by AlLee, Jennifer L. ; Breidenbach, Angela; Franklin, Darlene
As she watched, Sheriff Barton approached the judge’s table and whispered something to Jonathan. He paled and bolted to his feet then dashed out of the tent. Mr. Smithson took Jonathan’s seat, folded his hands on the table in front of him, and listened as the first contestant finished her talent.
Annie Mae let the curtain fall into place. She didn’t have a chance of winning first place now. Not with Pa’s nemesis as one of the judges. What could have taken Jonathan away in such a hurry?
Before she knew it, her turn had come. With palms sweating, she stepped into the spotlight, nodded at the piano player, and sang, focusing her gaze on the loving faces of her family. Her voice didn’t crack or warble. Instead, had there been rafters in that tent, they would have rung with her praise. Through it all, Mr. Smithson sat stonily, looking everywhere but at Annie Mae.
When she was finished, she thanked the judges and gave a curtsy. She’d done her best.
Fifteen minutes later, after the judges’ deliberation, the girls were called back onstage. Mr. Washington, microphone in hand, turned and smiled. “Without further ado, we will announce our winners. In third place, we have Ila Ruth Mason. In second place, Annie Mae Thompkins. Miss Pulaski County 1930 goes to …”
Annie Mae didn’t hear the rest. She’d lost. Tears burned her eyes. Sure, she’d receive ten dollars, but that wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. All her hopes now lay on Daisy. She plastered a smile on her face as the first-place winner accepted her bouquet of roses and her crown.
As soon as it was polite to do so, Annie Mae bounded down the steps of the stage and into her pa’s open arms. “I failed you,” she sobbed.
“That could never happen. It was just a bit of bad luck.”
“Better luck next time, Thompkins.” Mr. Smithson gave a nod on his way past.
“It’s cold for that man to take out his grievance with me on my innocent daughter.” Pa held Annie Mae close.
“We don’t know that’s what happened.” She forced the words past a throat clogged with tears.
“Of course that’s what happened. I know how that man thinks and acts. Come. Let’s see how Daisy did.”
Lulu slipped her tiny hand in Annie Mae’s as they walked to the livestock pens. “You sang real pretty.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” Annie Mae gave her sister’s hand a squeeze. She had sung her best. Unfortunately, circumstances were out of her control.
“Oh.” Next to the hog pens, Mama clapped a hand over her mouth and turned to Annie Mae.
“Second place?” Annie Mae glared at the blue ribbon on Belle’s pen. Second place for the second time that night, and all because of Jonathan Mercer. On top of the red ribbon instead of blue, two people left messages that they wanted to purchase Daisy.
“Mr. Thompkins, Mrs. Thompkins?” Sheriff Barton stepped into the tent. “I’m wondering whether I could ask for a charitable favor.”
“Sure, Sheriff.” Pa reached out and shook the man’s hand.
“Frank Mercer passed into eternity less than an hour ago. I’m wondering whether your missus could go sit with Harriet. See what the family needs?”
Annie Mae swallowed past the mountain in her throat. She’d had bad thoughts about Jonathan, but no matter how bad she thought her night was, his was a thousand times worse. “I’ll go, just as soon as I change out of this dress.”
Jonathan stared at his pa’s lifeless body, his arm around Ma. She sniffed into a lace-trimmed handkerchief. Next to them stood his siblings, features still, but tears filled their eyes.
When he’d arrived home, Ma had told him that Pa had insisted on feeding the hogs. Eric helped the best he could, trying to do most of the heavy lifting, but at the age of ten, there wasn’t a lot he could do. Pa had collapsed on his way back to the house.
Jonathan should have been there. Just as with Marcus, he hadn’t been around when he was needed the most. Nor had he been there for Annie Mae. Word didn’t take long to spread through Rabbit Hollow as to who won first place and where the other contestants placed.
“What are we going to do now, son?” Ma leaned her head on his shoulder.
