13

Grace lifted the iron from the heat of the fire.

Edith sipped tea at the kitchen table. “You know, I’m sure I could ask Hortense the name of the lady who takes in her laundry. That would save you time from ironing your dresses.”

“I refuse to pay someone to do what I can on my own.” Grace thought of the Mexican woman. She wouldn’t give the lady more laundry, but there might be other ways to help, such as tutoring her children. “Besides I can take my frustrations out this way.”

“What’s got you so frustrated?”

Jedidiah Green, which is absurd and pointless since I refuse to be dependent upon a man. “Oh, just things,” Grace said. She dipped her fingers in a bowl of water and flicked droplets on the wrinkles in the sleeve of her dress. “And I miss my sisters. I must find the time to write Joy a letter since I don’t think they’ll make it to town very often.”

The pounding of horse hooves came through the open window.

Edith set her cup down. “Perhaps one of your suitors has come a callin’ again.”

Why couldn’t it be Jedidiah? Grace propped the iron on the board and pulled back the curtains.

A horse-drawn wagon sat in front of the house. A tall figure stepped onto the porch. Jedidiah.

Grace’s stomach fluttered and she opened the door.

Jed removed his hat and placed it against his chest, his face grim. “Miss Cantrell.” Jed bowed his head slightly. “I’m needing to talk with you and Mrs. Farley.”

“Of course, Mr. Green,” Edith called as she stepped toward them. “Come on in.”

“I don’t have time. I’m needing a favor, and if you’re able to help I’d be mighty beholden to the both of you.”

“Of course. What is it that you need?”

“I have to work in the shop this morning and make a delivery before noon. If I brought the boys here, would you watch Thomas and Josiah? I have neighbors that might help, but seeing how both of them know you, I think they’d be more comfortable.”

“I think that’d be all right.”

“Where are they now?” Grace asked, looking out at the empty wagon.

“At the doctor’s office. And that’s another thing. They’ve been injured, Miss Cantrell.”

“Injured? How?” Grace’s voice rose. “What happened?”

“On the way home from school yesterday three boys jumped them. They were beat up pretty bad, Josiah’s got a broken nose and bruised ribs. But really they’re more shaken than anything.”

Grace grabbed the doorknob to steady herself. “I’ll walk down to see them.”

His strong arm reached out to stop her. “Not now, the boys are resting and finally comfortable.”

Her legs weakened even as her heart skipped.

“My apprentice will help until I can bring them here.”

“Who would ever do such a thing?”

Jed just stared at her, hurt and anger reflected in his gaze and tightened jaw.

“We will do whatever you need, Jed,” Edith said.

“I appreciate this very much, ladies.” Jed put on his hat and walked back to the wagon.

Grace stayed on the porch until the wagon pulled out of sight.

A carriage appeared from the other direction. Hail Talbert waved at Jed as they passed each other. The carriage slowed as it approached the Farley home.

Grace went inside.

~*~

The one day Jed didn’t have Griffin was when he needed him the most. Seemed as if everybody in town wanted something fixed right away. He answered questions and took orders all morning. At noon, he closed the shop for a break. He hung the sign over the knob that said he would return later.

With the hay knife in the back of the wagon, he headed to Dr. Holt’s office. The doctor wasn’t at his desk, so he pushed open the door to the back room.

Josiah and Griffin were asleep.

Thomas sat in bed, eyes red from crying and cheeks still swollen. Dried mud splattered the pages that now lay wrinkled on his bed.

Jed sat on the end of the mattress. “They been asleep all morning?”

“No, Griffin told us funny stories and then went to get more rolls when we got hungry. They just fell asleep a little while ago.”

“How’re you feeling?”

“I can’t see out of this one eye too good. The doctor had me put some ice on it.”

“We’ll get some more later. That’ll make the swelling go down.”

“How long is it gonna be like this?”

“At least a week or so. It’ll look worse, and then it’ll get better.”

Thomas lifted one of the loose papers. “I don’t ever want to walk to school again.”

“Either I or Griffin will give you a ride.”

“But I still don’t think I should go. It’ll just happen again. The kids either make fun of Josiah for his scars, or me and my book. It’s not just about us being orphans.”

“I’m sorry this happened. But this wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m trying to put this back together, but it isn’t working. I think some of them got lost.”

Jed turned Thomas’s book around. The message from his mother was still on the inside cover. “You know, Thomas,” he said softly, “even if this got completely destroyed, you’d still have this book in your heart.”

Thomas’s brown eyes locked on Jed.

“When you read your mother’s words at school that day, everyone in that room felt how much she loved you. And how much you loved her. And nobody can take that from you.”

He nodded softly, and tears welled in his eyes. “But I wanted to keep it forever.”

“Well, you can, Thomas.” Jed brushed Thomas’s bangs to the side. “Only you can decide what gets destroyed. You don’t have to let the meanness of people tear you into pieces.”

“I’m glad you came that day. To hear me read. We was supposed to learn something we didn’t already have memorized, but I chose that anyway.” Thomas began to put the loose pages inside. “But don’t tell Miss Cantrell that.”

