BooksBarbecue
Back The Californians
Chapters (241)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Whatever Tomorrow Brings
  6. Copyright Page
  7. Dedication
  8. The Taylor and Donovan Families1871
  9. one
  10. two
  11. three
  12. four
  13. five
  14. six
  15. seven
  16. eight
  17. nine
  18. ten
  19. eleven
  20. twelve
  21. thirteen
  22. fourteen
  23. fifteen
  24. sixteen
  25. seventeen
  26. eighteen
  27. nineteen
  28. twenty
  29. twenty-one
  30. twenty-two
  31. twenty-three
  32. twenty-four
  33. twenty-five
  34. twenty-six
  35. twenty-seven
  36. twenty-eight
  37. twenty-nine
  38. thirty
  39. thirty-one
  40. thirty-two
  41. thirty-three
  42. thirty-four
  43. thirty-five
  44. thirty-six
  45. thirty-seven
  46. thirty-eight
  47. thirty-nine
  48. forty
  49. forty-one
  50. forty-two
  51. forty-three
  52. forty-four
  53. forty-five
  54. forty-six
  55. forty-seven
  56. forty-eight
  57. forty-nine
  58. fifty
  59. fifty-one
  60. fifty-two
  61. fifty-three
  62. fifty-four
  63. fifty-five
  64. fifty-six
  65. fifty-seven
  66. fifty-eight
  67. fifty-nine
  68. sixty
  69. sixty-one
  70. epilogue
  71. Dedication
  72. The Taylor and Donovan Families—1871
  73. Prologue
  74. one
  75. two
  76. three
  77. four
  78. five
  79. six
  80. seven
  81. eight
  82. nine
  83. ten
  84. eleven
  85. twelve
  86. thirteen
  87. fourteen
  88. fifteen
  89. sixteen
  90. seventeen
  91. eighteen
  92. nineteen
  93. twenty
  94. twenty-one
  95. twenty-two
  96. twenty-three
  97. twenty-four
  98. twenty-five
  99. twenty-six
  100. twenty-seven
  101. twenty-eight
  102. twenty-nine
  103. thirty
  104. thirty-one
  105. thirty-two
  106. thirty-three
  107. thirty-four
  108. thirty-five
  109. thirty-six
  110. thirty-seven
  111. thirty-eight
  112. thirty-nine
  113. forty
  114. forty-one
  115. forty-two
  116. forty-three
  117. forty-four
  118. epilogue
  119. Sean Donovan
  120. Copyright Page
  121. Dedication
  122. Visalia and Santa Rosa Families—1876
  123. one
  124. two
  125. three
  126. four
  127. five
  128. six
  129. seven
  130. eight
  131. nine
  132. ten
  133. eleven
  134. twelve
  135. thirteen
  136. fourteen
  137. fifteen
  138. sixteen
  139. seventeen
  140. eighteen
  141. nineteen
  142. twenty
  143. twenty-one
  144. twenty-two
  145. twenty-three
  146. twenty-four
  147. twenty-five
  148. twenty-six
  149. twenty-seven
  150. twenty-eight
  151. twenty-nine
  152. thirty
  153. thirty-one
  154. thirty-two
  155. thirty-three
  156. thirty-four
  157. thirty-five
  158. thirty-six
  159. thirty-seven
  160. thirty-eight
  161. thirty-nine
  162. forty
  163. forty-one
  164. forty-two
  165. forty-three
  166. forty-four
  167. forty-five
  168. forty-six
  169. forty-seven
  170. forty-eight
  171. forty-nine
  172. fifty
  173. fifty-one
  174. Epilogue
  175. Dedication
  176. Willits and Santa Rosa Families—1881
  177. Dear Marcail
  178. prologue
  179. one
  180. two
  181. three
  182. four
  183. five
  184. six
  185. seven
  186. eight
  187. nine
  188. ten
  189. eleven
  190. twelve
  191. thirteen
  192. fourteen
  193. fifteen
  194. sixteen
  195. seventeen
  196. eighteen
  197. nineteen
  198. twenty
  199. twenty-one
  200. twenty-two
  201. twenty-three
  202. twenty-four
  203. twenty-five
  204. twenty-six
  205. twenty-seven
  206. twenty-eight
  207. twenty-nine
  208. thirty
  209. thirty-one
  210. thirty-two
  211. thirty-three
  212. thirty-four
  213. thirty-five
  214. thirty-six
  215. thirty-seven
  216. thirty-eight
  217. thirty-nine
  218. forty
  219. forty-one
  220. forty-two
  221. forty-three
  222. forty-four
  223. forty-five
  224. forty-six
  225. forty-seven
  226. forty-eight
  227. forty-nine
  228. fifty
  229. fifty-one
  230. fifty-two
  231. fifty-three
  232. fifty-four
  233. fifty-five
  234. fifty-six
  235. fifty-seven
  236. fifty-eight
  237. fifty-nine
  238. sixty
  239. epilogue
  240. Books by Lori Wick
  241. About the Author

Unfortunately Mrs. Duckworth did not appear to have heard her.

You havent told me about your father, Miss Donovan.

Marcail blinked at the change in topics, but was willing to accommodate nevertheless.

For years he was a missionary to Hawaii, but now hes a pastor for a small church in Visalia.

Is he remarried?

No.

And you, Miss Donovan, are you looking for a husband?

No, maam. I want to teach school. It sounded like a platitude even to her own ears, but it was the truth. Im not saying that Ill never be married, but I dont wish to be now, and probably not for quite some time.

You understood that your conduct is to be above reproach?

Yes, maam. The contract was all very clear to me. Marcails voice was losing some of its congeniality after being questioned time and again over a matter she felt was settled.

Marcail glanced in front of her to see that her plate had been removed. She hadnt had a bite. Setting her fork down, she leveled her eyes on her hostess. She watched as Mrs. Duckworth looked at her own soiled napkin and then to Marcails empty place setting. To her credit she had the good grace to look momentarily ashamed.

Marcail would have loved to ask what her little game was, but she knew the question would have been disrespectful. When dessert was offered, the young guest declined, and not long after, thanked her hostess and went on her way. As far as Marcail was concerned, the interview was over.

Marcail would have been surprised to know that Mrs. Duckworth watched from the living room window until she was out of sight. The older woman was torn between consternation and admiration. Consternation because Miss Donovan wasnt going to be as easy to manage as she hoped; admiration because in a very respectful way shed stood up to her, and that was something few people had ever done.

four

Marcail spent the rest of the day in the schoolhouse preparing for Monday morning. Her mind was never far from her luncheon with Mrs. Duckworth. However, each time she felt her worries assail her, she prayed and asked the Lord for wisdom.

Marcail was writing her name on the blackboard, her last job before heading back to her house to prepare some supper, when someone knocked and entered.

I really thought they were exaggerating. Well, it wouldnt be exaggerating because that means something gets bigger. Whats the opposite of exaggeration, when you really mean something is small?

Marcail stared at the round, pink-faced young woman in the doorway and smiled. Im afraid I dont know. Maybe if you tell me what they were exaggerating about. Marcail was beginning to think shed walked into the middle of a bad theater performance.

Your size. I mean, they said you were tiny, but I never dreamed . . .

Marcail couldnt help but laugh. The other woman was talking again, so she tried to control herself.