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For a second, she wondered if he woulddown at his hands, and she was fairly certain he wouldn’t

She slid across the seat and put her ar ht his hand up to pat her back When she pulled away, he coughed into his hand "Of course," he said But his voice was just a little too rough "Of course"

"Come in," she said "My parents will be happy to see you"

He sat up straight "I don’t know… That is… It’s a little iven the rather odd history between our two families…"

"Come on," Free said, with a roll of her eyes "If you’re not by my side, I’ll burst into tears when I seeAfter all that I’ve been through in the last few days, you can’t subject me to that"

He looked at her for one second Oh, the s if he actually believed a word of that He was far too susceptible to a touch of guilt

"Oh, very well," he said in a put-upon voice "If you insist"

But he didn’t look put upon He looked pleased He handed her down froe, unhitched the horses, and tied them up When that was all taken care of, he offered her his arm and conducted her up the path to the house

It occurred to her, as she knocked on the door, that so on the road, soht to have seen them But neither her father nor her mother had appeared

Too late to wonder She heard a noise inside, and then her mother opened the door

Free’s heart stopped Her mother--oh, God, her mother Her eyes were dark Her face was lined Free hadn’t seen her look like that since Aunt Freddy passed away years before It had taken her rief-stricken look that said the world had betrayed her Noas back, and the only thing that Free could think was that soasped

"Oh, thank God," her mother said

"Oh, no" Free spoke atop her "What on earth is wrong? Is it Laura and her baby?"

Her asped and put one hand over her heart "What’s the matter with Laura?"

"It isn’t Laura? Then…"

There was a moment while they stared at each other in confusion Another moment, when her mother let out a breath "Free I orried about you"/