Page 63 of Magnolia Summer

“We’ll take it down. The next stiff wind could send it crashing down on you.”

“Oh.” She looked appropriately alarmed, her hand clutching at her neck.

“Will and I will ride to town and get some help. We’ll pick up some equipment while we’re there and have this tree out of your way by nightfall, Lord willing.”

Her eyes flitted around like she was thinking hard. Was she that uncomfortable with accepting his help?

“I do want to thank you, Truett. I know it is a sacrifice on your part, and you’re so good to help us.”

He’d never heard her sound this humble or grateful. He was enjoying it way too much.Here I go breaking all my promises to myself.“It’s nothing, Miss Celia.” Truett tipped his hat as his chest swelled.

“Let’s get going, Tru.” Will stood impatiently at his side.

“Wait.” Celia’s eyebrows still drew together, her eyes revealing concern. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. Finally she said, “You’ll be back?”

He nodded, willing her to speak what was on her mind. After a moment of hesitation, she simply smiled and walked back toward the house.

Truett shook his head at her strange behavior. At least she wasn’t giving him the cold shoulder.

Once he and Will were in town, he put a note on his office door that he would be at the Wilcox place all day. Then he went to Greenbrier Lee’s blacksmith shop to borrow a winch and some rope. Fortunately, when he explained the situation to Greenbrier and Grady Skidmore, who was passing by, they volunteered to come along and help.

They rode back to the Wilcox place and the four of them set to work on the tree.

* * *

“Celia,what’s the matter with you?” Lizzie squinted at her sister. “You’re acting as nervous as a mouse under a cat’s paw.”

“I am not!” When she realized she was wringing her hands, she clasped them firmly together.

“What ails you lately? If you want to tell Truett you’re sorry and you didn’t mean whatever it was you did to make him stop coming around, then I’m all for it.” Lizzie lifted her chin.

Celia moved away from the window. Lizzie had obviously caught her staring out at the men—well, it was actually only Truett she’d been staring at—while wringing her hands like a ninny.

Lizzie laughed and went off to the root cellar to get some sweet potatoes.

Celia and Lizzie were busy cooking, making a huge noon meal to feed the men who had come to help them fell the dangerously tipping tree. She’d said a prayer that they would be able to take it down safely and that no one would get hurt, but an even bigger worry was that Truett would get away again before she could talk to him. And she couldn’t exactly say anything to him with those other men around. How could she know that they wouldn’t betray Truett?

Since Lizzie had gone to check on Mother, Celia allowed herself another peek outside. Truett’s hat was pushed back off his forehead and the top two buttons of his blue chambray work shirt were unbuttoned. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and the stubble gave him a rough, outdoorsman look that put a catch in her throat.

Truett was taking his turn pulling the long two-handled saw, with Greenbrier the blacksmith on the other handle. They settled into a rhythm.

“I was thinking . . .” Lizzie entered the kitchen.

Celia spun around and dropped the tin cup she was holding. It clattered on the floor as Celia bent and snatched it up. “What?”

“Are you staring at Truett again?”

“Why would I do that?”

Lizzie smirked. Celia cringed inwardly at her sister’s knowing look. She feigned an aloof expression.

“As I was saying, we probably shouldn’t let Mama see the tree. It might frighten her. We could bring her meals to her room, instead of calling her out. I thought I’d get her a cup of tea.”

“Whatever you think, Lizzie. That’s fine.”

Lizzie walked past her to the screen door and gazed out. “How are they going to make it fall away from the house?”

Celia came to stand beside her. Since Lizzie was looking, she could too, couldn’t she?