Eight

Nineteen heads bowed over books or tablets as Addy cleaned the blackboard and then began writing the assignments for the next day. Thankfully the children were behaving extra well today. With thoughts of riding off in the moonlight with Jim Castle continuing to rattle her, interspersed with worry about Aunt Kate, she wasn’t sure how she’d handle an unruly classroom.

When she’d finished, she turned and sat at her desk. One by one, the children closed their books or laid pencils on the desk and looked at her expectantly. She placed a finger to her lips as a reminder that some were still busy with their lessons.

When little Charlotte Greene took a deep breath and laid her pencil down, Addy smiled at the class. “Everyone finished?”

Heads bobbed in the affirmative; eyes shone with expectation.

“I’m so proud of how well you’ve all done on our class project. With the end-of-school program just a week away, I’m sure you’ll all work hard to do your part to make it special for your families.” She smiled at the serious expressions of the younger children as they nodded.

From the back of the room, Tom Schuyler, one of the older boys, raised his hand.

“Yes, Tom?”

“My pa says if you don’t let us out of school soon, he’s gonna take me out anyway. He needs me on the farm.”

“I know, Tommy. Your father spoke to me yesterday, and I explained to him that we were running a little longer this year because of the heavy snows last winter.” She sent him a reassuring smile. “He said another week would be fine.”

Several hands shot up.

“Class, I’ve talked to each of your parents about the delay, and they all agreed they could manage without your help for another week.” She wished they’d chosen to inform their children of that fact.

All the hands went down except one.

“Yes, Johnny?”

“Teacher, guess what the train brung in yesterday?” His grin just about split his face, and his freckles seemed to stand out against his face.

A cacophony of voices roared across the room.

“Children, children, please be quiet.” She stood until all the voices had ceased. “Brought, Johnny.”

“Yes, ma’am. You know what the train brought?” He stressed the last word, his eyes sparkling.

“Why don’t you tell us?” She was pretty sure she knew but wouldn’t mind confirmation.

“All the parts of a broken-down old building. They brung. . .brought it all the way from St. Louis.” He took a deep breath. “Guess what they’re gonna do with the stuff?”

Once more hands waved in the air.

“Philip, do you know the answer to Johnny’s question?” It wouldn’t do to let the boy be the center of attention every moment.

“Yes, ma’am.” Philip, who walked with a limp due to a birth defect, smiled. “A group of businessmen bought the State of Maine Exhibition Building that was at the World’s Fair. They took it apart and brought it here. When they reassemble it, they’ll turn it into a hunting lodge.”

So, it was true. The butterflies in Addy’s stomach flitted and zoomed.

“Can we all go there?” Annie hadn’t bothered to raise her hand, but Addy couldn’t blame her. The news was exciting.

Carl twisted in his seat and frowned. “No, dummy, I mean, sorry, Miss Sullivan, no, Annie. Only rich people will be allowed in.”

“How did you manage to get that bit of information, Carl?” Addy could well imagine it would have come from his father.

“My pa said so. He said only rich folks could afford to go there.”

“I see. Well, we’ll have to wait and find out if your father is correct, won’t we?” she said. “And now, I think we have just enough time to go over your lines for the program. If you’ll all come to the front of the room we’ll go through the play from beginning to end.”

With help from several of the older students, Addy had written a short play for some of the children to perform that told the story of transportation and shipping in the area, beginning with horses, oxen, wagons, ferries, and riverboats, then ending with several students playing the parts of the officials of the White River Line. At the end of the play, the entire class would sing a lively rendition of “The Levee Song,” also called “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Afterward the parents would view the illustrated essay the class had put together about the first train to arrive at the Branson Depot.

Addy’s heart raced as the children rehearsed their parts. She chuckled. If she was this proud and nervous for them, she could only imagine how their parents would feel. A few of them stumbled over their lines, but Addy felt sure all would go well for the actual program the following week.

“That’s wonderful, children. Please line up at the door.”

After dismissing the children, Addy stepped outside and locked the door. Bobby was waiting beside her horse and buggy. She smiled and gave him his money, then waved as he walked away beaming.

She patted the dappled horse on the nose, climbed into her buggy, and sat for a moment, indecision coursing through her. She should hurry home to find out what the doctor had said about Aunt Kate. But would it hurt to swing by the bluff on which the new lodge would be built? Not for long, just to see if any activity was going on yet?

She licked her lips. It would only take a few extra minutes, fifteen or twenty at the most, to drive over that way, take a quick look, and drive back. Addy picked up the reins. With a flick of her wrist and a click of her tongue, she turned her buggy toward the river bluff.

Rough shouts of laughter reached her ears as she drew near her destination. She pulled on the reins and stopped in the middle of the narrow, rocky road. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea, but she’d stay out of sight and just take a quick look.

Taking a deep breath, she urged her horse on. She stopped at the edge of a large clearing. Someone must have been working here for some time. The last time she’d been in this part of Branson thick woods reached almost to the bluff overlooking the river.

