Page 40 of Eleanor’s Earrings

Then everyone becoming suddenly busy.

“Charlotte?”

“I am updating the inventory.”

“Rebecca?”

“Checking the harness.”

“Martha?”

“Cooking.”

“Lydia?”

“I have a condition.”

Eleanor stared. “What condition?”

“I dislike carrying water.”

“That is not a condition.”

“It affects me daily.”

Grace laughed.

Eleanor turned toward her.

Grace immediately looked down. “I can go.”

“No. You went this morning.”

Lucy edged backward.

Eleanor pointed. “Lucy.”

“I was going to volunteer.”

“You were going to disappear behind the wagon.”

“That too.”

Nathaniel walked past carrying two full buckets.

Every sister watched him.

He stopped. “What?”

Lydia said, “We have found our solution.”

Eleanor shook her head. “He is the wagon master.”

Nathaniel looked at the buckets. “At present I appear to be the water master.”

Lydia nodded. “Promotion.”

“I do not believe that is a promotion.”