Victoria by Cheryl Wright

Author:Cheryl Wright [Wright, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-17T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

“You’ll need to study hard, Johnny. What I’m offering you is not like working at the Mercantile.”

Johnny nodded.

“It’s an important job, people rely on accuracy for their medications.”

The boy frowned. “What if I kill someone, Sir?”

He looked totally serious. Jesse hadn’t killed anyone yet, and doubted he ever would.

“Follow me.” He took the boy behind the counter. “See this huge tome? This was passed to me by my uncle. He taught me everything I know – along with the formal training, of course.”

Johnny stared at the book in his hands.

“This book contains recipes for all the lotions and potions you see around this room.”

Johnny’s eyes opened wide in astonishment. “Can I see?”

“No, I can’t do that. You’re not qualified. What if you tried to make one of the potions and got the ingredients wrong?”

He nodded his agreement. “I’m sorry, Sir.”

“Don’t be sorry. Here’s the plan. You study hard at school, and learn to read and write well. You can’t do this job otherwise.”

“I promise to work hard, Sir.”

“In the meantime, if your parents agree, I’d like you here for an hour after school every day.” Again the boy’s eyes opened wide. “There will be some deliveries, but when there’s time, you can sweep the floor and learn where everything goes – in preparation for when you become my apprentice.”

Johnny’s jaw dropped open. “Your apprentice? Thank you, Sir.” His eyes filled with tears, but he did a good job of fighting them back.

It was funny how things turned out. If it hadn’t been for the disaster at the school today, Jesse would likely have never met this young lad. He’d have never seen the potential in him, and wouldn’t have seen how calm he was under pressure. Above all, he wouldn’t have found a future apprentice.

“Johnny,” Jesse said firmly. “You didn’t ask what I will be paying you.”

“You’re going to pay me?” The boy looked surprised.

Jesse couldn’t help but grin. “Since you’ll only be here for one hour a day, it won’t be much. How does three dollars a week sound?”

The boy flew at him and wrapped his arms tightly around him. “Thank you, Sir. You don’t know what this means to me.”

He glanced down at the young boy who held on as though his life depended on it. “Believe me, I do, Johnny. Someone did the same thing for me once.”

~*~

“What you did today was remarkable.”

Jesse brushed her words aside. “Anyone would have done the same.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t have. Doc Spencer is too far out of town, and you are far more convenient to the school. Maude could have bled to death by the time the Doc arrived.”

Mrs Baker sidled up beside them. “The whole town is talking about how you saved Maude’s life,” she said, handing them each a menu.

Victoria watched as he blushed.

“It wasn’t like that,” he objected.

“It absolutely was like that,” she said. “I was terrified. I was convinced she would bleed out before help arrived.” She reached across and covered his hand, then squeezed it.

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