Red Rider RIsing: Book 2 of the Red Rider Saga by D.A. Randall (best books to read for beginners .TXT) 📗

Suzette squirmed like a fish until I set her down. She ran at Father Vestille, waving her blanket. He climbed down from his saddle and scooped her up.

“Oh, you’re so heavy!” he joked. “How much candy have you eaten today?”

117

She giggled. “I’m not heavy, neither, Father Vestille.”

He held her over his head and twirled her about. The same way he did with me, when I was only a child. “I can barely lift you!” he said.

Suzette squealed, Pierre laughed, and Valiant barked. As I stood rigid, watching them.

“Time to get inside, Suzette,” I said at last.

“Awww.”

Father Vestille stopped, surprised. He managed a smile and set her down. “Your sister’s right. Sorry I’m visiting so late in the day.”

“Abier! How are you?” Papa appeared on the porch, with Mama and the Leónes behind him.

He marched at Father Vestille and gave him a strong embrace.

“How have you been, Henri?”

They broke apart, looking a bit awkward.

“We didn’t know when you’d be back,” Papa said.

“Neither did I. I wanted to let you know I’ll be here this Sunday.”

“We still gather.” Papa nodded toward the smiling group on the porch. “I’ve been leading prayers. Last weekend we discussed showing honor to the King, in spite of any rumors and misgivings.” He smiled sheepishly. “It was a humbling experience.”

Father Vestille laughed and clapped him on the back. “You’re a good man, Henri. There’s no one I would rather have leading prayers when I’m away.”

“Come inside. Have some wine.” They started toward the house.

118

“Only a little. I want to be up early tomorrow, visit some people in the village. I just got back and came here first.”

“Why are we so special?” I asked.

Papa and Father Vestille stopped where they stood. Everyone gaped at me.

Father Vestille gave me his kindest eyes, the ones I remembered from years ago. “Because there’s no one I care more about than you and your family, Helena.”

I said nothing. Just stared back at him.

Mama stepped down from the porch and extended a hand toward him. “Come on in. Lisette brought over some fresh bread. She’s trying to convince me to start a clothing business together.”

Father Vestille smiled. “You should.

Between the two of you, you could already supply nearly half the dresses of the village.”

Mama laughed.

Madame Leóne stuck her hands on her hips with a clever grin. “Well, Father Vestille, most women won’t buy half a dress.”

Everyone

laughed,

including

Pierre,

making Valiant bark again. I stiffened and waited for everyone to go inside.

“Madame Lisette!” Suzette called, running to her.

“Madame Suzette!” Madame Leóne smiled and squatted down. “How may I be of service?”

Madame Leóne was beautiful like Mama, but in a different way. Although a few years older, she always looked radiant, her eyes crinkling at the corners with constant humor.

119

“I want you and Mama to make a special hunting dress ‘cuz I’m gonna go hunting with Helena!”

Papa glared at me. So much for easing into the conversation. But he didn’t scold me. He only wrinkled his brow as he continued past Mama, who gaped at me from the porch.

“Oh, a special hunting dress,” Madame Leóne said, playing along. “How about a little more blueberry pie instead?”

“No! I wanna have my special hunting dress!”

“Well, we’ll have to see about that with your Mama and Papa, I think. Come on inside.”

Yes, we will, I thought as the adults meandered into the house. Pierre lingered outside a moment with me. Madame Leóne regarded him, then gave me a sly wink before ushering Suzette inside with a hand at her back. Mama threw a smiling glance at me before following them inside.

I shook my head at their overactive imaginations.

Pierre shoved his hands in his trouser pockets. “How come you’re mad at Father Vestille?”

I turned and started walking away, past the bleating sheep. “Who said I’m mad?”

“You did, with everything you’re doing.

Figured you’d start throwing rocks at him next.”

I didn’t want to talk about it. “We used to be close, when I was little,” I said. “Then I grew up. That’s it.”

120

“Red.” He stopped walking and faced me.

“You act like he stole your horse. What did he do that’s so horrible?”

I stiffened, wanting to turn away yet wanting to answer him. I knew I could still talk to Pierre about anything. Even