by Leen Elle
"Them all?" Derek crawled to the edge and peered down at the other boy. "How many did you bring?"
Gabriel riffled through a pile of fabric draped over his arm. "Four or five. Most of them are too small for me, but they should be right for you."
Derek swung his legs over and climbed down quickly. It had been a little while since he'd gotten new clothes and, despite himself, he was excited. Taking a couple of the shirts, Derek asked, "When are you going to town for your new things?"
"Not until next month. I'm only getting measured and then they'll send away to the school outfitters for the uniform."
"Thank you."
The two boys climbed back to the loft, Derek with considerable ease; Gabriel with some effort. Moving the lamp off the top of the chest, Derek lifted the lid and put the shirts away. "They should all fit in here." Derek turned to take the rest of them from Gabriel, but stopped when he saw the other boy looking around at the books.
"When did you get these?"
"Had 'em for a while," Derek answered evasively, picking up the nearest one quickly. He tried to gather everything, but Gabriel reached the writing pad before him.
"What's this?"
"Nothing."
"Are you learning to read and write?" He started flipping through some of the pages of scratchy lettering.
Derek grabbed the paper away from him. "I said it was nothing." He turned away from Gabriel and busied himself burying the books and papers under his new shirts.
"If you are, I've got a couple books you could use."
His cheeks flushing crimson, Derek said, "No, thanks. I'm really just messing with it, anyway."
"If you change your mind, let me know."
"Yeah."
There were a few seconds of silence, then Gabriel handed Derek the rest of the shirts. "Well, anyway, I should get back to the house. Jonathan is going up to the post office and he said I could go with him."
"All right."
"I could get you something at the store, if you want. I'm getting myself some taffies."
"Naw, that's all right."
"If you're sure."
"I'm sure."
"All right. See you later."
Derek nodded. When Gabriel had gone, he sat back down.
It was strange how easy it was for them to be friends again now that Anthony wanted nothing to do with Gabriel. Just like before. Like those years had never even happened.
Derek sighed. He was suddenly aware of the sunburn on his shoulders and he felt very sleepy. Pushing down a lump in his hay mattress, he lied down on his stomach and closed his eyes, hoping he wouldn't dream about the girl or the night creatures.
It seemed he'd barely closed his eyes when Derek was awakened by someone calling to him from below. Feeling just as tired as he had when he'd lied down, Derek sat up and called groggily, "What?"
Clumsy footsteps made their way up the ladder.
Gabriel, he thought.
"I got you something in town. I know you said you didn't want anything, but I thought you might like to have it later." Gabriel crawled onto the loft floor, struggling to keep his balance and hold the little, white paper bag without crushing whatever was in it.
Derek rubbed his face with his hands, then said, "What did you get?"
"Rock candy. The red ones."
His interest piqued, Derek stood up and walked to meet Gabriel, taking the bag from him. "Really?"
Gabriel took one out of the bag and popped it into his mouth. "Haven't had them in a while."
"Turns your tongue red," Derek said, taking one for himself. "Your mother will know you've had sweets before dinner."
Gabriel shrugged. "I don't think she'll care as much as she usually does. She's sort of distracted."
"Yeah? By what?" Derek held the bag out.
Ignoring the question, Gabriel shook his head at the offered bag. "The rest are yours. I have mine in the house."
Derek went to put the candy in his chest and changed the subject. "What was Jonathan doing at the post office?"
"He had to mail something to his lawyer back home. I guess he didn't think he'd be gone this long, and he didn't take care of some things he should have."
"Oh."
"Said he might have to go back for a few days next month."
"Are you going with him?"
"I'd like to."
Sitting, Derek said, "Don't have any chairs, but you're welcome to whatever piece of floor suits you."
Looking around for a moment, Gabriel settled on a spot at the foot of Derek's bed. The two sat quietly sucking their candy and thinking about separate things for several minutes.
