Free Cora's Deception (9781476398280) by Mildred Colvin Page B

but
nice.
    “Cora, what’re you hiding down there?” Ben
leaned forward and grinned at her.
    “Um, there’s something in this bowl.” She
lifted the pudding Ivy had made and passed it to Esther for Ben.
Her gaze met Ralph’s, and he winked. No, he wouldn’t do that. She’d
imagined it just because he grinned at her. Aaron gave Ralph a hard
nudge with his elbow and frowned. Maybe she hadn’t imagined it. Her
cheeks burned. She looked across the space between the tables at
her parents in an animated conversation with the single man.
    Mother grabbed Father’s arm. “Did you hear
that? Mr. Reid is from Boston.”
    Father nodded. “So I heard. My wife comes
from Boston. She’s a Melville, one of the leading families in the
area. Their line dates back to the Pilgrims.”
    “Yes, I’ve heard of them.” Mr. Reid looked
younger than Father maybe in his late twenties or early thirties.
His full head of hair was dark and neatly parted. A small moustache
sat above his upper lip.
    “Ben, have you tasted the pudding yet?”
Ivy’s voice brought Cora’s attention back to their table.
    Ben turned to Esther. “I ate some pudding,
didn’t I?”
    Esther nodded. “Yes, you did. Remember, you
said it tasted just like some your older sister made once.”
    Ivy’s smile faded and a scowl settled in its
place. Her hand shot out, knocking her glass of water across the
table. Cora jumped out of the way, but Esther’s lap was drenched.
She squealed and brushed at the puddle on her skirt.
    “Ivy, what’d ya go and do that for?” Ralph
frowned at his sister.
    “I’m sorry. For real, I didn’t mean to.”
Ivy’s large, blue eyes grew even wider. She shook her head and
tears glistened in her eyes.
    Esther stopped brushing her lap. “Ivy, don’t
worry about it. Accidents happen. I’ll dry, and I’m not angry.”
    Ben held out a napkin. “Here, see if this
will help.”
    Esther blotted her dress and held up the
soaked cloth. A giggle escaped. She handed it back to Ben. “It
won’t hold much.”
    “Cora, don’t you have something Esther can
wear?”
    Mother’s question brought Cora out of her
shock. “Yes, I think so. Esther, come with me. You’ll freeze that
way.”
    Ivy looked at Ben and smiled. He pushed his
plate away, and watching Esther, stepped over the bench to join the
men already heading back to the building site. Cora fell into step
with her friend. Oh, dear. Ben really did care for Esther. What if
she didn’t feel the same? She’d never be friends with a girl who
broke her brother’s heart.
     
     

Chapter 8
     
    “J ist can’t be good for a body.” Mrs. Stark shook her head. Her
toe tapped the new puncheon floor in the cabin. “Dirt floor’s the
best. Reckon the good earth was put under our feet for a reason.”
Her head wagged back and forth. “Don’t ’spect to ever understand
city ways. Lands sake, I was born and bred on a dirt floor, and
I’ll be carried out over our’n feet first. Never was sick a day of
my life, neither.”
    Cora’s hand flew to her mouth to stop a
giggle. Mrs Stark said the most outrageous things without the
slightest hint of levity. Did the woman honestly prefer a dirt
floor over even the crude wooden one in their new cabin?
    Mother turned a pleasant face toward their
guest. “I’m sure it’s all in what you’re used to. I’ve already
found that a floor made from the good earth has its advantages, but
I’m so used to having wood under my feet I’d hate to be without
it.”
    Mrs. Stark clicked her tongue, and Cora
turned away before the urge to laugh won. She grabbed Esther’s
hand. “Let’s go outside. You were right. The man from across the
creek did bring his violin today.”
    Esther hurried out the door with Cora. “If
he brought his fiddle, there’s sure to be a dance.”
    Cora laughed as Esther’s blue eyes moved
from side to side and her head turned one direction and then
another. “You wouldn’t be looking for someone to dance with,