Hattie by Kirsten Osbourne

Author:Kirsten Osbourne [Osbourne, Kirsten]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unlimited Dreams Publishing
Published: 2018-09-02T05:00:00+00:00

Hattie pulled each piece of clothing from the line and folded it into neat piles. Her punishment for meeting Will in the middle of the night was not over, and she was exhausted from the chores and cranky since she hadn’t been able to socialize with any of her sisters for days. Katie and Theresa tried to find opportunities to talk to her or keep her company while she did her tasks, but Edna Petunia would often scold them, telling them they were a distraction. They had even told Lewis that Theresa would work in Hattie’s place at the mercantile, so Hattie didn’t even have the chance to go to her normal work place.

It was going to be another long day at the Sanders household. Edna Petunia had given Hattie a list that was two handwritten pages, front and back. There was no way Hattie would be able to complete all of it in one day.

Hattie sighed and squinted up at the sun. Suddenly, she heard hoofbeats. A wagon approached in the distance. She frowned. They weren’t expecting anyone today.

As the wagon got closer, Hattie saw that it was her brother-in-law, Lewis, driving. Hattie smiled. Lewis was a kind and funny man. Talking to him would be a welcome break from her endless list of responsibilities.

As Lewis pulled the wagon to a stop and began to climb out, Hattie walked up to him. Before she got close to him, Edna Petunia came racing out of the house and elbowed her way in front of Lewis.

“Lewis, what are you doing here?” Edna Petunia cried. “Hattie, back to work!”

“Yes, Edna Petunia,” Hattie sighed. She returned to the clothesline, but she was close enough to overhear Lewis’s conversation with Edna Petunia.

“I received a new shipment of oranges, and I know how much you enjoy them.” Lewis gestured to a crate inside the wagon. “Where would you like me to put them?”

“Oh, thank you, Lewis!” Edna Petunia said. “Follow me into the kitchen, I have just the spot.”

Lewis gathered the crate from the wagon and walked behind Edna Petunia toward the house.

As Edna Petunia passed by Hattie, she stopped. “Hattie, you look so sad. Would an orange cheer you up?”

Hattie was too surprised to respond.

“Lewis, give her an orange from the crate,” Edna Petunia commanded.

Lewis quickly did as Edna Petunia had requested.

“Thank you,” Hattie said gratefully.

“You’re welcome,” Lewis replied. Edna Petunia continued into the house. Before Lewis followed her, he handed Hattie a folded slip of paper. “Don’t tell anyone I gave you this.”

Hattie took the paper in confusion.

Edna Petunia called back to Lewis from the front door. “This way, Lewis! I don’t have all day!”

Lewis looked terrified. “Don’t show this to your parents!”

Hattie nodded quickly even though she had no idea what Lewis was talking about. Lewis raced after Edna Petunia. Hattie could hear the oranges bouncing around in the crate as he ran toward the house.

Hattie set her orange down near where she was folding the laundry to save it for later. She unfolded the piece of paper Lewis had given her.

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