“Believe he went to the barber shop,” another one said.
“Thank you.” Grace replied.
Down the dusty wooden pathway, an older boy sat on a stool and shined shoes. He should be in school. Four horses tied to a hitching post drank from a trough. A short, portly man leaned one shoulder on a post outside the swinging doors of a saloon. A circle of men huddled around him while he puffed on a cigar. Two ladies in feathered hats brushed in front of her. Their footsteps hesitated for a moment, and one of them whispered to the other. Perhaps it was playful, innocent chatter. Or had Hail Talbert’s false rumors surfaced already?
The gentleman on the shoe shine stand lifted his flexed foot to examine the shiner’s work. He pointed to an area and grumbled something. The lad eagerly buffed the spot. The man stood, reached into his pocket, and dropped a coin into the bucket. He walked off without a kind word. The worker fell to his knees and scooped up his earnings.
Grace reached into her small coin purse, pulled out a penny, and extended it to the boy.
He looked up at her quizzically. “What’s that for?”
“I’d like to use your bucket. I’ll bring it back shortly. I promise.”
He shrugged, took the coin, and handed her the bucket.
Grace found an open space near the horses, dipped the metal pail into the trough, and filled it with water. She carried it until she saw the red, white, and blue stripes on the pole and the hand-painted sign on the glass window signifying the barber shop.
A gentleman exited the shop, stroking his smooth jawline.
She caught the door with one hand before it completely closed. The bell tied behind the door tinkled.
The barber looked up when she entered.
So did another gentleman seated in the corner reading a newspaper.
Hail Talbert relaxed in a straight-backed chair, his head resting comfortably, a white towel draped across his chest. A basin of water sat on a table near him. Grace stepped beside him so that he could see her face. His eyes widened, then his lips spread into a pompous smile that sickened her.
Before he could speak, Grace lifted the bucket and emptied it over his face.
The barber took a big step back, a pair of scissors in one hand.
Hail Talbert bolted from the chair. He looked down at his tan vest and perfectly white, crisply ironed shirt.
The gentleman reading the newspaper stood but kept his distance.
“Look what you’ve done,” Hail growled.
Grace stepped closer, and he took a step back. Water dripped from the strands of his hair and ran down his nose and cheeks. “You lied to them.” His lips quivered, and Grace felt energy surge at his nervousness. “You ruin my reputation for your gain? Do you really think I would grovel at the thought of your courtship?”
He grabbed the towel that had fallen off of his chest.
“How did you think that would work?” she pressed.
He stepped backward as he dried his face.
Grace followed him.
The barber moved out of the way, and the other gentleman scamper out the door.
“I can explain,” Talbert told her.
“You are conniving and deceitful. And a fool if you’d think I would ever pledge myself to someone like you.”
He held his hands up in protest. “Hear me out. I didn’t say anything to anyone but to Collinsworth and Mrs. Beauregard. I swear.”
“That was more than enough.”
“Mr. Hennessy’s return will happen regardless. So I think you’ll be replaced anyway. My point is that we can work this out to everyone’s benefit.”
Grace seethed.
“I can make all of this go away,” he said.
She paused, crossing her arms, her eyebrows raised.
“As of now, the townsfolk don’t suspect a thing.” He swallowed. “And if they do, once you become my wife, after a proper courtship, of course, Sheldon will welcome you with open arms. I see it as an offer you can’t rightly refuse.”
“This is exactly why I refuse to marry, to depend on any man for my needs.”
“You’d be a fool to reject me.” He sneered. “Rumors will fly, and you’d have to leave central Texas to escape the scandal. And you wouldn’t want to do that with your sisters here in Sheldon and all.”
“And so, if I agreed,” she paused, “all of it would go away?”
“Not a grievous word will leave my lips. And you’ll be a well-to-do woman who’ll never have to worry her pretty green eyes about a thing.”
“Except for whether my husband is honorable.”
His gaze shifted.
The barber sneaked out.
A small crowd had formed outside, their chattering heard until the door closed.
“Why would you think I’d be the kind of lady to marry someone who deceived me?” She narrowed her eyes and let her gaze bore into him. “And why would you want such a woman? Do you not think God would grant you a wife worthy of your love?”
“I have not met a woman who has attracted my fancy since my wife died. It hasn’t been easy finding an unattached lady in this area who seems right for me.”
“Perhaps you should pray for one.”
“I have.” His tone seemed genuine, as if pain lay behind the truth.
She stepped toward the door.
“I’d still reconsider my offer as I would be more than good to you. Only a queen would have a better life.” He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.
Grace remained silent and cold.
The look in his gaze unsettled her.
Grace gripped the doorknob.
“And…” His words became louder as a more ominous tone entered in his voice. “Jedidiah Green and his orphans will suffer due to your stubbornness. You wouldn’t want that.”
“How would you plan to ruin a blacksmith?”
“If the Children’s Aid Society won’t be convinced to take those children back, then I’ll find another way. You’re sweet on them. I know it. And he is that way on you.” He picked his hat up and brushed off the dirt. “I see it when he looks at you.”
Grace opened the door and turned her back to him.
