When The Geese Fly North

by Dragon, Tracey L.

Amy tossed and turned all night. Where did Will go and was he coming back? She imagined him limping all the way to town and several times thought of waking Thomas to go in search of him. What had caused him to leave she’d asked herself a hundred times during the night? She’d gone over the evening in her mind with a fine-tooth comb and could only assume it had to do with him kissing her in the barn and not the fight with her ex.

  She would be less than honest if she didn’t admit to being secretly thrilled. Over the past week his kindness to her son had worn down any objections she had to the man, and she’d begun to enjoy their meals together. She wasn’t sure what gave her more satisfaction tonight, watching her ex get what he had coming to him or Will backing her into the corner.

  She recalled the kiss and decided without a doubt, it won hands down. But what caused Will’s extreme reaction to it? Obviously, he thought it a mistake, or he wouldn’t have left the way he did.

  Finally, she dozed off only to pop awake at the cock’s first crow. Damn, he could have at least hauled the chickens off with him. The image of Will toting a sack of clucking chickens down the road made her smile. If he didn’t show up by tonight, the damn rooster would be feet up stewing in a pot on the stove for dinner.

  Her son’s giggling roused her out of her bed in a hurry, wondering what the mischievous imp was into. There in the hallway sat Shep and Molly in a puddle of their own making. She picked up her son and moved him away from the dogs and went in search of some old rags to mop up the mess.

  “Shep and Mols aren’t potty-trained like me, Mommy.”

  “No, they aren’t,” she said. “They are still young, but we can begin their training this morning. How about you take them out into the backyard for a few minutes while I fix our breakfast? Stay near the house where I can see you.”

  “Otay.”

  She handed him Mols and Shep and helped him down the steps. “You sit right here and play with them where I can hear you.” She left the inner door open so she could see out the screen.

  The dogs were another reason to hunt Will down if he’d left for good. The last thing she needed was to own two of them. It would be difficult to part Thomas and Mols, but Will could at least take Shep with him if he wasn’t planning on coming back—a thought that sent her into a dither, wondering what she’d do if he didn’t return. He’d finished the tilling but had yet to sow the seeds. Could she do it herself? Maybe if she had a little help. Oh, what a mess. She wiped her hands on her apron.

  There was nothing she could do about Will this morning, so after breakfast she kept busy planting seeds in the vegetable garden and weeding the flower beds. Whenever she heard a vehicle coming down the road, she’d glanced up only to see it drive by. She yawned and wiped her brow with her sleeve. After lunch she planned to nap while her son slept.

  After sleeping for two hours she made a cup of tea, put on a heavy cable-knit sweater and went outside to sit in the sun on the porch. Thomas played with his toys while the puppies slept in the box she’d put them in. When four-thirty came and no Will, she went in to prepare dinner. She stirred up a sour-cream cake and put it in the oven along with a dish of macaroni and cheese. If Will returned she’d fry a couple of pork chops, if not she’d save them for another meal.

  At five-forty-five, she heard a vehicle rattling up the lane and glanced out the kitchen window to note Travis’s truck headed for the barn. When Will climbed out and limped off to his room with his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, she let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

  Everything would be all right now. She removed the pork chops from the refrigerator and put them on to fry then opened a jar of green beans to warm. Thomas ran to the barn to see Will and to pass on the message from his mother that dinner would be ready at six.

  With the butterflies in her stomach, she didn’t think she’d be able to swallow a bite of food. Obviously, she and Will needed to talk, but it would be awkward with Thomas at the table. It would be best left until she put him to bed. The tramping of Will and Thomas’s feet on the back steps warned her of their arrival. Putting her back to the door, she turned to the stove to give her more time to compose herself.

  Thomas climbed into his seat, and Will leaned against the counter waiting for her to finish. “Can I help?” he offered.

  “No, I’m fine.” She waved at his seat going through their usual ritual. She placed a fried pork chop on her plate to share with Thomas and put the remaining two on Will’s plate. The green beans and macaroni and cheese followed. Last, she set the coffee on the stove to perk. Will stood by her chair waiting to pull it out for her as if nothing had changed.

  After he took his seat, Will cleared his throat several times as if he had a craw sticking in it, then asked, “You all right?”

  If he hadn’t asked with such an apologetic earnest expression on his face, Amy would have crowned him. But it was obvious he was full of contrition, so she gave him her best sunny smile. “Of course. Did you have a pleasant day in town?”

  His lips turned up at the edges into a rueful grin. “Head’s a little sore. I did manage to get a few new books from the library and a bag of supplies.”

  Choosing to ignore the issue they were skirting, she gave him a tentative smile. “That’s good. The books and supplies, I mean.” She paused. “Next time you feel the need to run into town for such things I would worry less if you borrowed the truck.”

  His gaze locked with hers for a moment, then returned to the pork chop he’d been eating. “I’ll remember that.”

  “Good. Then I’ll say no more.”

  They ate the remainder of the meal in silence. Amy was so damn glad to have Will back she was hesitant to say anything else lest she rock the boat.