“I’ll take care of it. We’ll be fine.” He’d done the majority of the work since returning home from the work relief. It wouldn’t be difficult to continue doing so. “The children will have to step up and do a bit more work. If we all pull together, we’ll be fine.”
“What about asking Annie Mae Thompkins to marry you?” Ma peered up at him. “Then we could combine farms and workload. You’ve always taken a liking to her.”
That was an idea. One he wasn’t adverse to, but now was not the time to make such a decision.
A knock sounded on the door. Suzanne rushed to get it then called out, “That girl you want to marry is here with a casserole.”
Jonathan turned and met Annie Mae’s startled gaze. “I’m sorry about that. You know how children are. Come in, please.”
“Let me take that. Thank you so much.” Ma took the dish and set it on the stove. “I hope you’ll stay and have a bite with us. I do believe I smell your mother’s potato and ham specialty.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Annie Mae fussed with her dress. “I’ve come to express my condolences and to help wherever I’m needed.”
“We need someone to slop the hogs,” Eric said.
“We could use you to feed the chickens,” Suzanne added.
Jonathan wanted to box their ears. “They’re trying to palm their chores off on you. Have a seat, we’re just saying good-bye to Pa. The coroner will be by soon.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “I hadn’t expected him to still be here.”
“Neither did I.” The coroner must be walking to retrieve Pa’s body. The sooner things settled down, the sooner Jonathan could escape to his tree house and let go the tears blocking his throat. He turned his head so Annie Mae couldn’t see.
“Mrs. Mercer?” Annie Mae approached Ma at the stove. “I’ll serve the food. Please, go say good-bye to your husband. There’s no need to treat me like a guest.”
“Thank you, honey.” Ma sat on the sofa next to where Pa lay.
Jonathan went to close the front door and saw the coroner and Pastor Forrest driving up. It was about time. Didn’t they understand the pain of having your father lying dead in the living room?
“I’m sorry I’m late.” The coroner hurried to Pa’s side. “I had a flat. If the pastor hadn’t come along when he did, I’d still be sitting out there.”
“Let me pray for you while he works.” The pastor gathered the family in the kitchen and prayed a prayer for strength to get through the tough times ahead.
As he prayed, the tears Jonathan was holding in fell. He was now the man of the house. The burden weighed heavy on his shoulders. Gone was the Mercer figurehead, the man of wisdom who seemed to have all the answers. His head jerked up when the pastor prayed they find joy in their sorrow. Was that even possible?
The children’s sobs rose above the pastor’s prayer. Ma cried silently, her shoulders moving with her grief. Jonathan came to a decision. If there was joy to be found, he would figure out a way to bring it to his family. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but he’d see they were all happy again. He glanced to where Annie Mae watched them, her face creased with concern. Maybe joy would start with her.
By the time the pastor and coroner left with Pa’s body, Jonathan collapsed at the kitchen table. He couldn’t remember ever being as tired as he was at that moment.
“I’m so sorry.” Annie Mae handed him a plate then sat next to him. “Tell me what you need.”
“Now is not the time for that.” He set the plate on a nearby chair. “Sorry, but I’m not hungry.”
“You should eat.” She twisted a dish towel in her hands. “Belle won first place. Congratulations.”
“I’d give you the ribbon if I could. It doesn’t mean much to me anymore.”
“No, now, with your Pa gone … you need the prize money to help support your family. I admit, I was sore
at first. And then I came in second in the pageant, too. I blamed you for leaving, not having a clue about why you left in such a hurry. Pa’s rival took your place, so there went my chance. I’d lost the moment that man sat down. He isn’t fair, like you, and allows his own prejudices to decide for him.”
She took a deep breath. He took her hand in his and traced the lines on her palm. “Isn’t that why you wanted the money?”
She nodded. “We’ve two good offers to purchase Daisy. We’ll be all right.”
“There has to be another way. You love that hog.” He thought for a moment, setting her hand back in her lap. “How about I lend you one of my boars? It’s not an immediate fix, but you could sell the piglets.”
