Emma's Gift by Leisha Kelly

Author:Leisha Kelly [Kelly, Leisha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC014000, FIC026000
ISBN: 978-1-58558-623-3
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2012-11-18T16:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

Samuel

Lula Bell had never given generous milk, but she was down again the next morning, so I gave her extra feed, hoping it would bring production up. But Sukey was worrying me even more than Lula Bell, since I knew she was due to calve before spring. My city upbringing hadn’t prepared me to work with cows, and I was glad that Julia’d had some experience at least. But I knew we could use some more help, especially when it came time for the birthing. Maybe if I could stir George even to give me some advice, it would help take his mind off his problems. Worth a try, at least.

Franky came looking for me in the barn as I was sorting through what was left of the lumber. I’d have to work on the sled at night or I’d never manage to make any kind of surprise with my new shadow right there looking on.

“Whatcha doin’, Mr. Wortham?”

“Just thinking a while.”

“Gonna make somethin’?”

I couldn’t answer that. “Up early, aren’t you?”

“I’m always up early. Pa says I’ll make a good farmer if I can keep from droppin’ stuff an’ tippin’ over the milk.”

“You’ll get over that. All boys are awkward some when they’re young. I know I was.”

“Yeah,” he said with a frown. “But it’s extra for me. I can’t manage much a’ nothin’ right.”

I hadn’t seen that to be so. Not a whit. He’d been good help to me, first with the planing and then with the sandpapering right alongside Mr. Mueller to get those casket sides smooth to the touch. He had a gift. I had to consider it so when an eight-year-old boy takes so natural to working wood, even pointing out a mistake I’d made while I still had time to fix it. Elvira Post had to be wrong about him, because he wasn’t slow. I thought he was brilliant. She just didn’t know how to see it.

“Franky, just because you don’t do things like everybody else doesn’t mean you’re wrong. You’ve got a knack for making things, I can tell.”

“You gonna do a coffin again?” he asked solemnly.

Here I was, out here with the wood. Like before. “No. No, nothing like that.”

“You know what I think?”

I waited, knowing he would tell me.

“You oughta make a sled! I know you could! An’ it wouldn’t take long. You just needs a couple pieces curvin’ just the same an’ the crosspieces cross the top. I got it all figgered out, but Pa never did let me the lumber an’ nails.”

His words came out all a rush, and I stood there with a strange new quandary. How could I tell him my plan? But how could I do it and not tell him? How could I look at him and say no?

“Franky? Can you keep a secret?”

“Yes. What?”

“I am going to make a sled. Maybe two. But you can’t tell the others. I’ll probably work when everybody’s sleeping so they won’t see.”

“Robert’s going to love it!” Franky exclaimed, coming to an obvious conclusion.

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