Red Dust Dreaming by Eva Scott

to reveal a shimmer of emerald green. She gasped. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
    â€œI thought you’d like it. My mother used to lend it to Angela from time to time so I figured it would fit you too.”
    â€œAngela wore this dress?” The thought of sharing a dress with her sister offered her comfort. In some way Angela would be with her tonight. She took the dress from Caden, their fingers touching briefly, sparks of heat igniting her skin. She kept her eyes down so he couldn’t see what she couldn’t hide.
    â€œOn the odd occasion.” He checked his watch. “You’ve got twenty minutes before we leave so you’d better get a wriggle on. See you out the front.” He sauntered down the corridor to wait for her. Elizabeth shook her head at his retreating figure. One minute he was yelling at her and the next he was lending her dresses. Did he hate her or like her? She found it impossible to tell.
    She shut the door and laid the dress across the bed. It shimmered in the lamp light, the darkest emerald green with dainty cap sleeves in fine lace dyed to match. Elizabeth untied her wrap and discarded it. Carefully she shimmied the dress over her head and smoothed it into place with her hands. The fit was perfect, as if the dress had been made for her. She twirled this way and that admiring her reflection in the full length mirror behind the door. The material sat snugly over her hips before flaring out in a fuller skirt which fell just below her knees. The dress had a 1920s air about it. The girl who wore this outfit would be brimming with confidence, ready to laugh and dance with abandon. Not hiding in the corner too shy to speak to anyone. Angela, who had never been at a loss for words, had worn this before her. Tonight Elizabeth would honour the dress and her sister.
    Quickly she brushed her hair and applied mascara and lipstick. She had very little by the way of jewellery and it was too late now to do anything about it. Satisfied she slipped into her stilettos and made for the door. As she flung it open she let out a gasp of surprise. Standing there, hand raised to knock, was Thelma.
    â€œYou surprised me!” said Elizabeth. “I wasn’t expecting you there.”
    â€œYou must be psychic, huh?” Thelma winked. “I need to give you something before you go tonight.”
    â€œWe don’t have much time and I don’t want to go upsetting Caden just when things seem to be back on an even keel.”
    â€œI won’t take much of your time.” Thelma handed over a large dog-eared envelope. “Your sister wanted you to have this and made me promise to give it to you.”
    Elizabeth frowned as she took the package from Thelma. “But how could she have known I’d come?”
    Thelma shrugged. “She was pretty certain your parents wouldn’t travel all this way to collect Luke and she figured they’d send you. She reckoned you’d come because you’re too nice to say no.”
    Grief constricted Elizabeth’s throat and for a moment she found it difficult to speak. “Do you know what’s in here?” She swallowed the lump in her throat.
    â€œMaybe,” said Thelma. “I’ve got an idea.”
    â€œSo you’re not going to tell me, are you?”
    â€œNope.” Thelma shook her head. “Angela wanted you to read the contents of this envelope and do what she asked you to do. That’s all I know. I’ve done my bit.” She turned to go. “One piece of advice I’d give you is don’t tell anyone you’ve got it until you’ve had a chance to read through it properly. Some folk might try to cloud your judgment.”
    â€œThelma! What do you mean? Which folk?” But Thelma walked away, one hand raised in farewell.
    â€œWhat an odd night,” Elizabeth muttered as she shut the door. The envelope, thick and weighty, demanded her attention. The only