18

Sheriff Pryor walked into Jed’s house behind the Children’s Aid Society worker.

“Please have a seat. What’s this about?” Jed hooked his hat on the back of the chair.

“My name is Raymond Charles. I’ll make this brief as I know you’re a busy man. And sometimes that’s just the best way to handle these unfortunate things.”

“What unfortunate things?”

“Well, it seems a telegram was received about your parenting skills and the children’s inconsistent school attendance. And the young man you took in as an apprentice has incited violence, causing fights and physical harm to others. Furthermore, upon my arrival here, I’ve learned the youngest boy…” He scanned one of the pieces of paper in his hand. “Josiah K. Colefield, is currently missing after a fire on your property.”

“Those things are true, yes.”

“Just about the first thing I heard when I arrived here was talk that he caused the trouble. That’s why he fled and—”

“I’m sure he didn’t start the fire. He just got scared and ran off. I’m certain he will be found.”

“We as an organization—”

“Hold up,” Jed cut him off. “What telegram?”

Raymond Charles shuffled through his papers. “‘From a concerned citizen of Sheldon’ was how it was signed.” He extended it toward Jed. “You’re welcome to examine it yourself.”

Jed took the paper and fought the urge to crumble it between his fingers. Very few times had it bothered him that he couldn’t read. “It’s always been my intention to take good care of the boys,” Jed began. “And I admit I’ve been a little rough in some spots…”

Sheriff Pryor cleared his throat. “I looked the matter over myself, Jed. Mr. Charles is not accusing you of anything. He just needs to make sure the boys are safe.”

“And that you are following the guidelines discussed,” the worker insisted. “For one, the boys need to be in school. That apprentice of yours should be eighteen by the end of the month, which will relieve us of any obligations we have to check on him. I assume he’s doing fine as there’s been nothing indicated otherwise, but since I’m here, I’ll talk with him and look at the working conditions of the shop.”

“I’m all right.” Griffin appeared in the doorway, his arms folded and one shoulder against the frame.

Thomas stood to the side.

“Too bad you didn’t come around when I worked laying brick fourteen hours a day and went to bed on an empty stomach.” Griffin’s voice tinged with resentment.

“I assume you are Griffin?” Mr. Charles shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for—”

“I doubt that.” Griffin pushed away from the doorpost. “And if you were, you’d go home and leave us be. We’re doing fine here with Mr. Green. And if that high and mighty citizen was so worried they would’a signed their name.” His icy glare encompassed the sheriff and Mr. Charles.

“Thomas, go on ahead with Griffin,” Jed told him. “Everything’s fine. I’ll be there shortly.”

“No. Wait. Thomas. Your name is Thomas?” He looked through his papers again. “I’d like to speak with you. Ask you a few questions if that’s all right.”

Thomas said nothing.

Raymond Charles moved a chair and motioned for Thomas to sit down. “What can you tell me about Mr. Green? Is this your home where you sleep?”

Thomas nodded and pointed to the bedroom. “We pull the bed tick out and sleep on that. Josiah and I. We do chores in the morning before school and after.”

“And what would that be?”

“Carry water from the well, cut wood sometimes, but mostly we stack it, then pick it up and carry it after Griffin cuts it. We scrub the dishes and help with laundry. We practice our reading and say our math tables. We pray before supper.”

“Have you missed some days of school?”

“Yes. Josiah had a bad cough one time. Then we stayed home for a few days after Josiah, and I got jumped.”

“And were you alone when this happened?”

Thomas nodded. “Sometimes Josiah and I walk home from school by ourselves, but so do lots of other kids. Is Mr. Green in trouble?”

Mr. Charles hesitated before he spoke. “I’m here to make sure you and…” He fumbled through his papers.

“Josiah,” Jed answered.

“Josiah are well-taken care of, and that Mr. Green has done everything he said he would do.”

“You aren’t taking us from him, are you?”

“It’s important that we find Josiah. Do you know where he is?”

Thomas shook his head, looking ready to cry.

“Did he run away after he started the fire?”

Jed gripped the knob of the chair.

“He didn’t start the fire. The roof caught a spark in the forge. I saw it. But Josiah got scared because that’s how his family died. He told me that a long time ago. That’s why he don’t like fire.”

Raymond Charles nodded.

