Oregon Outback Read Online Free Page A

care what anybody else says, I think it’s good that you’re back at work and keeping busy so soon after your father’s funeral.”
    Resisting the urge to ask what people were saying, Darcy thanked her. Several impatient customers standing behind Mrs. Olson peered at Darcy, frowning.
    “Was there something else?” Darcy asked.
    Mrs. Olson leaned in. “Maybe now God has given you another chance with that handsome Love brother.”
    She winked, then removed herself from the line, carrying the packaged sketch with her—and all the air in the room.
    Darcy’s gaze sifted through the customers and gifts until she spotted her help, making eye contact. “Julie.”
    Her assistant sidled in behind the counter. “What’s wrong?”
    “I need a minute.”
    “No problem.” Julie smiled and turned her attention to a young couple.
    Darcy excused herself and, once she was alone in the employees’ back room, she sucked a deep breath into her deflated lungs.
    After so much time, people moved on with their lives, didn’t they? But even dear Mrs. Olson, one Darcy counted as a true saint of the Lord, thought Darcy and Jonas were meant to be together.
    Once Darcy gained her composure, she forced herself back into the busy shop. Near closing time, Darcy found herself alone with Julie. The crowd had made the day pass quickly, but she was exhausted. She still needed to close out the register.
    Julie approached her, still looking energized. “Everything all right?”
    “Sure, why do you ask?”
    A knowing grin edged Julie’s lips. “You’ve been distracted today. I’m here to listen, if you want to talk. I’m not looking for gossip, don’t worry.”
    Darcy laughed. Maybe it would be good to unload her burdens. Whether she said anything or not, people talked. They made up stories if they needed to. “What is it you want to know?”
    Hands behind her back, Julie’s gaze traveled through the curios, gifts, and art, to peer through the glass storefront. “I know you and Jonas were an item once. What happened?”
    Darcy sighed. “I thought everyone knew that story by now.”
    “I know a story, but I want to hear the truth from you.”
    Darcy admired Julie for asking for the truth instead of listening to the tales. How could she deny her? “All right. But I warn you, it’s not terribly interesting.”
    “The whole town seems to be holding its breath. Like yours was the romance of the century.”
    Then the whole town is going to pass out
. “Or maybe just the decade. I’m not that old.” Darcy hoped she could give the
Reader’s Digest
version.
    “Jonas and I liked each other early on. I was thirteen when I first had a crush on him. By the time I was seventeen and he was eighteen, I was head over heels in love with the guy. And he returned it, I thought. But my father didn’t like the Love family, especially the brothers, who he thought were wild hooligans.”
    “That never helps when a girl’s daddy doesn’t approve.” Frowning, Julie stared at the counter.
    Was Julie going through something similar?
    “Jonas proposed—well, not officially. He asked me to wait, and I think maybe I’m the one who messed everything up because I went to my father and asked for permission.”
    Darcy shook her head. “Jonas was right about waiting until the right time. I think my father had been too busy shepherding his flock and didn’t realize how serious we’d grown. He wasn’t prepared to hear that Jonas and I wanted to get married. My father forbade me to see him again.”
    “So what did you do?”
    The doorbell rang, and a man pushed through the door. He appeared to change his mind and left before he’d even browsed.
    Glancing at her watch, Darcy noted they only had fifteen more minutes until closing time. Thank goodness. “What did I do? I suffered behind the closed door in my room, praying my father would change his mind. Hoping that Jonas would wait for me. I dreamed about running away with him and propositioned