“Elsie?”
She stopped moving and looked across the room at him. “Yes, Will.”
“You’re rambling.”
“I’m sorry. You’ve been gone so long, and there’s so much to catch you up on.” She went to the stove to start the kettle for her tea. “The children have missed you something fierce.”
She picked up her teacup and saucer, bringing the set to the table. Turning around, she watched Will wash his hands and then splash water on his face. Joining him at the sink, she grabbed a towel from the rack and handed it to him. Their fingers touched. Beside her, Will stilled. He gathered her hands inside his and gently gave them a squeeze. He looked as if he had something important to tell her. Instead, he released his hold and she dropped her hands to her side.
Wiping his face and hands dry, he hung the towel up, turning to face her again. “I’m sorry about the children.”
Elsie studied his face, noticing right away the week’s growth of beard covering his strong jawline. Fine lines fanned out along the edges of his dark eyes. He looked tired.
“They’ve been through so much over the past few months. They need continuity. They need to see you more than once or twice a week.” Softening her voice, she added, “They think of you as a parent, Will.”
Will’s face paled. For a fleeting moment Elsie saw something in his eyes. Panic or fear? She couldn’t tell. “Will,” she raised her voice. “You had to have known they were beginning to feel this way.”
He pushed away from the sink and walked over to the stove. Taking one of the tin cups from the shelf, he poured the coffee into it. His shoulders moved up and down as he took in and released a deep breath.
“I’m doing the best I can.”
Elsie knew he was working hard to make a better life for Harry and Minnie. Still, they needed more than food on the table and a roof over their heads. They deserved to feel as loved as they did when their parents were alive.
She shook her head at him. “I don’t understand how you can keep holding them at arm’s length.”
“I’m trying, Elsie. Isn’t that enough?”
She bit her lower lip in frustration. She knew he meant well, but sometimes, especially where children were involved, a person had to make a firm commitment to doing the right thing. She would give him a little more time to see how things ought to be. Eventually, William Benton would need to figure out where Harry and Minnie fit in his life.
He took his place at the head of the table. “I’m here right now.”
“For how long?”
He took a sip of coffee and replied, “I don’t have to go back up to the camp for a few days.”
That wasn’t the answer she’d hoped for. But if that was all he could commit to right now, then it would have to do. “Minnie and Harry will be happy to find you here when they wake up.”
They didn’t have to wait long for the children to join them. Harry came downstairs first. Entering the kitchen, he rushed to Will’s side.
“Uncle Will! You’re home! You’re home,” he chanted, running in circles behind Will’s chair. “I prayed last night that you would come home! And here you are.”
Elsie laughed. “Harry, you’re making us dizzy with all of your running around.”
Will surprised her by grabbing Harry up in a bear hug. She hoped this meant he could see their need. Snuggling his nose alongside Harry’s neck, Will said, “I missed you, too, Harry.” Harry leaned against him, smiling like he’d just gotten the best gift a boy could ask for.
“Harry, sit down next to your uncle. Is your sister awake?”
He shook his head. “I think she’s still sleeping.”
“I’m going to go check on her.”
Before Elsie could move, she caught Will tilting his head in the direction of the stairs. Elsie walked over to find Minnie standing on the last step.
“Well, good morning, Minnie.” Elsie reached for her hand. Minnie slid hers into Elsie’s. They walked into the kitchen. Elsie said, “Your uncle Will is home.”
Minnie let go of her hand and walked over to Will. She stopped just short of where he sat. She cast a lopsided smile up at him and then sat in her chair. Elsie dared to meet Will’s gaze. His face softened. Elsie hoped he felt the same way she did. Happy and content. These children brought light into their lives . . . into his life. Will wouldn’t always have her as his buffer between the children. He needed to let them into his heart.
Tying on an apron, Elsie set about making breakfast. While the bacon sizzled in a pan on the back burner, Elsie broke half a dozen eggs into a bowl. Picking up a wooden spoon, she broke the yolks. Stirring the eggs together, she said, “I have a meeting with the Lord’s Acre Picnic committee today. Perhaps, Harry and Minnie, you’d like to stay here with your uncle while I’m gone.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Will said.
Elsie had half expected him to say no. “Are you sure?”
“Yup.”
“Then it’s settled.” Dishing the eggs and bacon onto plates, she set them on the table.
“What’s this Lord’s Acre Picnic?”
She brightened at his interest. “The picnic is an annual event, held the last Sunday in June. Everyone in the town comes. After our worship service, we gather outside for a large potluck. There’s everything from turkey to apple dumplings. We set all the food out on long tables. There are games for the children. And someone always starts up with a bit of music. I’ve never missed one.”
“Sounds like a good time to me.”
“I’m glad you think so, because we’ll need plenty of help setting up. I’ll be sure and put your name on that list.”
“Elsie,” he said in a warning tone. “You know I can’t plan that far ahead.”
Ignoring him, she ate her breakfast. After they finished, Elsie accepted Will’s offer to clear the table. She washed up and changed, and realizing time was getting on, she rushed to help Minnie and Harry get dressed. Coming back downstairs, she joined Will on the front porch.