Gabriel broke the comfortable silence. "Are you sure about not wanting to borrow that book?"
"Huh?"
"The reading one. I really wouldn't mind."
Still a little embarrassed at the mention of his discovery, Derek said, "I'm sure."
"All right. Well, I should go. It's nearly dinner and I have to wash up."
"All right."
Gabriel hurriedly chewed the rest of his candy. "Maybe I'll come out and go riding tomorrow. If we don't have plans, at least."
"All right."
"Catherine wants to have a picnic tomorrow. I bet she'd like it if you were there."
Imagining Jonathan and Mrs. Worthington's response to that, Derek retorted, "To do what? Butter the toast?"
Gabriel shrugged. "Anyway, I'll see you later."
"Yeah."
When he heard the stable doors open then close, Derek lied back down. After a moment, he reached over and opened his chest and took out the small bag of candies. Taking another piece and sucking it thoughtfully, Derek turned over the new situation in his mind. Gabriel's offer to help with his reading filled his thoughts and he was having a hard time seeing a down side now that he wasn't upset and anxious.
"Why shouldn't I take advantage of him, if he wants to let me?" Derek wondered. After another piece of candy and several more minutes thinking, he decided to talk to Gabriel after the Smithfields left.
With effort, Derek hefted the last and largest suitcase and put it on the boot of the carriage. As he walked around and double checked the reigns and hitching lines, Abigail bounced around him. It was hard to believe how quickly the days had passed, though he hadn't been paying very much attention to anything besides chores. There was the occasional interruption from a bored Gabriel, but nothing overly remarkable.
"You'll come and visit us, won't you?" Abigail asked.
"I don't think so. I sort of have to stay here."
"Why?"
"I have work." Derek pulled at the riggings then, satisfied, walked to the side of the carriage to open the door and flip down the step.
"I could help you finish all your work, then you could come."
Now that she was getting ready to leave, Derek could admit that she was a little cute. "Maybe," he answered, not wanting to argue his case anymore.
"Have you finished?"
Looking up to see Jonathan stepping out onto the porch, Derek nodded. "All ready."
Jonathan nodded. "Abigail, come inside and say goodbye to Catherine."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Do I have to go?"
"Yes, you do. Now, come in, or you won't have time to see her again before it's time to leave."
Abigail climbed the steps dutifully and Jonathan followed her into the house.
Left to himself, Derek walked around to pet Blueberry for a minute. "Have fun in town, Blue. I'm gonna get out of here before I have to see everyone off." Just as he was slipping away, Derek was halted by Mr. Smithfield calling his name. Turning, he said, "Yes, sir?"
"I just wanted to say goodbye." Mr. Smithfield came down the porch steps and walked to meet him. "It was good meeting you."
"Yes, sir. You, too, sir."
"You're a hard worker. Keep it up and you'll do many great things." He smiled.
Forcing a smile of his own, Derek just said dumbly, "Yes, sir."
Just then th
e front door of the house opened and Mrs. Smithfield came out with her children gathered closely around her feet. "Darling, will you help Bartholomew into the carriage?"
"Yes, dear." Mr. Smithfield nodded once to Derek, then went to pick up his stumbling little son.
Before Abigail's attention grew weary of saying goodbye to Gabriel, Derek started across the lawn at a light jog, anxious to be away from all the family pouring out into the driveway. He felt like he was intruding and that Mr. Smithfield's farewell had been his dismissal from a moment he did not belong in.
Once he was safely away from the scene, hidden in the relative darkness of the loft, Derek relaxed a little. He sat down and took out his pad of paper and the book with the man in the tall hat on the cover. Content with the knowledge that he was going to talk to Gabriel the next day, he started copying lines.
"Boy!"
Derek sighed. He'd been lying awake in bed for nearly an hour, just waiting for the call. "I'll be down in a minute!" he answered.
It took Derek several minutes to get up and get dressed. His muscles were still stiff and he didn't look forward to having to catch up on the chores he'd been neglecting for the past couple days.
