Delilah and Ethan by Annie Boone

Author:Annie Boone [Boone, Annie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweet River Publishing
Published: 2019-02-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Just make sure he stops chasing your goats.” Ethan Townsend laughed with Mr. Keaton. “He should have his paw cleaned every evening and wrapped again with fresh bandages, but there’s no sign of infection. Why, he should have a healthy appetite before long and will soon be running all over the place.”

The little boy peeked out from behind his mother’s skirts. “You promise?” Mrs. Keaton was standing quietly beside her husband as she smiled and reached down to smooth her son’s hair.

Ethan grinned down at him. “I promise.”

Mr. Keaton chuckled as he picked up the sleepy collie dog. The poor creature had been chasing after a stray goat when he stepped on something sharp that cut his foot. It was just one paw, fortunately, though there had been a lot of blood. But with good care he would be up and about in a few days. The older man hefted him up into his arms, nearly buried beneath all the fur. “Thank you,” he managed.

“Would you like a hand?” Ethan offered. “Or we can grab a cart.”

Mr. Keaton shook his head and started out carrying the dog. Mrs. Keaton smiled hesitantly, glancing after her husband. “We’ve had him since he was a pup. We had his mother before him. My husband grew up with collie dogs so I suppose he’s family.” She shrugged and grabbed her young boy’s hand. “Thank you all the same. It was very kind of you to take such special care of him.”

“His name is Peter,” the boy reminded them.

“That’s right,” Ethan offered. “And you’ll take care of Peter to make sure he gets better? So he can play with you?”

The boy grinned. “Yes, sir!”

“Good!” Ethan straightened up and put his hands on his hips. “That’s good. You’ll make a fine doctor. Peter’s in good hands with you around.”

Mrs. Keaton beamed at her boy who stood there proudly. She thanked him and they followed Mr. Keaton and Peter the collie dog out the door. Ethan watched from the window as the father came back to meet them, scooping the boy up in his arms. Once the dog and boy were set in the cart, Mr. Keaton reached out for his wife who slipped gracefully into his arms. Had they been around Rocky Ridge long? He couldn’t recall with a certainty but there was something familiar about them.

Even so, they made him smile. The four of the Keatons made a cute little family. Each of them had their place, taking care of one another in their own way. That’s how families were, after all. His own family was the same, with his father taking care of them and others in the area, his mother making their home a refuge, and he had his own place in helping them.

It had been on his mind lately. Families, that is. It was on his mind at work, at home, and at church. Especially at church, since he had taken to sitting beside Miss Delilah Waterford.

His parents didn’t mind. In fact, they began to insist she join them for every Sunday lunch.

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