Chapter 23

A twig cracked nearby. Frank froze.

Elizabeth’s body tensed.

She heard the snap of another twig. Then the shuffle of someone moving through pine needles.

Someone was close by.

The ribbon fell from Frank’s hand.

Elizabeth climbed to her feet and clutched at his arm, her eyes scanning the woods.

The shuffling noise moved closer. Then Elizabeth saw a stooped figure walking slowly and steadily their way.

A white-haired old woman, dressed all in black, hobbled through the pine needles, a cane poking the ground in front of her.

Elizabeth gasped. “Aggie!”

She grabbed Frank’s hand and pulled him through the woods, back toward the house. She did not look back, and she did not stop until they were safely in her yard.

“That was the old woman,” Elizabeth said, panting. “Old Aggie. She is still alive!”

“She appeared to be a harmless old woman,” Frank told her.

“No, she is not!” Elizabeth cried breathlessly. “Somehow I know she is not just a harmless old woman. There is something different about her …”

Frank took Elizabeth in his arms and held her tight. She closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, catching her breath.

She felt safe now. I will always feel safe with Frank, she thought.

Calm at last, she lined her head and smiled. “It is too bad Old Aggie came along,” she whispered. “She spoiled such a lovely afternoon.”

Frank hesitated a second, then smiled.

He is embarrassed, Elizabeth thought fondly. He was going to kiss me. He was going to ask me to marry him, and he wanted to surprise me. But now he knows that I know.

Oh, well, she thought as she and Frank started back toward the house. He will ask me soon. And I will not disappoint him. I plan to say yes.

Elizabeth opened the back door, and she and Frank stepped into the kitchen. They found Kate stirring a pot of soup.

Kate glanced at her sister and Frank when they walked in. Elizabeth smiled at her and said, “How is the soup coming?”

Kate did not answer. Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out. She dropped the soup spoon and ran from the room.

Elizabeth stared after her» shocked. She suddenly felt aware of her hair hanging loose about her shoulders. She turned to Frank, who had a strange, thoughtful expression on his face.

“What could be the matter?” Elizabeth asked him. “Do you think Kate is all right?”

“I am sure she is fine,” Frank replied. “Perhaps she burned her hand on the pot.”

“I had better make sure she is not hurt,” said Elizabeth. She started to follow Kate, but Frank caught her by the wrist and held her back.

“Do not worry about her,” he said. “Your mother is upstairs. I am sure she is taking care of Kate.”

“I suppose you are right,” Elizabeth said doubtfully. She felt she should go after her sister, but Frank seemed to want her to stay with him.

The soup began to boil. Elizabeth picked up the spoon to stir it.

I cannot go running after Kate, she reasoned as she felt Frank run his hand through her hair. Someone has to stay here to watch the soup, after all. If it boils over, we will not have any supper tonight, and I am sure Kate does not want that.

A few weeks later Elizabeth paced the house impatiently, searching for Frank.

Where is he? she wondered. It was time for their walk, and she could not find him anywhere. She sighed and sat down on a chair in the parlor and picked up her knitting.

I might as well work on Kate’s scarf while I am waiting for him, she thought. I might as well make myself useful, as Mother would say.

The back door slammed. Here he is at last, she thought.

She stood up, waiting to greet him. But it was not Frank who burst in to the parlor. It was Kate.

Kate’s face was flushed, and she carried a basket of mulberries in her arms.

“Oh, Elizabeth!” she cried, letting the basket fall to the floor. She ran to her sister and threw her arms around her neck. “The most wonderful thing has happened!”

“What on earth is it?” asked Elizabeth. She had never seen Kate so excited.

“You will be so happy for me!” Kate gushed. She took Elizabeth’s hands in hers, knitting and all, and danced her around the room. “Mother will play the organ, and you can decorate the cake!”

“The cake?” asked Elizabeth. “Kate, what are you talking about?”

“Haven’t you guessed by now?” cried Kate. “Frank and I are going to be married!”

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20