“The meeting should take only a few hours.”
“Don’t worry.”
She frowned, even though she knew they would be all right without her. “I’m not worried. I think you’ll be fine.”
Will stepped in front of her. Brushing his finger lightly down her nose, he said, “Oh, you’re worried. I can tell because you’re crinkling up your nose.”
“I don’t crinkle my nose.” She brushed aside his hand.
Will let out a laugh, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “If you say so.”
Harry skipped down the front walkway with Minnie trotting along behind him. Elsie started to call out to the children to not go beyond the gate when she heard a commotion on the street.
“Clear out of the way!” A man shouted. “There’s a runaway horse!”
Elsie and Will both ran back, but Minnie had already stepped out into the road. The horse charged toward her.
“Minnie!” Elsie screamed. Harry started after his sister, but grabbing his arm, Elsie pulled him to the side of the road. He struggled against her, trying to break free so he could go save his sister. Elsie held on to him for dear life.
Will pushed past them, running through the gate and into the road. He reached out and snatched Minnie right up off her feet, holding her fast against his chest. The beast galloped past, coming within inches of them, its hide covered in sweat and foam frothing at its mouth.
A man from the livery ran past them, shouting and waving his arms above his head. He called for the horse to stop. Eventually, another man ran out into the roadway, caught hold of one of the reins, and pulled the horse to a halt.
By now a few of the shopkeepers and some townsfolk had stopped to see what all the commotion was about. The man who’d been chasing the horse came over to them.
“I’m so sorry. The horse broke free while I was trying to get a stone out of one of his shoes.” Looking at Minnie and Harry, he asked, “Are the children all right?”
Minnie squirmed against him. Will just held on tighter. Not ready to let her go.
“We’re all okay.” His voice came out sounding gravelly. He swallowed down his emotions. “You’d best get that stallion back to the livery.”
The man apologized again and then headed off. Over the top of Minnie’s head, Will caught sight of Elsie and Harry. In two quick strides he went to them. Without thinking, with his free arm he pulled Elsie to his side. She leaned into him.
“You’re trembling,” he said.
“I was so frightened!” Her voice came out in a whisper.
“Me, too.” Looking down at her, Will saw his fear reflected in the depths of her violet eyes. Never in his wildest thoughts could he have imagined the feeling of fear that tore through him when he’d seen that horse bearing down on Minnie. It was as if time had stood still, and for one horrible moment he thought this sweet little girl would be taken from them. He knew Elsie didn’t think he had strong feelings for these children, but he did. The close call had proved one thing: Will would do anything for Harry and Minnie.
Elsie blinked up at him. “Thank you.”
Pulling her closer, he whispered, “You’re welcome.”
The heat of her body seeped through her cloak, warming him. Will’s heartbeat quickened. Between them the children squirmed.
Elsie rested a hand on Minnie’s back as if to reassure herself one more time that the child would be fine. She took a small step back, moving out of Will’s embrace.
Minnie still had her arms wrapped firmly around his neck. She surprised him when she plunked a wet kiss on his cheek. Gently, he set her on the ground. Squatting down to her eye level, he said, “You are one brave little girl.”
Minnie nodded.
He ran his hands over her shoulders and arms just to be sure she was really unharmed. Satisfied, he stood up. He watched Minnie go off to join her brother in the front yard. Then he looked at Elsie, who had been watching him the whole time. His hands shook. He shoved them in his pants pockets and gave her a crooked smile.
He asked, “Are you all right?”
She put a hand over her heart. “I think I had the life scared right out of me.”
“I know what you mean.”
“I’m glad. Because now I know one thing for certain.”
“And what’s that?” he asked, even though he knew exactly what she was going to say.
“You can’t deny your feelings for your niece and nephew.”
Turning, he rested his elbows on the gate, watching Harry and Minnie play on the walkway. He had never denied he had feelings, but until now he’d had no idea how deeply they ran. Keeping his back to the schoolteacher, he said, “I would have done that for any child.”
“William Benton, why are you being so stubborn?”
The wind kicked up again, sending a flurry of old dried leaves into the air. He wouldn’t take her bait, not today. Not after what had just happened.
And yes, he could be as stubborn as the day was long. Just to prove it, he asked, “Don’t you have a meeting you need to be getting to?”
He heard her huff.
“If you are quite certain that you will be all right, then I will take my leave.”
“We’ll be fine. And don’t worry, I won’t let them play anywhere near this roadway.”
“I know you will keep them safe.”
Thinking he’d been too hard on her, Will looked over his shoulder at her, set on telling her to have a good meeting, but she’d already walked out of hearing distance.
Will left the twins sitting on the top porch step to go into the house. Now that he had time to look around, he noticed how the house had changed. It looked like a home. Elsie had hung curtains in the front windows and rearranged the furniture. Two chairs and a round table sat in front of the fireplace. She’d moved the small settee to the other side of the room, nestling it under the front windows.
