Zeke’s ears reddened. “Don’t know how she did it, splashing her pole in the water. She couldn’t even bait her own hook.” His face twisted into a look of disgust.
Michael paused as soon we entered the yard. “I’m going to call Dan while you cook dinner.”
I stopped beside him. “Will you be able to get him today?”
He laced his free hand with mine, grinning at me. “It’s Saturday... he may be around.”
His look, or something in his stance, brought heat to my cheeks. I ducked my head. “All right. See you in a little while.”
He kissed me lightly on the forehead and handed the fish to Zeke, ignoring his frown. Zeke hated cleaning catfish, hated the sharp barbs, and hated having to skin them.
He tried to hand them back, with a protest. “You told Grace you’d clean them.”
“I’m sure she’d rather you do it.” With a wink, Michael strode to his truck and drove away.
Zeke stood looking after him for a moment, the still living fish flapping on the string. I walked up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Zeke looked up at me. “What’d you think he meant by that?”
I tried to keep my look sober and simply shrugged.
Zeke narrowed his eyes and twisted his face into one of deep thought. “Do you think she likes me?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t been around her enough to know what she thinks.”
Zeke made a pfftting sound. “Michael’s crazy. I’m twelve. She’s fourteen. Why would she like me?”
“Why wouldn’t she like you? Age doesn’t have anything to do with who you like.”
He kicked at the dirt. “She thinks I’m a kid.”
“How do you know?”
His shoulders hunched over, and he stared at the ground, not answering.
“Why do you think she wanted to go fishing with you today?” I persisted.
He twisted his head to give me a glare. “She didn’t have anything else to do. None of the other kids will even talk to her.”
“Well, in that case, she needs a friend.”
“Reckon so.” He sighed, holding up the fish with a look of disgust. “Gotta get these cleaned.”
He went around to the back, toward the pump, still mumbling under his breath. I smiled before I went into the house.
Chapter 30—Momma
I looked in on Momma, and she appeared to be asleep, her breathing steady. I backed out and closed the door softly.
Michael would be here only two more nights. I had decided to cook something special — fried chicken, dumplings, dressing, and fresh turnips. And I had some sweet potatoes. Maybe I could make sweet potato dumplings if I hurried.
Michael was gone a long time. He didn’t make it back until I had dinner ready. Zeke had already cleaned the fish, taken them to the Drake farm, and returned. He was helping me now, setting the table.
Michael came into the kitchen, sniffing the air. “What smells so good?”
Zeke piped up. “She’s gone all out. I never seen her cook so much before.”
His words made me smile. I turned to the sink to rinse out a pan.
Michael came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and whispering in my ear. “You do all your wifely duties so well.”
I shushed him, elbowing him in the ribs.
He laughed and backed away. “I’m starving.”
To tell the truth, I was pretty hungry myself. I decided not to ask about Dan until we were alone, out of Zeke’s earshot.
“What do you need me to do?” Michael asked.
“You can put the ice in the glasses.”
His eyes searched the room, and he noticed the icebox for the first time. “Where did that come from?”
“Marla gave it to me. And she pays for a block of ice once a week.”
He shook his head at me. “She doesn’t need to do that.”
“That’s what I said, but she insisted.”
“Did you make tea?” he asked, looking around.
I pointed at the pitcher on the counter, in plain sight. “Right there, sir.”
Michael and Zeke both laughed. Michael handed Zeke the ice pick. “You can start chipping. I’ll bring you the glasses.”
“Fix one for Momma, too. I guess I’m going to have to get her up.”
“You mean she’s still asleep?” Michael asked.
“Last time I checked.” I wiped my hands on my apron. “You two finish. I’ll go get her.”
I knocked on her door and again there was no answer. I opened it a crack and peeked in. She was in the same position I had last seen her in. I went to the bed and shook her shoulder gently. She moaned but didn’t open her eyes.
“Momma, are you sick? Momma?”
She continued to moan, although I wasn’t sure if she only snored.
I went to the door. “Michael, will you come help me?”
He was there in a second. “What’s wrong?”
“She won’t wake up.”
“Want me to go for the doctor?”
I shook my head. “She just appears to be in a heavy sleep. Let’s try to get her up first.”
We pulled her to a sitting position, but her head continued to loll.
“I’ll hold her. Go get a wet washrag,” Michael said, holding her with one arm wrapped around her shoulders. With his free right hand, he checked her pulse.
I scurried from the room and did as he said.
When I grabbed, and soaked a rag, and went back to her room, Zeke followed me.
“What’s wrong with her?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. We’re trying to get her to wake up.”
Michael looked up at me. “Her heart rate is good. Seventy and steady.”
I wiped her face with the washrag, and she batted at it, finally opening her eyes just a slit, and grabbing it. Releasing it into her possession, I stepped back, near where Michael had retreated into the corner.
“Momma?” Zeke said.
She opened her eyes a little wider and peered at her son, raising one hand to touch his arm, as if to see if he were real. He moved closer, and she pulled him into an embrace.
