Sarah's Choice (7 page)

“I still don’t see why I have to hang around here playin’ lock tender while you head to Easton,” Ned said after Elias had instructed him to lead the mules so he could pull the boat over to Cooper’s store.

“I told you already. Sarah’s ribs are badly bruised, and the doctor wants her to rest.”

“But how are you gonna manage on the boat without me, and who are you gonna get to lead the mules?”

“I’ve seen a few other canalers manage their boats alone, so I’ll get by somehow.” Elias pointed in the direction of town. “The pastor’s gone looking for someone to lead the mules, and as soon as he shows up, I’ll be on my way.”

Ned folded his arms and spat on the ground. “This is somethin’ like your grandpappy would’ve done, and all I’ve gotta say is, sometimes a body can be too nice!”

Elias shook his head. “There’s no such thing as being too nice. It’s a Christian’s duty to—”

“Now don’t start preachin’ to me. I had enough of that when I was workin’ for your grandpappy.”

“I’m not preaching. I’m only saying—”

“Don’t care about a Christian’s duty. I ain’t no Christian, so my only duty is to work hard and try to earn a decent living.”

Elias was tempted to argue, but he knew it would fall on deaf ears. He figured the best way to witness to Ned was through his actions. Maybe if he saw Christianity put into practice often enough, he’d realize he was missing something and would eventually seek the Lord.

“I’m getting back on the boat now,” Elias said. “So it might be a good idea for you to get the mules heading down the towpath in the direction of the store before another boat comes along needing to get through the lock.”

Ned grunted. “Whatever you say, boss.”

Elias boarded the boat and took hold of the tiller. When they arrived in front of the store, he lowered the wooden plank and stepped onto the grassy bank. “You’d better get back to the lock now,” he told Ned. “I hear a conch shell blowing in the distance, so it won’t be long until the lock needs to be raised.”

Ned opened his mouth like he might argue, but then he snapped it shut and ambled down the towpath in the direction of Sarah’s house.

Elias hurried into the store, rounded up the supplies he needed, and was about to pay for them when Sammy entered the store.

“What are you doing here?” Elias asked. “I thought you’d gone to school.”

Sammy shook his head. “Went home to ask Mama one more time if I could lead your mules.” He gave Elias a lopsided grin. “She finally gave in and said I could go.”

Elias rubbed his chin as he studied the boy. “Are you sure about that?”

Sammy nodded. “Guess we’d better get goin’, huh, mister… What’s your name, anyway?”

“It’s Elias. Elias Brooks.” Elias looked at Mike Cooper, who stood behind the counter, boxing up his supplies. “If Pastor William comes by with someone to lead my mules, would you tell him I’ve already found a mule driver and that we’re on our way to Easton?”

Mike’s mustache twitched, and his forehead wrinkled as he studied Sammy. “Are you sure your mama said you could go with Elias?”

Sammy bobbed his head. “And I’m ready to go now!”

Mike looked back at Elias. “I personally think Sammy’s too young to be leading the mules, but if Sarah said it was okay then I guess I have no say in it.”

“Will you give Pastor William my message?” Elias asked.

Mike nodded. “I’ll be sure to tell him.”

Elias paid Mike, scooped up the box, and headed out the door behind Sammy. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake by taking the boy along, but the eager look on Sammy’s face gave him the confidence to believe that everything would go just fine on the trip to Easton.

S
arah yawned and pulled herself to a sitting position. She had no idea how long she’d been sleeping, but the shadows on her bedroom wall told her it must be late afternoon. She rose slowly from the bed and ambled over to the window facing the canal. A boat was going through the locks. She’d been sleeping so hard she hadn’t even heard the captain blow his conch shell. As much as she hated to admit it, having Ned here to tend the lock was a comfort. It would have been difficult, maybe even impossible for her to carry out her duties, hurting the way she did.

Sarah’s stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything since noon. It was probably getting close to supper, and the children would no doubt be hungry. She really should go downstairs and help get their supper going so Betsy could go home and fix something to eat for her and Pastor William.

Sarah moved over to the dresser and peered at herself in the oval looking glass. She’d taken her hair down when she’d come upstairs to rest, and it was a tangled mess. She squinted at her reflection as she pulled her comb through the ends of her hair. The dark circles lying beneath her eyes seemed more pronounced than usual.

Many days, the first boat would come through the lock as early as five in the morning, and the last boat might not arrive until nine thirty at night. The only day Sarah got to sleep in was Sunday. Even then, she was up early so she and the children could go to church. Sometimes Kelly would take Sarah’s children to her house after church so Sarah could rest. She didn’t know what she would do without the help of her sister, as well as her dear friend Betsy. Even near-strangers like Elias had offered help. She still couldn’t believe that he’d headed to Easton without anyone on the boat to help him. He’d obviously been successful in finding someone to lead his mules.

Sarah’s stomach rumbled again, pulling her thoughts aside. Moving slowly, she left the room and made her way carefully down the winding stairs.

When she entered the kitchen, she found Betsy standing in front of the stove, stirring a kettle of stew. The tantalizing aroma made Sarah’s mouth water.

