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

First, Id like to thank you for the time and attention youve given Sydney. Its made a tremendous change in him, and his mother and I appreciate it.

It really wasnt me, Mr. Duckworth. Hasnt Sydney shared with you

Oh, you mean this God stuff, the older man interrupted. It doesnt matter how it happened, Mrs. Montgomery, only that something did happen. Now, he went on before Marcail could correct him, I understand that there has been some disagreement over your contract. Im here to tell you that I want you as Sydneys teacher. Name your terms for this fall, and Ill have the contract typed up this afternoon.

Is your mother feeling ill? Marcail asked softly.

Richard stared at her, completely nonplussed. No, he spoke, his voice filled with confusion. I just left her, and she was fine.

Marcail nodded. I do not wish to undermine your mothers authority. Ive always dealt with Mr. Flynn or your mother; I cant say Im very comfortable in doing something without them.

Oh, well, Richard replied, thinking he understood, Im taking over some of Mothers responsibilities, and since I want you as teacher, Im here in her stead.

With her approval? Marcail went on serenely, and Alex had to fight a smile. He knew her well enough to know she was not as calm as she appeared.

Richard was tempted to lie in answering that question, but the direct, dark-eyed gaze of this diminutive teacher made him feel as though she could read his very thoughts.

I can see my answer in your hesitation. Please do not think me rude, Mr. Duckworth, but unless your mother contacts me personally, I couldnt consider returning in the fall.

But Sydney needs you. Richard hoped to appeal to the teacher within her.

I love Sydney dearly, but I would say that what he needs most is to be living with his mother and father. Surely youve a competent teacher where you live.

Were moving here, he told her simply, as if this solved everything.

Marcail was surprised, but it did not change her answer. Im sure Sydney will be very pleased about that, but as far as my teaching is concerned, Ive given you my answer.

Im willing to pay you

Please, Mr. Duckworth, Alex cut in, his voice not overly loud, but firm. My wife has given you her answer.

Richard had nearly forgotten the other mans presence. He looked between the two and felt a little ashamed of how pushy hed been. The doctor was very protective of his wife, and Richard was the first to know the feeling. His mother hated the mere sight of his Beverly.

I apologize for my rudeness. Ill let my mother know what youve said, and hopefully I can persuade her to reconsider.

Goodbyes were said all around, and Richard went out the door. His shoes could be heard on the boardwalk for some moments.