The Hand-Me-Down Family Read Online Free

church building and up to thewhite picket fence that marked the boundaries of the cemetery.
    He paused and turned to her, removing his hat and raking a hand through his hair.
    She stood there, rooted to the spot, her eyes wide, her gaze fixed on the neat rows of grassy mounds.
    â€œMa’am?”
    She started, and her gaze flew to his.
    Her pallor roused a protective response in him. She looked nearly as white as the ribbon on her bonnet. Jack could see the shock, the inner battle she was fighting between denial and a sickly acceptance.
    Was he going to have to deal with a swooner after all?
    â€œSteady now.” He took her elbow. “I’m sorry to break it to you like this. But I thought it was better to have a bit of privacy. I—”
    She raised a hand. “No, I understand.” Her gaze slid back to the somberly peaceful green, and she swallowed audibly. “Was it the fire?”
    He nodded.
    â€œAnd your sister?”
    Ah, Nell. His sweet, peacemaker of a sister. To die like that…
    Not trusting himself to speak, he pulled the crumbled telegram from his pocket and handed it to her. He didn’t have to look at it again to know exactly what it said.
    The words were burned into his memory.
    Café fire. Nell, Jed, Lanny killed. Please return to Sweetgum earliest possible. Children need you.
    Â 
    Callie tasted the bile rising in her throat as she read the terse missive. These people were her newly acquired family, the people she had so eagerly looked forward to meeting andbefriending. To learn that they had died under such horrific circumstances…
    Everything seemed to go silent, to pull back from her. A heartbeat later her vision clouded over and the earth swayed under her feet.
    â€œWhoa, there.”
    Mr. Tyler’s hand was under her elbow, steadying her, lending her a measure of strength.
    Sounds and objects came rushing back into focus, racing to keep pace with the emotions that careened through her like water rushing over a fall. Horror at the thought of their deaths, confusion over what this meant for her future, and a guilty relief that her husband had not deliberately shunned her after all.
    She attempted to smile at her concerned brother-in-law. “Thank you. I’m okay now.”
    He raised a brow. Probably worried she’d faint on him.
    â€œLook, there’s a bench over yonder under that cottonwood.” He nodded his head in the direction of a tall leafy tree. Then he cleared his throat. “Why don’t we sit for a spell? It’ll be cooler in the shade and you can tell me the story of how you came to be married to my bother.”
    Callie glanced toward the cemetery, then nodded. She could pay her respects to Leland after she and his brother had their talk.
    Then she realized how selfish she was being. These people were his family, his siblings and the people he’d grown up with. “I’m sorry to have made this more difficult for you, Mr. Tyler,” she said softly. “And my condolences on your loss.”
    He nodded silently, leading her across the grounds.
    â€œWhen did it happen?” Callie was still trying to take it all in. “The fire, I mean.”
    He released her arm as they reached the bench. “Four days ago.” Both his face and voice were controlled, giving no hint of whatever emotion he might be feeling.
    Then it hit her. She plopped down onto the bench. Could it be?
    She clasped her hands tightly and stared up at him. “Do you know what time?”
    His brow wrinkled in confusion. “Pardon?”
    â€œAt what time did your brother die?” She heard the shrillness of her tone, saw his brow go up. No doubt he thought her hysterical. But right now she didn’t care.
    He lifted a hand, palm up. “I don’t know. I wasn’t here. I only—”
    â€œDo you have any idea?” she pressed. “Morning? Afternoon? Please, this is important.” Her heart beat with a