Page 11 of The Gift of Seeds
Hester repressed a shudder. Jimmy had often complained about the lice-infected camp and the measures he took—bathing in a hot spring and holding his clothes over a fire—so as not to carry any lice back home. “So thoughtful of you. Lice, ugh.”
Micah loped inside with her satchel, followed by the men carrying her trunk.
Hester waved toward a narrow hallway on the other side of the table. “Thank you, gentlemen. My bedroom is the one on the right.”
After the three returned, they went to the sink and washed up. Then Sam, with a reassuring smile for Hester, sauntered outside.
Mrs. Norton gestured to Hester to sit, and then took the chair across the table. Micah joined his mother, leaving Reverend Joshua to take the seat beside Hester.
Only four settings.Hester glanced behind to see if Sam had reentered the house. But through the open door, she saw him rubbing the nearest horse’s head.
Delia followed her glance. “Sam is welcome to join us. He just prefers to keep an eye on the horses. He’s convinced, without his vigilance, some dangerous creature will attack our team.” She took a plate from on top of her own, which Hester hadn’t noticed, filled it with several sandwiches and gave it to Micah. “Come back for Sam’s tea.”
While Micah took the plate outside, Delia reached for the teapot and began to pour. Once finished, she handed Hester a plate of dainty sandwiches cut into triangles that looked too good to eat.
“The woods are too close for Sam’s liking.” Reverend Joshua sent a fond smile in the coachman’s direction. “He’s a city boy.”
Delia scrunched a face at her husband. “Don’t disparage those of us who grew up in cities,” she teased. “Coming from St. Louis, Miss Smith is probably a city girl, too. You don’t want to offend her.” Delia placed several sandwiches on the plate and handed it to Micah.
Hester was long past being a girl, but she wished she was brave enough to join in their banter. She and Lovie sometimesindulged in such playful conversations. Still, she wanted to clarify that she wasn’t so easily affronted. “I know Reverend Joshua wouldn’t be offensive.”
His eyes twinkled. “Oh, I can offend. But I save those type of conversations for when I must chastise sinners.”
Delia gave a little shake of her head. “Don’t listen to him, Miss Smith. My husband rarely chastises anyone, even when there’s the need. Instead, like his father, he tries topersuade.”
Hester had heard many chastising sermons from the pulpit and wondered how a minister could possibly preach without doing so.
Micah scooted in to rejoin them at the table.
Delia took a sip of her tea. “Mr. Smith had made some winter preparations, but not enough to last you until next spring.”
“Jimmy had no need if he was going to spend most of his time at the logging camp.” Hester’s words came out in a hoarse whisper. “I’ve brought some items, spices, some jars of my friend’s flavorful pickles, salamis….”
Delia nodded in obvious approval. “Always good to have a taste of home when you move to a different state. Still—” She sighed “—sometimes I missfreshseafood—crab and crawfish and oysters….” She sent a stern look at her husband. “Don’t you dare tell Papa. He’d find a way to bring me some—probably by renting a refrigerated train car.”
Reverend Joshua laughed. “I can see him doing so.”
Hester could never recall seeing a minister laugh. They always seemed to wear an air of solemnity. She looked forward to hearing Reverend Joshua preach.
“Did you leave close friends behind in Saint Louis,” Delia asked.
“My best friend married a farmer, who lives out of town. I visit, visited—” she stumbled over the tense “—as often as Icould. I learned to milk a cow and avoid the hens pecking at my hands when I gathered eggs.”
“Then, you’ll be well prepared for life in Sweetwater Springs,” Delia said gaily. “You’ll have a cow and hens in no time.”
Her words reminded Hester of her plans with Jimmy and squashed her good feelings. She couldn’t imagine dealing with livestock on her own.
Her expression must have reflected her inner turmoil.
Reverend Joshua turned his attention away from watching her to glance around the table. “Shall we say grace?” While they bowed their heads, he recited a simple prayer, which included a blessing for Hester’s safe arrival.
Her throat closed. The kindness of these people was overwhelming, and so different from anything she’d experienced except with Lovie’s family.
After Reverend Joshua concluded the prayer, Hester made herself inhale a deep breath, or else she’d be choking on her food, and take a sip of tea. The act of eating the sandwiches, one cucumber and one of a tasty fish paste that she couldn’t identify, along with the tea warming her tight stomach, made her relax.
After the sandwiches, Delia extended a plate of tiny, square cakes, and encouraged her to have more than one. “We can’t take credit for thesepetit fours,” she told Hester. “There’s the most delightful sweetshop in town.”
Hester tasted the exotic miniature cakes, tiny enough to finish in one bite, although she daintily took two, savoring the crunch of the icing and the chocolate flavor inside. She had a deft hand at baking cookies, pies, and big cakes but nothing so exquisite.