"I'm goin' fer the food. You git these horses fed and taken care of."
"All right." Derek opened his trunk and took one of his new shirts. The fabric was soft on his fingers and fell lightly over his back. When he finished dressing, he climbed down to the dusty floor below. "'Morning, Blueberry," he said, taking down the pail.
Blueberry walked to his feeding trough sleepily.
"Yeah, me, too."
Once the horses were fed and brushed, Derek took the rake and started cleaning up the walkway to pass time while he waited for Devon to return with breakfast. Fifteen minutes later, he sighed. "I really should get tired of doing the same things over and over, you know."
Lady Sarah Mary-Ruth glared at him unsympathetically.
"Stupid horse. A lack of charitable compassion is a sign of ignorance, according to Mr. Millstone," Derek lectured her.
The door opened.
"Breakfast," Devon announced.
Leaning the rake against the gate, Derek went to investigate the basket. "I'm starving," he said, pulling out a small loaf of bread and a jar of last fall's apple butter. There was also a glass bottle of milk and two strawberry pastries.
When they were done eating, Devon said, "Best git to work."
"I'm going to finish cleaning in here," Derek said. "Anything else you want me to do?"
"Git the wagon hitched up around noon."
"Going to town?"
"Yes, and no, ya can' come."
Derek's shoulders slumped. "Gonna hurt yourself lugging those heavy boxes, old man."
"I bin handlin' worse fer longer. You jus' mind around here. Strawberries need pickin' down again, too."
"Late season," Derek commented as he picked up the bottle and tipped it above his mouth, trying to get the last of the milk at the bottom. Satisfied at the few drops that fell on his tongue, he pushed the bottle back into the basket with the towel, butter jar, plates, and knife. "Should've been done last week, shouldn't it?"
"Season's done when the berries stop growin'," Devon answered moodily.
"I wonder if I have to go to church tomorrow," he mused, ignoring Devon's tone. "As far as Mrs. Worthington knows, I still don't have a good shirt to wear, so she might let me off."
Devon made an uninterested grunting sound and walked away.
After a second, Derek went back to raking. As he worked, he fantasized about the ease with which he would learn to read once he had Gabriel helping him. Surely it would pass quickly and he'd be right where he wanted to be. Of course, he would have to impress upon Gabriel the importance of secrecy, but that shouldn't be too difficult.
Chapter Nineteen
Derek sighed and glared out the hay door towards the house. It was nearly time to get Blueberry ready to go to town and Gabriel still hadn't been to the stables. Granted the boy never said he was going to visit, but he had stopped in each of the past couple mornings so Derek expected it.
Sighing again, Derek strode across the loft and descended the ladder. Perhaps he would have a chance to see Gabriel when he was by the house getting the wagon ready.
"Ready to go, Blue?" he asked, opening the latch on the gate and taking the lead that he'd clipped onto Blueberry's bridle earlier.
His hooves clopping merrily, Blueberry marched out of the stall.
"That excited, huh? Wish I was going." Derek patted him on the nose and waited a few seconds for him to calm down. When he was ready, Derek led him out of the stables and across the lawn to the carriage house. As he walked, Derek glanced at the house frequently for any signs of Gabriel.
When Blueberry was mostly hitched and Derek was sure he wouldn't get to talk to Gabriel until the next day, he heard the front door of the main house open. Looking over hopefully, he was a little disappointed to see Atty come out with a wash bucket.
"Good morning," she said, dumping her bucket over the railing.
"'Morning," Derek answered. "Atty?"
"Yes?"
"Is Gabriel inside?"
"He's just getting ready for lunch."
"Can you let him know I need to speak to him. He, um, left something at the stables when he was there yesterday."
Atty smiled tensely and nodded. "I will tell him."
