see them through the winter months. Even so, other things like flour and salt were going to be harder to come by.
She stepped from the storeroom and closed the door behind her. She continued to study her figures as she took a seat at the kitchen table. If they were careful, they would get through until . . .
“Until what?” she wondered aloud.
Until Father came home? Until the war ended? Until she knew whether or not she’d be forced to marry a man she didn’t love?
“You all right?”
She looked up to find William Barnett watching her from the back door. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“It looked like you were scowling. I figured either you were thinking of me or something was wrong.”
This actually made her smile. “I wasn’t thinking of you. I was taking an account of our food. When Father left, he didn’t intend to be gone more than a few weeks. We worked hard to can and preserve what we could for the winter, but I need to make sure we can get through for however long it takes. I was just realizing that I didn’t know how long that might be.”
William nodded. “The uncertainty makes it difficult for everyone. I hope you know that I mean to help provide. Berto and I were talking about hunting a couple of wild boars and smoking the meat. We have the supplies to make repairs to the smokehouse and I can see to those myself.”
“Too bad you can’t hunt down an animal made of sugar or coffee.”
To her surprise he laughed. He was always such a serious man that it was rather pleasant when he did so. Hannah motioned to his leg. He was rubbing it, and she couldn’t help but wonder at the problem.
“Is it paining you more than usual?”
William glanced down and then stopped rubbing his thigh. “Yeah, I suppose it is.”
“Berto said to figure on rain,” Hannah offered. “My grandfather had terrible joint pains that always grew worse when it was about to rain. Maybe that’s why your leg is hurting more.”
“Could be.” He didn’t offer anything more.
Hannah put aside her ledger. “I want to thank you for what you did for us the other day. I should have told the children about our father’s disappearance. Mr. Lockhart had no way of knowing that I’d kept it from them.”
“Even so, he should have held his tongue once he realized the truth.”
She couldn’t have agreed more. “That’s why I’m grateful that you asked him to leave.”
“I didn’t really ask,” he said, limping to help himself to a cup of coffee.
“No, I suppose you didn’t. But in any case, I am grateful.”
William poured the coffee and leaned back against the counter. “Lockhart never cared much for my family, and in turn I never cared much for him. Seemed to me he was always trying to swindle someone out of their land.”
“I suppose some folks might feel that way. As a manager of real estate he could give that impression. I know people suggested the same of my father. I don’t think they truly mean to cause harm, however.”
“You’re gracious to say so.”
William sipped his coffee and seemed to stare right past her. Hannah felt uncomfortable, but didn’t know what to say or do. She looked back at the closed ledger and let the heavy silence settle over her.
“So your people were from Vicksburg?” William asked.
Hannah looked up. “Yes. I was born and raised there. My father, as well. My grandparents had a very nice place near town. We all lived together and some of my best memories are of those days.”
“How was it your father decided to come here?”
“He was lost in grief. My stepmother, Andy and Marty’s mother, died giving birth to Marty. Father was beside himself. A friend wrote to encourage him to move to Dallas, and that convinced my father. He was desperate to leave Vicksburg and all that reminded him of what he’d lost. My grandmother encouraged him to allow us to remain behind with her, but for reasons I still do not understand, Father insisted otherwise. He wanted all
She stepped from the storeroom and closed the door behind her. She continued to study her figures as she took a seat at the kitchen table. If they were careful, they would get through until . . .
“Until what?” she wondered aloud.
Until Father came home? Until the war ended? Until she knew whether or not she’d be forced to marry a man she didn’t love?
“You all right?”
She looked up to find William Barnett watching her from the back door. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“It looked like you were scowling. I figured either you were thinking of me or something was wrong.”
This actually made her smile. “I wasn’t thinking of you. I was taking an account of our food. When Father left, he didn’t intend to be gone more than a few weeks. We worked hard to can and preserve what we could for the winter, but I need to make sure we can get through for however long it takes. I was just realizing that I didn’t know how long that might be.”
William nodded. “The uncertainty makes it difficult for everyone. I hope you know that I mean to help provide. Berto and I were talking about hunting a couple of wild boars and smoking the meat. We have the supplies to make repairs to the smokehouse and I can see to those myself.”
“Too bad you can’t hunt down an animal made of sugar or coffee.”
To her surprise he laughed. He was always such a serious man that it was rather pleasant when he did so. Hannah motioned to his leg. He was rubbing it, and she couldn’t help but wonder at the problem.
“Is it paining you more than usual?”
William glanced down and then stopped rubbing his thigh. “Yeah, I suppose it is.”
“Berto said to figure on rain,” Hannah offered. “My grandfather had terrible joint pains that always grew worse when it was about to rain. Maybe that’s why your leg is hurting more.”
“Could be.” He didn’t offer anything more.
Hannah put aside her ledger. “I want to thank you for what you did for us the other day. I should have told the children about our father’s disappearance. Mr. Lockhart had no way of knowing that I’d kept it from them.”
“Even so, he should have held his tongue once he realized the truth.”
She couldn’t have agreed more. “That’s why I’m grateful that you asked him to leave.”
“I didn’t really ask,” he said, limping to help himself to a cup of coffee.
“No, I suppose you didn’t. But in any case, I am grateful.”
William poured the coffee and leaned back against the counter. “Lockhart never cared much for my family, and in turn I never cared much for him. Seemed to me he was always trying to swindle someone out of their land.”
“I suppose some folks might feel that way. As a manager of real estate he could give that impression. I know people suggested the same of my father. I don’t think they truly mean to cause harm, however.”
“You’re gracious to say so.”
William sipped his coffee and seemed to stare right past her. Hannah felt uncomfortable, but didn’t know what to say or do. She looked back at the closed ledger and let the heavy silence settle over her.
“So your people were from Vicksburg?” William asked.
Hannah looked up. “Yes. I was born and raised there. My father, as well. My grandparents had a very nice place near town. We all lived together and some of my best memories are of those days.”
“How was it your father decided to come here?”
“He was lost in grief. My stepmother, Andy and Marty’s mother, died giving birth to Marty. Father was beside himself. A friend wrote to encourage him to move to Dallas, and that convinced my father. He was desperate to leave Vicksburg and all that reminded him of what he’d lost. My grandmother encouraged him to allow us to remain behind with her, but for reasons I still do not understand, Father insisted otherwise. He wanted all
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