Whispers of the Wind by Frances Devine

Author:Frances Devine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

eleven

Surely the man wasn’t serious. Trent took a deep breath, determined not to lose his temper. “So you are leaving with no notice at all?”

Regret crossed Carter’s face. “I’ll be leaving in two weeks. My new employers wish me to begin right away. I can assure you I’ve made certain all books and records are up to date and in order. You should be able to handle things until you find a replacement.”

Trent stared in disbelief, his lips clamped shut. This wasn’t what he’d have expected from the proper and staid Joshua Carter.

“You haven’t forgotten, sir, that you signed a contract?”

“Of course not.” He rubbed his knuckle across a spot over his right eye. “I will, of course, return my recent wages for the last half of this semester.”

For a moment Trent was angry enough to agree, but decided to ignore the comment. “Mr. Carter, can you give me a reason for this action? Were you that angry that Miss James went over your head about the sign language and that I agreed with her?”

Carter steepled his fingers and appeared deep in thought. “Not anger. But I suppose indirectly it contributed to my decision.” He sighed. “Very well, Dr. Quincy. I suppose you deserve more of an explanation.”

Trent leaned back in his chair and waited for the man to continue.

Carter closed his eyes and breathed slowly. Finally he sat up straight. “I had a son named Michael. A spirited and willful boy who could charm you one moment and try your patience the next. He was deaf in one ear. It didn’t seem to affect him a lot. He’d sleep on his good ear, so noises wouldn’t wake him.” He smiled. “Of course it was a perfect excuse not to hear anything he preferred not to.”

“He married young, when he was only twenty. He and his wife, Jane, had two children. A daughter named Rose and a son they named Joshua, after me.”

Carter stood and paced the floor behind his desk. Finally he propped both hands on the edge of the desk and stared at Trent with pain-filled eyes.

“They were coming over to our place one Sunday after church when, for some reason, their carriage overturned. Jane was dozing and it happened so fast she had no idea what happened. Rose and Jane escaped with only a few scratches. Little Joshua’s leg was caught beneath the carriage, and he was left lame. Michael was thrown from the carriage. His head struck a rock, and he died instantly.”

Horrified Trent sprang from his chair and placed his hand on the older man’s arm. “My dear Mr. Carter, I am so sorry for your pain.”

Carter sank into his chair, breathing deeply. “I’m afraid I didn’t handle things well. I couldn’t bear to remain where every memory included Michael. Every glance at my wife reminded me of our son. Every smile or tear from one of my grandchildren brought back thoughts of Michael. Especially Joshua. He’s the spitting image of his father.”

Trent frowned. “Of course.

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