  Will thanked her for the meal and went to leave but turned back to her. “I owe you an apology.” His tone gruff. “My behavior in the barn was inexcusable, and I give you my word it won’t happen again.”

  She tucked her head, lest her disappointment in his regret be plainly written on her face. “It’s fine, already forgotten.” She glanced up to find his dark gaze studying her as if searching for any lasting damage.

  He seemed satisfied with what he saw and with a curt nod, left.

  She stood in the doorway and watched him limp all the way to the barn. I’m not giving up on you yet, Will Henderson. She would need to bide her time was all.

  Chapter 26

  Will and Amy settled into an uneasy truce. On the surface, Will gave every indication that the day in the barn had never happened. It, however, haunted his nights and left him moody during the day. He kept his mind off his partner by working long days in the fields in hopes sheer exhaustion would let him sleep. The early crops were up and appeared promising.

  Quietly, the month of May rolled in. The last of the vegetable seeds were planted in the ground, and now that he’d been able to rent an old cultivator from one of Travis’s neighbors, Will’s workload had lightened significantly. He gazed out over the fields with pride and satisfaction. He couldn’t recall now his reasons for leaving his family’s home in the Midwest. Growing pains, he guessed. He thought about the harsh words he and his father had upon his parting and thought perhaps it was time to mend some fences once the crops were in. A slight twinge of regret grabbed his chest at the thought of leaving Amy and her son, but he ignored it for what it was. He had too many ghosts to settle before he could commit himself to anyone or anything.

  “Will,” Amy called to get his attention as he shut off the tractor outside of the barn.

  He climbed down and met her halfway across the lawn. “Everything okay?”

  “Oh, yes. Sorry, didn’t mean to worry you. I only wanted to tell you that Fran called to see if it was okay if she and Travis dropped by after supper. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen them what with you working such long hours in the fields and me w
orking on weekends. I told her I thought it would be fine.”

  “Yeah, it’ll be good to see Travis and catch up.”

  “That’s what I thought. They’ll be here around seven.”

  “Let me go wash, and I’ll help you with dinner and the dishes.”

  “It’s in the oven warming now. You go get bathed, and I’ll feed the chickens and dogs. We should have plenty of time before they get here.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Amy rinsed off the last dish and handed it to him to dry while she wiped down the counters and sink. For an embattled Marine he’d become quite domesticated. They partnered well together. She cut him no slack and he asked for none. They’d settled in like an old couple who had learned each other’s ways and how to bend in harmony.

  Seven o’clock on the dot, Trav and Fran arrived in Trav’s old Chevy. Fran carried a plate of brownies and several bottles of soda pop while Trav brought a brown bag that Will felt sure contained a bottle of whiskey.

  The women went into the house to get coffee, leaving Travis and Will alone on the porch.

  “Now tell me, my friend, what have you been up to?” The grin Travis wore made it abundantly clear what he thought Will had been doing.

  “Working and only working.” He glanced toward the front door where the girls had disappeared. “But I might ask the same of you. You and Fran an item now?”

  “Nah, just friends. She’s a great gal but . . .”

  “But what?”

  “You know how it is. Either there’s a spark or there isn’t.”

  “No spark, huh?”

  “None whatsoever.”

  “For either of you?”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure of it. Fran doesn’t talk about it, but it’s what she doesn’t say that counts. I think she lost a guy during the war.”

  “Mmh. Then you at least have one thing in common.”

  Trav stared off down the road. “I’m afraid, my brother, I don’t have a clue to what you’re talking about. In case you’ve forgotten, we fought in the same foxholes side-by-side. I don’t remember much time for courting.”

  “You’re right, there wasn’t. The only time I can recall where you might have had the opportunity was when they sent you to that Australian hospital for that shrapnel wound. When you returned to the unit after your R & R, you were never the same. I figured sooner or later you’d trust me enough to tell me what happened.”

  Trav’s head whipped around. “Christ, man, I trust you with my life.”

  “But not your woman.”

  Trav glared at him. “I told you there was no woman, or at least no one special. Just drop it, will ya?”

  He raised a brow at Trav but said nothing as the screen door snapped open and the girls stepped out with the coffee and chocolate-iced brownies.

  “Thought we’d have dessert first before we begin playing euchre.”

  Trav jumped out of his chair and took the tray from Fran then set it on the table. “If you don’t mind ladies, I think I’ll have a glass of whiskey first.”

  “Oh.” Amy seemed surprised by Trav’s tone. “Be my guest. Let me get you a glass.”

  “No bother, I can help myself if you don’t mind.” He brushed by her, opened the front door, and disappeared.

  “Feel free,” Amy muttered and turned to Will. “Now what’s gotten under his skin? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Travis in a bad mood.”

  “Must have been something I said.”

  “Will Henderson.” Amy stomped her foot. “You better not have spoiled the evening for us.”

  “Now don’t get your dander up, he’ll be right as rain after a drink or two.” He moved to the table and snatched a brownie. “Did I hear you say we’re playing euchre tonight?”

  Amy gave Fran a conspiratorial smile. “Yeah, thought we’d play girls against the guys.”

