Just Above a Whisper

by Lori Wick

“It went fine,” she said, surprised even now.

  “What did Lillie Jenness have you do?”

  “Not much. A bit of silver polishing and trimming the frayed edges of an old rug. I did a lot of sitting around, waiting for her to come back to tell me what to do. I don’t think she wanted me to help with the cooking.”

  “She does nothing but clean,” Mrs. Greenlowe muttered, pushing more food in Reese’s direction. She still served her main meal at noon, but now that Reese lived with her, she made sure she always had plenty to offer with the evening tea; the girl was too thin for her liking.

  “Did she give you a proper dinner?”

  Reese had to think about that and then admitted to herself that it hadn’t been that great. Mrs. Jenness clearly hadn’t wanted to waste a bit of meat on her. Reese’s piece was so small she finished it in three bites. Mrs. Jenness had prepared Reese’s plate and told her to stay in the kitchen to eat. She was used to that, but not used to having little more than bread and vegetables with not even a dessert to take her through until tea. At least Mr. Zantow had let her eat what he enjoyed.

  Mr. Jenness had not come home for dinner, and Reese had been surprised by that. But she’d been pleased that Gerald had spent most of the day out of the house. She sensed that his mother might have sent him on an errand.

  “And at the bank?” Mrs. Greenlowe asked before Reese could gather her thoughts to answer the other question; she thought it might be just as well.

  “There isn’t much to do,” Reese explained. “I dusted and swept some. I’ll mop the floor next time, but today there were folks inside, so I couldn’t. I’ll probably have to wash the windows at some point.”

  Mrs. Greenlowe allowed Reese to eat in peace for a short time and didn’t have anything to complain about until Reese began to help with the cleanup.

  “You work all day,” that lady muttered darkly, but Reese wasn’t tired and knew that she was years younger than her landlady. And although Reese wasn’t weary, it didn’t hurt her feelings at all when Mrs. Greenlowe said she was ready to turn in, freeing Reese to seek the privacy of her own room.

  She had washed in the kitchen after tea, stripping down and scrubbing every inch of her, and now it felt wonderful to slip her nightdress over her head and crawl onto the middle of the mattress. Here she knelt, as she had every night since her conversion, and prayed. Her knees were too bony to manage the floor, and she was certain God understood.

  For long moments she didn’t pray. The candle flickering more noticeably as the light faded from the windows, Reese looked around at the most wonderful bedroom she could ever remember having.

  It was done in greens and pinks, soft and inviting. The wallpaper was subtle and blended nicely with the quilt Mrs. Greenlowe had made for the bed. All the drawers in the dresser worked properly, and Reese’s bed was soft and comfortable.

  “Thank You, Lord,” Reese finally began to whisper to her heavenly Father. “You have given me so much. I still wish to be released from my papers, but if that is not to happen, please help me to be safe where I work. Help my actions and words to be honoring to You.

  “Help me to be careful around Gerald. I don’t want his attentions. Help me not be amusing or too fun. He seems to be drawn to that. I think he’s lonely and needs You, Lord. Help him search in the right places.”

  Reese went on to pray for the church family and the people of Tucker Mills, especially folks she knew personally, like Mrs. Greenlowe and the Jenness family. She confessed the irritation she felt with Mr. Jenness, but that did not come easily. Just the thought of him made her tense and upset.

  Reese sat very still, working to control her emotions, but she was having little success. She finally climbed into bed, using just a sheet on this warm night, and planned to speak to Douglas or Alison about the Jenness family. Mr. Jenness reminded her of her powerlessness with Mr. Zantow, and right now Reese’s heart couldn’t take it. With both men on her mind, she fell asleep in agitation.

  “Return to my house” were the only words Mr. Jenness said the next morning. Reese assumed her days would look like this for a time and hoped Mrs. Jenness would not be quite so surprised.

  She wasn’t surprised, but neither did she look happy. Reese was shown through the kitchen and into the buttery where she was asked to churn butter. Everything was prepared; she was not to touch more than the handle and to call for Mrs. Jenness when the butter was ready. Reese was working steadily along until she was joined by Gerald.

  “I thought I heard you humming,” he began, and Reese wished she’d kept quiet. “Swimming in the pond again today?”

  “Something like that,” Reese said, working to be careful with her words.

  “How long will this take?”

  “I wouldn’t think very long.”

  Gerald fell silent, but Reese knew she was being watched. She would have asked Gerald to leave the room had she known that his mother was standing outside the door in the kitchen, listening to every word.

  “You got a boyfriend?” Gerald tried.

  “That’s none of your business,” Reese said firmly.

  “You can tell me.”

  “I’m sorry, Gerald, but I don’t wish to discuss private matters.”

  “Is your hair soft?”

  “That’s another private matter, Gerald.”

  Reese had kept her eyes on her work, but she was aware when Gerald moved toward her.

  “Don’t touch me, Gerald.” She held his eyes and slanted away from him. “I don’t want you to.”

  Her eyes and tone were just stern enough that Gerald stopped, looking uncertain and frustrated all at the same time. At the same moment, they both heard a noise in the other room, where Lillie, shaking like a leaf, pretended she’d just come into the kitchen.