“There’s my boy,” she said, her words slurred, and she leaned against him, her eyes closing and soon gentle snores rose.
I gritted my teeth and went back out to get a pan of water, deciding to add a few shards of ice. When I returned, I discovered the rag had been dropped onto the bed, and a wet ring grew around it. Retrieving the rag, I dunked it into the icy water, motioned Zeke away, and wiped her face again. She protested vigorously, curse words spewing from her mouth, and pushed my hand away.
“Are you awake now, Momma?” I asked.
“Get out and leave me alone.”
“We were fixing to eat. Are you hungry?”
“Go on. I’ll eat when I’m ready.”
“All right,” I said.
Michael had already turned and left the room. Zeke and I followed him out and I pulled the door closed.
I put my arm around Zeke’s shoulders. “Have you ever seen her like this?”
“A few times. I think she takes too much of her medicine sometimes.”
I nodded my head. That was the first thing that had crossed my mind. “Dinner’s getting cold.”
Michael was pouring the tea, and I circled my arms around his waist. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Just doing my duty.”
“You’re very good in your husbandly duties,” I whispered to him and released my hold when Zeke pulled his chair out.
We took our seats, bowed our heads, and Michael said the blessing.
Even with Momma acting so strange, it was the best meal I’d eaten in a long time.
After we had gotten the kitchen cleaned up, Michael asked me if I wanted to take a ride. I made a plate for Momma and set it on the back of the stove, covering it with a dish towel.
I knew he didn’t want my brother tagging along, so I didn’t give Zeke a chance to ask
Michael took my hand as we walked to the truck. I slid into my normal position, right next to him.
He spoke as soon as he pulled into the road. “I talked to Dan.”
“I figured you did since you were gone so long.”
“He knows Sylvia is pregnant.”
“Who told him?”
“Sylvia.”
I raised a brow. “Oh?”
“Yes.” He cast a sideways glance at me. “She told him the baby was his, and he believes her.”
“Oh,” I said again, but my voice was flat this time. I couldn’t imagine how Marla felt — that is, if she knew. Well, I could imagine it, but I brushed the thought away.
“As a matter of fact, he’s been sending her money, so she can get things ready for the baby.”
Anger slashed through me. “That Sylvia! She’s been getting money from every Tom, Dick, and Harry.”
“Right.” He cast me a sideways glance. “She knows how to manipulate people. Although in Dan’s case, it’s justified.”
“So, does Marla know?”
“No. And he doesn’t want to tell her.”
Michael turned off the dirt road onto a path that was merely ruts across a pasture.
“Where we going?”
“There’s a pond, on the other side of that rise. Used to go fishing there, years ago. Belongs to old man Tuttle.”
He didn’t speak again until he had pulled up under a pecan tree next to the pond. No one else was around and it was peaceful here, under the tree, with a soft breeze blowing through the truck’s opened windows.
Michael turned to face me. “Dan’s going through a rough time right now. His father’s not doing well.”
“I heard the doctor’s not giving him long to live.”
“Mr. Drake has cancer.”
I nodded. No one had told me, but I had suspected it.
“Anyway, Dan promised me he would tell Marla... he didn’t say when, but I assume he will soon. I told him I’d talk it over with you... I wasn’t sure if you’d want to keep this to yourself.”
I thought it over. What good would it do to tell Marla? It was unlikely Sylvia would pull any more shenanigans. Why would she need to anyway, if Dan was paying her? I nodded. “I won’t tell her. No need to, none that I can see.”
“I’ll let Dan know. I stopped by to see Pop and Uncle Aaron, on the way home. Uncle Aaron is acting strange.”
“Strange?”
“Yes. I’m not sure what he’s up to.”
I bit my lip. I didn’t want to tell Michael my suspicions... and that’s all they were... suspicions.
“Do you want to drive into town? I thought you could show me around the office.”
“I’m not sure if Dr. Driscoll is still there. Sometimes he closes early on Saturdays. But I have a key in the glove compartment, and we can go in.”
Michael pulled me closer. “Or we could just stay here.”
“Michael! Someone might see us!”
“Not many know this old pond is back here.”
I gave him a stern look. “Mr. Tuttle might decide to wander down here.”
“All right,” Michael said reluctantly, releasing me.
I smoothed my hair down as he cranked the truck and drove back to the dirt road.
As it turned out, I didn’t need the key. Dr. Driscoll and Velma were both there.
Michael had met Dr. Driscoll who had visited the Hutchinson’s farm several times over the years. And, of course, he knew Velma, as I had already discovered. Velma nodded at him, giving him a big smile, but remained behind her counter.
Dr. Driscoll was busy shuffling papers on his desk. The paperwork had already piled up while I had been gone, although it had only been a few days. He stood and shook Michael’s hand, urging him to look around. I took Michael on the tour, including out back where there was a fenced-in area with kennels and a stable, kept ready in case we had to bring larger animals in overnight. We went back inside, and I headed for the front door, but Michael stopped me.
“Hold on. I want to speak to Dr. Driscoll for a second.”
“All right.”