Several brawny men hauled beams on their shoulders; others pounded huge nails into what looked like parts of walls. Addy gasped as one man yanked his shirt off and threw it on the ground. Backing up, she turned the buggy and hurried the horse back toward town, her heart thumping wildly.

What had possessed her to come up here? She should have known there would be a lot of rough men working. She should have waited until the lodge was constructed, and then she could have made inquiries. She groaned. Inquiries about what? There she went again. She absolutely would never go to work in a hunting lodge.

As she neared a bend in the road, a horse and rider appeared. She pulled up. Jim Castle. She glanced around to see if there was anywhere she could hide her horse and buggy before he spotted her.

But his horse quickened its pace, and Jim stopped beside her, bewilderment on his face.

❧

Jim stared at Addy. What in the world was she doing up here?

Her face was flaming red and her hands trembled.

He tightened his lips. There was no telling what she’d seen or heard. The construction crew on this job was a pretty rowdy bunch. He should have warned her, but how was he to imagine she’d have a reason to come up here? Dismounting, he hurried over to her side. “My dear, are you all right?”

She glared at him for a moment. Then suddenly the red washed from her face, and she paled. Her face crumpled and tears pooled in her blue eyes.

Jim patted her hand, his heart pounding. Had someone accosted her? He rushed to the other side of the buggy and climbed up. Reaching over, he pulled her into his arms and patted her shoulder while she cried.

Suddenly she jerked her head up, almost slamming into his chin. “Someone needs to tell those ruffians not to. . .not to. . .disrobe in public.”

“Disrobe?” Jim stared at her, horrified at what she might have seen.

“Yes. He took his shirt off and threw it on the ground, right there in front of everyone.”

Relief washed over him. The men often got overheated and tossed their shirts aside, working in their undershirts. Still, to an innocent young lady it may have seemed scandalous. “I am so sorry, Addy. I’ll speak to the foreman immediately.”

“Thank you, Jim,” she whispered. She swabbed her eyes with her frilly white handkerchief then blew her nose daintily. She breathed in a little sigh and smiled. “I’m perfectly all right, Jim.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, I am. I’m going home now.”

“I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the picnic with your family. I’d like to repay you by taking you out to dinner, but there isn’t really a nice eating establishment in town other than the Branson Hotel. Would you do me the honor some evening soon?”

“No, no. Not the hotel,” she said.

A surge of disappointment shot through him.

“I have a better idea. Why don’t you come to church Sunday then join us for dinner?”

Jim couldn’t keep the grin off his face. “Are you sure it’ll be all right with your folks?”

“Of course. Ma always cooks extra just in case.”

“In that case, I’d be delighted.”

A gust of wind swirled around them, and the sky suddenly clouded. Addy shivered.

“Perhaps I should put the top up on your buggy in case it should rain.”

“Thank you. That would be nice.” She smiled, lowering her lashes. “I’ll expect to see you at church on Sunday then.”

❧

Addy smiled all the way home, the memory of the bare-chested man lost in the memory of Jim’s concern and care for her. He must not have minded that she’d talked so much when he drove her home from the picnic. She was so silly to have worried so.

She drove into the barn to put the horse and buggy away. The wagon was gone. Pa must have gone into town.

When she stepped into the house, she was met with an unnatural quiet, and no delicious aromas greeted her. Ma must not have started supper yet. She walked into the kitchen and saw a note propped up on the table.

She scanned it quickly, her heart fluttering. Aunt Kate. Not taking time to change from her school clothing, she rushed back out to the barn and once more harnessed the horse to the buggy.

She fought the urge to run the horse all the way to Aunt Kate’s house. By the time she reached the Rayton farm, her bottom lip was cut from her teeth clamping down on it. Jumping down, she flung the reins over the porch rail and ran inside.

Aunt Sarah, seated on the sofa in the parlor, looked up, her face white.

Betty jumped up from the floor where she’d been playing with her dolls. She threw her arms around Addy’s legs. “Addy, Mama and Papa had to go away with Uncle Will and Aunt Kate to the hospital.”

Addy reached down and lifted her little sister. “I know, sweetheart. It’s okay. They’ll be home as soon as they can. And we’ll wait here for them. Betty dear, I’m going to help Aunt Sarah cook some supper. If you’ll stay here and play for a while, I’ll let you help set the table.”

“Okay.” She returned to her dolls, holding them on her lap and speaking softly to them.

Sarah got up and followed Addy into the kitchen.

Addy placed her hands on Sarah’s shoulders. “What’s wrong with Aunt Kate?”

Sarah burst out crying. “They think it’s her heart.”

Heaviness sat on Addy’s heart as they fixed supper and fed the children.

“Addy, if they aren’t back by bedtime, could you and Betty sleep here?”

“Of course. I doubt I’ll be able to sleep anyway until we know something.”