When Curtis returned, he had many neglected responsibilities to catch up on, so he didn’t get a chance to stop in at the main house.
Instead, Melinda watched from inside as he returned Peppermint to the stable and hurried over to meet Mr. Winter to help with some more unanticipated repairs.
“Is he back?”
Melinda turned to where Savannah was sitting, looking at her expectantly from the kitchen table.
“He is. It seems like it will be another busy day for him. Especially after he missed so much work this morning.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” said Savannah, taking a sip of tea. “I helped Father with all the feeding duties this morning. I even helped muck out some of the stalls, which I can assure you is not my favorite activity.”
Melinda laughed.
“But it should help put them back on the right track. I told Father I could help him mend a fence, but he insisted that wasn’t a suitable job for a lady. Don’t know how mucking a stall is suitable for a lady,” she muttered.
“Have you helped out a lot at the ranch?” asked Melinda, joining Savannah at the table.
“I’ve definitely gotten to know my way around. Mr. Hart was resistant at first. He didn’t want my father to think he was encouraging it. But eventually, he realized I just liked spending time with the animals, so he showed me how everything worked, and now I help out when they need me to.”
“That’s very kind of you,” said Melinda.
Savannah shrugged. “I think it’s the least I can do. Mr. Hart has always been so good to us. Plus, this is my home! I feel it’s my responsibility to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
Savannah gave Melinda a shrewd look.
“So, do you have any ideas?”
“About what?” asked Melinda.
“About why Mr. Hart’s brother came to call, of course!” said Savannah, batting Melinda’s arm. Melinda had just finished telling Savannah about Mr. Hart Sr’s unexpected early morning appearance when the pair heard the sound of Mr. Hart returning.
“Honestly, I have no idea,” said Melinda, shaking her head. “But I could tell it was something serious. His brother seemed so distraught when he arrived, and then Mr. Hart left so suddenly …”
“Hmm,” said Savannah. “What a delicious mystery!”
“Savannah! Something could be seriously wrong!”
“Yes,” sighed Savannah. “But think about how exciting it would be to have some drama around here!”
Melinda laughed. “Drama! You don’t think there’s been drama enough with Darla and me getting trapped, and my developing feelings for Mr. Hart and fences and walls falling down and–”
“OK, OK.” Savannah laughed. “You’re right; I’m getting greedy. But I am incredibly curious.”
Melinda looked nervously towards the window. “As am I … but I mainly want to know so I can support Mr. Hart. I worry that his brother brought bad news.”
Savannah looked thoughtful. “I can’t think what. I see him at church every week, and he always looks well! He has a beautiful wife and four adorable children. What could be wrong with that?”
“I think I remember you saying he doesn’t come here often?”
“Not often, no. But they’ve been here a handful of times since I’ve lived here. I managed to convince Mr. Hart to let us host Easter one year, and I had a wonderful time helping to take care of the children. That’s when there were only three of them, though.”
“Four children is quite a handful.”
“Yes,” agreed Savannah. “And,” she added conspiratorially, “I would bet you anything that his wife is pregnant again.”
“Is she showing?” asked Melinda.
“Oh, not at all, but she is glowing! Pregnant women always just look so happy, at least to me. I just remember her looking the same as when she was pregnant with her last two.”
“What are the ages of her children?” Melinda asked curiously.
“Let’s see, Marcus is eight – he’s their eldest. Samuel is six. Their little girl, Eva, is four, and their youngest is two! His name is Anthony,” she added.
“Oh, how darling,” sighed Melinda.
“They are good children. Although the boys are rather boisterous. Boys often are.”
“Yes.” Melinda laughed. “Although don’t discount the girls! After working with my Aunt Courtney at the orphanage these past six months, I have come to find that girls and boys are not all that different. Girls can be just as wild.”
“Whatever do you mean?” asked Savannah with a wide-eyed look.
The two of them broke into fits of giggles.
“Yes, of course you would know that better than anyone,” said Melinda through her laughter.
Savannah gave an amused sigh. “Oh, my poor father. He had to go through so much when I was younger.”
“Not anymore, of course?” Melinda gave her a sideways glance.
Savannah gave Melinda a look of mock offense. “How dare you! I am a perfect lady … most of the time.”