  “Where is that boy?” she muttered a bit loudly, going to the door that led outside and opening it a bit. “Gerald, are you out here?”

  Reese didn’t begin breathing again until Gerald sighed in annoyance and walked from the buttery.

  Five

  “Go ahead and mix that dough, Reese,” Lillie made herself say. She hated having this woman working with their food, but she was desperate. She would keep Reese busy in the kitchen until Gerald was close enough to hear their conversation.

  It took longer than she had hoped. Gerald clearly wanted to be alone in the kitchen with Reese. Lillie saw him come into view several times, but when he spotted his mother, he would go swiftly on his way.

  For many reasons, Lillie did not want this woman in the house, but in all fairness, Reese knew how to behave. Her manner was docile, and she had said nothing in the buttery to encourage Gerald. Lillie had even given her a little more dinner today, thinking about how thin she was and wondering whether Mr. Zantow had fed the woman properly.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you, Reese,” Lillie said as soon as she realized Gerald had parked himself in the small sitting room off the kitchen, giving him a view of Reese. “How old are you?”

  “I’m 22.”

  “And you’ve been an indentured servant for how long?”

  “More than four years.”

  “And how long do you have to go?”

  “Almost two years.”

  “What did your father do to indenture himself to Mr. Zantow?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  This stopped Lillie. She thought Reese would know all about it. Her mind scrambled for a new topic.

  “Where is your mother?”

  “She’s dead.”

  “That’s too bad,” Lillie said, trying to sound compassionate. “Two more years before you can have any kind of life to call your own. What an awful thing.”

  Reese didn’t comment. She had heard a noise in the other room and assumed it to be Gerald. She thought she understood why Mrs. Jenness would do this, but she was tired of being used. Why didn’t Mrs. Jenness simply speak to her son about this issue?

  Both women heard a chair move in the next room, and then all was qu
iet. Reese kept on with the chore she’d been given. Lillie did the same with her own work, not knowing if her little plan had done the trick or not. Nevertheless, she would tell Victor that if this woman was at her door in the morning, she would personally bring her back to the bank and do her best to embarrass him in front of anyone who happened to be watching.

  “What do you think this verse means?” Jace asked Maddie, leaning close to her over the parlor table.

  “The first verse?”

  “Yes, in chapter 3. Have you read that one yet?”

  “I’m still in chapter 2.”

  The two of them were reading in Genesis. They did at least a few verses each night, working their way through those chapters at Douglas’ suggestion and feeling amazed over all they had learned in a short time.

  “How is an animal subtle? I’m not sure I get this.”

  Maddie studied that verse as well.

  “And he talks,” Maddie finally commented. “I’ve never been amazed by that, but I think I should have been.”

  Jace’s head hurt a little. He was learning so much and was very excited, but it was all a lot of hard work too.

  “Let’s just remember to ask Mr. Muldoon about these and not get bogged down.”

  “Okay.”

  “Or,” Jace amended, “we could stop and think about what we’ve already read.”

  “And not just rush on,” Maddie confirmed, both remembering some tips Douglas had given them.

  And so for the next 30 minutes they only talked about what they’d already read, planning to go to Douglas not just with questions but also with some ideas they both had as to what the text might be saying. And as always, they finished their study time with prayer.

  “You’re to stay here at the bank and clean today,” Mr. Jenness said sternly to Reese, his wife’s words still ringing in his ears. “You’ll not disturb customers in any way. You’ll wash windows and be absolutely invisible. Do not talk to anyone or be in anyone’s way. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, Mr. Jenness,” Reese answered readily enough, but her heart was sinking with dread. Not talking to the townsfolk was going to be tricky. She knew that even if she kept her eyes down, the people who knew her—and quite possibly even the ones who didn’t—would still call a hello to her or speak to her.

  “Well, Reese.”

  Already humming, she heard her name just moments after she began on the side windows of the building. She knew it was Doc MacKay, but all she did was glance at him.

  “Hi, Doc.”

  There was a moment of silence before the doctor said, “Does he want you busy?” He could not have missed the fact that she had not stopped working or even had eye contact with him for more than a moment.

  “Yes. I can’t talk; will you spread the word?”

  “I’ll do that, Reese,” he said, even as he struggled with what felt like an injustice. He’d been planning on stopping at the bank but changed his mind. He needed to have a word with Alison Muldoon first.

  “What are you looking at?” Cathy asked of Doyle when she came to the store and found him at the front windows looking down the green.

  “It’s Reese. She’s washing windows, but we’re not supposed to talk to her.”

  “What’s that all about?”

  “Oh, probably that Jenness. He has no control at home, so he wants to control things from the bank.”

  “How did you hear about it?”

  “Doc came by and told me she asked him to spread the word.”

  “And just what is that girl supposed to do for dinner?” Cathy suddenly demanded.

  “I had the same question, but I think Doc took care of that too.”

  “Well, you just keep an eye out, Doyle,” Cathy warned. “If she doesn’t go somewhere, I’ll march a meal over there myself.”

  “Switch to the front windows,” Mr. Jenness hissed at Reese just before dinner. “And get a move on it!”

