dragged it from under the bed. Then she tiptoed to the door, rearranged the linen pile so that the satchel was on the bottom, under the sheet, and the bedclothes were on the top. She climbed up on top, but the whole pile wobbled back and forth. She steadied herself by grabbing hold of the doorknob. When she felt steady enough, she reached up and unlocked the lock. Before easing herself down to the floor, she had to steady herself again.
She shoved the pile aside and opened the door, taking the time to close it silently behind her. She looked around, but it was dark out, and she had no idea where she might be. She gave her eyes time adjust to the darkness, but she had no idea what to do next. She listened to the crickets and other nighttime sounds. She even thought she might have heard an owl. Then she heard a soft snort from Samson’s horse, so she walked to where it was tied.
Never having ridden a full-sized horse before, she was thwarted by not being able to reach the saddle horn that she needed to hoist herself up. Though she was eight years old, she was still small for her age, and once again, she looked around for something to stand on. Zoe felt frustrated at having come so far, only to find herself still unable to escape. She started to walk around the house to look for something to stand on. Should she chance going back inside to grab the satchel?
Zoe moved toward the back of the house, stumbled over something in the dark and fell to the ground. At first she was annoyed by the fall, but then she noticed what she’d fallen over—a huge rock. It took her a while but she managed to get the rock to the horse by pushing and pulling.
She was able to get onto the horse, but now wondered what she should do next. Where would she go?
Zoe wandered around on the horse for hours until finally the sun started to peek through the horizon, but she still had no idea where she was. She kept wandering around with the hope of seeing a familiar landmark, or a person who might help her find her way home. Finally, due to exhaustion, she let go of the reins, and laid her head down on the horse’s neck, holding onto the mane.
Chapter 7
Pearl Iverson put her knitting aside when Peggy sat down next to her on the front porch. “What’s up with you and Miles Croft?” Pearl asked. “The whole town is buzzing about you two, and here I am, your mother, and I don’t know a thing about it.”
“I like him—a lot,” she said.
“I heard he was still grieving over his breakup with Violet?”
“Is getting over it.” Peggy said.
“Is Violet mad? Miles is a fantastic catch,” Pearl said, picking up her knitting again.
“I know,” Peggy said with a mischievous smile. “Are you knitting another sweater for little Joshua?”
“Yes. I just love being a grandmother. I truly enjoyed our visit to Texas to see Eliza and her children, didn’t you?”
“It was all right. It would have been better if Quinn had gone along,” Peggy said.
“Well, he put that time to good use, I’d say. Now I have a grandchild just a few miles down the road.” Pearl smiled. “And I get to see him whenever I want, and I just love Rose.”
“Wait a minute,” Pearl said, giving Peggy a suspicious look. “Why did you change the subject? If you’re up to something, you’d better tell me. Rose is my daughter-in-law and I don’t want anyone in our family doing anything to upset her or her sister.”
“She tossed him away!” Peggy exclaimed. “He’s fair game.”
Pearl tilted her head in thought. “Just make sure it’s fair, then, Peggy. I know how mischievous you can be. What happened to Henry Bannister? He’s called on you twice,” Pearl said. “I thought he was extremely pleasant.”
“He was nice enough, but he’s away at college, and he was only home for a few weeks,” Peggy answered. “I’m not into long distance romances. Besides, when I heard about
She shoved the pile aside and opened the door, taking the time to close it silently behind her. She looked around, but it was dark out, and she had no idea where she might be. She gave her eyes time adjust to the darkness, but she had no idea what to do next. She listened to the crickets and other nighttime sounds. She even thought she might have heard an owl. Then she heard a soft snort from Samson’s horse, so she walked to where it was tied.
Never having ridden a full-sized horse before, she was thwarted by not being able to reach the saddle horn that she needed to hoist herself up. Though she was eight years old, she was still small for her age, and once again, she looked around for something to stand on. Zoe felt frustrated at having come so far, only to find herself still unable to escape. She started to walk around the house to look for something to stand on. Should she chance going back inside to grab the satchel?
Zoe moved toward the back of the house, stumbled over something in the dark and fell to the ground. At first she was annoyed by the fall, but then she noticed what she’d fallen over—a huge rock. It took her a while but she managed to get the rock to the horse by pushing and pulling.
She was able to get onto the horse, but now wondered what she should do next. Where would she go?
Zoe wandered around on the horse for hours until finally the sun started to peek through the horizon, but she still had no idea where she was. She kept wandering around with the hope of seeing a familiar landmark, or a person who might help her find her way home. Finally, due to exhaustion, she let go of the reins, and laid her head down on the horse’s neck, holding onto the mane.
Chapter 7
Pearl Iverson put her knitting aside when Peggy sat down next to her on the front porch. “What’s up with you and Miles Croft?” Pearl asked. “The whole town is buzzing about you two, and here I am, your mother, and I don’t know a thing about it.”
“I like him—a lot,” she said.
“I heard he was still grieving over his breakup with Violet?”
“Is getting over it.” Peggy said.
“Is Violet mad? Miles is a fantastic catch,” Pearl said, picking up her knitting again.
“I know,” Peggy said with a mischievous smile. “Are you knitting another sweater for little Joshua?”
“Yes. I just love being a grandmother. I truly enjoyed our visit to Texas to see Eliza and her children, didn’t you?”
“It was all right. It would have been better if Quinn had gone along,” Peggy said.
“Well, he put that time to good use, I’d say. Now I have a grandchild just a few miles down the road.” Pearl smiled. “And I get to see him whenever I want, and I just love Rose.”
“Wait a minute,” Pearl said, giving Peggy a suspicious look. “Why did you change the subject? If you’re up to something, you’d better tell me. Rose is my daughter-in-law and I don’t want anyone in our family doing anything to upset her or her sister.”
“She tossed him away!” Peggy exclaimed. “He’s fair game.”
Pearl tilted her head in thought. “Just make sure it’s fair, then, Peggy. I know how mischievous you can be. What happened to Henry Bannister? He’s called on you twice,” Pearl said. “I thought he was extremely pleasant.”
“He was nice enough, but he’s away at college, and he was only home for a few weeks,” Peggy answered. “I’m not into long distance romances. Besides, when I heard about
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