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“Corporal Ke to use her status so, in this instance she would, and be glad of the power being a major’s wife allowed “I wouldn’t want to tell my husband you’ve disappointed me”

“No,red, the corporal took the coins

“Just put the box right there, Wind” She collapsed the parasol while waiting for the boy to set the crate on the bottom step, and then bent down in front of hi me You follow Corporal Keives you It’s for you and your sister It’sthe crate for me”

His little shoulders squared hat she assunity “Haa Ura”

“Ura,” she repeated, watching the boy walk away Pins see, yet what he did have, he shared with his sister, whereas she and Rosee, had rarely shared anything Well, Millie had, but she’d always felt resentful Another sha to admit, even to herself But it was the truth She’d resented the fact that she owed her sister, and right now she resented what she was doing for payment of that debt

Millie walked up the steps toward one of the high-back chairs This trip had her thinking about things she’d never thought of before, seeing a side of herself she’d never ad it rocking back and forth, she thought of the reason she was here A baby, who soirl, like his sister A child ould need love and care, food and clothing, and a candy stick every now and again A child as depending on Millie this very moment

“This just ain’t right,” Lola had said in the early o, yet the words echoed in Millie’s ht now “Your Papa wouldn’t like this, not at all”

“I know,” Millie whispered, just as she had that —the day she’d left

“That girl ain’t never gonna learn if you keep stepping in, righting her wrongs,” Lola had added

A long sigh escaped as Millie continued to rock Lola didn’t understand Rosemary’s need for affection Never had, but Millie did Not so unlike Roseed for their mother, too

Big tears had cascaded down Lola’s coffee-hued cheeks when they’d hugged goodbye, and Millie had cried, too She hadn’t wanted to go, but there had been no choice

Roseraced, which he certainly would be if others learned of her pregnancy, and now that Millie knew Seth, she felt even ly about that He was such an honorable man, and truly didn’t deserve the way his wife had carried on with other men

“I’ll wire you as soon as the child’s born,” Lola had said “But once you get those papers signed, don’t you bring theo to Texas, tell that young Martin you’ll be the best wife he ever hoped to have”