Leaving Independence by Leanne W. Smith

Author:Leanne W. Smith
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781503934788
Published: 2016-06-21T04:00:00+00:00

She was sewing in her rocker in her usual place near the fire, seated across and well back from the singing and the chatter happening on the other side.

“Can you see well enough for that?”

Abigail didn’t seem to realize he was talking to her until he sat down on the ground beside her chair. They hadn’t had a good conversation in days. He would build the fire in the mornings, and she’d get her crate of supplies. As she was cleaning up after breakfast, he’d have water waiting for her. If she turned her back, he’d scoop the crate up and put it back in her wagon. In the afternoons he’d have another bucket waiting for her—for her feet. He still watered her plants. They were growing. He’d even nailed another piece of wood to the bottom of each box, as they were starting to get soft in spots. But he and Abigail weren’t talking other than her occasional “thanks” and his “don’t mind at all.”

She looked at him briefly, then continued to sew. “Yes, I can see.”

He loved watching her hands by the light of the flickering fire as she deftly worked the needle in and out of the fabric. The needle moved so fast! He didn’t see how she kept from sending it through her own fingers.

“What’s that you’re working on?”

“One of Orin Peters’s shirts. It needed mending.”

“What are you, Orin’s mother?” It annoyed Hoke that Peters hovered around her. It was obvious the kid was sweet on her and that stuck in Hoke’s craw.

Abigail shot him an irritated look. “I’m happy to mend shirts for anyone who needs it and doesn’t have another woman to ask. I even mended some socks for Mr. Parker a couple of days ago. Do you need anything mended, Mr. Hoke, or does Ingrid Schroeder do your mending along with your haircuts?”

“My hair is getting a little long again.” He ran a hand through the dark tangled mop on his head, relishing the thought that she might be jealous.

“She’s right over there.” Abigail nodded toward the Schroeders’ wagons, tied a knot, cut the thread, laid Orin’s shirt to the side, and picked up her next project—what looked like the yoke of a dress for Lina.

He scowled. “Why are you always goadin’ me?”

“I’m not goading you.”

“Yes, you are. Look, I’m sorry about Jacob. If you’re still mad at me for that, just say so.”

“I’m not mad at you for that. You didn’t cause it. It scared me is all. My children mean everything to me. We’ve lost Timmy Peters and the whole Vandergelden family. The McConnelly girls were assaulted and poor Mr. McConnelly hurt. It’s very sobering. I sometimes feel heavy with the decisions I’m making, Mr. Hoke. I lost my home and brought my children out here, and for what? The first military post we encounter is . . .”

He watched her fold the material she was working on, back and forth like she was making a fan. She lost her place and started refolding.

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