Promises to Keep Read Free Page B

that’s why she’s mad. She wishes it had happened to her. Although I honestly can’t see Susan up to her ankles in pond muck, wrapping a worm on a fishing hook.” They both laughed at the idea of girly-girl Susan trying to bait a hook. She wouldn’t be caught dead fishing at any pond.
    “So, tell me about this Travis. Is he a nice boy? I’ve met his father a few times, over the years. He’s a good man.”
    “Did you go to school with him, Mama? Did you know Mrs. Quincy in school, too?”
    “Goodness, Mrs. Quincy is younger than I am. I’m probably closer to her husband’s age. But no, I didn’t go to school with him. He went away to the academy. Travis probably goes there too, I’d imagine.”
    “Then in another couple of months, he’ll be gone. That’s just unfair .”
    Sympathetic, Mary nodded. “Yes, I know, honey. It’s kind of unfair. But look at it this way. If you and Travis are meant to be friends, then you will be, whether he’s here in town or away at school. If he goes to the academy like his daddy did, then I bet he comes home on the weekends sometimes, and for the holidays. And you have two whole months more to go fishing and have fun, before he’d have to leave. Right?” She gave her daughter’s shoulder a comforting rub.
    “I guess. If his mama lets him. She sure didn’t like me. She called me ‘this...child...’” Annie mimicked a lady’s highbrow tone perfectly, and Mary was torn between chuckling at the imitation, and outrage at Ruth Quincy’s attitude. “I don’t think she likes kids much.”
    “Well, maybe she’s never had an opportunity to be around any children other than Travis. I suppose we could ask her to tea on a day when the boys are all home, fighting over the television, and tromping through the house with their muddy shoes. That might give her a taste of what extra kids are all about.”
    When Annie giggled, Mary hugged her, reveling in the sweet warmth of her child in her arms. How could anyone not love her Annie? It was inconceivable.
    “Come on, Munchkin.” She smiled when Annie groaned at the old pet name. “Off to bed. We have to can sweet relish first thing after church. I’ll need you and Susan both to help me. And no fighting in the kitchen tomorrow, okay?”
    “I’ll try. But if Susan calls me skinny and flat one more time, I’m punching her out.”
    In the room the girls shared, Annie tugged off her towel and wriggled into a nightgown, crawled into bed, and snuggled with her pillow. Mary kissed her forehead and whispered a soft ‘good night.’
    As she moved toward the door, Annie mumbled, “Mama? Do you think I’m pretty?”
    A tender smile bloomed across Mary’s face. “I think you’re very pretty, honey. Inside where it counts as well as outside where everyone, especially your friends, can’t help but see it.” She blew Annie a kiss and slipped out into the hallway.

Chapter 3
     
    A light breeze rustled the thin marsh grasses that shielded one end of Bogg Pond. Travis sat on the largest flat rock, chin in hand, his tee shirt damp and stuck to his back. If I had some danged scissors, I’d hack up my jeans and turn them into shorts .
    Anything to cool himself down.
    He glanced over at Annie, poised at the very edge of the pond, her knees slightly bent as she grasped the rod in one hand and played out line with the other. She looked as sweaty as he felt, but it didn’t seem to bother her. Heck, nothing really bothered Annie when she was on the hunt for bullheads, not the heat, the mosquitoes, or the thick, steamy air. He had to admire a kid like that.
    “Aren’t you hot?” he called over, ignoring the Number One Fishing Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Get Loud Around the Fish .
    “Shh.” He could just hear her over the chirping crickets. “I’ve hooked one and he’s gonna fight me.”
    Wildly envious because his line was empty, he snorted, “Bulls don’t fight. It’s not like you’re fishing for trout.”
    “This one’ll