He jerked it back, whirling to get it away from the flames before it exploded like blasting powder.
Jericho rushed past him into the kitchen, muttering under his breath as he stomped out the remaining flames.
Jonah didn’t stop until he’d carried the bucket out of the cabin and several more steps away. He set it down in the grass, pausing to catch his breath. His heart hammered as the adrenaline faded.
That had been a close call. If that grease had caught fire...
Footsteps sounded behind him, and he turned to see Jericho striding out of the cabin. "Trying to burn the place down again, little brother?" He was teasing, but his words soured in Jonah’s stomach. "This sturdy house wouldn’t have burned as fast as that outhouse did."
Did he really have to bring that up? Every time a spark blew the wrong direction, Jericho reminded him of that childhood offense. He’d been seven, for crying out loud.
Behind Jericho, Patsy was framed in the doorway, concern etched on her face.
Shame heated his neck. He lowered his gaze and moved around his brother. Best get in and see what the damage was. Hopefully nothing worse than a layer of black to scrub off the floor.
As he stepped into the house, Patsy moved outside, her skirts swishing past him. Where was she headed?
He turned just inside the doorway to see what she was doing. She looked like a woman with something on her mind.
She planted herself in front of Jericho with her hands on her hips. "And just why would you say a thing like that? Accidents happen. Jonah put out the fire before Lillian or I knew what was happening, and he wasn’t the one who left a bucket of grease right next to the stove. Seems to me he handled it just fine."
Jonah stared at Patsy's rigid back, warmth flooding his chest. Here she was, standing up to his brother on his behalf. Defending him.
He couldn’t recall the last time someone had done that.
Lillian stood beside him, taking in the stand-off in the yard.
“Uh…” Jericho didn’t seem to know how to answer her. He ran a hand behind his neck. “I didn’t mean to offend, ma’am.”
Wow. She’d gotten to him if he was calling her ma’am.
“It’s just a joke. Something we’ve always ribbed him about.”
“Well.” The sharp line of Patsy’s shoulderseased, and when she spoke, her voice gentled. “It seems like scratching at a sore again and again for years would make it hard to heal.”
A sudden burn clogged Jonah’s throat, especially when Jericho turned and caught him standing there. He had to fight to keep from edging back into the shadows. She was right, though. That wound hadn’t ever healed, not really.
Maybe if he'd stood up for himself way back when like she was standing up for him now, he wouldn't still be carrying that sting of shame.
But even as a boy, he'd never been one for confrontation. He'd always figured it was better to just let things go, not make waves. Keep the peace.
Looking at Patience, Jericho cleared his throat. "I suppose you have a point." He turned to Jonah once more, stepping to the base of the stoop. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t mean to burn down the outhouse. And I know you didn’t mean to let those sparks out just now. I shouldn’t have heckled you about it, not ever.” He swallowed. “Will you forgive me?”
Those were hard words to say, but Jericho spoke with an earnestness that left no doubt he meant them.
Jonah nodded. “Of course.” Though he knew well saying he’d forgive and doing it were two different things.
Jericho turned to Patsy then, and made a motion like he was pretending to doff his hat, though he wasn’t wearing one. “Thank you, ma’am, for calling me out.” He met Patsy’s gaze squarely. “I love my brothers. My whole family. The last thing I’d want to do is hurt them. I appreciate you seeing what I didn’t and righting the wrong.”
Beside Jonah, Lillian let out a sigh. “My word, that woman can work miracles.”
He’d missed Patsy’s response to Jericho, but it appeared to have been trivial. He sent his niece a smile. “You’re right there.” Though he’d been part of the interchange just now, he stillwasn’t certain it had really happened. Patsy had stood up for him, and his brother had actually apologized.
Lillian sent him a knowing smile. "Aren't you glad now that you didn't marry Naomi?"
Jonah's breath caught, and he nearly reached out to clamp a hand over the girl’s mouth. She’d already spoken the words though—loudly.
Her eyes rounded as she realized she’d said something that might not be common knowledge.
