by Linda Ford
“Why, thank you. I enjoy cooking.”
“I told him that,” her pa said.
Walker met Josie’s guarded look with a smile.
“I ’elp wif peas,” little Blossom said.
Josie set down the dishes and bent to hug the girl. “You sure did. So did Donny and your mama. Thank you all.”
Donny sighed dramatically. “I wanted to help shingle the roof, but Ma said she’d tie me to the bed if I went up there.” He shot Walker and Jacob a look that plainly begged them not to tell his mother he had climbed the ladder.
Walker looked to Jacob, who gave a little shrug, and they let it pass.
They gathered around the table. Jacob said grace, and then the food was passed. This time Walker wasn’t quite so hungry and could enjoy the food simply for the pleasure of how well it was cooked and seasoned. And then Josie brought out cookies and coffee.
Walker wanted to say again how good the food was, but he had done so several times and thought she might get annoyed if he kept mentioning it.
They were about to leave the table when someone pounded on the front door. “Preacher,” a man called.
Jacob hurried down the hall to let in the man. “Zeke, what can I do for you? You look terrible. Come in. Josie,” he called. “Pour the man coffee.” Jacob led a man into the kitchen.
“Zeke Haynes, this is Walker Jones. He’s visiting for a while.”
Walker shook hands with Zeke, noting how his hand trembled.
Josie set a cup of coffee before him and a plate of cookies.
Zeke crushed his hat between his palms. “Preacher, what I got to say isn’t for little ears.”
Mrs. Norwood rose. “Come along, children. Blossom, it’s time for your nap. Donny, I’ll read you a story.”
“Aw, Ma. I want to hear—” He stopped as his mother took his hand and led him out of the room.
The adults sat, waiting for Zeke to speak. He sucked in air. “I was on my way to town. I was passing the Boulter place when the boy—he’s about twelve, I suppose—ran out to stop me. He was crying. Said his pa had been gored by a bull. I followed him to where his pa lay. He was in bad shape. I helped him into the house. Between his wife and me, we cleaned the wounds as best we could. But he’s quite a mess. He asked I tell you and said would you come and pray over him?”
“I surely will.” The preacher reached for his hat. “Josie, bring me my Bible. And some of the carbolic acid your ma uses on wounds.”
She hurried down the hall and returned with a black Bible that the preacher tucked under his arm. She pulled a little metal box out of the cupboard. “Ma keeps supplies in here. Do you want me to go with you?”
Zeke shuddered. “It ain’t pretty.”
“I’ve helped Ma deal with all kinds of injuries,” she said.
“It will be a miracle if he survives.”
The preacher patted the older man’s shoulder. “I believe I can manage on my own. I know a God who performs miracles.” He looked at Josie and Walker. His gaze lingered on Walker. “I trust my daughter will be safe.”
“Pa.” Josie sounded as shocked as Walker felt.
Walker gave Jacob look for look. He was an honorable man. He wasn’t going to take advantage of the preacher’s absence to do anything he shouldn’t. “Sir, if you don’t trust me, I will be on my way.” He pushed to his feet and headed for the door.
“Pa.” Josie’s voice was low, full of pleading and maybe something more. Maybe displeasure that her father had judged her.
“Walker, wait. You have to understand that I don’t know you well enough to know if I can trust you. But I’m going to give you a chance. You’re welcome to stay. And Mrs. Norwood will be here as well.”
Walker paused, his hand on the doorknob. He didn’t much care to stay someplace where he wasn’t trusted, but the preacher was right. How were they to know if he was true and honest? He slowly turned and faced the room. “Sir, you will soon learn that I am a man of my word. My ma has raised me right, and I would never do anything to dishonor her memory.”
Jacob nodded. “Then I will be on my way. Zeke, are you going back there?”
“If’n you don’t mind, I think I’ll do the business I came to town for.” Zeke bid them good-bye and left by the front door.
