Chapter 6

 

Frankie fled to the storeroom, shutting the door behind her. Throwing herself across a tub of apples, she began to sob. No more pretending that her life was going to work out. That she and Charlie would ever have a home of their own. If she wasn’t able to wait on customers in the store, Uncle Wally would turn them out of his house.

Misery sprouted in her stomach and bloomed up her throat. It had been a mistake to come to Texas. They should have stayed at home. Only the brief thought of Latimer Wilson made her doubt her wisdom. Maybe coming to Chance wasn’t all bad. She sniffed and wiped her face with her sleeve.

Footsteps echoed outside the door. Seth, no doubt. She pushed herself up to a standing position and leaned over the tub of apples, pretending to sort them. What am I gonna do, Lord? He’ll tell uncle for sure. Then what will happen to me and Charlie?

“Frankie?”

She jumped at the sound of his deep voice. Hurriedly, she wiped away more tears that poured down her cheeks. She sniffed loudly. “What is it?”

He paused. “Why didn’t you tell your uncle that you don’t know how to make change? Or read very well?”

Hearing him state it aloud like that, the words hanging in the air, made her cringe. It almost hurt more that Seth knew than that Uncle Wally was going to know. Her eyes still on the apples, she answered. “I don’t know. He. . .he just said we could come here if we could work. I don’t guess the letter said anything about reading. . .or money. I. . .I didn’t know.”

“Turn around and look at me.”

His voice was stern and commanding. She took a deep breath and forced herself to turn in his direction. But she couldn’t look him in the eyes. The humiliation was too deep, too painful.

He folded his arms in front of his chest. “I don’t understand, Frankie. What did you do for money before you came here?”

She shrugged and stared at the toes of her worn out boots. “I haven’t ever had any.”

His voice was sharp, impatient. “Frankie, you can’t buy things without money.”

She forced herself to meet him eye to eye. “Sure you can. I always traded pelts at Jude Ivy’s little store a few miles up the creek. I got whatever I needed from trading the animals I trapped. We ate some and I skinned some and tanned them or sold them as fur. It was doing that or me and Charlie wouldn’t have had much to eat.” She shrugged. “Jude never gave me money for anything.”

 

 

***

 

 

Seth swallowed hard. How many years had this girl had to support her little brother? He and Mark had their older brother Jared and their Aunt Della to care for them after their parent’s had died. But Frankie, barely more than a teenager, had been on her own for more than a year. She was just a kid, yet she’d shouldered the responsibility of an adult with no one to help.

His temper softened. “I’m sorry. I. . .didn’t know how things were for you back in. . .Jasper Creek? I think that’s what Charlie called the place you lived.”

She nodded and looked away.

The pain on her face ripped through him. He shouldn’t have talked to her so harshly. What was the matter with him? He cleared his throat. “Are you going to tell him?”

She shook her head. “Not if I can help it. Me and Charlie. . .we don’t have no place else to go.”

“Any place.”

She looked up at him, confusion swimming in her eyes. “That’s what I said.”

A smile twitched at his lips. “Well, I guess you did.” He took a deep breath. “And don’t worry. I’ll teach you how to read better. And how to count the money.”

Her eyes widened. “You will?” She hesitated. “I already know my letters and how to read a little. It just takes me a while to figure out how they go together.”

He nodded. “You’ll have to study whenever you have the chance. Else it won’t be long before Wally notices something. I can’t keep covering for you and you can‘t hide the truth forever.”

She wiped her eyes and gave him a half smile. “I’ll work harder than anyone ever has.”

He shook his head and laughed. She was one determined girl. “I’m sure you’ll learn fast, Frankie McGregor.”

A shadow flashed across her face. “But you gotta promise not to tell nobody.”

“Anybody. And yes, I promise.”

“You can’t tell Uncle,” she said. “If he knows. . .I mean. . .I’ll tell him. Just give me time.”

What was he promising? He didn’t know how to teach anyone anything. Especially a hardheaded kid like Frankie. She was stubborn as a two-headed mule and had a mouth as sassy as a Blue Jay in the spring. How was he always getting himself into impossible situations? Jared was always telling him to think before he committed.

He studied her face. “But I’m not sure I understand why you can’t be honest with Wally right now. Surely he wouldn’t turn you out. He’s your family.” What kind of man would put a girl and a little boy out on the streets?

She shrugged and turned back to sorting the fruit. “He said if I worked for him, he’d pay me, plus room and board for the two of us. And he’ll let Charlie go to school. I figure it’s the best we can do, right now. ’Til something better comes along. After I save enough money, we can get out on our own. . .have our own place.”

That wasn’t likely. Something better didn’t come along too often for the likes of people like them. He sighed. Help me do my best for her, Lord.