“Did you have a good nap?” Betsy asked, turning to look at Sarah.

Sarah nodded. “I slept longer than I thought I would.”

“I’m glad you did. You needed the rest.” Betsy motioned to the table, where a gas lantern had been lit. “If you’d like to take a seat, I’ll fix you a cup of tea, and we can visit while I finish making supper.”

“Don’t you want my help?”

“I can manage. Besides, you’re supposed to rest.”

Sarah pulled out a chair and winced as she sat down. “I can’t believe I fell asleep like I did. I haven’t slept that hard in ages.”

“With the long hours you’ve been working, you need all the rest you can get.” Betsy placed a pot of tea on the table and a cup for Sarah.

“Where are the kids?” Sarah asked as she poured herself some tea.

“Helen and Willis are playing a game in the parlor, but Sammy’s not home from school yet.”

Sarah frowned. “That’s strange. He’s always here way before it’s time to start supper.”

“Maybe he stopped by one of his friend’s houses on the way home,” Betsy said. “Or maybe the teacher kept him after school.”

Sarah’s frown deepened. “I hope not. Sammy’s always had a mind of his own. I hope he didn’t say or do anything to get in trouble with his teacher today.” She rose from her seat and glanced out the kitchen window at the darkening sky. It looked like it might rain. “Maybe I should walk over to the schoolhouse and see if he’s there. It’ll be better than sitting here worrying about him.”

“If anyone’s going to the schoolhouse, it’ll be me,” Betsy said with a shake of her head. “The stew’s simmering and should be okay, and when I get back, I’ll fix some of that dough dab bread you often make to go with it. In the meantime, why don’t you go into the parlor and watch the children play?”

“Are you sure you don’t mind going after Sammy? If it rains you could get awfully wet.”

Betsy smiled. “It wouldn’t be the first time I got caught in a downpour, and a little water won’t hurt me.”

“Oh, all right,” Sarah finally agreed. She just hoped Sammy wasn’t in trouble with his teacher.

A few drops of water splattered Elias’s arm, and he realized that it had started to rain. “Oh great, this is not what I need.” He glanced at the towpath to see how Sammy was doing. The poor little fellow was limping and must have developed a blister from walking all day. Either that or he’d managed to get a rock in his boot. The boy had never complained even once, and had kept moving at a pretty good pace. The little bit Sammy had been taught about leading mules had obviously stuck, for Dolly and Daisy behaved as well for Sammy as they had for Bobby.

I still can’t believe Sammy’s mother agreed to let him go with me
, Elias thought.
She’d seemed so dead set against it at first. Guess after she thought things through, she decided that Sammy was up to the task
.

Elias’s stomach growled noisily.
I’d better fix us something to eat
, he decided.
If it keeps raining like this, I may as well stop for the night
.

“Hold up the mules!” Elias called to Sammy. “You can tie them to that tree over there, and then be ready to tie off the boat when I throw you the rope.”

Sammy did as he was told, and then Elias steered the boat close to shore and set the wooden plank in place.

“What are we stoppin’ for?” Sammy asked. “Did I do somethin’ wrong?”

“No, not at all. You’ve done real well today. We need to eat supper, and since it’s raining, I thought this would be a good time to stop.” He pointed to Sammy’s right foot. “I noticed you were limping. Do you have a blister on your foot?”

Sammy nodded. “I think so. Maybe tomorrow I’ll walk in my bare feet.”

Elias shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. You might come across some poisonous snake on the path. Come aboard now. I’ve got some ointment on the boat for cuts, so I’ll put some of that on your blister and then wrap it real good.”

“That’s nice of you, Mr. Brooks. You’re a good man, just like my papa was.”

Elias smiled. “You know, I’d like it if you’d leave out the ‘Mr. Brooks’ part, and just call me Elias.”

Sammy grinned up at him. “You’re a nice man, Elias.”

As Betsy left the schoolhouse, a feeling of concern welled in her chest. Mabel Clark, the teacher, had been cleaning the blackboards when Betsy arrived, and when asked about Sammy, she’d explained that the boy hadn’t been at school.

So, if he didn’t go to school, where did he go when he left Sarah’s house this morning?
Betsy asked herself
. Did he decide to go fishing in the canal, or could he have gone into the woods to play? I need to go home and talk to William about this
, she decided.
Sure don’t want to go back and tell Sarah her son is missing. At least not until we’ve looked for him
.

Betsy hurried her steps, and when she entered the parsonage, she was relieved to find William sitting at his desk, studying his sermon for Sunday.

“Sammy Turner’s missing,” she said, touching William’s shoulder. “I need your help finding him.”

William’s forehead creased. “Did you look at the schoolhouse?”

“I did, but Mabel said Sammy never came to school, and I know for a fact that he hasn’t been home all day.”

William pushed his chair aside and stood. “That’s not good. You’re right; we need to look for him.”

For the next hour, Betsy and William went up and down the streets of Walnutport, searching for Sammy and asking everyone they met if they’d seen any sign of the boy. No one had, and Betsy’s concerns turned to fear. “What if he went fishing and fell in the canal?” she asked William. “What if he—”