Sarah's Choice (14 page)

Patrick studied Elias several seconds. From the look he saw on Elias’s face when he’d mentioned Sarah’s name it made him wonder if the man might be interested in her.

“I’ve known Sarah since we were kids,” Patrick said. “I’d have to say that she and I are good friends.”

“I see.” Elias turned toward the door of Patrick’s shop. “Well, I’d best get that mule.”

“Sure, of course.” As Patrick led the way to the stall where he’d put the mule, he wondered if the boatman was using Sammy to get close to Sarah.
Well, if he is, I’d better move fast
.

“I see ya got yourself a new mule,” Ned said when Elias returned to the boat.

Elias ground his teeth together. “Yes, and I’ve already discovered that she’s got a mind of her own. The stubborn animal balked every step of the way.”

“Did Patrick say the mule was used to pullin’ a boat?”

Elias nodded. “But I guess that doesn’t mean she can’t be stubborn.”

“Well, hopefully she’ll do better once she’s harnessed up. Since Dolly’s the lead mule, I’m sure she’ll show this new one who’s boss. What’s the mule’s name, anyway?”

“I don’t know. Guess we could call her Wilma, since she’s so willful.”

Ned scratched the mule behind her ears. “All right then, Wilma, let’s get you harnessed and ready to go.”

“Before we head out, I want to go over to the lock tender’s house and see Sammy,” Elias said.

Ned frowned. “For cryin’ out loud! We’ve lost enough time already! If you get involved talkin’ to that kid, we’ll never get to Mauch Chunk.”

Irritation welled in Elias. It seemed like Ned was forever telling him what to do. “I won’t be over there that long. I just want to see how Sammy’s doing, and then we can get through the lock and be on our way.”

“You sure it’s Sammy you’re wantin’ to see and not his purty mama?”

Elias shook his head. “I’m only interested in Sarah’s son.”

“Whatever you say. After all, I’m just a dumb helper, and you’re the educated boss.”

Choosing to ignore Ned’s snide remark, Elias turned Wilma over to his outspoken helper and walked away.

When he arrived at Sarah’s, her three children were playing with their dog on the grassy area along the side of the house. As soon as Sammy spotted Elias, he raced right over to him. “Sure is good to see ya again! Can ya stay awhile and visit?”

Elias shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I just wanted to stop and say hello and see how you’re doing.”

Sammy grinned up at him. “I’m fine, but I’ll be doin’ even better after school’s out for the summer.”

“When will that be?”

“Tomorrow’s our last day.”

“I’ll bet you’re looking forward to being home all summer.”

“Sure am.” Sammy tipped his head and shielded his eyes from the glare of the sun. “Can we still go fishin’ sometime?”

“I’m planning on it. Thought maybe we could go when I’m in the area on a Sunday again. It’ll be after church, of course.”

“That sounds good, but I’ll have to ask Mama first.” Sammy’s forehead creased. “Sure wouldn’t wanna upset her the way I did when I led the mules for ya.”

“No, we surely wouldn’t want to do that.” Elias glanced at the house. “Where is your mother, Sammy? Is she inside?”

Sammy nodded. “She’s bakin’ more bread to sell to the boatmen.”

Elias was tempted to knock on the door and say hello to Sarah, but when he glanced over his shoulder and saw Ned and Bobby waiting at the boat, he changed his mind. “I’d better get going,” he told Sammy, “but I’ll see you again soon, I promise.”

T
wo weeks later, Pastor William showed up at Sarah’s, explaining that Betsy wasn’t feeling well and didn’t think she could help Sarah today.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Has her morning sickness gotten worse?” Sarah asked.

He nodded. “She’s very tired, too, and the doctor recommended that she stay home and rest.”

“That’s probably what she needs to do then.”

“I’d stay and help you today, but I think I need to be at home in case Betsy needs me for anything.”

“You’re right; your place is with her. Since Sammy’s out of school now, I think with his help we can manage.”

“Are you sure? Maybe I can find one of the ladies from church who’d be willing to fill in for Betsy.”

“No, that’s okay. We’ll be fine.”

“All right then. I’ll be on my way.” Pastor William smiled and went out the door.

Sarah sighed, wondering how things would really go with just Sammy’s help today. Maybe she should have taken Pastor William up on his offer to find someone else.