“Mr. Green is real good to us. He tries real hard even though he’s a little grumpy sometimes.”

Sheriff Pryor stifled a chuckle, but the break from tension in the room was short-lived.

Thomas’s lips quivered, and tears poured from his eyes. “Please don’t make us leave. Josiah will come back. We’ve all been prayin’. He likes Mr. Green, and he likes school too. We both do. Miss Cantrell’s real nice.”

“Miss Cantrell?”

“The schoolteacher.”

Mr. Charles nodded and then stood.

Sheriff Pryor moved toward the man. “I understand you have a job to do, Mr. Charles. And it sounds like the home got off to a rough start, and the boys have missed some school. I’d heard some of the children hadn’t been accepting, and it’s true on one occasion the two boys were roughed up pretty bad. But that doesn’t seem to be a reflection on Mr. Green’s ability to care for the children.”

“But why is the boy missing? And where did he go? I can’t finish my work here until I know.” He turned to Jed. “While we wait, I’ll be checking into the things you’ve said, and the things I’ve heard.”

~*~

A lonesome howl filtered through the back door Grace had left ajar to create a breeze. The cry echoed the stirrings inside her. She loved Edith. Loved teaching. But both could be stripped from her. Earlier today the most recent news made it around town.

Mr. Hennessy sent word that his mother had passed on, and after tying up ends they would leave for Sheldon.

“Are coyotes spotted here like they are in Kansas?” she asked Edith.

“Seldom. Not enough trees for them to hide out in. Occasionally, you’ll hear of a rancher or sheep herder killing one.”

Grace scooped Edith’s beans onto her spoon. “You haven’t finished your dinner.”

Edith shook her head.

“Do you not like the salt pork I cooked with them?”

“They’re fine. Just not that hungry.”

“You’ve hardly eaten,” she said, giving what she hoped was a look of love and concern.

“Why you askin’ about coyotes?”

Grace stacked Edith’s plate onto hers. “Oh, I just heard the yelps coming from that direction.”

“That’s not a coyote. Farmer Holcomb has got a litter of puppies born the other day. He breeds them every fall about this time. Sells them, as they’re good hunting dogs.”

Grace set her teacup on the saucer with a clatter as a realization dawned on her.

“What’s wrong?” Edith squinted.

“Where is the Holmes farm?”

“Halfway between here and Rimm Creek.”

“On the way to Carter’s Ridge?”

“Not nearly that far but in that general direction. Why?”

“I think I know where Josiah could’ve gone.”

“What?” Edith looked in the direction of Carter’s Ridge, even though she couldn’t see it from the kitchen. “Where?”

Grace undid her apron and hung it on the wall. She went to the bedroom, still talking, and retrieved her cloak. “A place where the boys played during one of our science outings. It’s down in a small ravine at the mouth of Rimm Creek. There’s a hideout, the boys called it.”

“How do you know?” Edith asked. “How do you know he’s there?”

“I don’t. But I have this strong inclination.” She pulled her bonnet from the peg and tied it. “Can I take the carriage?”

“You may not.”

“Why not?”

“It’s getting dark.”

The sun had begun to set, and although the ride wouldn’t be that far, she’d need time to bridle the horses. “All right, then I’ll go on horseback.”

Edith’s fingers tightened around her cane. “Horseback?”

“Stay here. I’ll be back soon.” Grace scampered toward the barn.

The dusty, white gelding with cinnamon spots lifted its head. He blinked as she secured the saddle. Did the horse think she’d gone mad too? Perhaps the animal felt her anxiety. Grace mounted. The thought crossed her mind that she might need someone with her. But valuable time wasted pressed her ahead. She kicked her heels into the beast and let loose with the reins.

~*~

Grace stopped at the first home.

A large house with two windows in front planked by ivory curtains sat isolated amid a river of sorghum. An older gentleman with a wiry beard and mustache sat in a rocking chair in the dogtrot. A breeze whipped through the opening between the two shelters and blew the strands of his thin, gray hair. A buxom and heavy-set woman with fiery red hair pulled tight underneath her day cap stepped onto the porch. She held a broom in her hands, her apron neatly pressed and her pleats crisp. The woman eyed Grace suspiciously, pausing at her feet.

Mud was splattered all over Grace’s best dress. “Could you direct me to the Holmes’ property?”

The woman pointed in the general direction without saying a word.

