“Mind if I put the sleigh in your barn?” Frances called.
“Go right ahead.” Mrs. Knox stepped back. “Hank’s in there feeding the animals.”
Luke had returned to the sleigh and flipped a coin to his sister. “Tell the boy it’s for watching the horses.” He then helped Judith down. Frances and Nick drove away.
“And who might you be?” The elderly woman asked once they were in the house. She eyed Judith with interest.
“I’m Judith Breckinridge.” She extended her hand. “Marshall is my older brother.”
“Well, my little house must seem like a back slum to a fine lady like you.”
“Not at all.” Judith was glancing around the room. “Doris has been telling me what a gifted quilter you are, so Mr. Hamblin offered to bring me here so I can see for myself.”
At a light tap on the door, Luke opened it, and the other two came in with a gust of cold air. Mrs. Knox shivered.
“We didn’t mean to disturb you on such a bitterly cold day.” Judith picked up a quilt by a rocking chair and gestured for the older woman to sit. With a bemused smile, Mrs. Knox did, and Judith settled the quilt on her lap.
Luke had to bite back a smile. Doris was certainly rubbing off.
“This is my kid sister Frances,” Luke said, “and one of my hands, Nick Reynolds.”
“How do you do, ma’am?” The young man removed his hat and gave her a nod.
“Are you here to see to my quilts too?” she asked, her tone now a little sarcastic.
“Actually, I am.” Nick explained about his wish for a nice quilt. He stepped up to one hanging on the wall. “This tumbling block pattern is the finest I’ve seen, if I say so myself.”
* * *
Judith steppedbeside the cowman to get a closer look. The exact placement of the squares and the woman’s color choices gave the quilt an optical illusion of depth.
“Do you mind if I borrow your lamp?” Judith asked Mrs. Knox.
“Go right ahead.”
Judith lifted it, and the better lighting showed how even and precise the woman’s stitches were. It was almost as though it’d been done by machine.
“Mrs. Knox,” Judith said, turning to face the woman, “we’re having a Christmas Fair next week, the day before Christmas Eve, and we’re showcasing the talents of people in the area. If you would trust me to keep this quilt safe, I’d like very much to put it on display.”
“Talents?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Nick said almost reverently as he ran his hand over the fabric. “Though I must say I want to hire you before anyone else finds out what a gift you have.”
Judith was sure, as she returned the lamp to the table, that Mrs. Knox blushed.
“Besides sharing talents, my hope is to expose the people of Lilac City to a little culture.” Judith held her breath, hoping the woman wouldn’t take offense.
Mrs. Knox watched her for a few seconds before nodding her head. “I came from a well-to-do family, but I fell in love with a man who didn’t. We came here twenty-five years ago with our boys to raise cattle. It was good for a few years until overgrazing and the harsh winters took its toll. But about twelve years ago some of those Mormons showed up and started digging irrigation canals. With water and better management from the likes of your brother and Mr. Hamblin here, things have been improving.” She let out a deep breath. “I would like very much to live long enough to see a bit of culture here. You may take my quilt.”
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Knox.” Judith shook her hand.
While Nick began a negotiation with the woman about his quilt, Judith moved to the wall. Luke helped her take it down.
“It’s beautiful,” Frances said, examining it, “but I don’t understand how anyone can sit in a chair long enough to do that kind of work.”
“You’re young yet,” Luke said, giving her shoulder a nudge with his. “When you’re old enough to need to rest more often, you might want to take up something like this.”
“Just shoot me.” She glanced out the window. “We’d best get going.”
