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She pressed both palms to her bodice and stared up at the second-story windows. “That’s…That’s…” Her mouth flopped open and closed like a catfish gasping for air.
Was she going to swoon? Joseph grabbed her elbow. “That’s what?”
“My song.” The words grated like sandpaper on wood. Sheturned a wide-eyed look on him. “The boys…they’re playing my song.”
Joseph shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ava. I don’t understand. Did you write the song?”
She huffed and jerked her elbow free of his hold. “Of course not. Gil wrote it. He wrote it for me. He wrote it for me to tell me—” She closed her eyes. “It was my betrothal gift. He said it wasoursong. Special. Personal. Intimate…” She opened her eyes and tears spilled. “Why would he teach the boys our special song, Joseph?”
“Maybe because he knows it will impress the judges.” Joseph said the first thing that popped into his mind. Once it was stated, he realized how unkind it sounded. Hadn’t he told himself he was going to stop being resentful of Gil? But he couldn’t take it back, so he scrambled for a reason that might make her feel better. “Maybe he didn’t have time to write something new for the competition, so he dug it out and used it because he forgot why he wrote it.”
The pain reflected in her light brown eyes told him he’d said the wrong thing again. Fresh tears rolled down her pale cheeks. “I have to go home.” She took a stumbling backward step. “P-please see that the boys get their jackets.” She turned and ran.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Gil
Gil instructed the boys toleave the stands in place. The men’s band would put them away after their evening practice. Then he and Earl led the pack down the stairs, Earl sliding down on his bottom beside him. They reached the street level, and he gave his young cousin his crutches. “There you are, safe and sound. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The sound of a clearing throat caught his attention, and he glanced up and found Joseph in the doorway of the small entryway. “What are you doing here? I thought Herman was bringing in the goat cart for Earl.”
“Change of plans,” Joseph said. He flipped his hand toward a wheelbarrow holding the finished jackets. “Look what’s here. I kept watch over them until you got done.”
The boys crowded around the wheelbarrow, jabbering excitedly.
Gil glanced up and down the street. “Where’s Ava?”
Joseph shifted his attention to Earl. “Ma said Timmy should come out and spend the afternoon with Herman.” Timmy whooped, and Joseph grinned at him. “The wagon’s in front of the mercantile. You two go wait for me there. I’ll bring your jackets.”
Timmy took off. Earl gave the jackets a longing look, but he hitched his way up the boardwalk.
Joseph leaned close to Gil. “Ava got upset when she heard what you were playing.”
Gil groaned. He waved his good hand at the boys. “All right, quiet down, please. Ralph, where are you?”
The youth pushed to the front of the group.
“Each jacket has a tag pinned inside with the name of the owner. Would you distribute them, please? I need to talk to Joseph.”
“Sure, Mr. Baty.”
Gil sent a firm frown across the group. “Now be careful with these. Take them straight home, no playing with them on the way. We want you to look your best for the competition.”
“Jo, Mr. Baty,” they chorused.
Gil escorted Joseph several feet away from the boys. “What did Ava say?”
Joseph shoved his hands into his pockets. “She wondered why you taught the boys a song that was supposed to be personal, between the two of you.” He angled his head, his brows dipping. “Did you forget it was her song?”
“Of course not.” How could he forget something so special? “But I hadn’t intended for her to hear the boys play it. Not yet.” Remorse struck hard. Another surprise spoiled.
Joseph gaped at him. “In a town this small, I can’t believe you thought you could keep something like that from her.”
Gil thought he’d put together a good plan by keeping Ava busy stitching and excusing her of snack duty for the boys. But his plans didn’t seem to work so well. He hung his head. “I better go talk to her.”
“You might want to stop at the general merchandise storefor some boxed chocolates before you go. She’s going to need some sweetening up.”
Gil didn’t have money to squander on a box of chocolates. His explanation would have to do. “Thank you for watching the coats.”
Ralph sauntered over with Earl’s and Timmy’s coats and gave them to Joseph. Then he turned to Gil. “Mr. Baty, there isn’t a uniform for Herman.”
