He turned toward Adela. "I spoke too soon. Ask Miss Hart." Merritt shifted his hat in his hands. I meant no pressure.
The district can offer $20 a month if you want the town term. There is time to answer. Adella came down the steps. Her face was pale, but her voice was steady. Thank you, Mr. Walker.
I will consider it and write the trustees before the week is out. Barnaby gave a short, humorless breath. Jennings seems nearly as quick as mother to find a use for your winter. Wilbur's jaw tightened. Adella looked first at her brother, then at Wilbur, and Mr. Jennings has already corrected himself.
The sentence did not excuse him. It left him with the harder work of becoming a man who did not need correcting a third time. Merritt mounted and rode away. Later, when the children were back at their slates, Adella found Wilbur beside the pump. "You did it again," she said.
I did. You heard a problem and put a roof over it before I had decided whether I wanted the roof. I know. She searched his face, perhaps expecting argument. He had none worth offering.
I am sorry, Adella. She looked toward the school room window. Then do differently next time. I will. That afternoon, Toby came to the forge while Wilbur was oiling a hinge.
Uncle Wilbur, what is it? Toby scraped one bare toe over the packed dirt. Are you and Miss Hart only play acting? Toby kept his eyes on the floor. I heard Mr. Holloway say it.
Ruthie asked Clara if Miss Hart was pretending to be our Ma until the wagon came. A cold weighed settled low in Wilbur's chest. The lie had looked small when it belonged only to adults. In a child's mouth, it had become a promise nobody had meant to make. Wilbur crouched so he and the boy were nearer eye level.
Miss Hart has never promised to be your mother. Toby swallowed. One small hand closed around the cuff of Wilbur's work shirt and stayed there as if the boy needed to feel something solid before he could ask another question. The pretending was between grown people and it was meant to stop her brother from deciding for her. Wilbur said that does not make it a good thing to keep doing around you.
Do you understand? Toby did not nod. His fingers tightened once. "Is she leaving?" "I do not know."
Wilbur forced himself not to soften the truth. "And I will not tell you I know when I do not." The boy finally looked up at him. After another moment, Toby released Wilbur's sleeve and gave a small nod. At sunset, Wilbur counted all 10 children.