One Thanksgiving in Lusty, Texas Cara Covington (books for 8th graders .TXT) đ
- Author: Cara Covington
Book online «One Thanksgiving in Lusty, Texas Cara Covington (books for 8th graders .TXT) đ». Author Cara Covington
âI agree,â Adam said. âThe fire hall should come first.â
Terrence shook his head. âOur little town keeps growing. I remember, when I was a lad, there werenât more than a couple of dozen homes occupied here, and the pharmacy was the only business in town. I mention that because, along with the inevitable baby boom, comes a time when the population shrinks for a few years.â Then he gave them a sly look. âAlthough I know weâve grown by one very recently.â
âYouâll like our Pamela.â James grinned. âWe were a bit worried how sheâd make out, coming so far from her home. But so far, sheâs handling everything withâŠwell, with the same kind of grace Amanda Jessop-Kendall and Sarah Carmichael Benedict displayed.â
âMy Madison will have a report for me at supper, Iâm sure. Sheâs good at taking a personâs measure.â
âExcuse me?â Adam thought he couldnât have heard right, although that look his uncle had just sent them did belie that.
Warren and Terrence both laughed. âThe women will likely be visiting with her about now, I expect,â Terrence said. Heâd consulted his watch, which made Adam do the same thing. It was just after ten in the morning.
âDefine âwomen,ââ James said.
âDinna fash yerself.â Terrence delivered one of Aunt Madisonâs favorite sayings. Warren just folded his arms and grinned.
Adam had to admit his uncle had the Irish brogue down pat. Then Terrence reached over and patted Adamâs shoulder. âWomen are stronger, and smarter, that we men want to believe. You need a little faith.â He nodded. âIn your Pamela, and in the rest of the women of Lusty. And by women, of course, I mean most of the ones who are nearest and dearest to you.â He closed his eyes for a moment. âThe last I heard, Pamela will be receiving Madison and our daughter-in-law, Joan, and your mother, of course.â He looked over at Warren.
âMaria wouldnât miss it,â Warren said.
âKate and Miranda were attending, as are Bernice and Samantha, Mirandaâs daughter-in-law, who happens to be in town this week. Oh, and both grandmothers, of course.â
âOf course,â James said.
Adam thought his brother didnât sound well. Adam himself knew one instant of panic. And then he shook it off. Uncle Terrence was right. He recalled how well Pam had gotten along with Bernice on Saturday. The truth was, he did have faith in Pamela. Heâd set aside his concerns for now. The work day here would go quickly, and before long, theyâd be with her again.
Come to think of it, she and Bernice had been as thick as thieves on Saturday. It wouldnât surprise him if their woman was fully aware sheâd be having a bit of a get-together today.
âNow, if weâre done our gossip session, letâs take a tour of the facilities, here,â Warren said. âWe need your newly trained eyes to tell us what supplies we should order, and what improvements, if any, we can make to the patient flow. Our first one is due in an hour. There arenât that many today, so itâs a good day to get you organized. Of course, you never know if thereâll be any emergency calls, either here in town or in the outlying region.â Warren looked at each of them. âIâll still be available in a pinch.â
âYes, sir. We noticed a few more farms in the area during the drive home,â James said.
More farms meant more farmers and, unfortunately, every once in a while, farming accidents. The custom was for the doctor on call to attend any emergency in the surrounding area, if possible. It was a custom he and his brother had already promised to uphold.
Doctor Adam Jessop looked around his new office. He experienced a momentâa sense of history as well as of continuation. Today, for all intents and purposes, was their fatherâs last day at work. In a few short weeks, Terrence Jessop would retire, as well, handing over the reins of this practice to them completely. Who knew? Maybe in some distant year in the future, he and James would have a sonâor a daughterâwho would, as they were now, begin to learn the ropes and, eventually, carry on from them. The sense of rightness, of destiny, that he felt in that instant was nearly overwhelming.
The circle of life. Lusty was a damn fine place, he decided, to be living his.
Chapter Ten
âThese roses are officially called Marie Van Houtte, and theyâre a tea rose,â Madison Jessop said. She gently stroked the deep green-colored leaves of the plant. âItâs also known as an antique rose. I looked this one up, because I do enjoy the way the blooms contrast with the dark green leaves. The buds look like theyâll be yellow, but once in full bloom, theyâre deeper yellow in the center, but toward the tips, they show pink to lilac shades.â
âThe shrub is certainly lush. Are they fussy to deal with?â Pamâs mother had loved roses but not the work involved in them. That hadnât stopped her from having a couple of bushes, however.
âNo, not at all. Antique roses are my favorites for that very reason. Iâd be happy to advise you through the seasons. Itâs warm enough the year round, you donât need to worry about your gardens being barren.â
âOver the years, weâve planted a variety of flowering plants and ground cover plants in the gardens so that thereâs always something showing life.â Grandmother Chelsea also caressed the flower. âThis variety of rose is documented to have been introduced in
Comments (0)