One Good Turn
by "CJ"
Jason Bolt leaned back in his chair and looked around Lottie's saloon with a contented smile on his face. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon in Seattle and the place was filled with Lottie's regulars—many of them having their midday meal as he was. Across the table from him, Jeremy, Candy, and Biddie were having a conversation which he had opted out of long before. As Biddie went on and on about the best way to get candle wax out of a tablecloth, Jason caught a quick glimpse of Jeremy's expression of pained fascination and chuckled to himself. He had to hand it to his little brother; Biddie could, at times, get on a man's nerves but Jeremy was much too polite not to feign interest all the same. And he knew his brother had a special fondness for the woman who was Candy's dearest friend.
Jason looked to see if Joshua had come in yet but didn't see him. He began to scan the room, nodding at all the familiar faces as one or the other looked up and caught his eye. He saw Corky with yet another one of the brides and found himself wondering for perhaps the hundredth time how the man could be so successful with women. The girl with him today—Laurie was it?—was obviously hanging on Corky's every word.
Jason watched Lottie as she bustled around from table to table, trying to keep up with all the orders, while at the same time making sure Sam was serving the customers she herself couldn't get to. Jason enjoyed watching her doing something that she obviously loved and had been good at for as long as he'd known her-taking care of everyone in Seattle. They hadn't had a chance to really talk for several weeks and he realized how much he missed their conversations-he'd have to remedy that soon. He looked up as Lottie passed close to their table, her arms full of plates, and shook his head with amusement. It obviously wouldn't be today.
Aaron Stempel was at his usual corner table. He looked up when he felt Jason's eyes on him and the two nodded at each other before Aaron returned to his meal. Jason's smile widened. He knew how much Aaron enjoyed a small measure of solitude during his meals—even here in a crowd-and Jason was in a lighthearted mood. Perhaps it might be amusing to join Aaron today...
The front door opened and Essie and Swede Gustafson came in. Jason was a bit surprised to see them; He knew Essie usually cooked Sunday dinner at home.
"Big Swede! Miss Essie!" he called out, waving to them. "Join us."
"Yes, please do." Candy seconded while Jeremy gave an enthusiastic nod.
A few other diners called out greetings as the Gustafsons made their way to Jason's table. Jason and Jeremy stood as they arrived and Swede pulled out a chair for his wife—but she shook her head.
"One moment, Olaf." She said. "I'd like to make my announcement first. You may sit down, though."
He nodded and remained standing. Swede was not about to sit first in the presence of a lady, even if it was his own wife. Jason observed the exchange with amusement. What a pair they made, the prim and proper schoolmarm and the big, unpolished logger with the heart of a lion and the demeanor of a puppy. Of course, now all three of the men at the table would have to remain standing. Jason grinned over at Jeremy who smiled faintly. His brother still seemed a bit dazed from the conversation with Biddie.
"Excuse me, everyone?' Essie called out in her soft voice. It didn't carry past one or two tables and the buzz of conversation in the room continued, unabated. Jason found himself wondering, not for the first time, how this woman controlled a classroom of boisterous children every day. Curious about her "announcement", Jason stepped forward.
"Gentlemen!" he said loudly, the ring of authority in his voice. Then, he lowered his voice to add, "...and ladies." He was rewarded with immediate silence-and the attention of the room. "Miss Essie has something she would like to say." Jason turned to her and indicated the small crowd with a wave of his hand. "Miss Essie?"
"Thank you, Jason." She cleared her throat. "Actually, I just came to make an announcement. The church committee is planning a special Christmas program for this year and we hope to have a much larger choir than what we have now." She folded her hands in front of her and her voice became a bit firmer. "We would especially like to have some men's voices. I would like to invite anyone who is interested to come and join us. Rehearsals will be on Sunday evenings at 6 o'clock. We thought this would be the most convenient time for the men as many of you are only in town on the weekends and you probably want...well, have plans for Saturday nights."
