Mona Hodgson - [Hearts Seeking Home 01] (15 page)

“Does he start with the canvas or the hoop, do you remember?”

“That’s Großvater’s job. We’ll let him do it.” Anna set the first chair on the ground, out of her way. “I’m sure he’ll have it done by the time we return.”

Mutter stilled. “Return? From where?”

“You were humming in your hammock when Mary Alice Brenner came by during the noon break.”

The corners of Mutter’s mouth turned downward. “Oh yes, something about the quilting circle women meeting at her camp for supper tonight.”

“Yes.” Anna returned to the wagon for the second chair. She’d been looking forward to cooking and visiting with her quilting circle friends. And the sooner the better. “Mary Alice said to bring our own chairs. I’m about ready to head over.”

“I’m sorry, dear, but my head hurts.”

That was no small wonder. Mutter’s drunken humming had given Anna a headache without the numbing benefit of alcohol.

“With all those women there …” Mutter sighed. “I just don’t feel like going out this evening. You understand.”

“I don’t feel right leaving you.”

Mutter planted a balled fist on her hip. “Meaning you do not trust me.”

“You blame me for that?” Anna dropped her hands to her side. “I left you earlier and—”

“I remember.”

“Then you can understand why I might find it hard to believe it won’t
happen again.” Anna spoke without looking at her. “This very evening.” For all she knew, Mutter hadn’t finished off the bottle she’d tipped earlier in the day and wouldn’t hesitate to do so this evening.

“So, you’re giving up your life to stand guard over me. To be the family
polizist
and make sure I keep your laws?”

Anna’s spine stiffened. “That’s not what I’m doing, Mutter.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“I’m trying to help you. To protect you.”

“From a little bottle?”

“From yourself.”

“If I can’t do as much, what makes you think you can?”

Tears stung Anna’s eyes. Indeed, where had she gotten the notion she could make a difference?

“I need to rest, and I don’t care to do so out in the open,” Mutter said, sounding legitimately tired.

“Rest.” Anna lowered her voice to a whisper. “That’s the excuse you used earlier to hide. To drink.”

“Truth is, dear, you can’t protect me any more than I could protect your brother from death in the war.”

She blinked back the pooling tears. Mutter had likely never spoken truer words. Anna reached for the strap that held the chair. “Let me get this down for you, and then I’ll see what I can do to help with the cover.”

Before Anna could set the chair on the ground, she heard a shriek and jerked toward the wagon. Mutter was sprawled across the seat draped with the loose canvas.

Gasping, Anna dropped the chair and rushed up onto the wagon to Mutter. The hoop sagged off to the other side, having sprung out of its sleeve.

Mutter looked up at her, a wince tightening her face.

“Are you all right?” Anna asked. “Did the hoop hit you?”

“No. I just fell. That stupid thing scared me springing out like that, but it didn’t touch me.”

“Good.” Seated now, Anna cupped Mutter’s elbow with one hand and reached across to Mutter’s shoulder with the other, trying to raise her into a sitting position. Halfway up, Mutter stiffened, another wince darkening her features.

“Am I hurting you? Did you injure your shoulder?”

Looking Anna in the eye, Mutter shook her head. “I might have scraped it. But I’m all right.”

When Mutter started moving again, Anna eased her into a sitting position.

Sighing, Mutter brushed wild strands of hair from her face. “Ouch.” She twisted her arm, raising her elbow to Anna’s face.

“You did scrape your arm.”

Mutter lowered her arm and shook her head. “I just don’t think I’m cut out for this kind of life, dear. It’s too much work.”

“I should have helped you. I’m sorry.” The words no sooner flowed from her mouth when Anna realized how often she’d spoken words like these. Apologizing when made to feel guilty; apologizing when she hadn’t been the one at fault. She’d told Mutter she would help, if only she’d waited.

Anna pinched her bottom lip between her teeth. Would she ever know another way of life?

“I’m sure your friends are waiting for you. Go on ahead. I can wait for your großvater, or I will go find him when I’m feeling a little better.”