  Will chuckled. “Why do I get the feeling I’d be a fool to agree to that?”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time.” Travis returned to the porch, a whiskey in hand, and reached for a brownie, his good humor seemingly restored. “But being the guests, I think Fran and I should play you and Will.”

  “Fine.” Amy pouted and moved the tray from the table before snatching up the cards. “Here.” She held out the deck. “You can deal first.”

  “Whoa. Wait a minute.” Will held up his hand in a halting motion. “You best tell me the rules of the game before we get started.”

  “You’ve never played euchre before?” Amy asked incredulously.

  “Nope, poker is more my style.”

  Amy groaned.

  Fran laughed.

  And Travis sat back in his chair and grinned like a damn baboon. “Maybe we should put money on it.”

  After a few hands of practice, Will quickly acquainted himself with the game and Amy stopped rolling her eyes at his every play, but unfortunately Fran and Will took the rubber more times than not to Amy’s dismay.

  Fran and Travis left at ten o’clock, and Will helped Amy carry the glassware into the house.

  “That was fun.” Amy gazed shyly up at him and touched his arm. “We should do that more often.”

  No, we shouldn’t. We aren’t and can’t ever be a couple. Her warm fingers curled lightly around his sleeve, and he fought down the urge to smother her in his arms. He stepped back abruptly. “It’s late,” he said with more curtness than he meant. “We both need our rest.”

  “Will . . .”

  He let the screen door slam behind him and limped to the barn, afraid to glance back. That woman would give the Japs a run for their money. She’d be the death of him yet.

  Chapter 27

  The weather turned damp and cold and the sporadic rain soaked Will’s clothes leaving him chilled to the bone. He should have had sense enough to come in out of the bad weather and had no one to blame but himself when he came down with the sniffles and a sore throat. Unable to get warm under the covers, he wished now he’d gone ahead and bought a wood stove.

  Come morning, he woke with more than a cold as his stomach cramped and he stumbled to the outhouse. Not good, he thought, definitely not good. When he didn’t show up for breakfast, Amy brought him a plate of eggs which did not set well with his stomach. He barely had time to grab a bucket before it came back up.

  He didn’t bother with lunch as he could barely keep water down. When Amy returned from working in town, she knocked on the barn door, but he pretended to be asleep. He looked and smelled terrible, and the last thing he wanted was to be fussed over. He preferred to be left alone to die.

  By the next day, he felt pretty sure he was on his way to hell. He kept his prosthetic foot on to allow for a fast exit to the outhouse, but by Sunday afternoon he doubted he could crawl from the barn if he tried. Shep had been whining at the door to be let out for the last thirty minutes, but he continued to ignore him. Pride bedamned, at Amy’s knock he hoarsely yelled, “Come in.”

  She pushed the door open, and Shep rushed outside. “Will, you all right?” she called as she made her way to the tack room. Her nose wrinkled at the odor as she entered.

  “Oh, dear,” she said as she placed a cool hand on his forehead.

  He felt a profound relief at her touch.

  “You’re burning up.”

  “Been better,” he managed to croak between his chattering teeth. “Can’t seem to get warm though.”

  She frowned. “It’s the fever. Have you taken anything for it?”

  “Ran out of aspirin.” He found the effort to talk taxing.

  She glanced around the room as if assessing the situation, her bottom lip clenched between her teeth. “You can’t stay out here. It’s too cold. You need to be inside where it’s warm, and I think perhaps a bath would make you feel better.” She flip
ped back the covers and seemed to ignore the fact he wore nothing but long johns and his prosthetic.

  Under normal circumstances, Will would never have allowed her to see him like this, but at the moment he couldn’t seem to give a rat’s ass whether she found him offensive or not. He figured with any luck he’d be dead come morning.

  “Up you go.” She placed her arm under his head and shoulder and lifted him to a sitting position. She swung his legs down around to the floor, then leaned over him and tucked her hands under his arms and hauled him up as if he were Thomas. “Okay, let’s get your other boot on then you can lean on me until we get you in the house.”

  Together they staggered from the barn, Will trying his level best to support himself. He was amazed at Amy’s strength as he rested more and more of his weight on her. Maneuvering the steps became tricky and he stumbled, forcing her to one knee. “Perhaps I should crawl the rest of the way,” he suggested, figuring it couldn’t be more painful to his pride.

  “Nonsense, we’re almost there.” She opened the kitchen door, pulled him back up to his feet then braced him with her shoulder as she led him to the sofa. “Wait here while I get you a couple of aspirin.”

  “Not likely to be going anywhere,” he managed to croak with an attempt at humor.

  A few minutes later, she returned. “Here.” She handed him a glass of water and several white pills. “I’ve started a hot bath for you. It won’t do much to bring your fever down, but it might ease the ache in your bones and get the chill out. When was the last time you ate anything?”

  “Breakfast, yesterday,” he said between gritted teeth. His mind already wondering how she thought he could get himself in and out of the tub.

  “All right, after we get you bathed, I’ll fix you a bowl of chicken soup.”

  The we caught his attention, but before he could say anything. She left.