Grant moved the lamp a few inches toward her side of the table. A tiny thing, nothing at all. And yet, with the harvest invitation folded upstairs beside a dress she suddenly dreaded wearing, Hannah wondered when High Meadow had stopped feeling like a place she worked, and when leaving it had begun to feel like something she would have to survive. Saturday arrived bright and cold. The first frost of the season silvered the pasture grass before sunrise, and by 9ine the sun had burned it away, leaving the valley sharp and clean beneath a pale blue sky.
Hannah spent most of the morning pretending the supper did not matter. She baked bread, checked the pantry, mended one of Henry's shirt cuffs, rewound Molly's blue ribbon around a piece of cardboard so it would not crease. At noon, she finally carried her burgundy dress downstairs and hung it near the kitchen stove to let the chill out of the fabric. Molly appeared in the doorway. That one?
Hannah looked over. That one? What? You're wearing? Yes.
Molly studied the dress. It's pretty. Hannah smiled. Thank you. Molly came closer and touched the sleeve.
You'll wear your hair different. Hannah looked toward the small mirror over the wash basin. I hadn't planned to. Molly considered this. Then she held up the blue ribbon.
Hannah went still. No, sweetheart. That belongs to your mother. Molly looked down at it. Then back up.
I know. For a moment, Hannah could not think of anything to say. Molly lowered the ribbon. Hannah knelt beside her. You keep it safe tonight.
Molly nodded. Then, without warning, she leaned forward and pressed her cheek briefly against Hannah's shoulder. It lasted one second, maybe two. Then she hurried out. Hannah stayed where she was.
By 3, Grant had the wagon ready. He wore a clean black coat over a white shirt and dark vest. His boots had been polished. His beard had been trimmed close enough that Hannah noticed the hard line of his jaw for the first time. That annoyed her.
She did not want to notice his jaw. Henry wore a brown suit that already looked too small at the wrists. Molly wore cream colored calico with the blue ribbon tied neatly at the end of her braid. When Hannah stepped onto the porch, Grant turned. He looked at her and kept looking.
Not rudely, not openly enough for the children to notice, but long enough. Hannah's hand tightened around her gloves. Grant cleared his throat. You ready? Yes.
His eyes dropped once to the burgundy dress, then returned to her face. It suits you. Hannah nearly missed the wagon step. She recovered before he could offer his hand. Thank you.
The ride to Elk Crossing took nearly 2 hours. Henry talked most of the way. Molly leaned against Hannah's arm. Grant drove. They reached town just as church bells rang 5:00.
Lanterns had been hung outside the church hall. Wagons crowded both sides of the road. Men stood near the hitching posts in dark coats. Women moved through the doors carrying covered dishes. And children ran between wheels despite constant warnings.
Hannah recognized almost everyone. That was the problem. The first few greetings were harmless. Mrs. Avery praised the weather.