The answer to Anna’s question was clear: no. She would never know another way of life. “You rest, Mutter. I’ll go find Großvater.”

“Thank you, dear. I am feeling a mite weak right now.”

Anna nodded. Her lips tightened by regret and frustration and sorrow, she set off toward the pasture. She’d glance at the Rengler brothers’ camp on the way by, just in case Großvater had stopped there.

“Miss Goben?”

She wasn’t of a mind for another lecture, but she turned toward the familiar voice anyway. Caleb Reger walked toward her from the captain’s chuck wagon, swinging his derby in one hand.

“Mr. Reger.”

“Miss Goben, you were fairly marching. Is something wrong?”

Nothing Großvater couldn’t help her with. “I assumed you were poised to finish Tuesday’s speech. Am I wrong?”

A red hue touched his tanned face. “Yes, well, about that … I wanted to clear the air.”

Clear the air
. That’s the term she’d used the other night when speaking to Boney about calling off the wedding. Anna drew in a deep breath. “Now?” She glanced back toward her wagon. It was probably too much to ask that Mutter
be lying down and not tipping the bottle. “It’s just that I have a little problem and need to find my grandfather. Have you seen him?”

“He’s helping the doctor grease his wagon wheels. This problem you have, is it something I can help you with?”

She might not be able to protect Mutter from herself, but she still had to try to protect her privacy. “No.”

His eyes widened as he straightened his back. “You
are
mad at me.”

“I didn’t mean to sound so sharp.”

One eyebrow lifted while his hands worked the brim of his derby.

Anna sighed. “It’s the canvas on our wagon. The hoop sprang. My mother needs to rest and—”

“And wants her privacy.”

“Yes.” She hated to admit unflattering assumptions, but she hadn’t figured Caleb Reger to be aware of such concerns. Or to care about them. “I’d rather do it myself, but—”

“Please. Let me help. It’s what I’m here for.”

She shouldn’t. “Thank you. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I’d be happy to help.” He set his hat on his head. “Besides, I’m sure Otto is having a good time visiting.”

Of that, she was certain. She nodded.

When Caleb stretched out his arm, motioning for her to lead the way, Anna did so, hoping for the best. Since she didn’t care to discuss Tuesday’s encounter, she’d best choose the topic. “Do you like being a trail hand?”

He looked her direction, his eyebrows arched. “Yes, to my surprise, I do.”

“You didn’t expect to like the job, but you asked for it?”

Facing forward again, his grip worked its way around the brim of his hat.

“It’s none of my business,” Anna said. “I don’t know why I asked.”

“My guess is that you didn’t want to talk about Tuesday.”

She fought a smile. Caleb was a smart man. And more charming than she’d thought possible.

They closed the remainder of the distance to the wagon in silence. Mutter still sat on the bench, looking forlorn but empty handed.

The moment Mutter looked up and saw the two of them approaching, she straightened and smiled. “Why, Mr. Reger, I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“Good evening, ma’am.”

She rose to her feet. “Good evening.”

“Mutter, Mr. Reger—”

“Caleb, please.”

“Very well.” Had his eyes always been a golden brown, or was it just because he was smiling? Anna swallowed and looked away. “Caleb found me before I found Großvater and has offered to help.”

Mutter stiffened. “You told him?”

Anna met Mutter’s gaze, hoping to ease her concerns about the family secret. “That the hoop has a mind of its own? Yes.”

“This sort of thing happens on a regular basis.” Caleb’s smile deepened, revealing a dimple in his left cheek. “That’s good news, actually. With all that experience, I can set the hoop and have your canvas closed right quick.”

“I’d like that.”

“Just in case I’m fumble-fingered today, ma’am, you might wish to step down from there and stand clear.” He lifted his hand to Mutter.

Mutter nodded and accepted his help getting onto the ground. “Thank you.”

“You’re most welcome, ma’am.”

Yes, Caleb was quite charming.

