“I’m happy to have you on the route. Her.” I blushed even deeper and felt the heat traveling over every inch of me.
He inspected the apple, then slipped it into a bag and handed it to me, pushing the nickel back toward me. “The Company can’t sell this one. It has a bruise.” His eyes teased.
“Much obliged. My mule will appreciate it,” I told him, pocketing the nickel and sneaking in a few more glances of him.
“See you, Honey.” He came around the counter and held open the door.
I practically skipped out, lighthearted as I was, but stumbled on busted concrete and fell awkward against him.
Francis caught me, and I straightened and backed away, nearly falling toward him again from the worn, crumbly pavement in front of the store. Though I always knew to be careful on the old town sidewalks, it was like my feet suddenly had a mind of their own and wanted to ruin my graceful departure.
“Need me to walk you over to your mule?” he asked, pleasant enough.
Again, I could feel the warmth creeping into my face. “No, uh, it’s just that this sidewalk has gotten a lot worse.” I lifted up the small bag with the apple. “Obliged. See you later, Francis.” I moved away before my feet could betray me again.
Francis stuffed his hands into the pockets of his britches and watched me a moment, his face ripened with concern, amusement, and other strange, inviting curiosities.
I cast my eyes downward and hurried over to Junia, not looking back, dare I stumble again or, worse, see his face change. I’d witnessed that change to an uninviting or fearful look in many people over the years when their eyes fell on Mama or caught sight of my hands.
I took out a pocketknife from the pannier and sliced the apple for Junia. The ol’ girl ate while I talked about the cute boy I’d just met. “Oh, I acted a fool,” I whispered. “A clumsy fool. But he had the most handsome face,” I told her.
Junia snorted, her signal that she was done with the apple and done with my chatter.
Once we were safe in the woods, I jumped down, grabbed the flyer, and let out several hoots, twirling in circles.
Junia hee-hawed into my cheers and flopped her ears, content. Twice, I kissed her on the soft muzzle and scratched her limp ears.
“Can you believe it, Junia?” I kissed her again. “They’re going to pay me to deliver my favorite thing—books. Books!” For the first time in days, a hope and happiness latched onto my heart, and I laughed and spun around until I was dizzy, drunk from the new job and, more, meeting a boy.
I spun wildly around once more, my head tilted upward, arms outstretched toward ancient pines, breathing in the scents of their unbridled growth and freedom until Junia snorted an annoyed warning and bumped me with her long pokey nose, making me fall onto the leaf-rotted path on my knees.
***
When I arrived back at my cabin, I was surprised to find Devil John, Carson, and Mr. Morgan sitting on the porch. Uneasy, I slid down off the mule, circled around a talkative Pennie, and pulled Junia past their mounts over into the stall. Carrying my bag up to the porch, I looked at the men, their faces pinched with what I could see was worriment. And I knew that worriment was dropping down on me.
“Mr. Morgan.” I sat down my satchel. “Why are you here?”
“Hello, Honey.” The men stood, and Mr. Morgan pointed a finger at me. “As your court-appointed lawyer, I’m here about you today. About your guardian passing. John was gracious enough to accompany me to your home.”
I winced.
“I’m sure sorry to hear about Miss Adams, and I’m sorry for what this might mean for you.” He frowned.
Carson and Devil John murmured their condolences.