14

The wagon jostled through the stream.

“Where do these people live?” Griffin finally erupted. “Ain’t nothin’ out here.”

“Farm country. Fertile land around these parts.”

“Why couldn’t they pick it up at the shop?”

“He said it’d be a while before he could find his way back into town. They aren’t too much for mixing with people.”

“Who’re we actually takin’ this to?”

“The Reifstacks.”

Griffin tore off his hat and slapped it against the side of his leg. “Why didn’t you tell me that back there? You actually want me to be five feet away from those—” Griffin’s jaw clenched.

“You’ll have to trust me. To show you how to pound iron. To run a business.” He angled his head. “And to work with people.”

“You gonna make them boys a slingshot too?”

“Paxton Hubbard has done all right, and he’s not so bad. Just needed someone to accept him. Sometimes you have to heap burning coals.”

Griffin scrunched his face. “What?”

“The Bible says to love those who’ve hurt us. Being good to an enemy is like placing a pile of hot coals on their head.”

“Don’t make no sense.”

It would someday. Although Griffin’s loose temper had stiffened the hairs on the back of Jed’s neck more than a time or two, Jed had discovered an honest, hard-working young man who wanted nothing more than to find his place. His place in a world that had given him very little. Griffin didn’t trust people, and if Jed had traveled down the same path, he probably wouldn’t either.

The property extended for miles on a flat terrain. Jed found the area too remote. The small home had been built many years ago. But it had been made for one or two sharecroppers to bunk in, not a family of five. Abner Reifstack toiled every day for years on land he’d never own. Seemed like a lot of laborious energy not put to effective use.

Jed pulled the wagon to a stop.

One of the Reifstack boys tended to the oxen just outside the barn. The other two pushed a pull saw across a large timber. All three stopped what they were doing. Curtains pulled back from inside the house. A moment later, Mrs. Reifstack stepped outside. She dried her hands on her apron and looked warily at her unexpected guests. Long, ratty hair had been pulled haphazardly into a bun, loose strands hanging.

The boy with the oxen turned his head and hollered toward the opened barn. A voice yelled back from inside. A moment later Abner emerged. He stood in the entrance, a bucket in one hand. The knees on his faded overalls had been worn threadbare. He plopped the bucket down and walked toward the wagon. His limp had grown worse over the years and he had a vengeful gleam in his eye every time Jed encountered him. He bellowed at the boys to get back to work. “Well, Jedidiah Green, what brings you out this way?”

“I got your hay knife finished. Thought I’d bring it out to you.”

“Oh, you made a special trip? No reason for that,” he chuckled, “although hard tellin’ when I could get to ya.”

“I figured you could use it, and I needed to talk to you anyway.”

“Oh, really. What about?”

“Well,” Jed cleared his throat. “It’s about your boys.”

Abner’s face hardened. “All right. What about ’em?”

“Seems like your three had a run-in with my apprentice during the festival. And yesterday, with the two young boys I’ve taken in.”

“Now, I know about the festival up in Sheldon. Sheriff had done been out here to talk with me. Don’t know nothin’ about a few days ago, though.”

Griffin’s eyes were riveted on the farmer.

“The two boys living with me—one is twelve; the other six. Both small and frail, not much they could do to defend themselves against stocky lads like your boys. They claim they were jumped walking home from school. Said it was the same three they encountered at the festival. I’ve found no reason for them not to be honest. They were hurt pretty bad and shook up too.” Jed paused. “Did your boys come to town yesterday?”

Reifstack’s eyes flickered, then his jaw tightened. “Well, I doubt it was them. They aren’t angels by any means, but they’d get a whoopin’ if I heard them takin’ ’vantage of the puny.”

Mrs. Reifstack stepped toward the wagon. She looked tired and worn. She was not yet thirty, but a hard life had done her in. She paused before Griffin and folded her arms. “Don’t know what you talkin’ about, Mister. My boys were here with me yesterday. All day. Ain’t that right, Billy? Sounds like someone’s a little ’shamed he got his butt whooped at the festival. Now, he’s comin’ around here and makin’ accusations.”