Smiling in return, Derek said, "Thank you." Finishing with Blueberry as quickly as he could, Derek tied him to the post on the porch railing then started back to the stables. He wasn't entirely sure how he was going to approach Gabriel and he wanted time to plan it out some. Somehow, just asking for help seemed very forward and embarrassing.
Derek waited for almost an hour before the stable door opened. "Derek?"
"Up here."
Gabriel climbed the ladder with more ease than he'd displayed in previous days. "What did I leave?"
Derek snorted a little. "Nothing. I just wanted to talk to you, but I wasn't sure if your mother would be there when Atty talked to you."
"Oh. No, she wasn't." Gabriel walked over and sat on Derek's bed. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Well, I thought a little about your offer to let me borrow those books," he started.
"You want to?"
"I guess. I mean, I might as well."
Gabriel's face lit up. "That's great! Should I go and get them now?"
Though the other boy's enthusiasm was very contagious, Derek fought to sound unaffected. "Only if you want to. Don't trouble over it."
"It's no trouble. I wasn't doing much of anything anyway."
Narrowing his gaze at Gabriel, Derek asked suspiciously, "Why are you so keen on doing this?"
Gabriel shrugged a little. "I don't know. It just sort of sounds like fun. It'll be like school, won't it? Only I'm not the one stuck doing homework."
"You're going to assign me homework?" Derek asked with a sneer.
"Well, yeah. It's necessary. Practice, and all."
"I guess." Despite himself, the thought of having homework, even if it was only assigned by Gabriel, made him feel important.
"I'll go and get those books. Be right back."
"All right."
Gabriel scurried back down the ladder and jogged out of the stables. When he was gone, Derek took out his books and sat down on his bed. Gabriel must have run both ways because it was only a matter of minutes before he returned, panting, three books clutched under his arm.
With unhidden interest, Derek took the smallest one and started turning it over in his hands. Its outside was thin, red cardboard with black letters on it. He was pleased to know he recognized all of them.
"That's the reader. You'll need it second. How are you at writing?"
"Fair, I guess," Derek said, taking the other books and looking them over. One was a practice book with a blue cover. It had one letter on each page and several lines to copy on. Most of the lines were already filled with crudely
drawn letters.
"That was mine, but all you really need are the letters, so I figured you could use it anyway."
"What's this one?" Derek asked, lifting the third book questioningly. It was also red, though a little larger and thicker than the first.
"That's the first reader you'll use. Mostly has single sentences or small stories and passages." Gabriel took back both red books and said, "We'll start with letters first. Sure you can write them passably, but you need to know what they sound like."
"You can set those two over there," Derek said, motioning towards his little trunk as he sat on his bed.
Gabriel sat beside him. "Got paper and a pencil?"
"Yeah."
"Good." Gabriel opened the blue book to the first page. "So, copy the first letter. That's an 'A.'"
Derek wrote the familiar letter, then listened while Gabriel read the explanation of the letter followed by its pronunciation and several words that contained it. They did the same for the next four, then Gabriel assigned him to practice writing each one twenty times while he copied the marked up drills from the book unto a different piece of paper.
As he worked, Derek was surprised how easily he understood what he was learning. He was also pleased to see his penmanship improve, if only slightly, now that he had writing diagrams to follow. He'd been writing his B's terribly wrong.
When he finished copying the drills for letters A through E, Gabriel said, "There you go. For homework, finish your copying and then do each one another ten times. And do these drills. What you have to do is circle the letters where they appear in the words, and then pick which of these pictures starts with the letter."
Pointing at a small blob with a sickly-looking appendage growing out if its top, Derek asked, "What's that suppose to be?"
"It's an apple," Gabriel replied looking hurt.
Taking the paper skeptically, Derek said, "I'll do my best with it."
"Tomorrow's Sunday, so no work then, but Monday I'll check it over."
"All right." Derek set aside his papers and book, and leaned back on his elbows. "You don't think I'll have to go to church tomorrow, do you?"
"Don't see why you wouldn't. Do you have any more candy left?"