  Reese swiftly finished with the window she was on and climbed down from the ladder. She moved it to the front of the building, wondering what was suddenly so urgent.

  Had she been given a moment’s reprieve, she would have noticed that Mr. Jenness sat very still at his desk. He had a letter in front of him that he’d read twice and was now reading again.

  Mr. Jenness:

  This letter is to inform you that my brother, Conner Kingsley, and his partner, Troy Thaden, will be coming to Tucker Mills on 16 August. They will arrive by train and wish to take up residency in the Kingsley house. If my memory serves, the bank has a key. Please make arrangements to have the house cleaned. Hire as much help as you need to get the job done before he arrives.

  It’s been some time since anyone has visited the bank there, and Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Thaden are planning to stay for several months. A thorough look at the books can be expected, as well as a general measurement of the needs of the residents of Tucker Mills. In other words, we wish to assess all aspects of the Tucker Mills bank and see that needs are being met.

  Please send word that you have received this letter. If you have questions, plan on discussing them with my brother. Thank you for seeing to this matter.

  Dalton Kingsley

  Mr. Jenness sat back, his heart beating painfully in his chest. He sent his flawlessly written reports to Linden Heights each month. There was never a hint of a problem. Why would they come after all these years? He ran this bank to perfection. Why would they come now?

  Mr. Jenness felt his heart speed up a little more. He told himself to calm down and breathe slowly, but it was proving to be impossible. He knew he’d done nothing wrong, but that wasn’t the point.

  “Are you ready to go?” Mr. Leffler called, suddenly putting his head around the corner, ready to close the bank and have dinner at the tavern.

  “Yes,” Mr. Jenness answered, trying not to sound breathless as he pushed himself out of the desk chair. He could feel himself sweating as he joined his teller at the door. He hoped others who noticed would blame it on the warm day.

  “Why am I here for lunch?” Reese asked of Alison the moment that lady opened the door.

  Alison couldn’t stop her smile.

  “Don’t you know?”

  “No.” Reese was grinning now too. “Mr. Jenness suddenly came out and told me to come here and eat.”

  Alison laughed and pulled Reese inside.

  “It was Doc’s doing. He knew Mr. Jenness wouldn’t think to send you to dinner, so he came here and checked with me and then told Mr. Jenness what he needed to do. Doc is respected enough in town to get away with it.”

  “I could have gone home. Mrs. Greenlowe will hear of this and wonder why I didn’t.”

  “Won’t you have fun explaining,” Alison teased.

  Reese knew she’d been plotted against and laughed. She followed Alison into the kitchen to find the family gathered, waiting only on Douglas. He wasn’t long in joining them, declaring that he could smell the stew and fresh bread all the way from his office. He took his seat and smiled as they all bowed their heads.

  “Not today,” he stated and waited for everyone to look up. “Today, all our conversation is going to be about things we’re thankful for. It’s too easy to bow our heads and recite words we say without thinking.”

  “We’re not going to pray?” Peter double-checked with a perplexed furrow of his brow.

  “We might at the end of the meal, but not right now. Will you please pass me the bread plate, Hillary?”

  Reese wanted to laugh. She wasn’t all that accustomed to praying before a meal, so the shock for her was mild. The Muldoon children, however, looked as though their father had suggested something criminal.

  “Who wants to be first?” Douglas asked as he buttered the bread in his hand.

  “I’m thankful that Reese could join us,” Alison said, breaking the silence and smiling down the table at her spouse.

  Douglas grinned back before looking to his children. They were still taking it in when Douglas said,
“A verse on thankfulness works too.”

  This got things moving. One by one the children chimed in with a verse or a word of thanks until they were interrupting each other. It made for a delightful meal. And Douglas remembered what he had said. When the meal was over, he asked everyone to bow their heads so he could pray.

  “This is the key to the Kingsley house,” Mr. Jenness said the following morning, dangling the key but not handing it to her. “The house is to be cleaned from top to bottom. I want it spotless. You have a week.”

  The irritation had returned the moment she stepped into the bank—it was swiftly followed by shock. He was holding the key out to Reese now, but she didn’t reach for it.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “A week?” she asked softly, her tone belying her severe gaze. “It’s the largest house on the green. It’s the largest house in town!” she amended. “And it hasn’t been occupied in all the years I’ve lived here.”

  “I am well aware of the status of the Kingsley house, Miss Thackery,” Mr. Jenness began pompously but tempered his tone when he noticed Reese’s eyes. She was, for the most part, a willing worker. But he was learning that she had her limits. He was tempted to bring up the subject of her papers, but in truth the house had to be done. He had also learned that although Reese was a hard worker, she was just one woman.

  “What about the stable and the outbuildings?” Reese asked. “Am I cleaning those as well?”

  “No. I’ll have someone else see to that. Just come back before we close today,” Mr. Jenness commanded, amending the original order, “and give me a report on what you accomplished.”

  Reese finally took the key, reminding herself she was supposed to be praying for this man and that he had retracted his original order.

  “I’ll be going to Mrs. Greenlowe’s for dinner today,” she felt a need to tell him. “Is that a problem?”