“Well, thank goodness for that most of the time, then!” said Melinda playfully.
The two women spent the rest of the afternoon in comfortable companionship. Savannah struggled with the seams of a dress she was hoping to finish by Christmas, and Melinda offered her assistance.
“You like sewing?” asked Savannah incredulously.
“I find it so relaxing,” said Melinda gaily.
“My heavens, well, feel free to ‘relax’ your way through all of my father’s clothes that need mending then.”
“Just show me what needs mending.”
With several projects available to them, Melinda and Savannah now had enough jobs to last them through the rest of the day.
Savannah had brought Melinda into her and her father’s home to find which pieces required patching, and upon finding it was quite cozy inside, they decided to stay.
Darla joined them for a few hours, but she didn’t seem to have the same enthusiasm for sewing that Melinda held.
“May I go outside and play, Miss Melinda?”
“Outside?” Melinda looked worried. “I don’t know, Darla. I don’t like to think of you outside all on your own.”
“My father can watch over her,” said Savannah.
“Won’t that be a bother?”
“I won’t be in the way; I promise, Miss Melinda. I’ll just stay near him.”
“He won’t mind, Melinda. Darla’s a good girl. As long as she stays close, it’ll be all right. It’s not like he needs to watch her every move.”
Melinda looked at Darla’s hopeful face.
“Well, all right then. But we must first go and ask if that is all right.”
“I can take her,” said Savannah, jumping out of her seat.
With Darla and Savannah gone, Melinda had a good opportunity to observe where her friend lived.
It was a small but charming house. There were two doors that likely led to where Mr. Winter and Savannah had their bed chambers, and another door led to a small kitchen. The rest of the living space was taken up by the parlor where there were several places to sit as well as a small writing table.
“I guess this is where I’ll be spending my Christmas,” said Melinda quietly. The house had a decidedly comfortable feel to it. Not the worst place to have Christmas, thought Melinda. I just wish Mr. Hart was able to enjoy it as well.
Cold air filled the room as Savannah came back in. She shut the door and stomped her feet loudly, sending bits of snow flying all over the floor.
“My father will keep an eye on her. I left her making snow angels.”
“Thank you so much for taking her. She’s grown so fond of you.”
“And I her,” exclaimed Savannah. “I shall be very sorry to see the two of you leave.”
“So will I,” said Melinda honestly. “When I first arrived, the thought of being here for more than a few days felt unimaginable, but now I can hardly imagine leaving!”
“I suppose there’s one person in particular you’re feeling sad about leaving?” said Savannah with a suggestive smile.
“You?” asked Melinda innocently. “Yes, I shall miss you most particularly.”
Savannah laughed. “Well, yes, you must, but you know I mean Mr. Hart.”
Melinda nodded and picked up one of Mr. Winter’s socks to examine a hole in the toe. “Yes, I will miss him,” she said softly.
Savannah sat beside her and looked her in the eyes. “What if you told him how you feel?”
Melinda gasped. “I could never!”
Savannah tugged her hands. “But you could, Melinda! I’ve watched the two of you together. He’s different with you. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. I feel certain he has feelings for you, and if you’d only tell him …”
Melinda shook her head. “It just isn’t done, Savannah. I … well, I have left the door open for any advances, but I do not believe Mr. Hart feels that way about me, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to impose my feelings upon him.”
Savannah rolled her eyes. “It wouldn’t be imposing upon him to tell him how you feel.”
Melinda put down the sock she was holding and folded her arms. “Would you tell Mr. Garrett how you feel?”
Savannah sputtered, “Mr. Garrett? What should I tell Mr. Garrett?”
“That you have feelings for him,” said Melinda pointedly.
“I don’t have feelings for Mr. Garrett!” protested Savannah. “What … what … could have possibly made you think that?”
“Mmhmm,” said Melinda. “And I don’t have feelings for Mr. Hart. So, nothing to tell either of them, really.” Melinda picked up the sock again and began to thread a needle.
Savannah glared at her and returned to work on her dress. Melinda looked up and smiled at her friend’s disgruntled face. She felt a little guilty for teasing her, but she felt certain Savannah had feelings for Mr. Garrett, and she hoped she had proved her point that expressing one’s feelings was much easier said than done!