Serious Concerns

“Ginny, is everything all right? I see your carriage waiting out there for you. Is there a reason why it seems to take you and George a little longer to get your things together?” Hope asked with an innocent smile.
The girl had her back to Hope, but she could see her shoulders rise and fall, as if she was contemplating exactly what to say. Without turning around, she finally said, “Everything is fine, Miss Tucker. We just like to take our time.” She turned then, a smile on her face that seemed etched. “Everyone is always in such a rush.”
Hope nodded but didn’t know if she should trust that response. Perhaps she should start walking the children out for a few days to see if there was something she was overlooking. “All right. It looks like your mother is waiting.”
“It’s not Mama today,” George said, seeming less worried than his sister as he swung his lunch pail over his shoulder. “She’s bakin’ pies.”
Another glance out the window told her he was right—about it not being their mama, anyway. The way the seat was situated, she couldn’t see the driver until he hopped down, probably wondering where his niece and nephew were. Hope drew in a ragged breath, and saw Ginny’s forehead crinkle questioningly. Hope had no explanation, not that she could share with the child, anyway, but she imagined Ginny was used to people reacting to the sight of her uncle. She wanted Ginny to know it wasn’t fear that had caused her throat to catch, though she could hardly explain what it was. The sight of Judah’s frame enhanced by the mid-afternoon sun, the way the streaks of light highlighted the blond in his caramel hair when he adjusted his hat, the purely masculine essence that ebbed off of him with each step he took in her direction made Hope’s stomach clench in a way she’d not felt before. No, she certainly couldn’t share that with the wide-eyed girl standing before her.
“I’ll walk you out,” she said with what she hoped was an encouraging smile. Ginny nodded, clutching her book and lunch kit, and headed out behind George who was already down the porch steps before the ladies reached the door.
“Uncle Judah!” George said, launching himself the last few feet into his uncle’s waiting arms. “We learned about John Adams today and how he didn’t want women to be right!”
“You did?” Judah looked puzzled, and Hope could only shake her head. Perhaps her lesson wasn’t as clear for the younger students.
Judah gave his nephew a squeeze before setting him on the wagon seat, messing up his hair, and then turning back to face her. Hope thought she saw his eyes shift down the length of her and back up, and it made her slightly uncomfortable, but not in the way it might if this were Jimmy Brooks taking her in. Instead, it made her heartbeat increase and her palms sweaty. “Miss Tucker, it’s nice to see you.” Hope’s answer was caught in her throat, so she said nothing, and he turned his attention to Ginny. “You have a good day, Gins?”
“Yes, Uncle Judah.” Once again, Ginny’s smile wasn’t true, and he could sense it as well but didn’t question her, and Ginny climbed up to sit by her brother while Hope fought herself on the topic of whether or not to voice her concerns.
It ended up not being her decision. Judah glanced over his shoulder at the kids as he walked toward her. In a quiet voice, he asked, “Did something happen?”
Hope opened her mouth and a guttural squawk came out that was a mix between a stammer and a groan. She shook her head, closed her mouth, and took a few steps backward. Though he looked slightly amused now instead of wholeheartedly concerned, he followed her. Hope drew in a deep breath and tried again. “I think... some of the other girls are being a little unkind. I’m not sure. I haven’t actually overheard them say anything, only caught a few giggles I feel may be at Ginny’s expense.”
All humor was gone from his face as he turned and looked back at the wagon. Both children had their library books open and didn’t seem troubled that their teacher and uncle were talking. Judah pulled his hat off and ran his hand through his hair, sighed, and replaced it. “I was afraid of something like this.”
Hope swallowed hard, not sure what else she should say, if anything. He had his hands on his hips and was staring at the ground, as if he was also debating what to say to her. Hope decided to give him a moment and kept her mouth shut.
“There are some rumors about me.” He glanced up, meeting her eyes. Hope held perfectly still, not showing her hand yet. Her heart was racing. He had no way of knowing for sure what she’d heard, though he had to suspect it was something. “Most of them aren’t true. But that don’t matter, now does it?”
“Most of them?” The question was out before Hope could censor it. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to decide if she could find a way to take the nosy question back, but when she opened them again, Judah was smiling at her. “I apologize, Mr. Lawless. It’s not my business. I only meant.... I want to do whatever I can to help Ginny. She shows so much promise. I think she could do quite a lot with that brilliant mind of hers. I’d hate to think the words of some silly girls who are likely more concerned with finding a husband than getting a good education might make Ginny feel poorly about herself. It doesn’t seem to affect George at all. Perhaps he hasn’t been targeted, or perhaps he’s too young to understand, but I want to do what I can to help Ginny.”
“I greatly appreciate that, Miss Tucker.” He looked relieved, as if he might’ve thought she was frightened of him or that she might believe all of the rumors. She wondered what he meant by “most of them,” but she could hardly ask again at the moment. It was impossible to think that the man in front of her could’ve taken anyone’s life, unless he was defending his family. But to kill his wife? Twice? She couldn’t see it. Nicholas’s words rang through her mind. “Those eyes is deceivin'’.”
“Both of them are wonderful children.” Hope glanced over his shoulder to see Ginny helping George with a word he didn’t know. “You and your sister, and her husband, should be proud.”
“I have very little to do with any of that, but thank you. I shall pass your kind words on to Caroline. She’s busy bakin’ pies for the barn raisin’ Saturday, so she sent me to fetch the children.”
Hope had heard mention of a barn going up somewhere west of town, but the name of the family wasn’t familiar to her. “Are you....” She caught herself being nosy again but then remembered that she’d heard he was a carpenter. Of course, that could’ve been one of the rumors that wasn’t true.
“Am I... what?” He looked amused again, like there were at least a dozen words she could’ve been meaning to finish that sentence with.
“Are you a carpenter?” She decided that was the safest way to ask the question, and then, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself. “I mean... is that one of the rumors that is true?”
“Why? Do you need a new table or chair?”
Hope thought about the too-small bed in her room at the Howards’ and how she had nothing to write on. She assumed he was teasing. “No, it’s not that. I just thought a barn raising might need a carpenter, that’s all.”
“I am not a carpenter,” he said, his grin growing with each word. “But I am going to the barn raising.” He took a step backward, like he was done talking about himself. “You should consider going yourself, Miss Tucker. The Coys don’t have any kids yet, but they might someday.”
“Oh, well, I can hardly just show up somewhere I’m uninvited,” she stammered. “I wouldn’t even know how to get there.”
“Come on over and help Caroline load up her pies Saturday morning. They’ll be happy to have you, especially if you know how to bake something that isn’t pie.” He was headed for the wagon now, turning and talking every few steps.
Hope laughed but quickly covered her mouth. “I don’t know where you live either.”
“All right. I’ll send Caroline to fetch you. Most of the women folk won’t get there until around ten. By then, we should have a good portion of the frame up.”
“But....”
“Have a nice evening, Miss Tucker.” He climbed into the wagon seat in one fluid motion, leaving Hope staring after him with her mouth hanging open, unsure of what had just happened. She stood in the schoolyard for a long moment, watching as the wagon moved down the road.