Read Online A Daughter's Quest by Lena Nelson Dooley - Free Book Online
Authors: Lena Nelson Dooley
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sweets.
Since his family had moved away, he lived alone. He hadn’t felt lonely until he spent so much time with other people around the table in the evening. Maybe he wasn’t created to be solitary. He had friends, but when he went home after work, the evenings seemed to stretch on forever.
Today was Saturday, and several people from outlying farms who came to town to pick up supplies also brought items that he needed to repair for them. A couple even had him shoe more than one horse, which they would take home when they left town later. His day was long, almost past the supper hour at the boardinghouse.
When he arrived, everyone was finishing their meal and ready for dessert. He had just walked in as Mrs. Barker had told him to do, but when he saw all the empty dishes on the table, he turned to leave.
“Hans.” Mrs. Barker hurried around the table to greet him. “I thought you would be coming. I told Constance to put a plate in the warming oven for you.” She turned to look at the young woman. “Why don’t you get it for Hans while I pour his drink?”
Constance carried the covered plate with two thick, quilted potholders. When she set it in front of him and lifted the cover, the smell of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy caused his stomach to rumble. He hoped no one noticed, but just before Constance turned away, he noticed a twinkle in her eye. It looked good there. Too often, her face held a sad expression.
Mrs. Barker patted Constance on the shoulder. “You sit down and finish your food. I’ll get the apple pie for everyone.”
Constance slipped into the empty chair beside him. He felt her presence so strongly that, even if his eyes had been closed, he would have known she was there.
Mrs. Barker returned carrying two plates of pie, which she set in front of the two single women who roomed with her. “What kept you so long, Hans?”
Everyone turned to look at him expectantly. He didn’t like the feeling of being the center of attention. “I had lots of customers today. Then I went home to clean up. I didn’t want to show up at your table in dirty clothes or with dirty hands.”
A chorus of chuckles went round the table, and conversation resumed. Hans enjoyed the excellent food while everyone else except Constance ate dessert. One by one, they excused themselves and left the room. Then Mrs. Barker took her empty plates into the kitchen.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you something, Constance.” When he said her name, she looked at him instead of the food on her plate. “I have a buggy, and I would like to pick you up and take you to church in the morning.” Her expression told him that she might want to decline his invitation. “I know you walked last week, but the boardinghouse is farther away, and the weather is getting warmer. We could even ask Mrs. Barker if she wants a ride, too. Would that be all right with you?”
Constance stopped eating and put her fork down. After a long moment, she turned to smile at him. “That would be nice, Hans.”
Mrs. Barker agreed to go to church with them, but she planned to go out to see Selena after the services. The people who lived on the neighboring farm to Selena’s sister had offered to give her a ride out there and even bring her back to town.
On Sunday, the sanctuary of the church welcomed Constance like an old friend. How could she have gotten to feel so at home in such a short time? Hans stayed outside talking to one of the farmers, and that suited her fine. She sat in the same pew where she had sat the week before and looked up at the Good Shepherd. Mary turned around in the front row and smiled at Constance. Several times this week, the two women had spent time together.
Just before Pa came home from the war, Patience—Constance’s best friend all through her growing-up years—had gotten married and moved to Little Rock. At first, they wrote letters to each other. Then when Patience and her husband had a baby, the letters became
Since his family had moved away, he lived alone. He hadn’t felt lonely until he spent so much time with other people around the table in the evening. Maybe he wasn’t created to be solitary. He had friends, but when he went home after work, the evenings seemed to stretch on forever.
Today was Saturday, and several people from outlying farms who came to town to pick up supplies also brought items that he needed to repair for them. A couple even had him shoe more than one horse, which they would take home when they left town later. His day was long, almost past the supper hour at the boardinghouse.
When he arrived, everyone was finishing their meal and ready for dessert. He had just walked in as Mrs. Barker had told him to do, but when he saw all the empty dishes on the table, he turned to leave.
“Hans.” Mrs. Barker hurried around the table to greet him. “I thought you would be coming. I told Constance to put a plate in the warming oven for you.” She turned to look at the young woman. “Why don’t you get it for Hans while I pour his drink?”
Constance carried the covered plate with two thick, quilted potholders. When she set it in front of him and lifted the cover, the smell of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy caused his stomach to rumble. He hoped no one noticed, but just before Constance turned away, he noticed a twinkle in her eye. It looked good there. Too often, her face held a sad expression.
Mrs. Barker patted Constance on the shoulder. “You sit down and finish your food. I’ll get the apple pie for everyone.”
Constance slipped into the empty chair beside him. He felt her presence so strongly that, even if his eyes had been closed, he would have known she was there.
Mrs. Barker returned carrying two plates of pie, which she set in front of the two single women who roomed with her. “What kept you so long, Hans?”
Everyone turned to look at him expectantly. He didn’t like the feeling of being the center of attention. “I had lots of customers today. Then I went home to clean up. I didn’t want to show up at your table in dirty clothes or with dirty hands.”
A chorus of chuckles went round the table, and conversation resumed. Hans enjoyed the excellent food while everyone else except Constance ate dessert. One by one, they excused themselves and left the room. Then Mrs. Barker took her empty plates into the kitchen.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you something, Constance.” When he said her name, she looked at him instead of the food on her plate. “I have a buggy, and I would like to pick you up and take you to church in the morning.” Her expression told him that she might want to decline his invitation. “I know you walked last week, but the boardinghouse is farther away, and the weather is getting warmer. We could even ask Mrs. Barker if she wants a ride, too. Would that be all right with you?”
Constance stopped eating and put her fork down. After a long moment, she turned to smile at him. “That would be nice, Hans.”
Mrs. Barker agreed to go to church with them, but she planned to go out to see Selena after the services. The people who lived on the neighboring farm to Selena’s sister had offered to give her a ride out there and even bring her back to town.
On Sunday, the sanctuary of the church welcomed Constance like an old friend. How could she have gotten to feel so at home in such a short time? Hans stayed outside talking to one of the farmers, and that suited her fine. She sat in the same pew where she had sat the week before and looked up at the Good Shepherd. Mary turned around in the front row and smiled at Constance. Several times this week, the two women had spent time together.
Just before Pa came home from the war, Patience—Constance’s best friend all through her growing-up years—had gotten married and moved to Little Rock. At first, they wrote letters to each other. Then when Patience and her husband had a baby, the letters became
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