Mutter settled onto one of the chairs Anna had unlashed, as if she were about to watch a show. Turning away from Mutter, Caleb looked directly at Anna. “Are you ready, Miss Goben?”

She gulped. “Ready?”

“The job requires a little height. But I thought if you’d rather do it yourself, I could give you a lift.” He circled his arms, clasped his hands, and bent down as if to give her a boost.

Anna dipped her chin, offering the best look of false disdain she could muster with those brown eyes so focused on her. “Thank you.” She stepped away from the wagon. “But I’d hate for all the experience you’re gaining to go to waste.”

Caleb straightened, a grin blooming across his face.

“I can, however, make myself available should you require any assistance,” she added.

He fairly hopped onto the wagon and looked down at her. “I will, actually.”

Anna’s breath caught. Need her help? She’d only offered in jest, certain he
would dismiss it. The thought that he might expect her to climb into the wagon with him made her shiver.

“When I get it to this bracket”—Caleb bent over the sideboard and patted the empty steel slot on the side of the wagon—“you push on the hoop and guide it all the way in.”

She nodded. She could do that while keeping her feet firmly planted on the ground.

Caleb climbed over the seat with ease and, standing atop the trunk behind the seat, he raised his right hand over his head and lifted the hoop while pulling the loose end in toward the sideboard with his left.

Anna grabbed the end of the wooden hoop and guided it toward the bracket. The force required to bend the wood was more than she expected, and she had to reset her footing with a bounce. Giving a determined grunt, she heaved against the wood, pushing it up into the bracket. She staggered back a few steps and slapped her hands together, trying to downplay the strength she’d spent.

Caleb effortlessly lifted the canvas over the hoop, smoothing out the wrinkles, then stepped back over the seat and pulled the rope that fed through the pucker, centering the opening. In mere moments, he had the wagon covered and ready for the night.

Mutter rose from the chair and admired his handiwork. “That’s wonderful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am.” Caleb set his hat on his head and smiled at Anna. “I’d say we make a good team.”

Mutter’s eyebrows shot upward while Anna’s ears warmed.

“Yes, well, you did most of the work.” Anna tugged her sleeves straight. “And we are grateful for your help.”

“Anytime, miss.” Caleb pinched the brim of his derby and nodded at Anna, then at Mutter. “Ma’am.”

Anna nodded, and as she watched him stroll toward the Le Beaus’ wagon, she found herself hoping she would need his help again soon.

A
nna breathed in baby Evie’s freshness, holding the tightly wrapped bundle against her chest. She’d been around Gabi, Caroline’s nieces, and Mary Alice’s twins as babies, but none of them were babies anymore.

If she’d married Boney, she could have soon had babies of her own …

No!
She chided herself for doubting her heart again. She and Boney both agreed marriage wasn’t right for them. And she’d vowed to trust God with her heart as well as her mother. If only she were better at it.

Across the campfire, Mary Alice checked the biscuits that were steam baking on top of the kettle. “You’ve charmed Evie.”

“And she’s charmed me.” Burying her nose in the baby’s thin hair, Anna drew in another deep breath. “She smells of soap and talcum powder.”

Her hands hidden in quilted gloves, Mary Alice lifted the tin of biscuits from the kettle. “I just fed her, so that sweet smell won’t last long.” Her laugh made the baby jump.

Anna traced Evie’s soft cheek with the back of her fingers. The baby calmed and returned to slumber.

“You look fully at ease in that role, Anna.” Maren sat at a small table cranking the coffee grinder.

She was at ease, which only created a familiar tension. She’d passed up her chance at starting a family of her own. Now, even with Großvater doing so much better, he and Mutter would still need her help to start their new lives.

Mary Alice set the hot bread pan on the table away from Maren’s coffee dust. “You know, Anna, Boney Hughes isn’t the only single man in camp.” Her lips pressed together in a catlike grin.

No one had to tell her that. She’d just watched one charm Mutter and bend a wagon hoop into place as if it were no work at all. And what of the image of him clasping his hands to give her a lift? Charming
and
surprising.