19

Jed dropped a handful of gooseberries into the grits and ladled a serving onto Thomas’s plate. “Try to eat something.”

The air seemed heavier since the Children’s Aid Society worker left yesterday. Griffin rarely spoke, and Thomas had to be told to get out of bed in the morning, both very much unlike themselves.

Jed sat down and tried not to look at the empty seat at the table. He nudged Thomas. “Come on now. Get some food in you before school.”

“I’m not hungry.” Thomas’s thumbnail rubbed the spine of his book.

Griffin handed Thomas the rest of his corn fritter. “Here. Last one left.”

Thomas shook his head.

Griffin popped the piece into his mouth. “How about we get the slingshot out when you get home?”

Thomas shrugged and got up. He grabbed his metal lunch pail in one hand.

“Hey,” Jed called to him. “Here’s your book.”

“I don’t need it.” He went out the door.

A meadowlark called from somewhere.

Jed took a sip of the coffee Griffin had made.

“We got just about everything cleaned up and the boards replaced.” Griffin scraped the last bit of honey from his plate with his finger. “Should be ready for business.”

“Think I’ll walk Thomas to school today.” Jed rose.

“How about I do that so you can get started,” Griffin suggested as he got up. “That farmer that came in from west of here is needing that plow fixed by the end of the day.”

Jed stacked the dishes on the table.

Griffin slapped him on the back. “You’re probably tired of me saying this, but if you had a woman you wouldn’t have to do all this clean up.” He picked his work boots up. “That’s what I’m going to do. But I got seven years before I can think about that. And you bet I’ll have me one picked out by then.”

A scream came from outside.

Jed and Griffin ran out the door.

Thomas trotted besides a wagon heading toward the house.

Hail Talbert drove two fine looking Morgans into Jed’s yard.

Jed saw the curve of a small, round head.

Thomas scrambled up and into the back before the wagon came to a full stop.

Griffin blazed ahead of Jed, reaching into the back of the wagon. “What’re you doing, little buddy?” Griffin yelled, happiness evident in his tone.

Josiah’s blond hair looked duller, but his smile held the same shine. A pup squirmed at the boy’s side.

Thomas hugged Josiah’s neck, speechless, with tears of joy running down his cheeks.

The puppy rose on his hind legs to get his nose between them.

Jed shook Talbert’s hand. He rested his hands on his hips. “Where’d you find him?”

Talbert looked down. “North of here, up toward Pritchard’s farm. That’s probably one of his pups. I brought them back late last night. It was too dark to get him home to you. I left at first light as I knew you’d be worried.”

“What were you doing up there?”

“Miss Cantrell, the schoolmistress, found him. She’s at home now. I assured her that I would bring him home safely to you.”

“What?” Jed looked at the boy.

Josiah’s face fell. “Sorry, Mr. Green.” He pushed up but stopped as if in pain. “I started running and didn’t know where to go. Then I remembered when Paxton took us to that hideout. And I found it all by myself.”

“What’s wrong with your leg?” Jed pulled up the little boy’s pant leg. His ankle was swollen and a purplish-green color.

“I slipped and fell trying to get Copper out of a hole.”

“Copper?” Thomas asked. “His name is Copper?”

Griffin massaged behind the dog’s ears.

The pup closed his eyes into sleepy slits.

“It’s a girl. And I named her ’cause she’s got these spots just like a penny.” Josiah rubbed his belly. “Miss Cantrell talked to the folks, and she thinks I can keep him.”

“Did she say that?” Jed asked. He’d be talking to Grace…Miss Cantrell.

“Uhhh. I think so.” Josiah gave Jed a worried look.

“Can we keep him?” Thomas petted Copper.

Talbert stepped down from the wagon. “Want some help getting the orphan in the house?”

“He’s not an orphan. Not anymore.” Jed’s voice was firm, and everyone stilled as he handed the dog to Thomas. “Get down and thank Mr. Talbert for bringing your brother home.” He picked up Josiah.

“Brothers?” Talbert’s eyes squinted. “They don’t look—”

“They are now.” Jed’s rough voice left no doubt about his agitation. “And they’re my sons. Thank you again, Talbert. I apologize for my gruffness, but I appreciate the gesture.”

The store owner pulled on the brim of his fine hat. “Thought I’d let you know Mrs. Beauregard is covering over at the schoolhouse today. Maybe the rest of the week. Miss Cantrell twisted her ankle and needs to stay off her feet for a day or so.”

Jed’s body fluttered with the mention of her name. “The boys will miss her in the classroom.”

