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Without even realizing it, she must have made some sort of sound for Jay quietly said beside her, “Mr. Peterson lost his leg in combat when he was just a new recruit in the war of 1812. He was only fourteen at the time.”
“My God,” she whispered and felt a flood of sympathy.
“Might want to wipe that pitiful expression off your face,” he said. “He doesn’t want your pity, he wants your gratitude. The man risked his life for the sake of our country’s freedom.”
Her head spun around to glare at him. “I’m fully aware of that. The war was part of my studies during the last portion of my formal education.”
“Well then, my apologies princess,” he said, but sounded far too sarcastic as he leaped from the wagon.
Their visit to the Peterson’s was shorter than the first farm, which met with Erika’s disappointment. After able to finally get over her squeamishness regarding his missing leg, she discovered the couple a friendly and happy pair. Then, just as earlier, Ryan told his story and played the harmonica while Jay went outside to chop wood and perform other chores Mr. Peterson was unable to attend.
By the time they headed off toward the third
and final farm, Erika realized she was seeing a side to Jay she had never seen before. This was not the rebellious, crime inflicting man she knew him to be. Instead, the man who sat silently next to her as the wagon plowed on through the deep snow, was a man she did not recognize.
Behind them, Ryan played his music and the upbeat melody felt far from how she was feeling inside. The only word she could come up with to explain her emotions was confusion.
The last farm housed two sweet widowed ladies whom Erika discovered were actually two sisters who continued living on their family’s estate long after all their husband’s and family passed on. They took to Erika instantly. They lavished her with compliments, admiring her clothing attire and the sophisticated sweep of her hair.
Admittedly, she felt her insides light up. So accustomed to that type of attention in town, she felt in very familiar and safe territory. She couldn’t resist beaming with happiness when the little old ladies brought out their best china to serve them tea.
Unlike the previous two farms, they didn’t have a list of chores for Jay, but did request he have a look at their buggy and give it an overall before the spring. Then, as their previous stops, insisted Ryan tell them all about his latest trip on the lakes. When Ryan picked up his harmonica to play for the sisters, Jay quietly got up to leave. With a frown tugging at the crease between her brows, Erika watched him go.
“Such a strong young boy, that Jay,” the one woman said, leaning close in order to be heard over Ryan’s music.
Erika nodded. “Yes, built like an ox.”
“Don’t know what we would do if he didn’t come up here as he does to check on us.”
Erika’s brows arched. “He comes here often?”
“Oh, yes.” The already wrinkled skin around her eyes crinkled more as she smiled. “Has been for years. If it weren’t for him, my sister and I would probably have perished long before now.”
The woman turned and gave her full attention back to Ryan, leaving Erika with her thoughts. Jay Colby as a generous man was a hard image to produce, yet she had been witness to it all day.
The two ladies invited them for dinner, which Erika was grateful. Though Fiona’s baking was delicious, her belly needed something a little more substantial. By the time they finished eating and packed up the wagon to head home, the sun was slowly dipping toward the earth. Erika knew it would be close to sunset by the time they arrived home. She could only imagine her grandfather’s reaction.
As they pulled out of the laneway, Erika turned and waved goodbye to the ladies standing on their front veranda waving in return. Such a lovely ending to a day that started off so poorly. Sighing with happiness, she turned back around in her seat.
“Enjoyed your visit, did you?” Jay asked.
She did, but truthfully, was happiest about the fact they were finally headed home. Settling more comfortably on her seat, she prepared herself for the long drive back. Her toes reflexed within her boots to the warmth of the reheated brick the sisters’ stove provided.
They followed the same trail and simply seeing their tracks from earlier that day brought about a small thrill for Erika. At the end of them was home. This realization brought a much more sense of content in her heart than she would have expected. For this return trip, she was able to enjoy the view entirely more.
The wilderness was quiet as the wagon drove through the snow and wove between a forest of birch and maple trees. The day had been warm, luring birds from their nests to swoop down and sing amongst the trees. Even Ryan had long stopped playing the harmonica to enjoy the peaceful music of the forest.
They had just cleared four large pine trees when Jay pulled the wagon onto the frozen lake. Having already crossed once that day, he didn’t bother to stop and test its durability. The sound of crunching snow turned into a silent whisper as the wheels glided softly across the frozen surface. With the bird’s melody left behind in the forest, Ryan picked up his harmonica and began playing once more. Erika lifted her chin and closed her eyes. Admittedly, she was getting tired and the sweet tune Ryan chose could easily lure her to sleep.
Beneath her, she felt the wagon slow then come to a complete halt. She opened her eyes and looked across at Jay. He was frowning. “Why did you stop?”
He simply shook his head and tilted his ear as if listening.
“What’s going on?” Ryan got up from his seat on a crate and came toward the front of the wagon.
That was when Erika heard a loud groaning noise. Puzzled, she turned and asked, “What was that?”
Jay’s face suddenly went ashen. “The ice is breaking.”