Abner Reifstack gestured with one hand. “Lena, go on in the house and let me handle this.”

“Why? What you gonna do? Don’t you go lashin’ my boys on account of this no-good New York scum.” She looked at Griffin, a devilish smile on her worn face. Her voice lowered to a grumble. “Don’t have no Mama or Papa. He can’t be all that important to anybody.”

“Lena!” Reifstack jabbed his finger toward the house. “Get back on the porch and hush your mouth.”

She laughed and strolled toward the house.

Jed had rarely seen such defiance and bitterness come from a woman.

Abner Reifstack turned his head to one side. “Billy, get yourself on over here.”

Billy came forward, his bare feet caked with dirt. His stained pants had a big rip in the knee, and the hem lay about two inches above his ankles.

Abner whistled and then gestured for the two to come.

Billy grabbed ahold of the top of his suspenders. “Yes, Pappy.”

“Jedidiah Green seems to think you and your brothers had another mix-up with those orphans. You know anything about that?”

Billy shook his head.

The two younger brothers walked up. Neither had shirts on under their overalls. Sweat mixed with dirt beaded on their forehead, their dusty cheeks reddened with the blaring heat from the sun.

“What about you boys? You up in Sheldon yesterday botherin’ Mr. Green’s take-ins?”

“No, Pappy,” the older one spoke. “We’s here workin’ yesterday.”

Reifstack nodded and then turned to Jed. “Well, you heard ’em. Perhaps your orphans mistaken my boys for someone else.”

“I hear you, but I don’t think so.” Jed stepped down from the wagon. “My apprentice and I will get this hay knife out of the back for you.”

Griffin didn’t move.

Billy stepped toward Jed and helped him unload it.

“Where do you want it?” Jed asked.

“Over yonder is fine.” Reifstack directed. “Somewhere up against the barn.”

Jed and Billy placed the heavy piece against the barn wall, and then Jed extended his hand toward Billy. “Thank you, young man.”

Billy looked at Jed and then reached out and shook.

Reifstack motioned to one of the other boys. “Go on inside and fetch me—”

Jed interrupted. “No need to pay me or trade. This here’s on me.”

Griffin brought his hands to his face and propped his elbows on his thighs. His fingers gripped the roots of his hair.

“But this’ll be the last service I do for you, your family, or Mr. Jeffries.”

Griffin’s hands relaxed and he looked up.

Abner Reifstack’s face paled, and his eyes dulled. “Well, where’s Mr. Jeffries supposed to have me take his farm equipment? The shop in Carter’s Ridge done closed up. The smith’s shoulder done wore out.”

“Heard about that. Happened last year.” He gestured toward Griffin. “Hopefully I’ve got me a good ten years at least before I hand it over.”

“Is that all you got to offer?”

“Well, Baxterville has a blacksmith and a joiner. Fort Worth has several. So does Wellington.”

“I can’t be traveling that far.” Abner shook his head and seemed nervous. “Mr. Jeffries ain’t gonna be happy ’bout this. Not one bit.”

“Perhaps you should pray nothing breaks down. But I can’t,”—Jed paused—“I won’t support someone who’s injured someone who belongs to me. Especially more than once. They were walking home from school. Both half the strength and size of one of yours. That’s meanness, Abner. And I’m obligated to see to their protection and welfare as long as I’m living.”

A breeze whipped through the yard. The stiffened silence between the two men spoke more than shouting. A loose board around the window on the house flapped with the sudden air. An ox lifted his head and looked their way.

Billy opened his mouth to speak.

Abner Reifstack’s gaze bored into Jed’s. “You hush up, boy, and get back to your animal.” Without moving his head, Reifstack’s eyes shifted to the two shirtless boys. They ran back to their work.

Jed tugged on the brim of his hat. He pulled the wagon forward and circled it around.

Mrs. Reifstack was still on the porch, and daggers glared from her eyes.

They drove farther. Jed’s tension released from his shoulders.

Griffin relaxed against the back rest. “So, that’s what you call heaping burning coals?”