Talbert smiled and inclined his head. “Hopefully they haven’t taken too much to her. Her situation is about to change. In fact, why don’t you go ahead and start on that candelabra I talked to you about a while back?”

~*~

Someone cleared their throat. A gentleman in a white shirt, gray vest, and matching trousers stood in the doorway.

Mrs. Beauregard stood behind him.

The schoolhouse doors had been open, and Grace, busy with work, didn’t hear the visitors arrive. She placed her hands on her desk to stand without putting pressure on her bad ankle.

“No need to get up, Miss Cantrell.”

The visitor removed his hat. “My name is Clyde Collinsworth. I run the school board for the county now that Mr. Beauregard has passed on.”

Grace sat back into the chair.

He examined the maps on the wall. “I understood you’re a little bit under the weather. I was surprised when Mrs. Farley told us you had come here.”

“My ankle is still a little sore, but I’m getting around fine. Dr. Holt says there’s no reason I can’t be back at work in the morning, and I have lessons to prepare before then.”

Mr. Collinsworth looked at Hortense Beauregard. “Well, that’s what we want to talk to you about.”

Hortense lifted her chin, her stare like cold daggers.

“Is something the matter? Has Mr. Hennessy returned?”

“Not yet, but he’s expected by the end of the week.”

A stone dropped into Grace’s gut.

“The board has decided an assignment in another town might be the best course for everyone concerned.”

Grace set her paper and feather pen aside. “The contract I signed was for one year.”

“It was.” He scratched the corner of his eye. “But there’ve been other issues besides his return. Mrs. Beauregard has concerns, as well as Mr. Talbert.”

“Mr. Talbert?” Grace sat up straighter. “What does he have to do with this?”

Mr. Collinsworth blushed. He looked down at his opened palms. “Well, now, Miss Cantrell, he came to me a few days ago a broken man. He’s been a fine member of this community for a long time and wants to do right.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“He shared some of the details of your relationship.”

“Relationship?” Grace stood, ignoring the dull pain in her ankle. Heat filled her with enough vigor she might explode. “Mr. Talbert and I have no relationship. Please tell me what you are talking about!”

“We know about the incident, Miss Cantrell,” Mrs. Beauregard’s voice was softer, yet still filled with contempt. “That you rode in the wagon with Mr. Talbert the other night. That you’ve made frequent visits to his store of a personal nature.”

Grace’s body shook. For a short moment it kept her from moving.

“And that you led him to believe that you wanted him to pursue you.”

“That is not true.”

“Did you ride with him in his wagon?”

“I was hurt, and he insisted.” Grace gritted her teeth. “I went after the boy. He found us.”

Clyde Collinsworth looked down at her boots. “You’re standing quite well now.”

“The boy was just an excuse, wasn’t he, Miss Cantrell?” Mrs. Beauregard sneered. “You wanted Mr. Talbert to come after you. That way you could be alone.”

Grace moved from around her desk. “That’s ridiculous! You can’t believe this. I have no interest in this man, nor would I ever do such a thing.” She shifted her weight against the desk to take the pressure off.

“We have his word, miss,” Clyde said.

“Mr. Talbert told you this?”

He nodded, his eyes on Grace.

“So your favor to the orphans seems quite minuscule to this impropriety.” Mrs. Beauregard sneered. “Regardless, if things go as planned, you can be on your way to a new life in a different town where no one knows of any of these things. And Sheldon will be rid of those two varmints before they do any real damage.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Children Aids Society worker visited the family a few days ago. He’s considering relocating them.”

Grace’s stomach fluttered. “And when will this be decided?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“Then please tell me, where would Mr. Talbert be now?”

~*~

Grace stomped onto the boardwalk, and the men huddled in conversation cleared a path. She turned the doorknob to the haberdasher shop, but it was locked. Odd for a store to be closed in the middle of the afternoon.

“He’s not in there,” one of the gentleman called to her.

Then she saw the note on the door that stated he would be back shortly.

“Believe he went to the barber shop,” another one said.

“Thank you.” Grace replied.

Down the dusty wooden pathway, an older boy sat on a stool and shined shoes. He should be in school. Four horses tied to a hitching post drank from a trough. A short, portly man leaned one shoulder on a post outside the swinging doors of a saloon. A circle of men huddled around him while he puffed on a cigar. Two ladies in feathered hats brushed in front of her. Their footsteps hesitated for a moment, and one of them whispered to the other. Perhaps it was playful, innocent chatter. Or had Hail Talbert’s false rumors surfaced already?

