The family watched as the two men climbed to their places in the buggy and headed toward town. Katherine had a grieved, weary look. Did she think this would be the last visit with her son if he stayed away too long? Compassion for her mother-in-law filled Leann. Hopefully, Mother Kate's heart would strengthen with rest.
"Come on in, son," Joe told Ralph with a slap on his back. "It's good to see you up and around. Sonny's been telling us how sick you've been these past two weeks." He turned to Leann, giving her a big hug. With a laugh, he said, "He told us the time you had trying to keep this rascal in bed."
"It was hard, Papa Joe, but with the Lord's help, I managed." She turned to smile at her husband.
"Well, it's no fun staying in bed when your crops need harvesting," Ralph said.
"It sure does something to a man's pride, don't it, son?" Joe laughed again.
"Yeah, it sure does. Makes you thankful for being able to do your own work. All the Lord has to do is put a little pain and sickness in your body to get your attention." Ralph's face lost the smile. He started toward the wagon. "I need to unload the wagon. Leann brought the whole kitchen."
Joe went to help Ralph. While the two men unloaded the wagon, the women made their way into the house.
Leann linked her arm into Katherine's, helping the older woman up the steps and to her chair in the parlor. Mother Kate's health had deteriorated greatly since she was at their house.
"I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I have no strength, not even to walk up and down the steps." Katherine sat down with a heavy sigh.
"You're like Ralph, I think. He has never been sick, so he doesn't know how to act when he's ill. It makes him mad to be down where he can't take care of the farm and do his work. He thinks he's invincible." Leann sat down across from Katherine.
"We have a healthy family, and none of us has been sick much. I'll get over this, but it's taking too long."
The day went quickly. Ralph and Joe ate heartily of the food Leann prepared. Katherine ate very little. No one mentioned her illness. They tried to keep the conversation light, discussing the changing weather, harvesting crops, housekeeping, and children. Leann asked about Joe Jr.'s and Ginger's family. She made the comment she had not seen Ginger recently and would visit her soon. Katherine said they were well. The kids were growing like weeds.
"They ain't calmed down none, either," Joe said.
"Joe," Katherine scolded. "Don't talk like that about your grandchildren."
"It's the truth. Ralph would get on to his kids for acting up like Junior's."
Ralph spoke up, "Junior's an easy-going fellow, Pa. Things kids do don't bother him like they bother me."
"Well, his kids bother me and yours don't, is all I'm saying."
"Papa Joe, why don't you get your fiddle? You and Ralph can make some music for us before we have to leave." Leann tried to change the subject.
"Yes, I would love to hear some music from the best fiddle players in Missouri," Katherine said, pepping up a little.
Joe took his fiddle down from the mantle over the large fireplace while Ralph unpacked his from the case. The two men picked and tuned before playing. Joe began a melody and then Ralph joined him. Since Ralph's father taught him to play, they harmonized and blended beautifully with the musical instruments. Katherine and Leann joined in with words periodically until Katherine began to doze in her chair.
"Ralph, it's time to go." Leann nodded in Mother Kate's direction. The two men could play most of the afternoon and forget the time.
The men stopped playing and put the musical instruments away. Ralph helped Leann load the wagon with baskets and empty food dishes. Katherine didn't get up, so they went to her with their goodbyes. Leann's heart went out to her mother-in-law. Ralph's brows knit together in a pained expression when he hugged his mother. Joe walked to the wagon with them.
"I hate to see Ma looking so tired and frail," Ralph told his father.
"She hasn't been out of bed much in the last two weeks. Doc Reynolds said it was her heart. I don't know what to do for her, except see that she's comfortable." Joe helped Leann to the wagon seat.
"You're doing all you can, Papa Joe. Let us know if we can help in any way," Leann said.
"Thanks, daughter, I will. Clara Townsend comes over to help out when she can, but mostly it's up to me to take care of things and see to Katherine. I'm thankful for the man Sonny hired to help around the farm."
"I appreciate Sonny's help in all of our lives," Ralph said. "If it hadn't been for him, my tobacco crop wouldn't be in the barn."
"Sonny's a good man." Leann thought about all he did for the family.
"He sure is, daughter. All three of my sons are fine fellows. Me and Katherine are sure proud of each one."
Ralph smiled. "Bye, Pa. Be sure to let us know if we can help." He clucked to the horse.
Joe waved one last time when the wagon pulled out, before going into the house.
***
"Pa and Junior caught some nice fish in the Meramec last week," Ralph said about halfway into the trip home. "I'm gonna take you and the kids fishing soon. Johnny and me will be through with harvesting the tobacco, and we all need a break from sickness and working hard. Nothing like a good fishing trip to make a person feel better."
