Free Whispers of the Heart by Ruth Scofield Page A

me—” Autumn heard in Laureen’s rather intimate tones, meant for Brent’s ears alone “—and go over the ideas we want to present at the neighborhood association meeting tonight. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
    â€œNo, Laureen. I haven’t forgotten it. But right now I have other things to do.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve a nine o’clock appointment.”
    Whatever it was Laureen didn’t like about her struck Autumn as funny. She couldn’t imagine why, but she irritated the woman.
    â€œBrent, I’ll just run along,” Autumn said, affecting Laureen’s way of speaking ever so slightly. She and Spring had played at their idea of sophisticated snobbery when they’d been about twelve. Laureen reminded her of those long-ago days.
    â€œYou must see to business, of course,” she continued. “But thanks so very much for taking me to the church interview. The project will be both fun and challenging and I really do want to do it.”
    With that, she set Buttons on the cement and held the leash fast as they took off in the opposite direction than she’d planned. She didn’t even think about running into mobs of people.

Chapter Six
    A s long as she and Buttons were making their first run, she decided she might as well visit some of the market food stalls. Not only could she replenish her fruit and vegetables, but she could do with a cup of coffee. She wouldn’t let the crowd frazzle her. She couldn’t. She’d promised Spring.
    She’d promised herself.
    She’d promised Buttons and Brent.
    Besides, she’d discovered the outdoor market gave her less troublesome symptoms. She felt far less smothered there than in a closed-in supermarket. One day she even hoped to really enjoy it.
    Too, Buttons deserved better than to be cooped up by four walls all week long. She needed an outing.
    Nevertheless, Autumn felt her feet grow heavier as she approached the rather busy midmorning rush. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to take deep, calming breaths. She could do this. She alreadyhad, hadn’t she? Several times over the past few weeks. She could do it again today.
    Buttons pulled on her leash, panting with excitement. She barked frantically as a couple of bicyclers rode past across the street with clackity rhythm. Autumn’s own pulses leapt.
    Oh, dear, this was going to be more of a challenge than she’d bargained for…but she refused at this point to back down.
    â€œSlow down, Buttons,” she said, hoping her own nervousness didn’t transfer to the puppy. “Please. You’ll get stepped on in all that crush.”
    She scooped up the tiny dog and held her close against her shoulder before digging into her pocket to see how much money she had with her. Going out so seldom caused her need for hard cash to dwindle, and she’d grown unused to checking it. Perhaps she didn’t have enough cash to visit the market.
    Counting her change, it came to her she couldn’t use that as a delaying tactic. She had enough for a few purchases. But she would have to cash a check soon.
    That meant a trip to the bank.
    Buttons’s tail wagged at full speed. Autumn stalled, thinking hard. A stop at the bank, a need for a grocery store visit, and a run through a multipurpose store. She couldn’t delay her needs to replenish her food and sundry supplies again any longer.
    Looking at her as though asking why they had stopped, Buttons licked at her chin. Autumn lowered her cheek to brush her skin across the puppy fur. Too bad they didn’t welcome pets at any of these stores; having Buttons along did give her more confidence.Her eager little friend felt no fear at all. She didn’t know how dangerous too many people could be.
    Autumn lifted her chin and straightened her spine. At least she could tell Spring she was discovering her backbone.
    Strolling to the nearest fruit vendor