I move to the other side of the wagon and begin pushing. It doesn’t move an inch. Joel stands there, his arms crossed over his chest. He smiles.
Scowling, I push again. “Well are you going to come help me?”
“No. I just want to see how long you think this will take you.”
I sigh, still trying to move the wagon. “If you would come help me, this would be easier.”
“Genevieve. There are only two of us. I don’t think we can move it.” He pauses beginning to walk toward his horse, still tied on the back. “But maybe if someone was in the driver’s seat, the horses could help.”
I smile, feeling my face flush red. “Yes, I suppose that could work too.”
Eventually, I’m in the seat with the reins in my hands and Joel on the left side of the wagon. He shouts up to me, “You steer the horses toward the grass on your right. I’ll push.”
I get the horses to begin moving and I urge them to go faster. They pull, and slowly the wagon moves. I feel the three good wheels moving, but the other side of the wagon just slides on the ground. I almost slide down the seat again, but I dig my heels into the wooden floorboards. The horses pull, and eventually the wagon is far enough off the path.
I jump down from my spot in the wagon and find Joel untying his horse. I smile, reaching out to grab my favourite horse, Old Red. “You know how to ride?” I tease.
“Of course I know how.”
I grin, pulling the lead over Old Red’s head. The other horse I tie to Old Red’s rope. “Ready?” I turn to face him.
“Yes.” He smiles pulling himself onto his horse.
“Good.” I too, pull myself on to Old Red’s back. With one quick glance back at Joel, I kick Old Red gently to get him moving. “I hope you can keep up.”
Digging my heels in farther, Old Red begins running, tugging my other horse along. She is evenly paced with Old Red, so her falling behind isn’t a problem. I smile, feeling a surge of energy rush through me. Riding horses is what I live for. The way they run, the jolts of them moving, are so familiar. So…perfect.
The wind rushes through my hair, pushing it out of my way and I look up to see the stars twinkling in the sky. Beautiful. I decide to slow down and wait for Joel. I stop and turn to see him far in the distance.
I smirk as he eventually stops his horse beside me.
He scowls. “Not fair. My horse is slow.”
“I had two horses and they went faster.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He laughs. “Shall we continue?”
“No. I want to just relax for a bit before I have to go home.” I let out a breath, lying down on Old Red’s back. My feet still hang by his stomach, but my head rests on his flank.
Joel chuckles. “You and that horse have some sort of trust and connection?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re lying on his back, barely holding his ropes. He could take off and you would fly off him.”
I smile, rolling my head to the side to look up at Joel. “He wouldn’t.”
“But what if he did?”
I laugh. “He wouldn’t”
“All right then. I’m not helping you when he bucks you off.”
“Are you scared of horses or something?”
He sighs, laughing. “Not afraid. Just something about them can sometimes be eerie. Their eyes scare me.”
“Their eyes are the most beautiful, loving things.”
“Not when they charge at you.”
I laugh, folding my hands on my stomach. “I have never in my life, heard of that happening.”
“Well it has. His name was Bull. I don’t know why we bought him. I was only ten at the time. Anyway, the thing was evil and one day I was feeding him and the other horses, and I turned to see him standing behind me. The last thing I saw were his eyes as his head rammed me in the stomach. Then I was unconscious.”
I let out a breath. “Maybe if you had shown him some affection, he wouldn’t have done that. And maybe if you hadn’t named him ‘Bull’ he wouldn’t have acted like one.”
“Yeah, well it’s hard to give affection to a horse like that.”
“I would’ve found a way.”
He chuckles. “I know you would’ve. Me and animals just don’t see eye to eye.”
“That’s sad.”
We sit in silence for a while, the only sound is the horse’s loud breathing and whinnying. I sit up after awhile, readjusting my grip on the reins. “Let’s continue then. My family might start to get worried.”
“Yes. When we go past your sister’s house, I’ll turn around and go home, so he doesn’t see me.”
“Okay. Race you.” I laugh, starting Old Red off in a fast gallop.