He made his way toward the kitchen and then stopped dead in his tracks. There hanging on the wall, just to the right side of the coat rack, were a pair of stunning black-on-white silhouettes that had not been there before. Running his finger over the edge of the frames, he recognized the images of Harry and Minnie. Down in the right-hand corner of each picture were the initials E. M. He wondered when Elsie had found the time to do these. He imagined she’d had little time to herself this past week.
He’d been out at the lumber camp, helping John with the work crews. Up until a few short months ago, Will hadn’t any idea of how busy a lumber camp could be. Since the melting snow had filled the creeks with water, the loggers were floating their wintertime harvest downstream to the mill in Heartston. As the weather warmed, the activity would switch to processing the logs into lumber. He envied his friend. Even though John had been a devoted Pinkerton agent, he’d managed to come back to his hometown and build a successful business.
Will had no idea what he would be doing if he hadn’t found his life’s calling with the agency. He certainly didn’t think he’d find himself living in a small mountain town with two small children to look after.
“Uncle Will! Are you coming back outside?” Harry called from the front porch.
Will hurried to the front door and answered, “Yup. I’m right here.”
“Miss Mitchell took us out to her old house. We had a nice dinner with her parents, and we got to gather the eggs from the henhouse. Her ma said we could keep the ones we gathered, and then Miss Mitchell’s pa drove us back into town. He left those plants over there so we could plant our very own garden.” Harry nodded to a spot on the far side of the walkway.
Craning his neck around, Harry peered up at Will, adding, “Poor Miss Mitchell’s been so busy we haven’t had any time to get those plants in the ground. Just look at them, Uncle Will. They’re getting all droopy.”
Standing on the top porch step, Will could see where the plants had been left in the front yard, sitting out in the bright sunlight. Even though there had been a few dewy mornings this past week, it hadn’t been enough to properly water the plants. He went over to take a closer look at the plantings to see if they could be saved.
Harry and Minnie joined him. Will put his hands in his pockets while he decided if they could be salvaged. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Harry mimicking his moves. The boy stood right next to the fence post, his hands stuck in his front pockets, peering down at the cuttings.
“What do you think?”
All in all they didn’t look too weakened. “I think we should find a proper spot in the side yard to plant a garden.”
Harry lit up like a nighttime lightning bug. Jumping up and down, he chanted, “We’re going to grow a garden! We’re going to grow a garden!”
Will laughed. Minnie stood quietly by his side with that lopsided grin on her face. “Minnie, would you like to help us plant the vegetable garden?”
She nodded.
“I think between the three of us we can get these to the side yard in one trip. What do you think, Harry?”
“Yep!”
Because she wouldn’t set her doll down, Will gave Minnie the smallest tomato plant. She cradled it in her arms right next to Hazel, following him and Harry out to the yard.
“Let’s put these on the back step while I find the best place for the garden.” Will walked around the yard with Harry and Minnie at his heels every step of the way. Finally, he settled on a patch of soil right outside the kitchen-sink window. This would be perfect. By his calculations the summer sun would come around here in the midafternoon, giving the plants ample sunlight. Elsie would be able to see the garden growing from the kitchen.
Going to the small shed in the backyard, he found an old shovel and a hoe with a half-broken handle. These would have to do. When he returned, he found Minnie sitting on the step by the back door, playing with her doll, and Harry poking at a tiny hole in the ground.
“You all ready to get to work?”
“Yup! Can I use the shovel?”
“No. I’ll dig u
p a few rows and then you can help put the plants in.” He and the boy worked side by side, with him digging and Harry picking up the large stones they unearthed.
“How’s school going?” Will asked. “You been behaving for Miss Mitchell?” He asked the question even though he knew Harry to be a good student.
Picking up one of the rocks Will had cleared from the soil, Harry tossed it onto the growing pile. “I’m always good, Uncle Will. Though the boy whose father runs the post office, Avery Scott Jr., he’s been having a hard time with his arithmetic. Miss Mitchell has been giving him extra help after school.”
“That’s good of her.”
“Yeah, I guess.” He shrugged. “I like it better when we can come straight home when school lets out.”
“She has a job to do.”
“I know. How’s your job been going?”
Will rested his hands on top of the shovel handle. “I’ve been busy working up at the lumber camp.” He despised himself for having to tell the half-truth to this innocent child.
“That’s good. You’ve been gone a lot.”
“Working long hours is part of what I have to do, Harry.”
“I know. It’s just . . .”
“Just what?”
“We miss you when you’re gone. Miss Mitchell, she does a lot of work at school, and then when she comes home, there’s work for her to do here.”
“I see.” Will wasn’t sure how he could explain his absence to Harry in a way that would make the boy feel any better. So he said, “Let’s get this garden planted, and then that will be one less thing Miss Mitchell has to worry about.”
For the next hour they worked the soil, turning the rich dirt and making rows. Then, while Harry handed him the plants, Will dug holes, and together they put the plants in the ground, covering their roots with the dark soil. Straightening up, they stepped back and took a look at the results of their labor.
“Not too bad for a few hours’ work.” Will planted his hands on his hips, observing their little garden.
A Changed Agent Page 11
