The Fragrance of Geraniums (A Time of Grace Book 1) Read Free

stood there,
taller than she’d remembered him by a good couple of inches. Ben’s face showed
his surprise at Grace’s sudden entrance. He turned toward her, opening his
arms. She flew into them, burying her face against the warmth of his plaid
shirt. She felt the solid niceness of his chest, and she knew she was secure
and safe here with him. Ben smelled of horses and leather and wool. Of tobacco,
too, and something stronger.
    “Hey, little
canary, let me see your face,” he said, and Grace drew back to gaze up at him,
her hair fluffing from the static of his shirt. “Well, look at you,” he
whistled. “My little canary, all grown up.”
    Grace blushed,
so happy, so very happy that Ben was back. “You home for good, Ben?” she asked,
biting her lip.
    Her brother
hesitated, then broke into a goofy grin. “We’ll see, little sis, okay? Got to
talk to the old man, ya know?”
    Grace nodded.
Last time Ben came back, Papa and he had exchanged words that almost ended with
fists. But, oh, maybe this time… She couldn’t even phrase the hope that rose
within her heart, that organ that was ready to bust out of her chest if she
didn’t hug Ben tightly again.
    “Better get
Bessie milked, Grace.” The comment came from just inside the cow’s stall. Grace
turned to see Lou’s tight-lipped smirk. Her older sister held out the empty
milking bucket toward her. “Mama won’t like you being late to supper.”
    When Grace took
the bucket from her, Lou strode out, not giving them a backward glance. Grace
rolled her eyes at Ben. They both knew how Lou could be. “Mama know you’re here
yet?” asked Grace.
    “Naw. Thought
I’d surprise her at supper. Hey, look what I brought you kids.” Ben reached
into the sagging back pocket of his brown corduroys and drew out a small but
hefty white paper sack. He unfolded the top and held it out toward Grace. She
asked permission with her eyes, and he nodded, grinning again, more like a
little kid than the older brother - grown man, really – that he was. Her
curious eyes peered inside the bag.
    “Chocolate
babies!” Grace squealed, hardly believing that the bag was more than half-full
of the little candy people, their faces and bodies shining darkly in the dim
barn light. She glowed at him.
    “Go on, have a
couple,” Ben urged, tumbling a good handful into her palm. They felt cool and
delightfully heavy in her hand. The faint chocolate scent wafted from them and
mingled with the stronger smell of hay and manure.
    Bessie lowed,
eager to have her udder relieved by Grace’s skillful milking. Grace looked down
at the chocolate babies, then up at Ben. “Sorry,” she said, moving to pour the
candy back into the sack. “I’ve got to milk Bessie, and quick, or Mama’ll skin
me alive. Lou’ll probably tell her I was late as it is, now.”
    “Naw, listen,
kid,” Ben said, pushing her hand back from the bag. “I’ll milk the cow. Fast.
You sit over here.” He drew her over to one of the hay bales lying on the barn
floor. “Eat your candy. And then we’ll go in to supper together.”
    Grace smiled up
at him and yielded to the pressure of his large hands on her narrow shoulders. She
watched as her big brother picked up the milking bucket and moved the
three-legged stool over to Bessie’s side, beginning the process. She picked up
one of the chocolate babies and gazed at it, anticipating the sweet chewiness
to come. Rarely did she have a treat like this to herself. If there were a few
pennies to spare, to spend on candy or a coffee milk, Grace had to share
whatever treat it was with her other siblings… which she didn’t mind nearly as
much as when Mama insisted that she give the whole treat – whether a milkshake
or candy – to poor, dear Evelyn. Spoiled Evelyn.
    Just thinking of
it made Grace bite into the chocolate baby with even more enthusiasm. She
rolled the little candy over on her tongue, felt its smooth chocolatiness
between her gums and cheek, and swallowed at