Just Above a Whisper (18 page)

“There you are,” Jace commented.

Maddie turned to receive his kiss.

“I’m just finishing a letter to your sister and was absorbed.”

“Did you seal it?”

“Not yet.”

“I’ll add a bit,” Jace offered and took Maddie’s place at the desk. He wrote and told her he wished it was the time of year he could be away from the farm but a visit would have to wait. In the midst of this, he stopped and looked at his wife.

“Did you tell her about the baby?”

“No. Why don’t you?”

While Maddie put their meal on, Jace added more to the letter. He smiled as he wrote the good news to his sister, and watching him from the table in the parlor, Maddie smiled at the sight. She hoped that Jace’s sister would come after the baby was born, but mostly she wanted to see her husband’s face when they finally met this little person.

“Where have you been today?” Mrs. Greenlowe asked Reese when she came in close to teatime. Reese had been at the Shephard Store around dinner time, and Cathy had insisted on feeding her.

“I was here earlier and missed you,” Reese began.

“Well, you’ll never believe what I heard around town,” Mrs. Greenlowe said, clearly in her element. “Seems you’ve been released from your papers and hired at the big house. I told folks it was nonsense. I said I would have known.”

When Reese didn’t say anything, Mrs. Greenlowe’s eyes got big.

“Reese Thackery, you tell me right now.”

“I tried earlier. I stopped by, but you weren’t here.”

Not even upset that she didn’t know, Mrs. Greenlowe demanded to hear the whole story. Reese was in the midst of it when there was a knock at the door. Reese was closer and went to open it.

“Is it true?” Doc was standing there, wanting to know.

“It’s true,” Reese confirmed with a smile.

The doctor’s heart felt as though it would burst in his chest. He put his arms out, and Reese welcomed his hug.

“Oh, Reese,” he murmured quietly. “You can’t know how I’ve prayed, how I’ve begged God to rescue you.”

“Well, He did,” Reese said, looking to find tears in the doctor’s eyes.

“Get in here and have tea with us,” Mrs. Greenlowe suddenly ordered, and the doctor did not argue.

“All right, Reese,” Doc MacKay began once the dishes had been passed. “Who did this exactly?”

“A Mr. Troy Thaden. He works for the Kingsley family, or with them, or something like that.”

“Where is Mr. Jenness?”

“I don’t know. Mr. Leffler suggested that I ask Mr. Thaden, but I forgot to do that.”

“And how did it come about that Mr. Thaden hired you?”

“I don’t know, but I assume he knows I cleaned the house. I think he and Mr. Leffler have talked some.”

“You got your orders from Leffler?” Mrs. Greenlowe asked in confusion.

“No, but he always knew where I was headed for the day.”

“And what will be your jobs at the big house?” Mrs. Greenlowe needed to know.

“Dinner every noon, the house, and their clothing. Sundays off.”

“Do they plan to work you like a dog?”

“I don’t know,” Reese had to answer honestly, “but at least I’ll be paid for my efforts.”

“And if she doesn’t like it,” the doc put in gently, “she has a choice about leaving.”

Mrs. Greenlowe and the doctor fell to talking about something else happening in town, but Reese didn’t join in. She took a long drink of tea, still trying to take in the morning’s news and hoping that the wonder of this time would not wear off very swiftly.

Troy stood over the boiling kettle in the kitchen early Sunday morning. Not expecting to hear Conner come in behind him, he turned to find the younger man very sober and knew in an instant that his head still hurt.

“Why don’t you go back to bed? I’ll bring you some tea.”

“Since when are you stuck with the job of nursemaid?”

“Whenever needed.”

Conner stood still, keen disappointment knifing through him. He’d planned to attend services that morning at the meetinghouse. He knew now he would not hear a word of the sermon, and trying to meet people and interact when he felt so lousy would not have been a good idea.

Conner did take the cup of tea offered to him, but he drank it by the stove, hoping the heat would drive the ache from his head and neck. Troy offered him some breakfast, but he declined. One more cup of tea later, Conner returned to bed.

Is it true?
was the question on everyone’s lips at the meetinghouse. The folks were so happy for Reese that Douglas asked her to come to the front so he could ask some questions of her.

Alison did very well until Reese smiled at the congregation and admitted to opening her first bank account. The pastor’s wife buried her face in Jeffrey’s little neck and cried. Her husband couldn’t help but notice that many folks were in this condition, and he called for a time of silent prayer in an effort to give everyone some time to regroup.

When a few minutes had passed, Douglas prayed out loud, thanking God for always taking care of His loved ones. He also asked God to bless and keep Reese as she entered this new phase of her life. The wise pastor asked God to give Reese greater knowledge of His saving love and understanding that no matter what her situation looked like, free or not, her goal was godliness as His child.

Troy checked on Conner in his bedroom a few hours later. “How are you?”

“Didn’t you go to services?”

“No, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving you.”

“I’m sorry, Troy. I wish I had realized.”

“So how are you?”

Conner thought about this. “Hungry, I think. That must be a good sign.”

“I asked the tavern to bring us something about noon. Will you be all right until then?”

Before Conner could say that he needed food immediately, both men thought they heard someone knocking on the door. Troy went downstairs to check and found a man he didn’t know.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Douglas Muldoon began and then introduced himself. “I’m looking for Dalton Kingsley. Does he happen to be here?”

“Please come in, Mr. Muldoon,” Troy invited. “Or should I say Dooner?”

Douglas laughed. “I can see the family has been talking.”

“Actually, Conner is here,” Troy explained as they moved further into the hall. “Dalton wanted to come, but his daughter is quite ill right now.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Dooner?” Conner spoke from behind the men as he came down the stairs and into the wide hallway.

Douglas did not hear Conner’s voice, only the floor creaking behind him. He turned and smiled at the youngest member of the Kingsley family.

“Hello, Conner,” Douglas greeted, putting his hand out. “How are you?”

“I think I’ll live.”

“Are you not well?”

“Just a headache. I didn’t come to visit in case it’s more than that.”

Douglas smiled suddenly, his eyes full of fond memories.

“I had forgotten that you were even bigger than Dalton.”

Conner’s eyes twinkled as well. “You mean my little, big brother.”

Douglas laughed. “Something like that. Oh,” he said, suddenly remembering the basket in his hand. “My wife has been baking and sent some things with me.”

“Thank you,” Troy acknowledged when the basket was handed to him.

Conner said, “Just in time. I’m starving.”

“Please don’t tell me you men don’t have food here.”

“We’re doing fine,” Troy spoke up, wanting this kind pastor to believe him.

“And besides,” Conner got in when it was quiet enough to be heard, “Reese Thackery comes tomorrow.”

“About that,” Douglas tried to begin but couldn’t manage the words. In the wake of this humble man, the younger brother to an old friend of his, he felt overwhelmed.

“I think before it’s over with, Mr. Muldoon,” Troy spoke up, “we’ll be the ones thanking you.”

Nothing more was said about the matter as the men visited for a time. They learned that Douglas had come straight from the meetinghouse and was missing his dinner, but even when theirs arrived, he would not stay.

Conner told Douglas he would visit soon, and before they began to eat their dinner, he’d found the cookies in the basket. He made a mental note to thank Mrs. Muldoon when he met her, and he also hoped Reese’s baked goods would be half as tasty.