A Time to Bloom (Leah's Garden #2)(85)

“Lark!”

“I know, I know.” Lark lifted her hands. “Love thine enemies and all that. It’s just easier said than done.”

“Maybe Adam could talk to Jesse. We could ask Forsythia to ask him.” Lilac pushed back a stray curl.

“Is it really any of our affair?” Del’s head ached. She no longer felt sure of when to intervene in others’ doings or when to mind her own business.

“Ma would say to pray on it. I’m afraid a miracle’s the only hope for Climie and Jesse, but as she would also say, ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord?’” Lark reached for a bag of seeds. “Let’s finish this batch, then head to bed. I’m so tired I can hardly see straight.”

They packaged seeds until the fire burned low, then banked it, shivered into their flannel nightgowns, and slid into bed, thankful for heavy quilts and the thick sod walls.

But Del lay awake a long time, despite the weariness weighting her limbs, listening to the wind and praying against snow before the school raising. And for the Kinsley family. For Climie and Jesse, two wounded souls drawn together against the cruel reality that would keep them apart. For Lilac, for Rev. Pritchard, even for herself. Why did love have to come with so many heartaches all the way round?

When RJ’s pensive face filled her mind, she squeezed her eyes shut and rolled over, new emotions tangling her heart that she didn’t feel fit to untie.





25


We’ll see you here at the church tomorrow night.” Lark nodded to a group of ladies after Sunday service.

The cluster of women nodded. “About time,” someone muttered.

Lark wondered who had spoken. Why did she get the feeling there was more going on in town than she suspected?

Beatrice Caldwell walked with her to the Nielsens’ wagon. “Can I do anything for the meeting tomorrow?” she asked.

“Del is going to stay after school and help Forsythia get the coffee going. We thought it’d be nice to have some kind of dessert.”

Beatrice arched an eyebrow. “Trying to mollify your audience?”

“I hadn’t thought of it quite like that, but it might be a good idea.” Lark paused by the wagon wheel. “Is there something going on that I’m not aware of?”

Beatrice shrugged. “Mrs. Jorgensen has a bee in her bonnet of some kind, but I’m not exactly sure what is going on.”

Lark nodded slightly, her tongue digging at her teeth. “Was there unrest before William Thacker came to town?”

“I hope that’s not it. Mr. Caldwell says he’s a fine young man and a hard worker. And he can read, write, and do sums.”

“How does he know?”

“RJ, I imagine.”

So she calls him RJ too. Isn’t that interesting? “Well, I hope to get to the bottom of whatever is stewing tomorrow night.” Lark climbed up the wheel to sit on the wagon seat. Del and Lilac saw her and came immediately.

“We just got the schoolroom all set up. Jesse and William helped us.” Lilac climbed up to sit in the middle. “Sythia said she might bring the children out later. Mikael needs a nap right now.”

“They can help us thresh the wheat.”

“Lark, it’s Sunday. We’re not supposed to work on Sunday. Besides, I think she wants some sister time.”

“We can always talk while we thresh. How would that be different than going for a Sunday walk?”

Lilac and Del both looked heavenward as if in supplication.

Once home, Lilac released Starbright into the pasture. While they’d not had a heavy frost yet, the grass was already turning brown, and the five animals had the pasture chewed short. They needed to move to the other pasture, and hopefully this one might grow a bit yet.

At the house, Del pulled a pan from the still-warm oven. She had already fired up the stove, so the burning wood could be heard crackling,

Lark strolled out to check on any remaining seeds in the garden. There might be a few more if the frost held off. The dried corn husks hung on the last stalks of field corn that had survived.

Lilac fell into step beside her. “We need to finish that last stretch of fence so we can move the animals into the other pasture for the winter.”

“Between the threshing and the corn? We can’t ask Jesse to take on any more. The fence will just have to wait.” Lark turned to return to the house.

Del appeared in the doorway. “Dinner is ready.”

The three of them gathered around the table inside, since the wind outside blew too cold. Lilac said grace, and they passed the stewed chicken with rutabagas, onions, carrots, and potatoes around, then the biscuits.

“This is a far cry from last fall.” Lark nodded as she chewed. “Although that was pretty good, considering how late we got it in.”

“We’ve come a long way in a year. Grasshoppers or no.” Del sipped her coffee.

“That we have. And yet there’s so much more to do. I wish we could bring Jonah out here. We could use that able body.”

“I’m sure he’d be pleased to know you value his muscle.”

Lark shook her head, chuckling with the others. “We’ll do chores early tomorrow so we can grab a quick sandwich and leave.” She nodded to Lilac. “Are you feeding that dog at the table?”