I hear Joel laugh. “Not fair.”
The rest of the way home, I sometimes break into a run with Old Red, then wait for Joel to catch up. Or I just ride at a fast trot beside him. Eventually, we reach Darlene’s house. No lights are on, though.
“Goodbye, Genevieve. Thanks for coming to spend the day with me and my family.”
“No.” I stop my horse looking at him. “I don’t like goodbyes…how about, see you soon?”
He smiles, stopping his horse beside mine. “Yes. See you soon, Genevieve.” He takes my hand and plants a kiss, then without another word begins to slowly ride back toward Riverbend.
Chapter 26
“Who’s there?” I hear a man’s voice, and I whip my head in the direction of it. I smile, seeing Robert standing in the door of his house.
“Robert. It’s just me.”
I watch as his shoulders relax and the house door opens wider. “Oh…Genevieve. What are you doing?”
“I’m on my way home.”
His head turns to look back inside and I hear Darlene’s voice. “Darlene wants to know if you’d like to come in for a quick visit.”
“Sure.” I shrug, climbing off Old Red and guiding him and the other horse to be tied up to a tree next to their house.
Inside the house, Darlene hugs me and lets out a breath. “Hello, sis.” She pulls back, looking at me. “What were you doing?”
I move to sit down at the small, wooden table. She and Robert sit next to each other.
“I was in Riverbend. I dropped something off for Adeline this morning, and then rode out to the Adam’s to see Julie, Joel, Stephen, and Albert,” I say softly, knowing Alice and Levi are sleeping.
Darlene raises her eyebrows. “I’m guessing you didn’t tell Pa?”
“No. I just couldn’t end my friendships with them the way Pa did it. It wasn’t fair on them.”
“Yes.” She reaches across the table to take my hand. “You’re right.”
I frown. “Joel rode home with me, because he didn’t want me to get hurt or anything. I’m glad he did, because the wagon wheel snapped on the way home. We had to push it off to the side of the road and ride the horses the rest of the way.”
“Ah…that’s why you were just riding a horse.” Robert scratches the back of his neck. “I’ll head out with your pa tomorrow to repair it and bring it back. I won’t tell him that Joel was with you, though, don’t worry.”
“Thank you.” I stand up slowly. “I guess I better be heading home. You know how worried everyone gets.”
“Yes. Well thanks for telling us. And tell Pa to come by when he wants to get the wagon tomorrow. Robert will be ready any time.”
“All right. See you soon, Darlene.” I give her a quick hug, and make my way out into the dark night once again.
* * *
I’m sitting in the rocking chair by the fire now. After getting Old Red and the other horse into the stables, I’m exhausted. I tell Pa I had such a fun day with Adeline and the twins, but on the way home, the wagon wheel snapped so I rode horseback the rest of the way home.
He gives me a hug and smiles. “Well, I’m glad you’re home safe. What did you and Adeline do today?”
Dang it. I look quickly to Bradley whose eyes widen, then to Freida. “Uh…well I h
elped her make lunch. And…and we went for a walk by the river and talked. I stayed for supper and helped her get the twins to bed.”
“That sounds fun.”
“Yes.” I quickly stand up. “I’m going to head to bed now. It was a fun, but tiring day.”
Pa smiles. “Goodnight, dear.”
I retreat to the loft and let out a breath. This whole lying to my pa thing is awful. I feel like every time I lie to him, our father-daughter trust breaks a little. I change into my nightgown, then practically fall in to bed.
Tomorrow. I’ll tell Pa tomorrow. I begin to imagine all the worst outcomes. He could forbid me to leave the house again without him. He could find out that he was the only one who didn’t know I spent the day with the Adams.
All the possible bad outcomes are bouncing around in my head. I feel like my head is going to explode. I can’t sleep. Can’t close my eyes. Can’t move.