I walked over to Velma and leaned on the counter.
“How’s it going today?”
“Fine.” She leaned back in her chair, chewing the eraser of the pencil in her hand. She had been working on a crossword puzzle.
I noticed the rims of her eyes were red. It looked as if she had been crying, although her makeup was flawless. I leaned in closer. “Is there anything wrong?”
She slammed the pencil down on the desk. “You could say that. I’m sure you heard.”
“Heard what?”
“Your uncle hired Walter.”
“Oh? I knew he needed a couple of men to help him.”
“Right. It’s all of Laurie’s doing.”
I took a deep breath, trying not to let her upset me. “I’m sure Laurie probably knew nothing about it.”
“She’s a conniving little tramp.”
That did it. I shook my finger in her face. “Do you even know Laurie? She is anything but a tramp. I don’t know what’s going on between you and Walter, but Laurie is not at fault.” I drew myself up to my full height, looking down on her.
She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. “Believe what you want. She’s after my Walter.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, letting go of some of the anger she had elicited. “So, you and Walter are still dating?”
She wiggled her shoulders and slowly nodded. “Yes, but no thanks to Laurie.”
I shrugged and moved away. Michael was coming out of Dr. Driscoll’s office, and I left without saying another word to Velma.
Michael took my hand when we stepped onto the sidewalk and pulled me to a stop, studying me. “Hold on a minute. What’s got you riled up?”
I explained to him, and he threw back his head and laughed. “Velma is jealous of Laurie? That’s rich.”
“I don’t understand it either.” I changed the subject. “What were you talking to Dr. Driscoll about?”
“About you.”
“Me?”
“He agrees with me, that you should not be working with the large animals, not while you’re pregnant.”
“Michael!”
“What?”
“You should have discussed that with me first.” I was fuming. I yanked my hand from his.
He let out an exasperated sigh. “Do you think you should be working with cows and horses?”
I didn’t answer but clenched my jaw until it ached.
“Jay, he told me how you pulled the calf. That’s tough for a man... and you’re pregnant!” His eyes were full of concern, but my anger simmered as we continued walking to the truck.
To tell the truth, I had hoped to work only with the small animals during my pregnancy, but wasn’t that my decision to make? I got in the truck.
“Jay...”
I stared out my window, refusing to look at him.
“Fine.” He cranked the truck and pulled onto the road. The vet’s office was located on the edge of town and we were soon in the country. and I watched the trees and fields zip by. Michael was driving too fast.
My anger was beginning to dissipate. I shouldn’t be angry when he would be leaving so soon. I moved closer to him. “Michael, I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too, Jay. I should have talked it over with you.” His brown eyes softened as he looked in my direction. “Let’s not argue.”
“I agree.”
“That we shouldn’t argue or that you shouldn’t be working with large animals?”
“Both.”
A low chuckle escaped his lips. “Remember that the husband is the head...”
“But the wife is the neck. She makes the head move.”
He pulled to the shoulder of the road, and his eyes found mine. “Like this?” And he bent his head to kiss
me, right there, on the side of the road.
Chapter 31—Laurie
The time flew, and Michael left me again, and now I no longer knew how long it would be before he returned. He was heading to the Pacific as the veterinarian for the canine division. I could not, would not break down, for my sake, for the sake of the baby I carried, and most of all, for Michael’s sake. I put my energy into my job, taking care of Zeke and Momma, and buoying up the spirits of Laurie.
Strangely, Laurie was as upset over Uncle Colt’s hiring of Walter as Velma was. Laurie graduated from high school but remained at home, frequenting Cedar Springs, to keep away from Sylvia — she at first said. Later she confided she wanted to keep her distance from Walter.
Laurie came to me in tears one night. Momma and Zeke had both gone to bed, and I was getting ready. A soft knock sounded on the outside door of the addition, and I opened it to find Laurie there. Her hair was loose and fell around her shoulders. Without speaking, she came in and took a seat in the chair by the fireplace, in the room where I planned to set up the baby’s bed, when the time came.
I pulled a chair up close to her, placing a hand on her knee, but also didn’t speak, afraid it might invoke tears. Her face was stricken and pale beneath her sprinkling of freckles.
She leaned over at the waist and put her face in her hands. I patted her back, wondering what had upset her so. She raised her face and her red-rimmed eyes found mine.
“He asked me to marry him,” she said.
“Walter?” I asked, although I knew that was the only person she could be referring to.
She nodded miserably.
“Why does it upset you so?” I asked, gently.
She chewed on her lip for a second. “Why do things have to change? Why did William have to go off to war? And Michael? And Sylvia had to move into our home, ruining everything. And now Walter wants me to leave Momma and Daddy.” And she burst into tears.
I pulled her into my arms and let her have a good cry. When her sobs had subsided into hiccoughs, I got up to find her a handkerchief to blow her nose with.
After she had somewhat composed herself, I took her by the shoulders and searched her eyes. “No one is forcing you to marry Walter.”
To my consternation, she burst out crying again. “I love him,” she said through her sobs.
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