“What would you want in return?”
“For you to be open-minded enough to let me court you after I’ve finished mourning.”
Chapter 5
Goodness. First she walks in to Jonathan’s sister saying he wanted to marry her, then he asks her for permission to court her. What was going on in that handsome head of his?
She studied his solemn face. “I don’t think it’s the right time for this discussion.”
“Perhaps not.” He shook his head. “But, with my family’s future so uncertain, I’d like to finalize any plans that I can.” He glanced up, his eyes bloodshot. “We’ve known each other since we were children. We’ve grown up half a mile apart. I know everything there is to know about you, Annie Mae.”
She doubted he knew how selfish she could be, how insecure she was, or how desperately she wanted to make a difference and save her family from worry. Could Jonathan’s proposal be an answer to prayer? She shook her head. She wanted to marry for love.
“Does that mean no?” He took her hand in his. “Won’t you even consider me?”
“We can talk about that later. Right now, I’m here to help you through this hard time.” She got to her feet and headed for the kitchen where dishes waited. She filled the sink with water and soap. The repetition of washing and the clean smell of the soap helped diminish some of the disappointments of the fair and worry of the Mercer family.
In the background, Jonathan murmured to his family, doing his best to console them, most likely. The man truly did have a kind heart. She exhaled sharply. It wasn’t his fault she came in second place in both competitions. Two red ribbons brought in almost as much money as one blue one. And … there were always the offers to purchase Daisy.
With the dishes complete, she set bread to rise before stepping out the back door and sitting on the top step. Stars glittered like diamonds on a velvet background. Such a beautiful evening for such a tragedy to have occurred. She couldn’t imagine being in Jonathan’s shoes. Her pa was her world.
“Walk with me?” Jonathan came around the corner of the house and held out his hand.
“Sure, if it will make you feel better.”
“It will.”
She slipped her hand into his work-roughened one. Their arms swung as he led her down a path and into the thick stand of trees behind their property. “Where are we going?”
“I want to show you my special place. The place I shared with Marcus.”
Her heart hitched. “Why?”
“My pa told me the other day he thought he would die soon. Said his heart had been fluttering in a strange way, and made me promise not to tell Ma because he didn’t want to live his last days as an invalid.” He stopped and stared down at her. “His death was no surprise. Marcus’s was a surprise to us both. I want to share with you something that meant a lot to him … to me.”
They stopped in front of a giant oak tree. With the help of the moonlight, she could make out a platform nestled where several thick branches met. “This is your thinking place.”
“Marcus and I made many a dream here.” He pulled her close, slipping his arm around her shoulders. “We were young when I promised him to always look after you. It was as if he knew God would take him home early.”
She pulled free of his embrace. “No one could know that. His death was an accident. He shouldn’t have gone hunting that morning. The fog was too thick. I begged him not to go.” She glared. He should have been there. Marcus would have listened to him.
As if he could read her mind, he flinched. “My being there might not have made a difference. Still, you can’t blame me more than I blame myself.”
Guilt over her childish and unfair behavior filled her. “I’m sorry.” She swallowed past a painful throat. “You don’t need this right now. Let’s talk of happy times.”
“Will you be back tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Every day for a few hours for as long as I’m needed.”
“Then tomorrow we’ll climb up there and think of happy times, just as you wish.” He held out his hand again.
She gave him a trembling smile and accepted his hand as a truce. If they could become close friends, despite the sorrow between them, she’d be satisfied until the end of her days. As time progressed and her responsibilities at home became heavier, she could use a friend like Jonathan.
When they returned to the house, she made sure the bread was ready for Mrs. Mercer to bake, glanced around for any last-minute items to take care of, then headed out the door with promises to return midmorning.
“Let me take you home.”
“It’s a short distance, Jonathan. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s dark. I can’t let you walk alone.” He fell in step beside her. “Besides, the walk back will give me time with my thoughts.”