“If I don’t marry you, then neither will anyone else. Or you’ll leave this town.” Talbert’s voice raised behind her. “I will get what I want in due time. In one way or another.”
20
“Tell me why you ran off.” Jed kept his voice low but firm.
Josiah didn’t reply, though his lips quivered. Jed clenched his teeth to keep from softening. He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Come on. We got to talk about this.”
Josiah looked down at his fingers.
“You scared us all half to death,” Jed stated.
“Not Griffin. He never gets scared.”
“What makes you think that?”
“’Cause he told me that. And he’s real brave. All the kids at that place where they fed us knows that too.”
“Hmm. Well, he wasn’t scared like most people think of being afraid, but he was very worried and wanted you to come back.”
“I know Thomas was probably worried. But I couldn’t come back ’cause I hurt my foot and then Copper got stuck in the hole, so I needed to be there for him. Every time I tried to crawl away he started crying.”
“What did you plan to do the whole time? What if nobody came that way for days and you got hungry?”
“Well, I knew someone would come for me, and Miss Cantrell finally did.”
Drawing on his patience, Jed sighed. “There’s no way you could’ve known—”
“No, but I knew someone was coming. So I didn’t worry about it. But I did get hungry.”
“And how did you know?”
Josiah spoke as if the answer should’ve been obvious. “Because I prayed. And then believed it was gonna happen.”
Jed’s throat constricted.
“Just like the preacher talks about,” explained Josiah. “That’s what I told Miss Cantrell too.”
“I’m gla
d you prayed. That was a good thing to do. And we should be doing that all the time, not just when we’re in trouble,” Jed spoke softly. “But I need you to tell me what happened that made you run off, because I don’t want whatever it was to happen again.”
The sparkle in Josiah’s eyes dimmed. He swallowed. “The fire.”
“Fire can be scary.”
“I like the fire in the fireplace, but not when it burns things.” Josiah rubbed his hand over the burn scars on his wrist.
“Do you remember getting burned?”
Josiah nodded but didn’t look up. “We was all asleep. My ma and pa were in there, but they didn’t come out.”
“I bet you miss them.”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry you lost them. But you have a new family now.”
“Are we going to stay with you forever?” Josiah’s expression held hope.
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure you three boys have a good life.” Jed smoothed his hair. “Now, how did the fire start in the shop?”
“I don’t know. It just did. I was in there drawing pictures in the dirt with a stick while Griffin was working. And I think Thomas was working at something. Then Griffin started hollering and trying to throw dirt on the fire. Then he yelled at me to go find Thomas. But I got afraid and started running as fast as I could. And I remembered that place Paxton took us when we wandered off that one time and got in trouble.”
The floorboard creaked behind Jed.
“Next time don’t go so far that I can’t reach you. Because I don’t want anything to ever happen so that you can’t come back to me.”
Josiah’s lips quivered. He sat up and put his arms around Jed’s neck. “I’m sorry, Mr. Green.”
A hand pressed the center of Jed’s back and then Thomas leaned in for a hug.
Heavy stomps sounded behind them. “Hey, where you guys at?” Griffin growled, with his arms out. “What’re you guys doing? Half the morning’s done gone.”
Jed grabbed his hat that he had hooked on the bed post.
Josiah threw his legs over the side of the bed. “Sorry, Griffin.”
“I bet you are.” Griffin picked up Josiah and threw him over one shoulder. “You got lots of chores to get caught up with.”
Josiah giggled. “I’m not a sack of potatoes.”
Griffin headed for the door while Thomas followed close behind.
The stack of dirty plates from breakfast needed washing.
Griffin didn’t miss Jed’s glance at the pile. “We ain’t got time for that,” Griffin nagged. “Already been one customer needin’ something.”
“Thomas,” Jed called. “Take care of cleaning these dishes. Don’t want no more visitors showing up and the place is dirty.”
“Mr. Green?” Thomas asked as he headed towards the plates on the counter.
“Yes?”
“Is it all right if I walk to the mercantile to get some salt? We’re almost out.”
“Salt? I thought we had plenty.”
“I won’t be gone long. I can go by myself. I won’t be scared.”
“Pick up some cornmeal too, while you’re at it.” He reached into his pocket and handed him some coins. “Get your chores done and wait until I can spare Griffin to walk with you. Then hurry back. You’re needed here.”
Something seemed odd with Thomas’s request, but Jed couldn’t put his finger on it.
~*~
Grace looked through the stack of old newspapers she got from Sheldon’s Tribune as Edith finished her last bit of lima beans.
“If you ladled more on your spoon you wouldn’t have to take as many bites to clean your plate,” Grace said mile.
Edith pushed her plate away. “I’m not hungry.”
“But you must eat to keep up your strength.”
“I’m tired no matter what I do. What’re you looking for in those papers?”
“Something different for the children to read. The school is low on books and reading material. I got these from the owner of the printing press. They’re old copies, but I can use these articles about Ulysses Grant in our government and history lessons.” She scoured the headlines. “This election coming up should be interesting. Some of the Republican Party are disenchanted with the President and split and formed the Liberal Republicans.”