“Yep.”.

“If you think that’ll be the end of hearing from those boys, you’re crazy.”

“Whoa.” Jed pulled on the reins and the horses stopped.

“What’re we doing now?” Griffin asked.

Jed climbed down and to the other side. “You’re going to drive the wagon.”

“Now?” Griffin asked.

Jed pointed toward the driver’s seat.

Griffin grabbed the reins and then froze. “What happens if the horses don’t move?”

“You have to show them who’s boss. But you can’t bully them into obeying.”

Griffin swallowed and then exhaled.

“You’ll do fine.” Jed patted him on the back. “And if you don’t, there ain’t nobody out in these parts anyway.”

~*~

Grace pulled a leaf of lamb’s ear from the plant and handed it to Thomas.

His fingers swept over the soft, furry leaf. A bright smile emerged. “Never had a garden in New York.”

“You can use a few to line the insides of your shoes. A trick my pa taught me.”

“Can we get some for Josiah and Griffin? And Mr. Green too?”

“Sure. Why don’t you pick some for them while I grab some rosehips and chamomile?” She made her way through the herb garden, stopping to pluck the chives that relentlessly insisted on invading her pennyroyal.

“My mother likes chamomile tea.” Thomas knelt in the dirt, his profile perfectly highlighted with the tall larkspur’s delicate blue flowers and deep green leaves.

“So, your mother is alive?”

Thomas’s hands froze. “Well, I’m not sure. She was real sick. One day I came home from market and she was gone.”

Grace felt her chest tighten. “I bet you miss her very much.”

“A lady and a man came and took me to the mission. That’s when he gave me my book. He said the book was all they found, but we had a few more things. Like a picture of her on a table by the bed. Wish I still had it. I’ve started to forget what she looked like.”

“Well, you have her memories.”

“That’s what Mr. Green said.” He stroked the leaves he had collected. “I wish you were my mom.”

Grace almost released the handful of herbs. Her heart warmed with a tingling sensation.

“I like Mr. Green and all. He’s just kinda grumpy sometimes. But then sometimes he’s not.” He picked up a clump of dirt and squished it. “Can’t figure out why he took us. I keep askin’ but he won’t tell me.”

Grace dropped the chives into her basket. “What do you mean?”

“Well, he ain’t got no wife. Griffin said Mr. Green took him because he was after help in the shop.” He sat back on his heels. “This man from the train got mad at Mr. Green. Said he couldn’t take me and Josiah if he didn’t take Griffin too.”

“He seems to take good care of you and Josiah.”

“I’m starting to worry he might change his mind and think we’re too much for him.” Thomas pulled a tall weed, tossed it aside, and then stood. “We better get back to check on Josiah.”

“Edith is watching him. He should sleep for a while.” Grace brushed the dirt from her skirt. “I need to look in on the hens. Something has been spooking them the last few nights.”

Thomas walked beside her, holding his leaves.

Grace had never known two children she so badly wanted to be around. “I want you to know how well you completed your oration when the parents came. Your mother was a very special person.”

“You told me that already.”

She smiled. “Well, you worked hard.”

“Not really. I already had it memorized.”

Grace touched his shoulder. “Go into the house. I’ll check on the hens.”

Thomas scampered ahead. His coal-black hair curled just above his collar. The hem of his loose pants hung about an inch and a half too long. Fresh dirt smudged the back of his pants from the garden soil. Thomas had no idea of the value of his genuineness and loyalty.

“Miss Cantrell!” Thomas called. “Miss Cantrell. That one lady is back.”

A tower of black stood on the porch. The folds of her dress expanded in the swift breeze resembling a dark flag. When her head turned their direction, she stepped to the end of the porch.

Grace handed Thomas her basket. “Run along to the hen house. Gather any eggs and make sure their water and feed trough is full.”

Thomas placed his lamb’s ear in the basket and went toward the hen house.

Grace walked briskly in the direction of the house.

Hortense said nothing but glared with disdain, much like the intimidation tactics Grace’s stepmother, Delma, had used.

