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hands and he was staring at her with a worried look. She knew
that he loved her beyond words and was just trying to protect her.
So why wasn’t she cooperating?
    Melinda nodded. “Anything you say,
dear.”
    Gilbert grinned. “At least I have Edith on my
side.”
     
     

Chapter 9
An Emergency
     
    Edith was summoned to the schoolhouse
because one of the children had had an accident. Henry laid the
child down on a mat in his office, awaiting her arrival. When she
arrived, she noticed the door was partly open, and Henry was seated
at his desk, writing. She noticed that he was intent on what he was
doing. He had a crease across his brow in concentration, and he did
not even notice that she was standing in the doorway.
    Edith cleared her throat as she walked
through the door. When Henry looked up from his work and saw her,
he smiled and his eyes brightened. He was pleasantly surprised at
how quickly she had come and immediately stood. Then, taking her to
the corner of the room, he pointed to the young boy lying on a
mat.
    Edith knelt down beside him and gave him a
sympathetic smile. “What happened, young man?”
    The little eight-year-old boy winced as he held up
his hand. It was wrapped with a piece of white cloth, and she
noticed a red stain that had soaked through the bandage near his
palm. She tenderly took his hand in hers and unwrapped it.
    Henry watched attentively. “He was running and fell
down, landing on his hands against some rocks and debris.”
    She winced. “Ouch!”
    After unwrapping the temporary cloth that Henry had
used, Edith took a bottle of liquid from her bag and said, “This
will sting a little.”
    The boy nodded and held his breath as she poured the
liquid over it.
    When he jerked back with pain and whimpered, Edith
said, “I’m so sorry.” Her voice was soothing and full of empathy.
“This will kill the germs, and then I’ll put on some ointment.”
    The young man nodded.
    Edith could tell that he was trying to look brave as
he blinked back tears forming in his eyes. “So, what’s your
name?”
    “Tom.”
    “I have a nephew by that name.”
    “Really?”
    Edith nodded. As she rubbed the ointment on, she
asked, “Do you like music?”
    Tom winced. “I…I play the harmonica.”
    “You do? That’s wonderful.”
    “Yeah. My teacher has the superintendent come to our
class, and he teaches us how to play. He plays real good, too.”
    Henry nodded. “Actually, I
really don’t do much. He’s a talented young man and plays quite
well. I volunteered ‘cause I thought it would be a good
experience for the children. I bought a bunch of inexpensive
harmonicas for them. I believe music improves the mind and helps
you learn better.”
    Edith was surprised by this information, so
surprised that she didn’t even dare turn her head to face Henry. He played the harmonica , she thought to herself, wondering
if he could be the mysterious stranger. No, he couldn’t be.
    Quickly, she took out a strip of cloth and
wrapped it around the young boy’s palm and secured it. “I’m done.
You were quite brave.”
    Tom smiled at Edith. “Thank you, Ma’am. Can I go
out to play now?”
    “I don’t see why not. You’re as good as
new.”
    After the young man skipped out the door, Henry
smiled appreciatively. “You have a way with children.”
    Edith glanced up, feeling uneasy and
apprehensive. He liked her and she knew it. This always happened
when she knew that someone liked her. She would back off, not
allowing any man to get close to her.
    With a slight smile, she answered, “I love
children.”
    “Me, too. That’s why I accepted this position. I
moved here from the other side of the mountain, and I love it
here.”
    Edith swallowed nervously. “From the other side
of the mountain?”
    “Yes. That’s where I grew up.”
    Edith’s head was swimming with all this new
information. He played the harmonica and he was from the other side
of the mountain. No! He couldn’t be the mysterious