Read Online What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Free Book Online

but …”
    Christina caught Cora’s arm and gave it a shake. “Cora, please, tell me what is being said.”
    Cora’s furtive glances flicked left and right, her brown eyes becoming slits of secrecy. “They said folks’re blaming Tommy for the fire. Sayin’ those scars on his cheek show he’s been burned once, which means he can’t be trusted around stoves an’ such, an’ that he probably did somethin’ foolish that sent the poor farm up in flames.”
    Christina gawked at Cora. Mrs. Tatum’s evasive comment returned to taunt her. Could people really be so unkind as to hold a defenseless boy accountable for the destructive fire?
    Cora’s eyes pooled with tears. “Louisa and Rose, they’ve been trying to set people straight on it—sayin’ no, sir, it couldn’t’ve been Tommy—but folks always wanna blame somebody.” For a moment Cora’s face twisted in despair, but she shook her head, replacing the pained look with a fierce scowl. “But they hadn’t oughta talk that way about Tommy. Ain’t right.”
    No, it wasn’t right. But how should Christina handle the situation? When she was a child and wrote home from school, heartbroken over something one of the other girls had said about her, her father had sent a letter advising in his tender way, “Christina, people will talk. You cannot change this. But what you can do is live in such a way that those who hear the ill comments will not believe them.” At the time she’d wished her father had advised something more stringent or had offered to visit the school and tell the spiteful girl she needed to hush. Thinking of people saying such hurtful things about Tommy raisedher hackles again, and she longed for someone—someone big and strong and forceful—to bring an end to the gossip.
    But she shouldn’t harbor vengeful thoughts. Father had taught her to turn the other cheek, just as Jesus instructed. She only wished it weren’t so hard.
    Linking arms with Cora, she aimed their feet toward the back of the boardinghouse. “Thank you for telling me.”
    Cora hunkered forward, squeezing Christina’s elbow against her ribs. “What’re you gonna do?”
    Christina raised her chin. “I’m going to ignore the senseless chatter. After all, we know that Tommy isn’t to blame. Next week two representatives from the mission board are coming by train to inspect the property.” She eagerly anticipated the men’s arrival. The sooner the mission board provided the funds to rebuild, the sooner she and the poor farm residents could gather under one roof again. Although her days were busy working for Mrs. Beasley, she missed the camaraderie and feeling of satisfaction her ministry at the poor farm offered. “When they discover the source of the fire, the gossip will burn out just as the coals at the house did.”
    Cora followed Christina through the back door into the kitchen. While Christina removed her coat, Cora lingered near the door, toying with the buttons on her coat. “So you gonna leave Tommy out there at the mill or bring him in to the Tatums? Seems like if the banker an’ his wife took him in, it’d show folks they aren’t worried about Tommy doing something dangerous in their house.”
    Christina nibbled her lower lip, considering Cora’s question. Mrs. Tatum had indicated Tommy would be welcome if Christina changed her mind about his placement. Harold Tatum was well respected, and surely the townsfolk would see his acceptance of the boy as proof there was no reason to fear him. If bringing him into town would end the speculation about the boy, then it would be worth it.
    Once more the image of Tommy’s bright smile, pride radiating from hisface, intruded. She scrunched her eyes closed, sending the memory away. Mr. Jonnson had asked her to find another place for Tommy as quickly as possible, and she’d agreed to do so. She should keep her word.
    Christina hung her coat on a peg beside the door, defeat bowing her shoulders. “I’ll take the