Jacob made for the door. “I’ll be back for supper.” A few minutes later he had saddled his horse and rode away.
Josie could hardly think. Why had Pa said such a thing? Didn’t he trust her? It wasn’t like she was alone with Walker. That would have been unacceptable. Stella was here. Too bad Ma was away, but Mrs. Smith had just delivered her eighth baby and couldn’t manage on her own.
And then to say he’d be back for supper. Usually he said he’d be back when he was sure the person he visited was doing okay.
Josie drew back her shoulders and faced Walker. “I am sorry for what Pa said. It isn’t like him.” She’d thought he trusted her completely. Perhaps he still remembered how she’d lived before they adopted her. Would that never stop haunting her?
“No, he was right to warn me. Not that he needed to, but how was he to know that? This time yesterday he hadn’t even met me.”
“Thank you for being so understanding, though I admit I feel embarrassed.”
“No need. I promise, you have nothing to fear from me.” He reached for the doorknob. “Maybe I can get the rest of the roof shingled before he gets back.” And with that, he left the house.
Josie drew in a deep breath. Walker was more than gracious after the way Pa treated him.
Stella slipped from the room. “I can’t rest until I know what’s going on.”
Josie glanced past her.
“I made Donny stay in the room until I returned.”
Knowing Donny would be straining to hear what she said, Josie drew Stella to the far side of the kitchen and in a few words relayed the story.
Stella shuddered. “The Boulters have three children. What will they do if their father doesn’t make it?”
Josie hugged Stella. “The same as you. Keep going.”
“I’m in danger of losing my farm if I don’t soon get my strength back.”
“Kade is seeing to your farm, so don’t you worry.”
Stella returned to the bedroom, and Donny rushed out.
“What happened? I wanna know.”
“My pa has gone to see a man who was hurt.”
“Hurt? How? What happened? How bad? Is he going to die?” Donny’s bottom lip quivered.
Josie understood that he was thinking of his own loss. “Donny, I don’t know. Pa will tell us when he returns.”
“It ain’t right for pas to die.”
She sat and drew him close. “You know what my pa said when he left? He said God could perform miracles. He can make Mr. Boulter strong and well. We just have to ask Him. Shall we pray?”
Donny nodded.
Josie held his hands between hers. “God, we know You are good and loving. Please see fit to heal Mr. Boulter. In all things, we choose to trust You. Amen.”
Donny looked up at her.
“Do you feel better?”
He nodded. “You should have prayed for my papa.”
She rumpled his hair. “We have to trust God to do what is best.” Hearing a sound at the door, she glanced up to see Walker standing there, watching.
“I came for a drink,” he said and went to the pump to get water.
Donny sidled up to him. “Can I help you?”
Walker drank the water, set the cup down, and studied the boy.
Josie watched, wondering how he would satisfy this eager child. Or if he would dismiss him. Tell him to stay out of the way.
“Well…” Walker spoke slowly. “You can’t go up the ladder. Your mama has forbidden it. But I see Mr. Kinsley has left lots of scraps of lumber on the ground. Now if a person was to gather them all up, I think that person might be able to make a little building of his own.”
“Me?” Donny quivered with excitement. “I co
uld? But I don’t know how to build.”
“Tell you what. You gather up the lumber bits and sort them out, and when I’m done with the roof, I’ll show you how to construct a building.”
The boy was out the door in a flash.
Walker turned to Josie. “I hope your pa won’t mind that I’ve given the scraps to him.”
Josie managed a trembling smile. The way Walker had treated Donny elevated her opinion of him several notches. “I expect he wouldn’t object.”
Walker left.
Stella chuckled. “You look stunned. Did Walker surprise you? Could it be that you are learning that a man’s good traits outweigh his lack of possessions?”