“Who am I to deny you that?” Despite her feelings that he should have done something to keep Marcus from dying, as ridiculous as that sounded, even to her, she found herself enjoying the time they spent together.
After a restless night, Jonathan climbed out of bed and woke his younger brother. “Chores await, my young man. Up and at ’em.”
Eric groaned. “Let me sleep. My head hurts.”
“That’s from mourning. Pa wouldn’t want us to lie in bed all day. Not when there is work to be done.”
“Pa isn’t here.” The sadness in his brother’s voice ripped at Jonathan’s heart.
“That’s no reason to shirk our duties.” Jonathan yanked the blankets off the bed. “Five minutes. That’s all you get.”
He banged on his sister’s door on his way to the kitchen and was pleased to see her already helping Ma with breakfast. “Make a list of what needs done today. Between us five and Annie Mae, we’ll get it done.”
“I need to go into town and make arrangements for the funeral,” Ma said, her shoulders slumping. “We can do that first thing and be back before Annie Mae arrives.”
“I’ll drive you as soon as I’ve fed the livestock. Suzanne, the cow needs milked.”
“Done.” She placed plates on the table. “And I’ve collected the eggs. You don’t need to look over my shoulder, Jonathan. I know what to do.”
He kissed her cheek. “Bless you.”
By the time the chores and the unpleasant task of making final arrangements were done, Jonathan and his mother arrived home to see Annie Mae almost finished making sandwiches out of the fresh bread.
“It isn’t much,” she said. “Egg and tomato, but it will fill your bellies.”
“It’s enough. Thank you.” He hung his hat on a rack by the door, looking forward to alone time spent with Annie Mae in the tree house. Persistence would win over her reluctant heart. She’d followed him around once like a love-struck puppy; he could get her to feel that way again. He grinned. The puppies. “I have a surprise for you.”
Her face lit up. “Really? Flowers?”
“No. Better.”
“You’ve piqued my curiosity. Let’s eat so you can show me.” She set a pitcher of milk on the table, called out the back door for Eric, and waited until the Mercer family was seated before taking a seat herself.
Jonathan led them in a short prayer of thanksgiving, missing his pa more than ever, then picked up his sandwich. “The funeral will be tomorrow
. The pastor is going to get the word out to the community.”
“Tomorrow night is when they hand out the prizes and officially close the fair.” Annie Mae sipped her milk. “Will you be up to it?”
He winked at her. “Trying to steal my blue ribbon?”
“Seriously? You know me better than that. I’m through pouting over my loss, thank you very much.”
“Stop teasing, son. Annie Mae is kind enough to help us for a few days. You’ll run her off.” Ma patted his hand. “Eat, so you can go. Suzanne and I will clean up.”
He met Annie Mae’s shy gaze across the table. “Pa would have liked getting to know you better.”
High spots of rose colored her cheeks. “I feel the same.” She gave him a sad smile. “I’m ready to go if you are.” She dabbed at the corners of her lips with her napkin.
He stood and pulled out her chair. Having her around helped him feel better. How was he going to cope when she no longer came each day?
“Are we going to the tree house?” Annie Mae asked when they stepped outside. “I wore trousers under my dress and want to hear all your secrets.” Her lips twitched.
“We will, but first …” He took her hand and pulled her along to the barn.
She laughed behind him as they entered the doorway, the sound like water trickling over rocks in a mountain stream. When he was with her, he could almost forget the trials of the last few weeks.
“Oh, Jonathan. Puppies.” She fell to her knees in the straw next to the litter. “They’re adorable.” She picked up a black-and-white female, rubbing her cheek along its soft fur.
“It’s yours. A thank-you for all you’ve done for us.”
“I haven’t done anything more than any good neighbor would.” She returned the pup to its littermates. “It’s another mouth to feed. I can’t accept it.”
“Think of your brother and sister.” He was willing to play dirty if he had to. He knew she couldn’t resist making Robby and Lulu happy. “Dogs earn their keep. I won’t take no for an answer.”
