Spring Comes To Barncastle Inn by Lynette Sowell Page A

twenty-five yards beyond them.
                  “Remember sportsmanlike conduct and no pushing. If any of you push anything, it should be an egg, not anyone else in another lane. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place finishers,” Jayne said. “Mr. Gilbert, if you would, please.”
                  “With pleasure, Mrs. Gilbert.” Luke pulled a whistle from his coat pocket with a flourish. “On your mark, get set—go!” He gave a long blast on the whistle and cheers rose up from the other parents.
                  Peter joined in, clapping, then whistling through his fingers.
                  “Really, Mr. Appleman, one would think you were at a horse race,” came Sadie's voice beside him. A light floral scent drifted on the breeze. It came from her.
                  He fought to keep his gaze on the race. “Well, I've taught my daughter when you race, you race to win.”
                  “That's an admirable quality.” She stood, her hands clasped in front of her.
                  “Go, Marin, go!” Peter clapped again.
                  Marin, hunched over, tongue stuck out, focused on the egg on the lawn. It tumbled end over end along the grass as she tapped it with a spoon. A boy about her age—likely one of the inn's guests—had already passed her. His shirt came untucked from his trousers, and one suspender dropped from his shoulder.
                  She kept glancing from the egg to the boy and back again.
                  Peter cheered. “You're catching him, Marin!”
                  But the finish line lay less than three yards away.
                  The little boy's egg crossed first. “I won!” He jumped up and down, nearly stepping on his egg.
                  Marin stood up straight, barely a yard from the finish line. “No fair!” she growled, then kicked her egg. Shell sprayed across on the grass. Marin stomped away, her hands clutched into fists. She slung the spoon onto the lawn and headed off toward the main house, yanking from her hair the purple ribbon she'd been so proud of moments before.
                  “Marin Kaye Appleman!” Peter called out. “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, my apologies. I'll collect my daughter and have her clean up the mess, and apologize as well.”
                  Peter didn't miss Luke's sympathetic look. He hurried off after Marin.
                  What was he going to do? Marin had a flair for the dramatic, but he didn't recall her ever acting out quite like this. Not in anger, anyway. He picked up his pace and caught up with her. Tears poured down her face.
    **
    “He's definitely got his hands full with that young lady,” Luke said as they poured cups of lemonade.
                  “Yes, it looks like it.” Sadie's hand shook as she picked up an empty cup.
                  “You're doing the right thing, you know.”
                  “How so?”
                  “Giving the man some time.”
                  “I don't know.” Sadie fanned herself with her hand. The warmth of the day still found its way under the tent. She should have added a frilly fan to her costume. “I hope I am. Last night he seemed to make it clear what he wants. If he's not ready, he's not ready.”
                  “Last night, he was worried about his daughter.”
                  “Of course, as he should be. But, Luke, I don't want to be second, or even third priority to the man I love. I don't want to feel as if I'm competing with a child for his attention.” The guests sipped lemonade. Oh, to be so carefree. Someone brought out the croquet set, and Andy kept busy hammering wickets into the ground on the lawn that showed green shoots of spring. “I know it was a similar situation with you