Bonds of Earth by G N Chevalier

Author:G N Chevalier [Chevalier, G N]
Language: eng
Format: epub

“THEY’RE selling ice cream over there!” Sarah exclaimed, pointing eagerly. “May I have one, please?”

“For heaven’s sake, child, it’s eleven o’clock in the morning!” Mary exclaimed, her outraged tone belied by her twinkling eyes.

Sarah looked up at her, gaze pleading. “After lunch? Please?”

“We’ll see,” Mary said firmly. She pointed at a spot beneath a maple tree on the small rise overlooking the waterfront promenade. “Spread the blanket there.”

Sarah’s face fell before Michael caught her eye and winked. Smiling faintly, the girl dropped to her knees and smoothed the edges of the blanket. Mary placed the basket she’d carried from the car on one corner, then moved to take her husband’s arm as Michael helped him. “You’re—oh, my, please be careful—” she fussed.

Abbott grumbled, “I can do this by myself, woman,” but allowed himself to be maneuvered. When he was settled, he took a deep breath and looked out over the promenade. “Well. It’s a fine day for it, anyway.”

It was a fine day for a small-town celebration of Labor Day, or so Michael supposed, not having had much experience with either small towns or celebrations. In the Bowery, the holiday was little more than another excuse to drink to excess, closed taverns being no barrier to a high time. His last Labor Day had been spent on the ward in England. Predictably, none of the men had been in a festive mood.

Enthusiasm was not in short supply on this day in Hudson, however. The new electric street lamps along the promenade were festooned with brightly colored bunting, doubtless hung by the members of one of the trade unions. There was a thirty-piece band tuning up on the platform near the water, and the park was rapidly filling up with people from two to seventy-two, all of them outfitted in their Sunday best. Michael discovered the vitality and joy of an entire town on holiday was infectious and soon found himself smiling and nodding at passersby who tipped their hats to them.

“Sarah, go help Mister Seward,” Mary murmured, casting a glance over the hill. Following the direction of her gaze, Michael spotted Seward about two hundred yards away, making his slow progress across the lawn. He had not followed them once Michael parked the car, choosing instead to seek his own route. Michael caught a glimpse of him heading off toward the commercial street, which he thought curious since less than a handful of shops and restaurants in the town were open today.

“I’ll help him,” Michael offered. “You run along and see if you can find any of your school friends.” Needing no further encouragement, Sarah smiled and took off running, her skirts billowing about her legs.

“You’re spoiling that child,” Mary murmured, though there was no censure in her tone.

“It’s a fine day for it,” Michael quipped, leaning in to give Mary a peck on the cheek that left her flustered and blushing. He jogged in Seward’s direction, meeting him before he had made much progress, then fell into step beside him.

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