“Sounds like foolishness to me. They’re always looking to argue about something.” Edith grabbed her cane and pushed up from the table. “I’m going to sit for a spell on the porch.”
An article about how the Texas legislature outlawed the carrying of pistols outside the home caught her eye. “I’ll bring you some tea here shortly.”
Edith opened the door. “What in the world?”
“What happened?” She put down the newspaper. Another note. Her heart tickled.
Edith used her cane to move the rock from the entryway. “I’m glad I didn’t trip over it.”
“Here, let me get this out of the way.” Grace picked up the rock and the piece of paper underneath it.
“How’d that get there?”
“Hmm.” Grace pondered her answer. “A little bird dropped it, I suppose.”
Edith wrinkled her brow.
“One of my students wrote me a note,” Grace explained.
“They should’ve knocked on the door.” Edith walked to her chair. “I bet they missed you while you were gone. My sister most likely made an impression on them of some sort.”
Grace unfolded the paper. Thomas’s handwriting this time.
pleas mare mr green so you can be are ma he need lots of help
~*~
Grace walked the aisles as the children took turns reading aloud from the newspaper.
She had captured Leisel’s attention this week. His nose was stuck to the article about President Grant. An image of the student in a well-tailored suit behind a podium rallying spectators swept her mind. If only she could get Leisel to channel his innate leadership skills and brilliant mind toward compassion and fortitude.
Cora stumbled over a few words, and when she finished, Leisel’s hand shot into the air.
“Leisel, I will call on everyone to read. I mentioned there wouldn’t be volunteering. I will get to you soon.”
Leisel raised his hand high again. “My father says Mr. Greeley might beat President Grant, and if he does, there will be higher tariffs.”
“Interesting. Does your father talk to you often about politics?”
Leisel nodded. “He also said the president was a very brave soldier during the war.”
Thomas tapped on Grace’s arm. “Miss Cantrell—”
“Thomas, no more interruptions. I want to get through—”
He pointed to the back of the room.
Grace looked up, and the children turned their heads to follow her gaze. Her knees weakened. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Beauregard.”
The woman in black bowed. Her dress, the deepest shade Grace had seen her wear, must’ve been silk. The shiny material lay smooth against her full hips and reflected the daylight. A gentleman stood beside her. He had a small frame with sunken eyes and thin lips the same color as his pallid cheeks. Dressed in a stately manner, he didn’t look much bigger than Grace.
Grace returned her focus to her students. She clasped her hands. “That will be enough for today. All of you did very well. As you can see, Mr. Hennessy has returned and will take over his responsibilities.” She gestured toward her desk. “Fold your newspapers neatly and set them here.” Grace walked to the doorway to tell each of them goodbye as she did at the end of every day.
Mr. Hennessy chatted with a few children as they grabbed their lunch pails from the hooks on the wall. Cora and Minnie straggled, their faces long and their eyes misty. Minnie clung to Grace’s side while Cora wrapped her arms around her.
“You two young ladies make sure to keep up with your studies. Cora, with your times tables and Minnie, with your spelling. The more you practice, the better you will be.” She patted them on their backs. “
Go on now. I will see you at church this Sunday.”
Wyatt stopped in the doorway, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a round, dark object. “This here’s my lucky buckeye. My pa gave it to me, but you can have it.”
Grace opened her palm, and he laid it inside. The hard seed had been worn smooth. “Wyatt, you should keep this if it means something to you. Especially if it’s from your father.”
“No, it’s all right. I asked him and Ma, and they said we could find others. This way you’ll remember me.”
“Thank you, Wyatt. I will treasure this always. But I don’t need something to remember you. My students will always be in my heart.” She straightened his collar. “Now, have a good rest of the day.”
Josiah peeked around the doorframe. Thomas stood beside him.
“You two young men have made great gains this first term, and I expect you to progress even more and work just as hard for Mr. Hennessy.”
Thomas nodded, his face serious. “We will, Miss Cantrell. Mr. Green is having us read to each other after our chores and practice our adding and subtracting aloud as we work.”
The two visitors had moved in front of the bookshelf and chatted between themselves.
“Listen to me, you two.” Grace bent to whisper to them. “I found the notes on my porch and thought they were very sweet, but it’s not wise to do that again. I don’t think Mr. Green would approve, would he?”
Josiah shook his head.
“Are you going to tell him?” Thomas asked.
“I will keep it a secret if you promise not to do it again.”
They nodded.
Mr. Green stood in the yard chatting with Dorsey Crump’s father. He looked up and lifted one hand, and Grace’s heart danced. For a woman who boasted of her adamancy to never marry, she sure felt a spark rush inside her. She hoped it wouldn’t melt her resolve.
“Miss Cantrell.” A sharp, cold voice pulled her from her reverie.
Mrs. Beauregard stood with her arms folded. “It’s probably best you gather your things now.”
The boys’ frowns deepened, and they stepped forward.
Grace put her arm out and stopped them. “Just a minute.” With a hand under each boy’s chin, she lifted their faces to gaze at her. “Always remember that you two are important. And it doesn’t matter where a person came from or what has happened in his life, he is a special creation. To God…and to me.”
Grace like a Whisper Page 19