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Authors: Tracey V. Bateman
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sweet on her.”
“That’s the first time you’ve ever told the truth about that. It’s about time. That Betsy’s a flower in a field of crabgrass.”
“She’s mighty quick tempered.”
Ma gave a snort as they reached the edge of the wrought-iron fence surrounding their house. “She has a backbone.”
“Which some people consider to be stubbornness.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Why, your pa was the stubbornest man I ever knew, but that didn’t stop me from loving him every day since I came to Tucker’s Creek to teach school.” She sighed. “And he was awfully good to you and your sister, as well.”
Stuart helped her up the steps. Ma had been growing stiffer and complained about the steps being hard on her. It was a shame his sister, Ruth, had married a wanderer and moved out West after Pa died. She would have been a big help for Ma.
As he opened the door and let her walk in first, he hung back. “I believe I’ll sit out here for a few minutes.”
“Something on your mind?” He could tell by the lilt in her voice that Ma assumed she knew exactly what, or who, was on his mind, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of confirming her suspicion.
“Just don’t think we’ll have too many more nights like this before winter sets in all the way.”
She smiled and nodded. “All right, Son. Don’t stay up too late. We have another full day of inventory tomorrow.” She hesitated. “I suppose we should plan to eat at the restaurant the rest of this week. I’m afraid the extra work tires me out.”
“Ma…”
“Fine. If you’d rather I wear myself to the bone, cooking your supper, I guess I can. Of course, we’re also about out of bread, so that’ll need to be done, too. I best stay up all night so it can rise properly.”
“For mercy’s sake, Ma. Of course I don’t want you wearing yourself out. We’ll eat Miss Annie’s dry chicken, and you can keep an eye on Betsy.” He grinned. “Feel better?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course not.” Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek. “Go to bed, Ma. You need your rest.”
Ma’s eyes softened, and she reached up and patted his cheek. “I’m glad you’re finally seeing Betsy for the fine young woman she is. Will you be giving her back the watch?”
Annoyance tightened his chest. “No. I bought it. It’s mine. I’m sorry, Ma. But you know I can’t give it up. And you know why.”
“Fine. Break that girl’s heart when you have it within your means to give her a moment of happiness that she so richly deserves. A little kindness—”
“Good night, Ma.”
Reaching forward, he grabbed the latch and pulled the door shut. He walked toward the rocking chair that sat on the porch just to the right of the door and sat, staring into the starry sky. Ma knew why he wanted that watch, and he’d bought it fair and square. Truth be told, he’d probably paid too much. And as much as he was beginning to admire Betsy Lowell, he had just as much a claim to it as she did. More so now, because he was the one who owned it.
Betsy’s legs felt wooden as she trudged up the long steps to her small room above the restaurant. The weather had turned cold again in the past two weeks, but she barely felt it as she dropped onto the top step and lay back, staring at the sky. It had been three weeks since Pops’ accident, three weeks since everything she thought she knew about her life had turned out to be a lie.
The work was hard but honest, and she was grateful and proud to hand over three dollars each week to Mrs. Avery for the doctor fees. Each week, Doc and his wife tried to give the money back, but she wouldn’t think of it. Rather than argue, they eventually gave in.
Miss Annie was a harsh taskmaster, but Betsy admired a woman who had become a widow only five years after her marriage and had enough pluck to start a business and care for herself. She smiled through the criticism and did as she was told. After all, Miss
“That’s the first time you’ve ever told the truth about that. It’s about time. That Betsy’s a flower in a field of crabgrass.”
“She’s mighty quick tempered.”
Ma gave a snort as they reached the edge of the wrought-iron fence surrounding their house. “She has a backbone.”
“Which some people consider to be stubbornness.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Why, your pa was the stubbornest man I ever knew, but that didn’t stop me from loving him every day since I came to Tucker’s Creek to teach school.” She sighed. “And he was awfully good to you and your sister, as well.”
Stuart helped her up the steps. Ma had been growing stiffer and complained about the steps being hard on her. It was a shame his sister, Ruth, had married a wanderer and moved out West after Pa died. She would have been a big help for Ma.
As he opened the door and let her walk in first, he hung back. “I believe I’ll sit out here for a few minutes.”
“Something on your mind?” He could tell by the lilt in her voice that Ma assumed she knew exactly what, or who, was on his mind, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of confirming her suspicion.
“Just don’t think we’ll have too many more nights like this before winter sets in all the way.”
She smiled and nodded. “All right, Son. Don’t stay up too late. We have another full day of inventory tomorrow.” She hesitated. “I suppose we should plan to eat at the restaurant the rest of this week. I’m afraid the extra work tires me out.”
“Ma…”
“Fine. If you’d rather I wear myself to the bone, cooking your supper, I guess I can. Of course, we’re also about out of bread, so that’ll need to be done, too. I best stay up all night so it can rise properly.”
“For mercy’s sake, Ma. Of course I don’t want you wearing yourself out. We’ll eat Miss Annie’s dry chicken, and you can keep an eye on Betsy.” He grinned. “Feel better?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course not.” Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek. “Go to bed, Ma. You need your rest.”
Ma’s eyes softened, and she reached up and patted his cheek. “I’m glad you’re finally seeing Betsy for the fine young woman she is. Will you be giving her back the watch?”
Annoyance tightened his chest. “No. I bought it. It’s mine. I’m sorry, Ma. But you know I can’t give it up. And you know why.”
“Fine. Break that girl’s heart when you have it within your means to give her a moment of happiness that she so richly deserves. A little kindness—”
“Good night, Ma.”
Reaching forward, he grabbed the latch and pulled the door shut. He walked toward the rocking chair that sat on the porch just to the right of the door and sat, staring into the starry sky. Ma knew why he wanted that watch, and he’d bought it fair and square. Truth be told, he’d probably paid too much. And as much as he was beginning to admire Betsy Lowell, he had just as much a claim to it as she did. More so now, because he was the one who owned it.
Betsy’s legs felt wooden as she trudged up the long steps to her small room above the restaurant. The weather had turned cold again in the past two weeks, but she barely felt it as she dropped onto the top step and lay back, staring at the sky. It had been three weeks since Pops’ accident, three weeks since everything she thought she knew about her life had turned out to be a lie.
The work was hard but honest, and she was grateful and proud to hand over three dollars each week to Mrs. Avery for the doctor fees. Each week, Doc and his wife tried to give the money back, but she wouldn’t think of it. Rather than argue, they eventually gave in.
Miss Annie was a harsh taskmaster, but Betsy admired a woman who had become a widow only five years after her marriage and had enough pluck to start a business and care for herself. She smiled through the criticism and did as she was told. After all, Miss
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