When Robins Weep: The Christmas Tree Lady

by Peggy Poe Stern

A happenstance encounter between an Appalachian mountain girl and a Florida developer embarks them on a romantic relationship. From Chapter 6: He hadn t expected to see the old, white ford truck pulled over on the side of the road. He saw the rear left tire was flat and had no intention of stopping to help, until he saw a girl pulling a jack from the back of the truck. As he passed her up, it felt like something had jerked him by the neck. He pulled into a wide spot, turned around, and went back. He got out and walked to the truck where she was squatting on the ground trying to fit the screw jack under the axle. He opened his mouth to ask if he could be of assistance. When she looked up, the words stuck in his throat. She was the girl in his dreams. The one he had waited on forever. Her eyes were full of something that wouldn t let him look away. He just stood there and stared down at her without saying a word. I ve never changed a flat before, she said. I have, several years back, he told her. You re the only one that s stopped to help me. I m glad. He bent down and took the jack from her hand and his finger touched her skin. His body felt it, and he silently cursed himself as reality hit. This girl was a child, hardly older than his own daughter. He had no business feeling what he just felt. Still, the feeling thrilled him, for it had been a long time absent. He fitted the jack under the axle. She remained beside him. He smelled her perfume. It was delicate and reminded him of soap. Another whiff and he realized it wasn t perfume at all. It was soap. His eyes went to her left hand. She was wearing a plain, cheap looking ring, but he wasn t sure if it was a wedding band. It could have come from a cracker-jack box. You married? He tried to sound off handed in his question. She looked at his left hand and shrugged her shoulders. Kinda. How can you be kinda married? I had a husband for twenty-four hours. Divorced? Nope. Widowed? Not that I ve been told. He remembered the war and came up with the right conclusion. War bride? Yeah. Married him the day before he shipped out? Yeah. Did it make you happy? She shrugged her shoulders again, looking at the lug nut he was trying to loosen. Reckon it made him happy. He didn t stop the small laugh. He had intended to, but hadn t caught it in time.

399 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2004

About the author

Peggy grew up on small farm in the Appalachians near Jefferson, NC; married young; finished school; made handcrafted folk toys; established her own farm on Grandfather Mountain near Boone; raised six children in a single-wide while growing burley tobacco, Christmas trees, and small fruits; built a house; raised small animals – all – while helping her husband do land surveying. Still farming, she enjoys her grand and great-grandchildren while creating novels sprinkled with the flavor of her mountain heritage. Since 2003 she has been writing about three books a year.

Reviews

[henry smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. A young mountain girl wit dreams ended up married the night before he was shipped off to Vietnam. She met a rich land developer who helped her get her dreams of college. They had an adulterous life after 2 years Her husband came home seriously injured. The husband she didn’t love. She got pregnant right before his return. The lover planned to divorce his wife of several years and get her a divorce. Things didn’t go as planned. It was a train wreck fixing to happen and it did.

[sharon murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a surprise

Wonderfully written as always! You won't be disappointed so go ahead and get this book. Peggy Poe Stern never lets me down. I am tempted to finish all her books but at the same time I hate for them to end! Loved this one especially!

[Diane F Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life, Gritty and real

A lot of joy, hopes & dreams wrapped up in the realty of life.
Ms. Stern knows how to weave a story.
A young innocent girl struggles to continue her education and finds that life has a different experience waiting.

[brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the bo

I loved it...I love all Peggy Poe Sterns books and is amazing.....I can't put her books down. I just wish she could write fastw. I can t wait for more books.

[Jennifer Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop reading!!!

It felt like I was right there with the characters! I couldn’t put it down! I’ve read 2 of her books so far and will be reading more