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[ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] bag."Save me a seat." He nodded. "Okay, Lindsay." "No." Ginny tried not to take their bag, but Lindsay was pressing it into her hands."No, Lindsay.The train is about to leave.You'll miss it." A dark eyebrow arched. "I'll be back in time if we stop yacking about it and I get going.I know trains.I'll be fine." But Ginny wouldn't be dissuaded."We change trains three times before we get to our next stop.We can buy a blanket later.Or he can have mine."A hint of panic crept into her voice."If we miss this train, it's two days before we can catch another.We can't buy different tickets and we can't afford to stay here.We-" "We won't have to."Impulsively, Lindsay leaned forward and gave Ginny a chaste peck on the cheek."I'll be right back."She affectionately ruffled Lewis' thick, rust-colored hair before turning for the store. Ginny reached for her, but Lindsay pulled away and broke into a light jog, causing Ginny's fingertips to do nothing more than graze her coat. "Lindsay!"She fought the urge to stamp her foot."Argh.Lindsay." Her voice was quieter this time. "Get our seats or we won't get to sit next to each other," Lindsay called over her shoulder. Ginny took a quick step forward and drew in a deep breath as though she was going to bolt after the other woman.But she didn't and let out an angry exhale instead.She shook her head."StubbornÉ" she muttered hotly. Lewis looked back and forth between Ginny, whose eyes hadn't left Lindsay,the retreating rail-rider.Lindsay grabbed her side and slowed her jog to a fast walk. "Your ribs, crazy," Ginny whispered, grimacing as she imaged what the jarring motion would feel like with ribs that were still tender. "Ginny?" Ginny handed Lewis back his cap and gave him a reassuring smile, though an uneasy feeling had settled deep in the pit of her stomach.A rather shabby clock mounted on the depot roof heralded the time."C'mon.Lindsay's right.We need to get our seats." "She said she'd be back in a minute," he reminded his sister, trying to make her feel a little better."Don't worry." They made their way to the depot, hand in hand, with Ginny looking over her shoulder frequently. She squeezed his small hand."Easier said than done."She felt his fingers tighten around hers, lending her his silent support. With a loving smile, she squeezed back. *~*~*~*~* Lindsay drew in a painful gasp."God.I forgot about those." Her ribs had been healing nicely and were only painful if she twisted awkwardly or jarred them.Running, apparently, did a little of both. She scanned the shop windows until she saw one with brightly colored bolts of cloth and several pairs of boots in the window.When she pushed open the heavy wooden door, a bell clanged loudly and the scent of cinnamon hard candy rushed up to greet her. Despite being stuffed like a prize hog, she moaned her appreciation at the scent that she associated with the Christmases of her very young childhood.Soon the scent mingled with tobacco and cured meat.The store had a little of everything. "Blankets?" she asked the clerk quickly, noting the time on the cuckoo clock above the register.She had eight minutes. The older woman smiled."Right this way." She led Lindsay to the back of the store and a table that held blankets, linens, and a few towels. There was a fair selection, but one blanket caught Lindsay's eye.She picked it up and rubbed the cloth between her fingers, testing its thickness."How much." "MmmÉ Nice choice.That one is seventy-five cents." "For a blanket?" Lindsay exploded."You've got to be kidding.For this? The woman jumped back a step, her hands coming up defensively. Had Ginny paid that much for the blankets she'd bought after they left the Charity Hospital?"You're crazy, lady." "I-I," the woman babbled, aghast. Lindsay tapped her foot and looked at the blanket."Well?" The woman was too shocked to speak and Lindsay chastised herself.You're not in Queens anymore, String Bean.Stop bein' an asshole and scaring the locals.She softened her voice. "Look, I'm really sorry.I'm in a hurry.I'm about to miss my train and myÉ well, myÉI have people waiting for me." The clerk visible relaxed and glanced at the clock."You have seven minutes," she said crisply."She made a dismissive gesture."Conductor won't leave early.The train never leaves early." A tiny smile etched its way across impatient features."I know." Her wariness forgotten, the clerk tentatively stepped forward to show off her wares."It's a warm blanket," she said, her tone holding only the slightest bit of guardedness. "I have another for fifty cents, but we sell lots of these blankets to the boys who run off and go hunting for a few days.It's all wool and plenty sturdy." She petted the fabric as though she'd spun it herself."Not a thread of cotton in the entire thing." Lindsay's brow contracted as she ran her hands over the slightly rough cloth."Boys you say?"The tightly woven, navy-blue blanket had a picture of a golden anchor in its center and did seem like a good choice for a young boy.She supposed.Unsure of herself, she suspiciously asked, "You really think an eight-year-old would like it?" The woman's smile was genuine."Absolutely." "All right then," said Lindsay, admitting to herself she really didn't have time to dicker. Not that she knew how anyway."I'll take it." "Wonderful.You won't be sorry."The woman plucked the blanket from Lindsay's hand and took it back to the counter. "Shall I wrap it?" Lindsay shook her head and gazed out the store window."No time." The woman took Lindsay's silver dollar and refolded the blanket, she looked hard at Lindsay and then said, "Wait a minute." "I don't have-" Lindsay stopped when she saw what the woman was doing.She licked her lips. The clerk put a small sack of cinnamon candy on top of the blanket and passed it back to Lindsay along with her change."No charge." Lindsay beamed.Free candy.Dear God, the shop owners in New York City would rather pull out their own teeth. "Thanks, lady!"Lindsay headed for the door and the train. Four minutes and counting. She opened the door, the bell clanged, and two small children ran in, knocking the candy and blanket from her hands.Lindsay bit off a curse and bent to pick it up.The older of the [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |