After milking the next morning Will hitched Fanny Too to the buggy. The night before, while he pulled his suit from the closet and hung it from the door to stretch out the wrinkles, Mary told him that her mother had called and asked to see the girls.
“Gusta hasn’t seen her grandma since she was a baby. Could you go through Hinton on your way to Ashley Springs?”
And he had agreed. “They’ve worked hard. They deserve a break. Have them ready first thing after morning milking.”
When he saw Ruby, Catherine, and Gusta waiting in the buggy, Will grabbed his coat and hustled toward the door; but first he stopped and embraced his wife.
“I wish you could go along.”
“Sharon’s way behind on her vegetable display for the county fair. I promised I’d help.”
“And I know you have the girls’ clothes to alter for school next week. I hate to leave right now, but I feel I must go. That little community’s suffered through terrible times, such a loss these last years. I’ve gotta see his wife, do what I can to help.”
Mary reached up and kissed him. “Pass on my condolences.” Then she pushed him toward the door.
* * *
Will returned from Ashley Springs late in the afternoon the next day. “Mary, I haven’t seen such malaise since Tommy Burns’s death. The mayor and now their banker. It’s a lot for that community to bear.” Will laid his suit coat over a chair.
Mary handed him a plate of ham and baked beans. “I’m afraid it’s cold.”
“It’ll do,” Will said as he picked at a bean. “After the funeral, I stopped at the bank, asked about the loan.”
“For the bull?”
“They didn’t have any record of our agreement. I guess George didn’t write it down.”
“Will they do the loan?”
“They said they can’t do anything until they get a new manager.” Will cut a sliver from his ham but didn’t raise it to his mouth. “Right now, they’re not making loans outside the township. Money’s tight.”
“What’ll you do?”
Will pushed back his chair and eased away from the table. “I’m plumb tuckered out, Mary. I’m going to get out of this monkey suit and rest for a while.”
Mary took his arm. “Will, you’ve hardly touched your dinner.”
Will pulled away. “Got no appetite. Call me at chore time.”
“Will, take… ”
Will turned and shuffled toward the back bedroom.