I decide to think of what could go right. Pa could decide Joel and his family aren’t criminals and let me be around them. I smile, imagining being able to invite Joel and his family for supper one night. That would be nice. Just as the nice thoughts come, they leave, and are replaced by the bad ones. Even the illogical ones, like how Pa might lock me in the closet and forbid me to ever leave. What am I even thinking anymore?
As I fall asleep, I feel a tear slip down my face. Why am I unable to control my own mind sometimes? What’s wrong with me?
* * *
I wake up to the sound of movement downstairs. A cough. It’s Pa. Now is my chance to talk to him, to try sorting this all out. I leap out of bed and make my way down the ladder. He’s sitting carving a piece of wood by the fire.
He turns to face me, a smile spreading on his face. “Good morning, Genevieve. How’d you…”
I close my eyes. “No. Pa, I need to talk to you.”
I watch as his eyebrows furrow and he stands, setting his carving down. “What is it?”
“Can we go outside please?”
He nods, opening the door, allowing me out. He walks quietly beside me for a while. “Genevieve?”
I sit down on the grass and he slowly eases himself down next to me.
“Pa.” I start. “I have some confessions to make. Don’t interrupt me, please. Five years ago, I gave money to Joel Adams.”
I watch as his eyes widen, but he remains silent. “I gave him money to use with his family. I ran after him when you all left. And the day we were all at Adeline’s, and I was fighting with Douglas… I went outside and actually went to the mercantile to look at fabric to calm me down. And Joel was there. He bought me the fabric. He was the boy who bought me the fabric, Pa.”
Pa opens his mouth but I continue, “And the day I went for a picnic with Freida, Lydia, and Hazel, I saw him again. Freida gave us free time and Joel came up to me. We spent the afternoon by the river talking about his family. And how his ma had passed away. The night of the dance, you know I went with him. We danced, talked, and teased his sister Julie.”
I pause, looking down. One more. I can do this. “And Pa… Yesterday, I spent my day with Joel, Julie, Stephen, and Albert at their house. And it was a really fun day.”
Chapter 27
Pa hasn’t said anything for about a minute now. I silently beg him to say something. Anything.
He takes a deep breath, not looking at me. His eyes seem to be saddened. Hurt even. “Why?”
“Because I love him, Pa.”
“You do not,” he says.
“Yes, Pa.” I look up, meeting his eyes. “I do.”
“Why’d you lie to me?”
I feel tears beginning to fill my eyes. “Because, Pa, you were breaking me. You were forbidding me to see them, and I just couldn’t bear to lose any more people. I just couldn’t.” I begin sobbing, letting the tears come out.
Pa doesn’t say anything, just moves to pull me into a hug. “Sweetheart. I know it’s hard.”
I look up at him, my tears blurring my vision. “But why did you do it?”
“Because I promised your ma.” He pauses, clearing his throat. “I promised her that I would make sure you girls marry good people.”
I blink the tears out of my eyes. “You…you did?”
“Yes, and Mr. Adams didn’t seem like a good person.”
“Pa.” I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “It was a long time ago he was like that. You didn’t even give him a chance to prove himself.”
He sighs. “Genevieve. You have to understand. He tried to steal my wheat and he got into a fistfight with Robert in the back of the wagon and…”
“Yes, Pa. He did do all of those things. And that scar on his face, you know what that’s from? He worked with two other boys and stole from a store, but they beat him up after. Pa, he’s made some mistakes.”
Pa lets out a long breath, lifting his head back. “He’s a thief, Genevieve. If I let you see him, you could get married, and then he could get caught stealing one day. What if he ended up in jail and you would be left all alone? And everyone would know you as the thief’s wife. I couldn’t let you go through that.”
“Pa. He is not a thief. He was, but he’s not anymore. You know why he stole? His father left him, his ma, and siblings when he was young. And then his ma got sick and was dying. They had no money. He was young and didn’t know what to do. He got in with the wrong people and there was a chance for money. He needed the money to help take care of his three younger siblings.”
Pa doesn’t say anything, he just sits beside me with his eyes closed. “Joel. What does he do now?”
