and hope I don’t lose my temper again.” He turned to leave, then glanced back into the woman’s disquieting face. “Pray for me. I’m going to need it.”
    “Murder has crossed my mind.”
    He forced a chuckle. “That’s the least of what has crossed mine.”
    Grant walked back into the front hallway where the circular staircase wound to the upper bedrooms. A rag doll sat precariously on the first step, its head touching its toes as though waiting for a tumble. Without a thought, he placed the doll upright, thinking he felt the same way. Resting his hand briefly on the banister, he slowly ascended the stairs. Each wooden step, each heartbeat brought him closer to another confrontation with Jenny. God needed to put barbed-wire across his mouth.
    Taking a deep breath, he rapped on Jenny’s bedroom door, still uncertain of what he should say. The fire of anger had slowly dissipated, but he could not forget the woman wanted to take his daughter from him.
    “Who is there?”
    Jenny’s weak voice reminded him of her illness. He cringed at the thought. “I’d like to apologize for my outburst of temper.” Silence met him as he waited patiently before speaking. “Is it possible for us to talk without arguing?” At last the door opened. Her red swollen eyes heaped more coals on his guilt. What happened to his compassionate nature?
    “I think enough has been said.” Jenny’s lips quivered.
    “Maybe so, but I am sorry for the rude manner in which I spoke to you.”
    She swallowed hard, her gaze darting about. “I lost control of my temper, too. I should have considered the circumstances before I spoke so harshly.”
    For the first time, he noticed how the young woman couldn’t weigh much more than a sack of feed. And in that brief moment she reminded him of a little girl recovering from a temper tantrum. “You’ve been ill,” he said. “And you’re not fully recovered. As for me, I don’t really have an excuse.”
    “You love your daughter.” She dabbed her nose with a lace handkerchief. “I should have seen and understood how you felt.”
    “I love Rebecca with all that is in me. She’s a special gift, more precious than my own life.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry to have upset you. Please don’t leave today. Spend another day or two recuperating. There’s a great deal for us to discuss but certainly not now. Rest today, and perhaps tomorrow you’ll see things differently.”
    Jenny continued to stand rigid, and he fully expected another battle. “I’m not so sure that is a good idea. You’re aware of my reasons for coming to Kahlerville, and the tension between us will be noticeably uncomfortable.”
    “Not if we make a good effort to be civil to each other.”
    Her eyes bore into his, eyes too much like Rebecca’s. “I would think you’d want to be rid of me.”
    Without hesitation, but the problem would probably get worse. Grant gave her a half smile. “Let’s get acquainted for Rebecca’s sake. Who knows? We may even become friends.”
    “I will not change my mind about why I came to