The next week, Catherine commented after an evening 4-H meeting, “Franklin Snell wasn’t at the meeting tonight. His sister says they’re milking late now.”
After the girls retired, Mary said to Will, “Sounds as if George’s getting some sense. Maybe my plan’ll work after all.”
“Milking late? That doesn’t sound good. Is that your plan, Mary?”
“I’ll tell you in due time. I’ll know that I’m successful when they get back to early milking again.
And when, after their next 4-H meeting, Ruby said that Franklin had told her they were back on their old schedule, Will knew that his wife’s advice had helped George avoid a heart attack.
“It looks like you’ve done it.” Will patted Mary on the backside. “A clever woman, you are.”
Ruby frowned.
“Ruby, you’ve got the smartest mother in Willow, maybe in Wisconsin. Now get up to bed.”
Mary sat next to Will on the parlor settee. She reached for his arm. “Will, you helped, too. Every youngster needs to learn they’ll reap what they sow. Maybe Franklin’s learned that lesson.”
“I hope so, Mary.”
Will had never doubted that Mary would think up a successful plan to get Franklin into the barn on time. He wasn’t so certain they could convince George to do his part, but it seems that he did.
“Mary, how’d you ever do it?”
“I told Lydia that if George would just sit and wait, that it’d all work out. And most important, he shouldn’t start the milking until Franklin came down to help.” Mary picked up her knitting needles. “Even Franklin knows that cows must be milked every twelve hours. If they didn’t start their morning milking until he got out of bed at eight, they couldn’t start until eight that night either.” Mary began to cast yarn onto a needle. “It looks as if an eight o’clock milking start cut into Franklin’s night life.”
“You’re a smart woman, Mary. I don’t know how I’d ever get along without you.”
Will knew that was the truest statement he’d ever made. He hoped that she fully understood just how he appreciated her. His heart beat a little faster when she was near, and when she smiled that ever so sweet smile and touched his arm, he still felt a shiver down his spine. He wasn’t sure where he’d find the money, but he knew he must save enough to buy her a new dress. It had been a long time since she had anything new. And he worried about that. She deserved better.