For the past two weeks, Elias’s boat had been moving up and down the canal at a snail’s pace, thanks to the contrite mule he’d bought from Patrick O’Grady. The stubborn critter kept nipping at Dolly, tried to kick Bobby a couple of times, and stopped right in her tracks whenever she didn’t like something she saw. Elias had hoped to stop in Walnutport so he could go to church there, and hopefully take Sammy fishing, but so far it hadn’t worked out for him to be in that area on a Sunday. If Wilma didn’t start acting right he might have to sell her and invest in another mule—one that would cooperate so they could make better time.

On the brighter side, Elias had gotten word from his sister, Carolyn, who was a teacher in Easton. She’d surprised him by saying that she wanted to spend her summer break on his boat, and that she’d be glad to do the cooking, cleaning, and laundry for Elias and his helpers. That meant Ned could take over for Elias at the tiller more often, giving Elias a break.

Today, when Elias stopped in Easton to deliver his load of coal, he would pick up Carolyn. Of course, Carolyn’s letter had mentioned that Mother and Father weren’t too happy about her joining him for the summer. However, Carolyn had a mind of her own, so probably nothing their parents said had made much difference to her.

“You’d better quit daydreamin’ and watch where you’re steerin’ the boat,” Ned said, nudging Elias’s arm. “If you’re not careful you’ll run us aground.”

“I was just thinking about my sister, who’ll be joining us soon.”

Ned snorted. “Just what we need—some hoity-toity woman on the boat tellin’ us what to do.”

“Carolyn’s not hoity-toity. She’s pleasant, smart, and I think she’s a pretty good cook.”

“You sayin’ I’m a bad cook? Is that what you’re sayin’, boss?”

“I’m not saying that at all.” Elias bumped Ned’s arm this time. “Just think, if you don’t have to cook you’ll have more time for other things. Maybe you can get that stubborn Wilma trained to pull a little better, and then we’ll be able to travel faster, which means we’ll make more money.”

Ned puckered his lips. “You mean
you’ll
make more money, don’tcha? You’re the captain of this boat, not me.”

Elias merely shrugged. At least Ned hadn’t called him
the boss
again.

As Sarah’s day progressed, things went from bad to worse. She’d been trying to bake bread all day, but between the boats coming through the lock, and the children vying for her attention, by midafternoon she still had not made any bread. This wasn’t good, because she only had a few loaves left, and if any of the boatmen stopped and bought bread today she’d be out.

Wo–o–o–o! Wo–o–o–o! Wo–o–o–o! Wo–o–o–o!
The moaning of a conch shell, and then another, alerted her that two boats were coming. Maybe after they’d passed through the lock, she’d have time to make some bread.

“I’ve got to go! Keep an eye on your sister and brother,” Sarah called to Sammy as she raced out the door.

Sarah let the first boat through, and then the second.

Wo–o–o–o! Wo–o–o–o!
Another boat rounded the bend.

She’d just begun to raise the lock again, when Sammy raced out the door wearing a panicked expression. “Helen’s gone! I can’t find her anywhere!”

S
arah quickly let the boat through the lock and dashed into the house behind Sammy. “Where’d you last see your sister?” she panted.

He shrugged. “I ain’t really sure.”

“What do you mean? Weren’t you watching her like I told you to do?”

“I was, but you know how Helen is, Mama. She moves around all over the place. I can’t be watchin’ her and Willis at the same time.”

“You can if you keep them in the same room with you.” Sarah cupped her hands around her mouth. “Helen! Where are you?”

“She ain’t in here, Mama,” Willis said when Sarah stepped into the kitchen. “She ain’t anywhere in the house.”

“How do you know?”

“ ‘Cause Sammy and I went lookin’.”

“That’s right,” Sammy put in. “We looked everywhere down here and upstairs, too.”

“Did you see her go outside?”

Sammy shook his head. “But she mighta snuck out when we wasn’t lookin’.”

Sarah’s mouth went dry, and her heart began to pound. If Helen went outside by herself, she could have fallen in the canal.
Oh dear Lord, please let her be all right
.

She drew in a deep breath and tried to think. “Where’s Bristle Face? He usually follows Helen wherever she goes.”

Sammy turned his hands palms up. “Beats me. Haven’t seen him for quite a spell neither.”

Another conch shell blew, and Sarah groaned. She needed to let the boat through the lock, but she needed to find Helen more than anything. Oh, how she wished Betsy was here to help her right now.