“He…he farms with his two younger brothers.”
“That day, when you ran after him to give him the money…did he hurt you?”
I smile, thinking back to it. “No. He helped me unload the wheat from the wagon, and then I gave him the money.”
“And I suppose he rode home with you last night?”
“Are you trying to trick me?”
He sighs. “Did he?”
“Yes.”
Once again, no reply. Eventually, his eyes meet mine. “Good.”
“What?” I exclaim, my eyes widening. Did he say…good?
“He made sure you got home safe. I suppose, Genevieve, if this man is really as good as you say he is…I could give him a chance.”
I let out a laugh, throwing my arms around Pa’s neck. “Thank you, Pa. Thank you.”
He strokes my hair. “And Genevieve. How about no more lying to each other?”
“No more lying. I promise.”
I pull back and smile at him.
He smiles down at me. “I hope you understand why I did what I did, though. Your ma…she meant the absolute world too me and I have to look after you girls. I just had to make sure things were the way she would’ve wanted them.”
“Pa. All of this time, you’ve been living with this burden of making things perfect for Ma. And I felt bad about Freida moving in. We were both dealing with it, weren’t we?”
“Yes, Genevieve. We were.”
We remain sitting outside for a little while longer, before Freida calls from the house that breakfast is ready. I practically skip to the door with Pa close behind me and we wash our hands before joining everyone at the table.
“What a beautiful day,” I say, looking up at my family.
“It is.” Pa smiles. “And Genevieve, next time you see the Adams…” He pauses, and I watch everyone freeze. They think he’s going to yell at me.
Freida sets her fork down. “Now, Lawrence, it isn’t Genevieve’s fault. I told her she could go see him yesterday.”
“Yeah.” Lydia frowns. “Pa, you’re making a big deal out of nothing. The Adams are super nice people.”
Hazel smiles. “And yes, Joel has a bad past and all, but he’s changed.”
“Yeah, he helped Genevieve stop me from running away.” Douglas smiles.
Bradley sighs. “I don’t really know him, but don’t you think he deserves another chance?”
I laugh and everyone looks at me, clearly confused.
Pa chuckles before continuing, “I was going to say that Genevieve should invite them for supper.”
“What?” Douglas exclaims, his mouth hanging open.
“Pa and I had a talk this morning, and I convinced him to give them a chance. Also, thanks for sticking up for me everyone.”
“See this…” Pa smiles. “Is how I like our family to be—looking out for one another. I’m glad we’ve finally reached this point.”
Freida reaches across the table to take Pa’s hand. “Me too.”
Chapter 28
As we’re cleaning up from breakfast, there’s a knock at the door. I dry my hands, watching as Pa makes his way to the door. Maybe Darlene has brought the kids over for a visit. However, when Pa opens the door, it isn’t Darlene.
It’s Joel. And behind him is Julie, Stephen, and Albert. I see Julie begin to shake and grab Albert’s arm.
“Mr. Carter. I would like it if you would give me and my family a second chance,” Joel says, his eyes finding mine.
“And why should I?” Pa asks.
I begin to panic. Did he lie to me?
“Because…because I think I’ve become a better person and—”
Pa cuts him off. “Do you love my daughter?”
“I…well yes I do, but—”
Pa cuts Joel off again. “Will you ever put my daughter in the situation of you ending up in jail, leaving her all alone?”
“No. I’d never.”
“Good.” He smiles faintly.
Joel smiles. “And, Mr. Carter, I brought your wagon back. I repaired it, and I also have something for Genevieve.”
Pa reluctantly steps away from the door, smiling at me. I set the towel on the table and follow after Joel, and his siblings already making their way down the lane. My family follows behind me.
We approach the wagon, now repaired. I look to Pa, and he gives me a reassuring smile. I look back to the wagon and Joel leads a beautiful white horse toward me. I cover my mouth with my hands.
The Daisy (Carter Sisters Series Book 3) Page 11