“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
“Jus’ ‘cause.”
Hallie nodded as if she understood exactly why. “Did I embarrass you earlier?”
Liv shook her head.
“Even when I yelled at you in front of everyone?”
“Nope.”
“If I did, I’m sorry.”
With chalk in hand, Liv began to add numbers on the slate.
Hallie sighed. “Where is everyone?”
“When the sun came out, Gunnar and Knut started pestering the men for a horseback ride.”
“Where’s Duggie?”
“She went too.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
“Didn’t want to.”
“I see.” Hallie looked around, hoping for some help from somewhere. None came. “Why didn’t you want to go? You like horses.”
Liv shrugged.
Hallie peered at the slate. “That’s very good, Liv.” She reached for the slate. “Here, let me write some numbers and you can add them up. Like we used to do.”
As she began to write, Liv stood up. “I don’t feel like it. I’m going upstairs. I’m tired.”
“But Liv—”
It was too late. She had run up the stairs and closed the door before Hallie could stand up.
She felt like a failure. Look what she’d done. How was she going to care for the bunch of them?
Oh Da, I’m not doing very well.
She looked down at Liv’s slate, abandoned in her lap, and those stupid tears clogged up her throat. She was going to cry again. Crossing her arms on her bent knees, she laid her forehead on her arms and let go.
Kit found her later,hunched on the back step, sobbing and defeated.
“Hallie?”
“Oh God, not you,” she wailed.
He just stood there, grounded by the wealth of emotions running through him. Lee was right. Hallie had been ready to crack. His stomach turned with each whimper and choke she made. He couldn’t stand it. Grabbing her elbows, he pulled her into his arms and held her head against his chest, trying to absorb some of her pain. “I’m sorry, Hallie-girl, so, so sorry.”
She started to pull back, but he held her fast. “Get it out. Cry all that hurt out. I’m here, let me hold you. Let me help you.” He patted her shuddering back gently.
A mishmash of words rumbled against his shirt front, and he bent his head to hear her better. “I didn’t hear you, sweet.”
