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wooden structure that proudly flew the American and Confederate flags from its twin
flagpoles out front.
Ginny gave a satisfied nod."Perfect.We can start there."
Lindsay absently pushed her lock of blowing hair from her face.She scowled, hating that
she'd lost her hat.Not to mention that the circumstances under which she'd lost it were
still too horrific to contemplate.
Ginny saw the motion and sighed.Before leaving Big Ugly they'd purchased Lindsay the
least expensive dress in the store, which still managed to cost $2.25, and a pair of denim
pants.She wanted to buy her a hat as well, but her friend insisted that they couldn't afford
to spend the extra $.45.Ginny pulled the cap from her head.She bumped hips with Lindsay
and her friend's eyes shifted sideways."Here." She held out her hat.
Lindsay stared at the cap in confusion."You want me to hold it?"
"Nuh uh.I want you to have it."She held up a hand to forestall the protest she could
already see forming on Lindsay's lips."It's not the kind I'm used to wearing anyway,
Lindsay. And it looks stupid when I'm wearing a dress."And what's mine is yours.
"I'm wearing a dress," Lindsay reminded, a small smile playing on her lips.
"True," Ginny allowed, "but I'm quite certain that you'll be back into your beloved trousers
as soon as you can."
Lindsay gave her a slightly worried smile, a bit of insecurity bleeding through her normal
confidence."Do I look that uncomfortable in this?" She tugged unhappily at the brown
skirt."It's just been so long since-"
Ginny stopped their progress with a hand on Lindsay's shoulder."You look beautiful," she
smiled fondly."Like always." Though privately, Ginny had to admit that she'd grown rather
fond of her gangly companion in men's attire.It reflected her friend's free spirit in a way a
plain dress never could."There's nothing wrong with you being more comfortable in what
you're used to." She held up the cap again. "Please take it."
Hesitantly, Lindsay reached out and relieved her of the hat, accepting it for what it was-a
simple gift from the heart."Thank you," was all she said, delighting Ginny, who had been
bracing herself for more of a fuss.Lindsay reached out and playfully tugged a lock of hair,
enjoying the fact that it wasn't hiding under a cap."It's growing out."
Ginny's blue eyes twinkled, reflecting the fading glints of the afternoon sun"Thank
goodness."She knew she'd developed a habit of pushing aside her bangs with impatient
fingers and she had to force herself not to do it now."It must have been singed to pieces
to have earned me this shaggy cut."
Lindsay shrugged."I like it," she said honestly, as they resumed their trek.It seemed a little
odd to be having this conversation after all this time.But Ginny tended, she knew, to
jabber when she got nervous.
"Really?"
"Really," she confirmed."Would I lie?"
Ginny snorted. "Yes."
A burst of laughter exploded from Lindsay."True.But I'm not."
They grew quiet as they approached the building.Unconsciously, Ginny eased herself a
little closer to Lindsay as they walked.
"Don't worry," Lindsay told her, breaking the short silence.
Ginny let out a deep, frustrated breath.They had been disappointed so many times
already, with each time more crushing than the last.It made her physically ill just thinking
about.Her jaw clenched against the sensation."How can I not?"
Lindsay thought about that for a moment."All right," she conceded. "Be a little nervous."
Her voice deepened."But you don't need to be scared."
Ginny smiled through the tension roiling in her guts.My protector.Unobtrusively, her hand
drifted sideways a few inches and gently grasped Lindsay's.
They'd thrown away the bandage covering the rail-riders' hands the night before, though
her last three fingers on one hand remained splinted and taped together, and a smaller
bandage was still taped over the knuckles of her other hand.
"We're going in together, right?" Ginny asked softly, knowing the answer but craving the
reassurance just the same.
Lindsay knew better than to make the mistake she had the day before."Count on it."
*~*~*~*~*
An hour later, a very pale Ginny pushed open the tall doors of the Talking Rock City Hall
and stepped outside.Lindsay followed immediately, laying her palm on the small of Ginny's
back as they descended the steps.The sun traveled behind a curtain of wispy clouds and it
seemed a little cooler than when they'd gone inside.
"I can't believe it," Ginny said, her voice shaky. "We found one of them." She wondered
briefly if Lindsay could hear her pounding heart."Lewis is here."
"It was bound to happen sometime." They had, Lindsay admitted, finally gotten lucky.It
was such a foreign sensation she almost didn't know how to cope.Ginny had explained her
situation to the clerk, who had processed three adoptions from the Wards' boxcar of
orphans. The clerk had eagerly given her the names of the family that had taken Lewis
in.Now, armed with directions, a wish of good luck, and the sincerest apologies on behalf
of the City of Talking Rock, they set out to hike the three miles to the country home of Jon
and Lana Bergquist.
Lindsay regarded the sky thoughtfully as they walked."Ginny?"
"Hmm?"
"Should we get a room first?It'll be well past dark before we get there, much less make it
back into town for the night."Though she was more than happy to find a place to sleep
outside, especially in this more temperate climate, she didn't know how Ginny would feel
about doing that, particularly with Lewis in tow. "Then again, if we end up having to
snatch him, it won't be safe to get a room in town.Maybe we should buy an extra blanket
and some food just in case?"
Ginny stopped walking and rubbed her temples.She hadn't thought of any of those things
and she suddenly felt overwhelmed. "IÉMaybeÉYesÉorÉ" She groaned at her own inability
to make a firm decision."I don't know."
Lindsay sighed and wrapped her arm around her."Okay, first things first.We meet the
Bergquists and then decide.Maybe we could come back for him in the morning?"
"I don't want to have to steal him away," Ginny said bleakly.
"I know," Lindsay answered softly. "But you will if you have to?"
A solemn nod was her answer.
"Let's go."
*~*~*~*~* [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]