Fallen Hearts (Casteel 3)

Appleberry pruned and planted and our home

blossomed like a great flower itself. Drake's

melancholy moods thinned until they were hardly ever

there, although once in a while he would become

pensive and thoughtful and wonder about his mother

and father.

The factory got off to a wonderful start. Logan

surprised me with his insight into marketing. He

traveled all over the country, setting up outlets, finding markets. It wasn't long before he was expanding

the work force at the factory, and people in Winnerow

were even prouder of the enterprise.

One morning, just after breakfast, the phone

rang and I answered it. "Ya'll betta get ya husband

right ova here," Fanny crooned. "Ma water done

broke."

"Who is it?" Logan asked.

"It's Fanny," I said. "You'd better warm up the

car. Her water just broke and she needs someone to

take her to the hospital."

"Heaven, I can't leave you now. You're

expecting any minute, too," he said. He tried to take

the phone out of my hand, but I covered the receiver

with my palm.

"Darling, despite all Fanny has done, she is my

sister and she has no one else."

"All right," Logan finally agreed, "but you're

coming with me. I don't want you left alone with only

the servants to rush you to the hospital. Besides," he

said, grinning, "all those hours in that Lamaze class

would be wasted. . . get your suitcase. You tell Mr. Appleberry to watch Drake. He always thinks it's a