“Hello, Mrs. Beauregard.” Grace walked up the stairs. “Lovely day for a visit with your sister.”

“Stop the false kindness, Miss Cantrell. I know what you’re up to. And I don’t approve.” She narrowed her eyes. “Not one bit.”

Grace stepped onto the porch and pushed her bonnet off her face. “What I’m up to? I don’t understand.”

“Taking an undeserved liking to your students. And it’s two in particular I’m concerned about.”

“Thomas and Josiah are here with Edith’s permission. As a favor to Mr. Green. And I don’t favor students over the others.”

“You’ve brought orphans into my sister’s home. Orphans who bring diseases.”

“The boys appear healthy. Underfed and weak when they came, but they are already plumping up. And they are cleaner and nicer dressed than some of the other children who attend school.”

Hortense folded her arms. “Don’t ever bring those filth-ridden maggots into my sister’s home again.”

“And those are words of a godly woman concerned about Sheldon? Perhaps you should share your grievances with Reverend Parks after church on Sunday. Ask him his thoughts on what the Bible says about caring for others who have less than yourself.”

Hortense took one step forward, so close that Grace could see the expensive rice powder that coated her wrinkled skin. “Townsfolk agree with me on this,” she said.

“I didn’t mention the townsfolk. It’s about God’s Word. How would the Lord want us to treat these children? Any children?”

“My, my, my. You sure do have a lot of gumption.” Her hard gaze locked on Grace. “I suspect more than your two sisters.”

“What about my sisters?” she asked.

“Oh, I know all about you, Miss Cantrell. I asked Sheriff Pryor and some others. Your two sisters came to town with agreements to marry men they’d never met. One married a former deputy within the hour of stepping off a train. They’ve both now ran off. Just disappeared. The other has promised herself to a whore-chasing drunk.”

Grace stepped back, her gaze foggy. Her legs felt numb. One hand reached for the doorframe. A stirring nearby helped her regain focus and brought steadiness.

Thomas stood near the steps. His face had become pallid.

Grace extended her arm toward him. “Come inside, Thomas.”

Thomas looked at the old woman in the dark dress and then at Grace. He moved to the right side of the steps, away from the visitor.

Grace opened the door, and Thomas trailed inside.

“I also came to tell you something else, Miss Cantrell.”

Grace folded her arms and lifted her chin.

“A telegram arrived this morning. It’s possible that Mr. Hennessy may not need to be absent the entire school term after all. His mother has taken a considerable turn for the worse, and upon her death he will return to Sheldon to procure his former duties.”

“But I signed a contract for one year. Until this spring. The children—”

“I hope it doesn’t come to this, but contracts can be broken, Miss Cantrell. Especially if there’s good reason.”

“What contract you all talking about?” Hail Talbert pulled on the lapel of his tweed jacket as he stepped up to the porch. He released one hand to lift his fine brimmed hat and then set it back down with the gracefulness of a practiced gentleman. A brown and white beagle with a black spot near his tail rustled around his feet. He sniffed the ground anxiously and then climbed onto the porch. “Shadow, get back down here.”

The dog circled the porch around Grace’s legs but avoided Hortense. With a click of his owner’s tongue, the beagle made his way back down the steps.

“Is there a problem this afternoon, ladies?” he asked again. “Beautiful day for a walk. Anything I can help with?”

“I’m finished here.” Hortense dipped her head at him and shot a final dagger toward Grace. “I’m sure I made my sentiments clear, Miss Cantrell.” Hortense marched off toward town.

Grace made a lame effort to confront the unexpected visitor. “Excuse me, Mr. Talbert, but I’m needed inside. Enjoy your walk.” She opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it during the beginning of his rebuttal. She drew a deep breath to calm her uneasiness. Something prickled through her at the thought of Mr. Talbert. He’d come around twice in such a short time. Lord, give me wisdom regarding those two.

The quiet in the house seemed too still. She stepped into her bedroom.

Thomas stood by the bed.

Edith dabbed a wet rag across Josiah’s forehead. Her worried gaze turned toward Grace. “He’s got a fever.”