"How nice! The kids will love to go fishing. I'll pack a lunch. We'll have a great time." Leann slipped an arm through his.
He looked at her sitting close on the wagon seat, and felt the warmth of her body pressing against his arm. Not being able to resist the temptation to kiss her lovely mouth, he pulled up under a large oak displaying an array of orange and red colors. He had missed her sweet love while lying sick in the bed for what seemed an eternity.
The reins slacked when Leann returned his embrace. Jed came to a complete stop while they kissed in the warm sunlight of a beautiful autumn afternoon. Ralph's hat fell onto the floorboard. A red leaf floated softly into her hair as the sun's rays crowned her head with a golden halo. He nibbled a pink earlobe, then kissed the white nap of her neck where strands of sweet-smelling hair lay in small curls. A folded quilt in the wagon bed came to mind. He may spread it out on the grass for them to lie on.
Leann suddenly removed her arms from his neck. "We'd better go. The kids will be home soon."
Hating to, but knowing the necessity, Ralph released her, found his hat, and took up the reins. They rode the rest of the way in silence, basking in each other's company. The wagon pulled into the front yard at the same time Jim galloped up on Starbright.
"Where are your brother and sister?" Ralph asked.
Jim answered out of breath, "A man stopped Katy not far from school. He wanted to ask her a question. Jesse waited for her, but I came on to tell you."
"You didn't know the man?" Leann asked.
"No, Mama. I haven't seen him before. He don't live around here."
"Oh Ralph!" Her hand went to her mouth.
"Help your mama unload the wagon, then take it around and unhitch the horse. I'll go check on Katy and Jesse." Ralph secured the reins around the brake handle before climbing down from the wagon seat.
Jim dismounted, and Ralph got on Starbright. He looked at Leann's worried face and said, "Don't fret, hon. They're okay. We'll be back before Jim gets the horse unhitched and the wagon unloaded."
Leann watched him ride away, her heart frozen with alarm.
Ralph met Katy and Jesse about halfway to town, walking their horses and engaged in deep conversation.
Jesse saw Ralph and galloped toward him. "Hi, Papa. Are you going to town? Can I go with you?"
"I came to check on you and Katy. Jim said a man he didn't know stopped Katy to ask her some questions."
"He did, Papa." Katy rode up to join them. "I didn't know him, but he was standing by the road down from the school. He stepped out in my way and caught Sassy's rein. I had to stop."
"What did he want?"
"He asked me my name and where I lived. I told him my name is Katy Moore, but my parents are Leann and Ralph Wade. He let go of the reins and stepped back into the woods. Jesse and I started for home. I wasn't afraid, Papa. I knew Jim went to get you."
"Jesse, you did the right thing staying with your sister. You're a big boy." Ralph turned to his daughter. "Katy, don't ever stop to talk to a stranger."
"I won't, Papa. I didn't want to stop for him, but he stood in the way, and wouldn't let me pass."
Little Jesse would not have been able to protect Katy, but maybe his presence prevented the stranger from doing harm to her. A stranger stopping his daughter on an open road to ask her personal questions gravely concerned Ralph.
"Let's get home to your mother. She's worried about you," Ralph said and waited for the children to ride ahead of him.
Leann stood on the porch when the three rode up. She ran into the yard, grabbing Katy as she dismounted the horse.
"Are you okay?" She hugged Katy.
"I'm okay, Mama. The man asked me some questions, then disappeared into the woods."
"What did he ask?"
"Let Katy tell you about it in the house. We need to take care of the horses right now," Ralph said. "She's okay and so's Jesse."
Leann went to Jesse, patting his leg. "You're a brave boy, protecting your sister." She turned to look at Ralph, her eyes dark with fear.
Jesse sported a proud smile over his mother's compliment. Ralph and the children took the horses to the barn to unsaddle, water, and feed them. Later, Katy told her story to Leann while eating cookies and drinking milk at the kitchen table. Ralph listened with furrowed brow.
"I'm so proud of you children," Leann said. "Jim came for help, and Jesse stayed with Katy. Remember, don't talk to strangers."
"We know, Mama," Jesse said. "Papa's already told us."
Leann hugged all three. She put them to completing their homework. Ralph went back to the barn to start the afternoon chores. Jim and Jesse would help after completing their school assignments. Ralph insisted they finish all homework before going outside in the afternoon. Jesse always looked for Toby and played with the dog until Ralph gave the boy a task. Jim checked on the sheep and other livestock. Katy helped her mother by gathering eggs, feeding the chickens, and cooking supper.
Everyone carried on with the daily routines. The usual satisfaction and contentment of completing the familiar tasks evaded Ralph. Too many questions needed answers. Something dark lay on the horizon, threatening the very heart of his family, and he didn't like it.