Jed patted Thomas’s leg. “Speaking of your teacher, we’re going to see her. I need to make a delivery, and I need Griffin’s help. She and Widow Farley said you could stay with them while we’re gone.” Jed looked over to the two sleeping princes. He moved to get up, but Thomas grabbed the crook in his elbow.

“Tell me why you took us in.”

Jed met Thomas’s gaze.

“That day you saw us at the train, in that big building.”

Jed scratched his cheek. “Well, I don’t rightly know how to put it into words.”

“I mean really. I wanna know.”

“I felt this deep desire in my heart and just knew that it was what the Lord wanted me to do.” He paused. “And I also knew that if I didn’t take you two with me, it’d be a long ride home.”

“I didn’t think we were ever gonna get chosen. I did want to, but then I didn’t. Like I wondered if we’d get somebody mean. Or if they would take Josiah without me.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that now.”

“Are we staying with you forever?”

“That’s the agreement I made.” Jed nodded. “Until you get married and make a home of your own.”

“Well, you’re not married.”

Jed rolled his eyes and pulled back Thomas’s sheets. “Come on, let’s get these two moving.”

~*~

Grace paced the length of the porch. Horses appeared beyond the bushes. Her heart thudded against her ribs. Two men on horseback rode toward the house but went on by. Her shoulders slumped. Did Mr. Green change his mind?

The corn had been carried to the shed, another three dresses ironed, and two batches of fresh dough lay in the bowls to rise. More than once she stepped off the porch and headed toward the doctor’s office, only to tell herself she needed patience.

The trot of hooves sounded around the bend. A fine carriage came into view. Two handsome looking sorrels pranced down the road. Mr. Talbert again. The tweed vest he wore matched the silky burnt umber sheen of his horses. The carved abalone buttons on that vest most likely cost more than any dress she’d ever purchased. He stopped the carriage in front of the house and removed his hat. “How are you this lovely day?”

Grace resisted the temptation to bolt inside. “Doing well, but I’m very busy.”

He loosened the reins. “Didn’t get a chance to speak with you at the festival. Did you enjoy yourself?”

“I did.”

“Well, that’s about as exciting as it gets around Sheldon. But I did have a bite of your apple pie. My favorite, of course.” He winked. “Sorry you didn’t win, but maybe next year.”

Grace thought to offer him some corn, but she didn’t want to encourage him.

Mr. Talbert shifted his weight and relaxed further in his seat. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry.

Grace stepped toward the front door. “I think I hear Edith calling. Good day.”

The clomping of horse hooves echoed on the dirt path. The work wagon came around the bend.

Her heart pulsed. She scampered down the steps, past the fine carriage and toward the road.

Griffin sat next to Jed on the seat. Thomas was in the back. The red and purple around Thomas’s eye matched the shade of canned plums. He smiled when he saw her, and the corner of his mouth lifted higher as he prepared to get down.

Griffin hopped to the ground, greeted her, and walked around to the back of the wagon.

Jed dismounted from the other side and reached in back to lift Josiah.

As the boy’s face came into view, Grace smothered a gasp.

His nose was black and blue and swollen. Josiah’s gaze met hers, and although he didn’t smile, the twinkle in his eye announced he was happy to see her.

“I’ll carry him into the house. Doctor said his ribs aren’t broken, but they’re mighty sore. I hate to move him, but after I get him back home, he ain’t moving for a good while.”

Grace ran to the house and held the front door open.

“Need some help there, Mr. Green?” Hail Talbert called from his carriage.

Jed looked up and so did Griffin. Both of their faces hardened. “We got it.” Jed replied.

Mr. Talbert began to ask questions from his fancy carriage, his voice loud.

Grace waved a farewell and then shut the front door. The sound of the carriage leaving barely registered. She got several blankets and the pillow from her bed to make a pallet on the floor. Two childhood books and several from Edith’s collection had been placed on the kitchen table.

Thomas picked up one and flipped through the pages.

“I’ll take good care of them, Mr. Green.” Grace placed her hands on the back of Thomas’s shoulders. “I promise.”

“I know you will.” Jed dipped his head toward her. “That’s why I asked.”

“I’ve got salt pork and apple fritters for supper if the boys stay that long.”

Thomas looked at Josiah and then at Jed.

“Perhaps the boys will allow me to read them a story,” Grace murmured.

“We best be going. Hope not to be gone more than a couple hours.”

Grace took a step and knocked one of the books off the table. She and Jed reached for it at the same time. He handed it to her, and when their gazes met she blushed as if Jed had read her thoughts.

Griffin knelt and whispered something that made Josiah giggle.

Jed placed his hand over Josiah’s. “I have to make a delivery. I need Griffin with me.” Jed lifted Thomas’s chin. “I will be back in a few hours. It’s important that you listen to Miss Cantrell and do what she says.” Jed and Griffin left.

Thomas pushed the curtains aside to peer out the window.

“Will you read me a story?” Josiah called to Grace.

“Sure. Just a minute.”

Through the cloudy windowpane, the wagon grew smaller in the distance.

“Should we save them some apple fritters or eat them all ourselves?” Grace asked Thomas.

“We should share,” said Thomas.

“You think a lot of your father, don’t you?”

“He’s not my father. He just took us in because he felt sorry for us.”