A rtie sat wearily at the piano. He had milked the goats, fed the chickens, and changed out the bedding. Once again, he considered getting another horse; once again, he couldn’t decide whether he actually needed it.
He played a few of the ivory keys but couldn’t concentrate on the music.
I haven’t played in far too long…
“Fred is looking for you.” Theo dropped onto the sofa with a newspaper.
“Whatever for?” Artie dropped his hands onto his lap.
Theo opened the newspaper. “I didn’t ask.”
Puffing alerted Artie that he wouldn’t need to wait long to find out. Fred Salts appeared behind the puffing.
Artie tried to appear pleasant. “I understand that you were looking for me?”
Fred nodded and coughed. Somewhere, the wind must have blown dust into the house. “I need to see the ring that Dorothy Hodges submitted as payment. Your father says that he gave it to you.”
“He did.” Artie exchanged looks with Theo, who had lowered his paper halfway. “Can I ask why you want it?”
“I just need to reconfirm the value for the records. I may not have marked down the precise worth and one must be thorough.” Fred pulled out his notebook but returned it without even lifting the cover. He didn’t meet Artie’s gaze while he stood waiting.
“It’s in my room. I’ll get it.”
Fred hadn’t moved on his return. He took the ring with surprising eagerness, trotting off in a hurry. Theo watched with a puzzled expression until the little man disappeared.
“Why did you have the ring in the first place?”
“Because Dad didn’t want it after Fred said it had little value.”
Theo dropped the paper onto his lap. “So, he gave it to you?”
Artie turned away from the piano keys once more. “Does that seem odd to you?”
“Yes.”
Artie raised an eyebrow.
“Why did you keep it?”
“Why did I keep it?” Artie crossed his arms. “Literally no reason whatsoever. I dropped it on my dresser and hadn’t touched it since.”
“What are you going to do with it?”
“Nothing.” Artie spun back to the piano keys. “If anything is odd, it’s how you’re acting. You can have the ring if you want it. If Fred doesn’t keep it.”
He gave his brother one last glance, then danced his fingers over the piano, playing a section of one of Theo’s favorite pieces.
What in the world is up with him? He’s nearly as strange as Fred. Who ever heard of that man not properly marking down the value of anything?
He shifted into a section from one of his brother’s other favorites, only realizing once he had done so. He had used to play a medley of them for Theo on occasion. Before he got so wrapped up in his farm work.
Wednesday… I’ll have to rearrange a few things that day, if I’m supposed to go to Apache Junction. I planned on going to Gilbert and talking to Mr. Bailey about the hay, but I don’t know if I can manage both. I better rearrange things. He changed tunes again. The sight of me showing up again ought to simply thrill Miss Dorothy. Thrill her with terror.
He heard a cleared throat over the music, dropped his hands, and looked up. Fred extended the ring toward him.
“You’re finished with it already?”
“I only needed to reassess its worth.” Fred dropped the ring into Artie’s hand before turning away.
Artie watched him go. Then, he stared at the ring for a long moment.
I still don’t think she wanted to give it to me. Which makes her possession of gold even more inexplicable.
He stared at the ring for another several seconds before he pushed it into his pocket. “I’ve changed my mind, Theo. You can’t have the ring.”
Theo dropped his newspaper onto his lap again. “Did you grow a sudden attachment to it during its brief absence?”
Artie laughed. “Not in the least. I’m not keeping it.”
“Then why did you say that you changed your mind?” His brother watched Artie as he made his way to the door.
“Because, you can’t have it. I’m not keeping it. I don’t want it.” He half-smiled at the confusion on Theo’s face. “I’m giving it to someone else.”