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“Men like you?”
“Deeply flawed. Weighed down with the burdens of my family. A man in captivity.”
I let his words soak into me as the sun dried my skin. Resting my chin on my knees, I looked over at him. He was sitting with his feet in the water staring blankly across the pond. “I would free you if I could.”
For a long moment, he was silent. I held my breath, waiting for him to say something. Finally, he said in a resigned voice, “I know you would, because you’re good and strong. Thank you for taking my mind away for an afternoon.”
“We’ll have more days like today, won’t we?” I peeked up at him from under my wet lashes.
“Yes.” But he sighed when he said it, like a man on the gallows who knew death would come soon.
* * *
When we returnedto our picnic blanket, Delphia was surrounded by male admirers. She seemed to care less about suitors or romance, yet boys followed her everywhere we went. At the moment, she was debating the value of the New Deal with Harley and Merry’s son Jack. The Depauls had worked for Papa when my older siblings were still young. Harley and Merry now bred horses on their farm and were doing well. Their son Jack was almost exactly my age, with Henry slightly older. Jack was a horseman if there ever was one. He was as wild as a mustang, similar in personality to Delphia, rebellious and wickedly smart. Regardless, they fought about everything and always had.
Henry was more like me, quiet and cerebral, although he shared a love of horses with his brother. He’d gone to university and come home married to a pretty young woman named Lillian. They now helped Harley and Merry run the horse farm. Jack’s future was less certain. I knew from my mother that his parents worried about him, wishing he would settle down with a nice woman and have a family as his brother had done. I had my doubts looking at his dark eyes sparkling from sparring with my sister. It would take a woman like my sister to keep up with him.
The poor Jefferson brothers seemed slightly horrified at the disagreement, watching as if afraid one or the other might burst into flames at any moment. On the other hand, my sister seemed to be in her element, cheeks flushed as much from the debate as the heat of the afternoon.
They quieted when we approached. Delphia turned toward us, brushing away a wayward curl with an impatient flick of her wrist. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me and then James. I could almost hear her brain clicking away, wondering what was between us. She was naturally suspicious anyway, and from the way her mouth tightened, I knew she could see more than others would. Guilt jabbed at me. I had no right to be flirting with James this way. Not when he was promised to another. It was usually Delphia in the wrong, not me. What would she think? Could she see into my heart? My wickedness?
“How was the water?” Delphia asked once we’d sat back down on the blanket.
I was nearly dry and had pulled my dress back on over my suit. “Refreshing,” I said, avoiding her eyes. “Jack, you remember James West?”
“Yes, good to see you.” Jack held out a brawny arm to shake James’s hand. “I ran into Fiona at Johnson’s store and she mentioned you’d arrived from back east. You here for the entire summer?”
“Until August. Glad to be here.” James’s eyes found mine for a split second. “Days like today are the ones that will sustain me during the long New York winters.”
Once more, I noticed Delphia watching us. She was too smart. Nothing got past her.
We spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing. Delphia brought out the cookies from the bottom of the picnic basket as well as some of Lizzie’s homemade strawberry lemonade. The Jefferson brothers seemed to relax and enjoy the company, telling us more about the life they’d fled and their hopes for a new one.
“We might have some work for you boys,” Jack said. “Out at our farm. I’ll talk to my papa.” He pronounced it the French way with a lilt on the second syllable. Harley had immigrated from France as a teenager.
“We’d take whatever you have,” Boone said. “We’re hard workers and won’t give you any trouble.”
I smiled to myself. We might not have the most exciting lives, but they were filled with good cheer and friendship. My father had made sure, all those years ago, that our community offered shelter to whoever was willing to work. My chest swelled with pride thinking of him now. Papa’s generosity was passing from one generation to the other. He’d helped Harley start his farm as a thank-you for his loyal service. Now, twenty years later, his gifts were being passed on to the two young men from Oklahoma, strangers to us, yet familiar too. Hardworking men in need of assistance, just as Harley Depaul had once received from Papa. That was the way with generosity, I supposed. One never knew the lasting effects of such things.
5
JAMES
A few daysinto my visit, Fiona came by the house to invite me into town for an evening at her brother’s club. “I’m sorry we’ve been neglecting you,” Fiona said. “But this musical score is taking all of our attention.”
“Not to worry. I’m quite content here at the house. Your mother left a stack of books for me. Addie’s been hinting around about a manuscript she’d like me to read, but instead, we’ve been swimming and picnicking. Your little sisters are all grown up, it seems.”
We were sitting on the screened back porch in the heat of the afternoon. Most everyone had gone upstairs to rest, but I’d not been tired. I’d just opened up a book when Fiona appeared.
“Yes, it seems to be the way of the world.” Fiona sighed and settled back into the chaise next to mine. She yawned and pressed her fingers into the dark circles under her eyes.
“Are you taking care of yourself?” I, too, was spread out on a chaise. My jacket was off and I had the sleeves of my shirt rolled up to combat the heat. A gentle breeze came through the screens of the porch, giving some relief from the hot afternoon air.
“Not too well. Between the boys and work, it’s been a busy time. Some days I’m not sure exactly why I had all of these children.”
“It’s too late now,” I said, chuckling.
“Li wants me to hire more help, especially now that we’re doing so well, but I hate to miss anything with them. Time goes too fast. Some days I wake and wonder how it is that I’m a married lady with four children, and other days I can’t believe they’re growing so fast.” She turned her head to look at me. “Is it true about Lena Masters? Are you engaged?”