Rows of sorghum lined the fields with twice the acreage Grace’s pa had. How envious he would’ve been of that much land. Grace heard dogs yelping before she spotted the settler’s cabin. A wooden pen behind the house contained furry critters. Grace dismounted and tied the horse to a hitching post in the yard. She lifted her fist to knock.

The door cracked. A young boy of seven or eight peeked through the opening and then slowly widened it further. He wore frayed suspenders over a threadbare shirt, and the holes in his pants stretched almost halfway around his leg.

“Is your ma or pa at home?” Grace asked. “I’m looking for a particular place and thought somebody could guide me.”

He blinked, his eyes big and dreary.

The door thrust open. “Billy, what’re you—” A woman with long, stringy brown hair draped past her shoulders pushed the door open wider. The sobbing baby she held high on her hip looked to be about a year old. The poor child, shirtless and with a runny nose, stuck his fingers in his mouth. “Yes, what do you want?” She pushed her son aside. “Go on now, Billy. Get to your sister.”

“Sorry to bother you. I’m Miss Cantrell, Sheldon’s schoolteacher. I’m looking for a place the boys in my class have talked about. They call it the hideout. Supposed to be—”

“I know the place. What you want with it?”

“One of my students is missing. He’s run away. I’m thinking he may have gone there.”

“It’s down yonder from our barn, on the other side of our property.” Her voice rose abruptly. “But it’s on our land, and my husband is lying down. He may have your hide if he knows you’re on his property. You gonna to be there long?”

Grace shook her head.

“Better hope not. Those rocks get slick in the rain.” put a snap in her voice. “Billy! Come walk this lady.”

“No need to do that, ma’am. I don’t want to cause a problem.”

The tired mother scoffed, then spoke under her breath. “Well, my husband has enough liquor in him to stay out for a while.” The baby started to cry and she jostled him to her other hip. Another cry sounded from the other room. “Maybe it’s best you go on by yourself. I don’t know what’s keeping my boy. There’s a footpath from the barn that leads to a trail. Stay right and you’ll see where the stone comes up from the ground. Part of the rock has caved in. You’ll know it when you see it.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” Grace paused. “Your baby has your beautiful eyes.”

The woman smiled, and for a lady no older than a few years past twenty, the lines in her face held a tiredness that caused Grace’s heart to weep.

“Ignore them yappin’ dogs. They’re harmless. Couple of ’em got out a few days back, so if you spot one of ’em loose don’t worry yourself none. They won’t hurt ya.”

“I’ll remember that.” Grace smiled. “I’d love for your son to come to the schoolhouse. I have others his age, and—”

“I need him at home. So does his Pa.” She paused and sighed. “Maybe someday.” She closed the door, the baby’s cries echoing.

Grace returned to the gelding and led him by the reins to the back of the house. The wind had picked up, blowing her skirt against her body.

Chestnut-colored puppies, which looked to be bloodhounds, fought for space along the fenced-in coop to look at the stranger passing through.

Thick clouds moved across the sky.

Her horse grunted as they approached the barn.

Grace found the path easily just as the woman had said.

The gelding stopped to nibble a stalk of tall grass just before a set of rocks that jutted from the earth.

Grace tugged hard to get the animal to go again. The sky grew darker, and her stomach fluttered that perhaps she had been hasty to travel this far so late in the day. She understood why the boys talked about the place so much. Plenty of spots to hide in the large grooves between rocks. And they were all relatively flat, making them climbable and easy to jump off.

A faint whimper came from somewhere.

Grace listened but didn’t hear it again. Perhaps she heard the puppies back at the house. Without a tree to hitch the horse to, she let the reins go. She placed her hands on the bridge of the horse’s nose. “You stay put, all right?” she playfully asked the animal, as if he understood.

The whimpering sounded a second time.

“Hello?” Grace called. “Josiah?” She found a narrow division between the rocks and stepped through.

Individual clouds had disappeared, the sky was a dirty gray mass. The mist fell and grew heavier.

A hollowed spot appeared in the distance where the earth had eroded away from the rock. Almost like a cave—she had found the hideout. Curious, her steps quickened. She had to use her hands for support because the wet stones were slippery. Her right foot slipped out from underneath her. Her arms stiffened, but her palms slid down the slick rocks as she fell with a hard thud. A pain shot deep into her tailbone. “Aaagghh!” Grace cried.

