AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 1
“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Carmichael.” Mr. Raven wrung his hands together nervously. The bank manager was a tall, gaunt man with a mournful face that hid a kind heart. “But I’m afraid I will have to ask for the full rental amount beginning next month.”
“I understand,” Ida said quietly.
He cleared his throat apologetically.
“I know you’ve had a difficult time since your husband’s death, especially with the new baby, but now that you’re out of your blacks, my wife…”
He didn’t continue, but he didn’t have to. They both knew that his wife was driving the decision. Not that Ida blamed her. Mr. Raven had been extremely generous by cutting the rent in half for the past year. She suspected that he also felt some measure of guilt for not warning her that Abner was depleting their savings account.
“I don’t suppose you’ve managed to find any additional sources of income?” he added hopefully.
Since she knew he meant it kindly, she managed to avoid snapping at him. But if she’d been able to bring in any additional credits, the first thing she would have done was to pay the rent in full. She hated taking charity, but with an irresponsible husband who’d managed to blow through all the assets she’d brought to the marriage before he died, and three other mouths to feed, she hadn’t had much choice.
She’d done everything she could think of to earn an income, from taking in laundry to sewing projects, but it was barely enough to feed them and cover the reduced rent. Unfortunately, the town of Wainwright had been founded on old-fashioned Earth principles, and even though times were changing, job opportunities for a widow with children and no real skills were hard to find.
He twisted his hands again.
“I do have one suggestion.” He looked back over his shoulder as if he were afraid someone would overhear—his wife, no doubt—and dropped his voice. “I have a smaller property available. It’s not close to town and it, err, needs some work, but perhaps…”
A location outside of town would make outside employment more difficult, but it would also allow her daughter Dora more freedom.
“How much is the rent?”
He named a price that was half of the reduced amount she was currently paying. Her expression must have given her surprise away because he gave her an apologetic look.
“It hasn’t been lived in for some time. I don’t believe my wife even remembers…” He stopped abruptly, then coughed again. “The rent is unlikely to change anytime in the near future.”
He didn’t add anything else, but she understood what he was saying. If Mrs. Raven wasn’t aware of the transaction, she couldn’t pressure him to get more blood from Ida’s proverbial stone.
“Perhaps I could take a look at it?”
“Of course, of course. Just remember, it hasn’t been lived in for some time. In fact, it might take some work…”
“I don’t mind work,” she said quickly as an expression of doubt crossed his face. “I could drive out there this afternoon and give you an answer tomorrow, if that’s all right with you?”
He hesitated while she held her breath, then nodded.
“Probably best not to come to the bank. I’ll stop by in the morning.”
She smiled at him as she rose to accompany him to the door.
“Thank you, Mr. Raven. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”
“Not at all. I believe we were put in this world to help the less fortunate. Not that you’re less fortunate,” he added hastily, a faint hint of color touching his cheeks. “But we all admire your courage, especially with your husband leaving you in a delicate condition. That is…”
His color deepened as he broke off again. Suppressing the usual feeling of guilt, she gave him an even warmer smile as she opened the door.
“You’re a very kind man, Mr. Raven. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
He bowed briefly over her hand and left, walking quickly down the street towards his bank. She watched him for a moment, then sighed and returned to the parlor. A fancy name for a no longer fancy room. Although she kept it as neat and tidy as the rest of the house, the fabric on the ornate settee and chairs her father had gifted her on her wedding day was now faded and worn.
In addition to the formal furniture, she’d added a more practical chair that she used for sewing. The sturdy chair matched the treadle sewing machine which dominated one corner of the room. She wasn’t a dressmaker, but she could make alterations or produce simple clothing. Since she’d promised Mrs. Taylor that she’d have the pants she was hemming for her youngest ready by tomorrow, she decided to finish them before going to find Dora. She wasn’t looking forward to telling her daughter they might be moving out of town.
She should have known better. As soon as she picked up the pants, Dora appeared in the doorway, cradling Angel against her chest, her pretty face marred by the scowl that came too easily these days. Dora was her husband’s daughter from his first marriage and she had always been a handful, but Ida often found herself missing the mischievous girl she had been before his death.
“So? Is the old bastard kicking us out?”