The gentleman on the shoe shine stand lifted his flexed foot to examine the shiner’s work. He pointed to an area and grumbled something. The lad eagerly buffed the spot. The man stood, reached into his pocket, and dropped a coin into the bucket. He walked off without a kind word. The worker fell to his knees and scooped up his earnings.

Grace reached into her small coin purse, pulled out a penny, and extended it to the boy.

He looked up at her quizzically. “What’s that for?”

“I’d like to use your bucket. I’ll bring it back shortly. I promise.”

He shrugged, took the coin, and handed her the bucket.

Grace found an open space near the horses, dipped the metal pail into the trough, and filled it with water. She carried it until she saw the red, white, and blue stripes on the pole and the hand-painted sign on the glass window signifying the barber shop.

A gentleman exited the shop, stroking his smooth jawline.

She caught the door with one hand before it completely closed. The bell tied behind the door tinkled.

The barber looked up when she entered.

So did another gentleman seated in the corner reading a newspaper.

Hail Talbert relaxed in a straight-backed chair, his head resting comfortably, a white towel draped across his chest. A basin of water sat on a table near him. Grace stepped beside him so that he could see her face. His eyes widened, then his lips spread into a pompous smile that sickened her.

Before he could speak, Grace lifted the bucket and emptied it over his face.

The barber took a big step back, a pair of scissors in one hand.

Hail Talbert bolted from the chair. He looked down at his tan vest and perfectly white, crisply ironed shirt.

The gentleman reading the newspaper stood but kept his distance.

“Look what you’ve done,” Hail growled.

Grace stepped closer, and he took a step back. Water dripped from the strands of his hair and ran down his nose and cheeks. “You lied to them.” His lips quivered, and Grace felt energy surge at his nervousness. “You ruin my reputation for your gain? Do you really think I would grovel at the thought of your courtship?”

He grabbed the towel that had fallen off of his chest.

“How did you think that would work?” she pressed.

He stepped backward as he dried his face.

Grace followed him.

The barber moved out of the way, and the other gentleman scamper out the door.

“I can explain,” Talbert told her.

“You are conniving and deceitful. And a fool if you’d think I would ever pledge myself to someone like you.”

He held his hands up in protest. “Hear me out. I didn’t say anything to anyone but to Collinsworth and Mrs. Beauregard. I swear.”

“That was more than enough.”

“Mr. Hennessy’s return will happen regardless. So I think you’ll be replaced anyway. My point is that we can work this out to everyone’s benefit.”

Grace seethed.

“I can make all of this go away,” he said.

She paused, crossing her arms, her eyebrows raised.

“As of now, the townsfolk don’t suspect a thing.” He swallowed. “And if they do, once you become my wife, after a proper courtship, of course, Sheldon will welcome you with open arms. I see it as an offer you can’t rightly refuse.”

“This is exactly why I refuse to marry, to depend on any man for my needs.”

“You’d be a fool to reject me.” He sneered. “Rumors will fly, and you’d have to leave central Texas to escape the scandal. And you wouldn’t want to do that with your sisters here in Sheldon and all.”

“And so, if I agreed,” she paused, “all of it would go away?”

“Not a grievous word will leave my lips. And you’ll be a well-to-do woman who’ll never have to worry her pretty green eyes about a thing.”

“Except for whether my husband is honorable.”

His gaze shifted.

The barber sneaked out.

A small crowd had formed outside, their chattering heard until the door closed.

“Why would you think I’d be the kind of lady to marry someone who deceived me?” She narrowed her eyes and let her gaze bore into him. “And why would you want such a woman? Do you not think God would grant you a wife worthy of your love?”

“I have not met a woman who has attracted my fancy since my wife died. It hasn’t been easy finding an unattached lady in this area who seems right for me.”

“Perhaps you should pray for one.”

“I have.” His tone seemed genuine, as if pain lay behind the truth.

She stepped toward the door.

“I’d still reconsider my offer as I would be more than good to you. Only a queen would have a better life.” He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Grace remained silent and cold.

The look in his gaze unsettled her.

Grace gripped the doorknob.

“And…” His words became louder as a more ominous tone entered in his voice. “Jedidiah Green and his orphans will suffer due to your stubbornness. You wouldn’t want that.”

“How would you plan to ruin a blacksmith?”

“If the Children’s Aid Society won’t be convinced to take those children back, then I’ll find another way. You’re sweet on them. I know it. And he is that way on you.” He picked his hat up and brushed off the dirt. “I see it when he looks at you.”

Grace opened the door and turned her back to him.

“If I don’t marry you, then neither will anyone else. Or you’ll leave this town.” Talbert’s voice raised behind her. “I will get what I want in due time. In one way or another.”