Josie shrugged. She tried and failed to laugh. “I care not for possessions beyond the necessities of life.” Home and shelter. Food enough for the day. Everyone deserved that. And kindness such as Walker had shown to Donny. Josie’s throat tightened. It was that childish eagerness to help and please that her uncle had taken advantage of. If he had directed it to good like Walker just did with Donny, things might have been so different. But her uncle only cared about getting things without putting in an effort to earn them honestly.
Stella studied her a moment longer. “Someday I hope you find that love is worth more than security.”
“How can that be? Love won’t keep you warm, fill your stomach, or protect you from the elements.”
Stella pressed her palm to her chest. “It gives you the strength to work for those things. Josie, I would trade my home any day for the return of my husband.”
“What about your children? Would you deprive them of what they need?”
“Of course not. But I know that together we would build a future for them.”
Josie stared out the window where Donny scooted about picking up the bits and pieces of wood off the ground.
Stella sighed. “I’ll go rest now.”
“Have a good nap.” Josie shifted her position so she could see the roof of the addition. However, Walker was working on the far slope and she couldn’t see him.
Donny sat on the ground and stacked the bits of lumber.
She smiled. The boy might be without a father, but he had a loving mother and the protection of Josie’s family. At some point, the Norwoods would return to their farm. She shuddered as she thought of how they’d almost died out there.
It seemed having a home still didn’t mean a person was safe. Verses Ma had taught her along with the other girls filled her thoughts. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night. She trusted God. Or at least she tried to. But she didn’t think even trusting Him would enable her to live the way Stella talked of. She didn’t think love would be enough to keep her warm at night.
Realizing how long she’d been idly staring out the window, she pulled out a bowl and mixed together ingredients for a cake. While it baked, she browned meat for a stew then covered it with water and set it to simmer. The cake was done, and she set it to cool then took up a basket, intending to head to the garden for vegetables to put into the stew.
A crash shattered the silence. She looked out the window. Donny wasn’t where she’d last seen him. Her first thought was he had climbed the ladder, and it had fallen.
She raced for the door, not knowing what she would find.
Chapter 5
Walker stared at the ladder lying on the ground. He’d bumped it with a bundle of shakes. The shakes were scattered across the yard.
Donny looked up at him. “How you gonna get down?”
“I guess I’ll have to stay here until someone puts the ladder back up.”
“I will.” Donny grunted as he tried to lift it. In a couple of seconds, he straightened. “It’s too heavy for me.”
Josie raced around the corner. She saw Donny by the ladder and grabbed him by the shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Course.”
“Were you trying to move the ladder? Climb it?” She ran her hand along the boy’s arms. “You’re sure you’re not hurt?”
Donny moved out of her reach. “I’se fine. But Mr. Walker is stuck on the roof.”
Josie looked at Walker.
He studied her, liking that she had to tip her head back to study him. “I bumped it.”
Her eyes sparkled. Her lips quivered, and then she laughed.
Her humor was so unexpected he wasn’t sure how to respond. “I’m stuck here.” He tried to sound wounded, but his situation suddenly struck him as funny, and he chuckled.
She looked at the ladder than back to him. “It looks heavy. I don’t know if I can lift it.”
He hoped she was teasing. “I could get hungry and thirsty up here.”
“I’ll throw you a rope, and you can use it to draw up a bucket of water.” Her expression revealed nothing.
He tried to guess if she was serious or not. Decided to play along with the game if that was what she intended. And if she didn’t, he might as well settle in for a few hours on the roof. He looked around. “Nice view from up here. Your garden is very neat. Not a weed in sight.”
“At least not from where you’re sitting. However, if you were closer, you’d see some.”
“I see people walking along the street.”
“That would be Main Street.”
He read the sign he could see. “White’s Store.”
“There’s also a barber shop, Sylvie’s diner, and the hotel. Across the street is the sheriff’s office. Turn your head a bit and you’ll see a big red barn. That’s the livery barn.”
“Do you suppose if I hollered real loud someone would come rescue me?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you give it a try?”
Donny shuffled from one foot to the other and looked worried. “You’re teasing him, aren’t you?”