“Hello?” a small voice called.

Grace froze; her heart raced. “Someone there?” Grace pushed to her hands and knees. “Josiah? Josiah?”

Rain fell harder. Small, loose rocks provided better footing than large, flat surfaces, so she stepped cautiously.

The path took a turn, and in the hollowed-out, caved-in area lay a mound of pearly hair. The boy was curled on the ground, barefoot and dirty, in wet clothes.

“Josiah!” Grace called. She ran to him.

Something moved beside him. Sandy-white fur with large spots of rusty brown wiggled about.

Grace fell onto her knees. “Josiah, I’m so glad I found you.” She brushed his long bangs to the side.

“I’m sorry. I got hurt. But Copper has been here with me the whole time.” Josiah’s eyelids were barely open and his constant shivers vibrated his whole body

A tiny, black nose inched in between Josiah’s shoulder and his ear. The puppy looked to be one of the hunting dogs from the pen. He had dark, glassy eyes and adorable, rust-colored freckles on the bridge of his nose. He whimpered as he snuggled against Josiah, two babies protecting and sheltering each other in the storm. The dog licked Josiah’s face.

“Hurt?” Grace’s spirits plummeted.

“My leg. I can’t get up.” Josiah sat up and pulled his pant leg back. His ankle was swollen and bruised. “I found Copper right here. He was crying ’cause he couldn’t crawl out of the hole. But he stopped when I started petting his head. Then I slipped and fell trying to carry him out.”

His leg didn’t look broken. She touched his ankle and he winced. “Josiah, we’ve got to get you home somehow. Griffin, Thomas, and Mr. Green are worried sick. What happened that made you run off?”

“The fire scared me, so I just started running. I remembered coming here that one time. And that’s when I heard Copper crying. I’m bringing him home with me.”

“Josiah, he’s not yours.” Her words were gentle but firm.

“He is now.” Josiah turned his head toward the puppy. “He likes me. And I asked Mr. Green one time if we could get a dog and he said that maybe someday we could.”

Thunder boomed overhead. The light rain became heavier.

“Let’s see if I can put you on my horse.”

The horse had wandered to graze.

Grace brought the horse to Josiah. She placed the pup on the ground, and he immediately squirmed and yelped. His little body shook from either the rain or fright, and he wiggled his way under the folds of Grace’s long skirt. She helped Josiah stand on his good leg. He mounted the horse with his left foot in the stirrup and swung his right leg around. Grace picked up Copper, and he howled and wiggled, but once she placed him in Josiah’s arms, he quieted down.

She grabbed the bridle and led the horse toward the front of the house.

Josiah’s eyes widened when he saw the pen of puppies the same breed and coloring as Copper.

“Stay on the horse.” Grace stepped onto the small porch, and the door cracked open. The young boy peered out. Before she could speak, large fingers laced with dirt under the nails jerked the door wider. The man wasn’t much taller than Grace, but what he lacked in size he made up for in intimidation. His glassy eyes stared down Grace with vile that almost paralyzed her.

“Sorry to intrude. I came looking for one of my students who ran off.” Grace looked back at Josiah. “When I found him, he had discovered one of your pups—”

“Heh?” The man stumbled forward, and then staggered back, looked at Josiah, and then glared back at Grace. “What you want?”

“This boy here,” Grace gestured toward Josiah. “He found one of your litter—”

“He stole something?”

The smell of liquor on the man’s breath, very much like her stepfather’s, soured her stomach.

“No, Papa,” the young boy explained. “Remember two of them pups ran off?”

“Ran off?” he growled.

“Yes. Remember, Pa?”

“Would it be all right if he kept the animal? Someone could see that you get compensated.”

The man lifted his left hand, and then opened his mouth, but no words came out. His eyes shut briefly.

“Ma!” The young boy hollered.

His mother stepped behind her son and placed her arms around her husband’s shoulders to guide him. “Come on, let’s go lay down.”

The man shuffled his feet and grumbled about some woman and her dog. His long, gangly arms hung by his side.

The woman motioned for Grace to go and then pushed the door shut.

Grace took that as a sign of approval. For now.

Josiah shivered so hard his teeth rattled. The bundle in his arm had nestled itself in tight.

Grace led the horse and headed toward home.

