Noah cut the horse a glare but refused to say another word.
The only thing he needed to feel even more ridiculous was to attempt to argue with a horse.
“I think we're going to get along just fine.” Mrs. Carter placed an extra quilt on the bed in Kizzie's new home. “We have a shared bathroom in the hallway. My husband had it installed about three years ago.”
Pride tinged the woman's words.
Kizzie placed Charlie on the bed and drew a clean diaper from her bag. “How long were the two of you married?”
“Forty years.” Mrs. Carter's gaze grew distant as she stared out the window. “Good years.” She clicked back to attention and patted the iron railing of the bed's footboard. “And three children.”
Kizzie stared at the woman, seeing beyond the wrinkles and hardened lines to peer into the face of a new bride, a new mother. Forty years. Her mama and daddy had been married thirty. Unfortunately, Daddy's alcoholism overshadowed the sweetness their marriage could have held. But the faraway smile on Mrs. Carter's face spoke of the dream in Kizzie's heart she dared not nurture.
“Are any of your children living nearby?”
Mrs. Carter blinked back to the conversation, and Kizzie worked on changing her wiggling baby's diaper.
“I have a daughter nearby, but she and her husband are talking about moving out west.” A shadow passed over her face before she continued. “My son lives about an hour north of here, and my oldest girl, well, she died giving birth to my granddaughter twelve years ago this month.”
“I'm so sorry, Mrs. Carter.”“Gayle,” the woman corrected. She reached to grab one of Charlie's kicking feet. “It's what started me and my husband helping girls living with the same mistakes our daughter made. She had a family who helped her through being a pregnant woman without a husband.” She sighed. “But we got Gloria, and she's been the sweetest gift that could ever come out of such pain.”
“The world sure ain't easy on women like me and your daughter.” Kizzie looked up at her as she pulled Charlie's clothes down over his chubby legs. “But your daughter was blessed to have you love her through it all. Gloria too.”
“My youngest daughter took Gloria in, and she's been a good fit for their growing family, but you'll see her plenty enough around the shop too.” Gayle studied Kizzie and then opened her arms for Charlie. Kizzie complied, the muscles in her arms thankful for another reprieve. “You have family?”
“None that I can go home to.”
“Well then.” Gayle nodded and started toward the stairs. “If you're as good at bookkeeping as you say, I imagine you, me, Charlie, and Gloria can make up a little family of our own.” She grinned down at Charlie, who offered her another one of his signature smiles. “You go on and get yourself settled, and I'll take this little man downstairs with me for a bit. I'm gonna see if I can scrounge up Gloria's old cradle.”
And with that, she left the room. The floor creaked as she took the steps to the storefront.
Kizzie sat down on the bed and looked around the little room. It wasn't tiny, as she'd expected. Big enough for two twin beds, a dresser and nightstand, a table with two chairs, a woodstove, a washbasin, and even a bookshelf with a rocking chair by the window. Two woven rugs decorated the oak floors with rainbow colors, one in front of the fireplace and another by the bed.
She stood and walked over to one of the large windows overlooking Main Street. Buildings stretched either way, and a few shops stood close enough to make out what they were. A barbershop and a dress store. A millinery and a furniture store. A little white building a few shops down looked like a restaurant.
Kizzie leaned her head against the window frame and breathed out a prayer of thanksgiving. God had already given her much more than she could have imagined in her move to The Hollows. He'd shown His care in small ways like a sleigh ride through the snow and giving her the chance to sleep in that wonderful bed at Noah's house. But He'd also shown grace in big ways, like keeping her and Charlie safe in the storm and giving her this job.
A job that, though part-time, had room and board included and gave her ample funds to use for her and Charlie's needs, and maybe even some to save. She pressed a hand to the purse in her skirt pocket. She already had a sizable amount from her sale of the land to Joshua and Nella, and she planned to deposit it into a bank as soon as she could, but God couldn't have given her a better position.
Shopkeeping.
Bookkeeping.
She'd always been good at tending things like children and inventory.
But tending her heart? She was only now beginning to understand, because of God's love, how little she knew about real love betwixt a man and woman. The wholesome, beautiful kind she imagined Mrs. Carter may have known with Mr. Carter.
It was certainly not whatever unhealthy relationship she'd had with Charles Morgan.
And, maybe, she hadn't been as much in love with him as dazzled by him. The decision to leave, along with his behavior before she left, had dusted off his shine and left behind a much more realistic picture. Love didn't look like that.
Her attention followed a carriage moving slowly across the uneven terrain of snow and dirt on Main Street. A few people walked alongside the street, their voices rising to create a welcome hum of activity.
Home?
She embraced the present and sighed out what she couldn't change.
For now, this would make a fine home.
