Read Winds of Change for Free Online Page B

Traveling anywhere tonight would be a suicide trip.”
    “I intend to keep that promise.” Patrick adjusted the box on his arm but gave Leroy a firm stare.
    Leroy was not to be intimidated. “What good is a promise if you die trying to fulfill it?”
     
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Gratitude filled Candace’s heart, in spite of the uncertainties hanging over her head like a storm cloud on the verge of unleashing its rain. Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and for the first time in her life, she would celebrate with family. Pa didn’t believe in holidays, and she couldn’t recall such a time with Ma. This year she had the entire Holden family, plus the Simpsons with whom to celebrate.
    Preparations for the large feast began earlier in the day. Sam dropped off Maeve at the Simpson’s house this morning before leaving to hunt for grouse. Lucas and Benjamin went with him, eager to be men and contribute to the meal. Ma Holden and Rosie Simpson busied themselves cleaning and polishing the good silver until it shined. Candace offered to do the dirty work, but the older two women had insisted they enjoyed the work until finally, Candace had concluded they were enjoying their time alone, away from the younger generation. Mr. Simpson remained in the mercantile, helping any straggling customers who came in before the store closed until after the holiday.
    For the last few hours, Candace had been in the kitchen with Maeve, Liza, and Jeanette, all of whom were assigned to the task of baking pies and bread. Jeanette, still a young child, stood on a stool and dumped each ingredient into a bowl as Candace handed it to her. Flour floated everywhere, and Candace was sure they looked a mess but didn’t care. She enjoyed the camaraderie and the joyfulness in the air.
    In the last few days, she’d put her life into perspective and realized that she had so many things for which to be thankful. Setting aside the reason she’d married, she’d escaped Pa’s abuse and found a happy family. Even if Patrick and she weren’t married, he’d assured her she’d be safe. If they parted ways as husband and wife, at least she wouldn’t be forced to return to Pa.
    Furthermore, her arm was almost healed. Infection never set in, a miracle for how badly she’d been burned. Doc Foster said he’d never seen such a burn heal so quickly. When she thought how she could have faced death, the scars were no longer treacherous. She still hated to see them, but the bitterness that accompanied the image was slowly fading.
    If Patrick couldn’t see past her physical imperfections, then that was his problem. If they were truly married, then she could only pray one day he could look beyond them and come to love her. And if they weren’t married, after all, then she prayed that one day she could move on and find someone to love her.
    Or that Patrick would want to marry her and she wouldn’t have to move on.
    No matter what happened, it was in God’s hands. For a long time, she hadn’t believed that and wasn’t entirely sure she even believed in a God. She’d seen too many things in her life, faced too many hardships. The Holdens had changed all of that. They’d shown her there was goodness to be found in this world. They continually displayed faith in the midst of adversity.
    Even Patrick gave her hope, fostered her belief in a higher power. She’d heard the stories of his past, knew first-hand the consequences. Their entire predicament was evidence he’d not lived on the straight and narrow, but he had changed. Yes, he’d largely avoided her since the fire, rarely giving her more than a passing glance, but she’d seen his conversion.
    When they’d met in Pine Prairie, only a few months ago, he was arrogant, crass, and outright bold. Oh, he’d wooed her with smooth words and silken promises, but she’d known what he was after. She’d craved attention but wasn’t completely naïve. She’d known better, but had still indulged him and given away