The sun was below the horizon. A few scattered, amethyst clouds streaked their way across a fiery amber glow that tried to poke through the gray, rainy mist.

“Are we going home?”

“Yes, Josiah. We’re going home.”

The rain made a soft plinking sound on the tall grass.

“Good,” mumbled a sleepy Josiah.

Grace’s eyelids grew heavy as she and the horse plodded along the wet ground. Her heart sank at their slow pace, but she had to go on. Edith would worry.

Josiah sneezed. “Thank you for finding me. I was sad, and then scared, and didn’t know what to do. So I remembered to pray like Mr. Green does with us at night.”

A flutter swept across Grace’s heart as her soul paused. Jesus talked about the belief of little children. Josiah’s faith was so simple and innocent. “Thank you, Josiah.”

“For what?”’

“I’m not sure.” Grace chuckled. “Just for being a special little boy. It’s been an honor to have you in my class. And when your chair was empty, a place in my heart was very, very sad.”

Although they didn’t have much farther to go, the sky would soon be too dark to travel.

Grace‘s foot slipped on a rock. Her left ankle gave way. She cried out in pain.

“Are you all right, Miss Cantrell?” Josiah asked.

“I think so.” She shifted her weight to her right leg but when she tried to stand, a sharp jolt went up the side of her calf. Her knee buckled. “We need to stop for a minute.” After a bit, she stepped forward again. The pain that coursed through her ankle made her see stars. “Josiah, I’ve twisted my ankle. Do you think you can take one more night with Copper? I’m sure my leg will be better in the morning.”

“All right. Copper likes it outside.” Josiah sat up taller, looking off into the distance. “Something’s ahead, Miss Cantrell.”

A yellow glow appeared through the mist, followed by the sound of wagon wheels.

“Hello! Over here!” Grace shouted.

The driver held a lantern in one hand, the reins in the other. The light shifted with the rough ride, and a shadow cast across a beige jacket. The man stopped the carriage, then stood in the seat. His lantern moved from Josiah and the horse, to Grace. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?” The flame reflected off Hail Talbert’s bushy eyebrows and manicured mustache. “A woman such as yourself has no place doing such things.”

“I had to look for Josiah. I didn’t think the journey would take this long.”

He got down from the carriage and held the light toward Josiah’s face. “This one of them that belongs to the blacksmith?”

“How did you know to look for us?”

“Mrs. Beauregard dropped in to see her sister, and Mrs. Farley told her you had taken off in this direction. She mentioned it to me in passing.”

Grace tried to move but winced as pain shot up her leg.

“What’s wrong?” Hail Talbert moved his lantern toward Grace. “You hurt?”

“My ankle is sore, that’s all. I’m fine. Just get the boy back home. I can ride the horse back.”

“You will do no such thing.” Hail Talbert reached up and grabbed Josiah.

The dog wiggled and yelped.

“His leg is hurt too, much worse than mine. Please be careful.”

He scoffed and plopped Josiah in the back seat of the wagon.

The boy held Copper tight, the puppy’s black nose resting in the crook of Josiah’s arm.

Hail Talbert carried the lantern over and bent down. “Let me see how you’re hurt.”

“I’m not showing you my ankle.” Grace’s jaw tightened.

He cupped the small of Grace’s back with one hand.

Grace tried to push him away. “I cannot travel with you. It’s not proper.”

His left hand hooked under the back of her knees, and he lifted her off her feet. “Nonsense. You’re injured.” He placed her in the front of the wagon. “Try stretching your leg out in front of you.” Then he tied Edith’s horse with the others.

“Mr. Talbert, please, listen to me.”

He pushed his face inches from Grace and glared. At first he seemed angry, but then a crooked grin sneaked across his pompous face.

“At least allow me to ride in back with Josiah.”

“No need to worry. This’ll all work out to everyone’s benefit. You’ll see.”

“Work out?” Grace asked.

“Yes.” He stroked her cheek with his fingertip.

She slapped his hand away.

His smile vanished as eerily as it had come. “I’m confident you’ll change in time.” He moved to the other side of the wagon and mounted.

Grace tried to move, but the pain was too great. She was unable to see Josiah. Her heart raced. She reached a hand back until she felt Josiah’s leg. “Let’s both pray, Josiah,” she whispered. “Just as you told me about.”