Josie laughed. “Yes, I am. Hang on Mr. Jones, and I’ll see what I can do with this ladder.”
He knew the ladder was heavy and held his breath as she struggled with it. She managed to get it against the roof, but it was at a precarious angle. He reached out to straighten it. His foot slipped.
“Stop.” Her face paled. “Let me do it.”
Having no wish to land in a heap at her feet—or anyone’s feet for that matter—he sat back and let her straighten the ladder.
She shook it. “I think it’s safe.”
He backed down, reached the ground, and looked at her. “Thank you.”
She nodded, her gaze dark. “You scared me.”
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t move. He wanted her to know he hadn’t meant to frighten her, any more than he meant to send the ladder to the ground.
“We don’t need any more accidents around here, Mr. Jones.” She spun around and headed for the house.
“Please call me Walker. Mr. Jones is my uncle.” Walker smiled as he started to collect the shakes. Donny helped him. She was concerned about him. That was nice.
By rights, he should pay for the broken shingles, which meant he’d have to work for Jacob a few more days. Somehow, he didn’t mind the idea.
Maybe he’d send a letter to Bella Creek and see if he could locate his uncle. That way he wouldn’t have to spend any time looking for him.
He set aside the broken bits of wood and climbed back to the roof to continue the task.
A little later, he watched Josie make her way to the garden with a hoe. He couldn’t see any weeds, but she obviously did, for she chopped away at the ground. She paused for a rest and looked his direction.
He smiled and touched the brim of his hat—except it wasn’t there.
She nodded and returned to work, and he did the same.
Donny wandered away to join his mama and little sister when they emerged from nap time.
The afternoon passed. Walker’s stomach growled. Wasn’t it suppertime yet? But no one called him for the meal. He eyed the remaining part of the roof yet to shingle. Still a couple of hours work.
His stomach growled again
, and he made his way to the edge of the roof so he could see down to the kitchen although he couldn’t see inside. He sniffed. Sure smelled like supper.
Had they forgotten him?
He climbed down the ladder and went to the back door where he hesitated. Should he knock or walk right in?
He tapped lightly and stepped inside. The table was set. Mrs. Norwood sat with Blossom on her knee. Donny leaned against her chair.
Josie stood in front of the stove. “Pa isn’t back,” she said. “He said he would be back for supper.”
Walker glanced at the clock over the cupboard. Seven o’clock. No wonder his stomach said it was suppertime. “The children must be hungry. Perhaps you should let them eat.”
Donny nodded.
“I suppose that makes sense.” Josie carried a pot of stew to the table and dished up some for the two little ones. “Stella, you should eat with them.” She put stew on a third plate and stood there as if she didn’t know what to do.
Stella got her children seated and took their hands. “I’ll pray.”
Walker closed his eyes, but as soon as the amen was said, he studied Josie. Her gaze went repeatedly to the hallway, as if she expected her father to come in the front door at any time. She turned and stared out the window by the back door. “He should have returned. It’s not like him.”
“Do you think he’s run into trouble?” Walker asked.
“I don’t know. Perhaps Mr. Boulter needed him. You know…” She trailed off without finishing, but he knew what she meant. Perhaps the man had succumbed to his injuries, and the preacher felt he needed to stay with the family.
“Would you feel better if I went and found out what’s delaying him?”
Her breath whooshed out. “Would you?”
“Sure.” He waited for her to suggest a way of getting there other than walking.
“How you gonna get there?” Donny asked. “You got no horse.”
Josie blinked. “Go to the livery barn and ask for one. Tell Mickey the preacher needs it.”
Walker reached for his hat, remembered he didn’t have one, and left the house. He trotted over to the big red barn and introduced himself.
The tall, rangy man with a neat moustache and his long blond hair tied back with a length of leather pointed toward a wagon and a pair of horses. “They’re ready to go. Just came back from a short drive. Take them.”