Jason, still standing beside Miss Essie, looked down at the floor quickly to hide his smile at her words. He doubted very much that she was going to get any male volunteers for her choir but she was certainly removing as many excuses as possible.
Essie continued. "We would also like to have some more alto voices. Many of the women are blessed with beautiful soprano voices and we have one or two ladies," Essie glanced pointedly at Candy, who smiled and nodded in appreciation, "who must carry the whole alto section by themselves."
Some of the diners, probably the ones who had no idea what an "alto" was, had begun to return to their meals and Jason could tell that Essie had noticed this. "Well, anyway, thank you for your time." she finished in a breathless rush. She sat down at last and Jason, Swede and Jeremy followed suit.
"You were wonderful, Miss Essie." Candy told her reassuringly. "I'm sure we'll have lots of new choir members!" Candy looked pointedly at Jeremy for a moment and he returned her gaze. Jason watched them silently communicate with just their eyes for a moment, then Candy looked away with an obvious sigh. So, Jason decided, Jeremy did win once in a while. He hadn't been sure.
"Oh my goodness, yes." Biddie chimed in. "Why, if I didn't already sing in the choir, I'd join right this minute!"
Everyone at the table laughed, although Jason didn't think any of them quite knew why. Lottie came to their table with some coffee. "Here we are!" she called out cheerfully in a sing-song voice.
"Hey Lottie!" called out someone at a nearby table. "You tryin' out for the choir?"
"Only if you are, Harve!" she retorted. There was scattered laughter around them.
"Why, Lottie," said Biddie, not understanding, "I didn't know you sang!"
"Oh, Honey, I don't!" Lottie told her as she began filling the coffee cups at the table. "I can't carry a tune in a bucket!"
Everyone laughed again...until Jason heard Jeremy's voice. "That's not true." Jeremy said quietly from his place at the table. "Lottie has a beautiful singing voice."
Several people glanced at him in surprise, including Jason. His youngest brother was not usually given to compliments, especially public ones.
"Why, Jeremy," Lottie said as she filled his cup with coffee. "I didn't think you remembered." Her tone was flippant but her expression was pleased.
Jeremy looked up at her and their eyes met. "I remember." he said softly. There was a long silence after that and not a person in the room missed the meaningful look that passed between them. Jason found himself feeling uncomfortable, almost as if he were intruding on something very private. He could see Candy's confusion as well.
After a moment, Lottie patted Jeremy's shoulder and bent down to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered before straightening up and walking away. "Okay, who needs more coffee?" she called out merrily, her voice just a little gruffer than usual.
As she walked to the next table, Jason looked at his younger brother. Jeremy was staring down at the table at that moment, obviously lost in thought...or memories. Jason had no idea what that last exchange had been about and he made a mental note to ask his brother about it later. He glanced up to look for Lottie and saw her disappearing into the back, probably to get more coffee. Maybe he should offer some help...and get the story from her at the same time. Jeremy could get pretty tight-lipped sometimes, especially when someone else's business was involved.
Jason excused himself from the table and walked back toward Lottie's kitchen. Instead of refilling the coffee pot, though, she was standing at the window, staring out. She seemed so lost in thought that Jason hesitated briefly before he interrupted her.
"Lottie?"
"Hello, Jason." She wasn't looking at him.
He smiled and took a step closer. "How'd you know it was me?"
Lottie smiled. "Who else would it have been? You've been watching me all afternoon." Her voice was gruff but affectionate. Then, she finally turned and Jason was dismayed to see tears in her eyes.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Jason." She said. "You go on back. I'll be out in a minute."
"Do you need anything?" He couldn't just walk away when she was like this. Lottie was...well, family. He thought about what had happened a few minutes before. "Do you...want to talk to Jeremy?"
"Nice try," Lottie said in an amused voice. "But no, I'm fine. Please, Jason, I just need a few minutes."
"Allright." Jason started for the door and looked back. Lottie had returned to the window and was just looking out as she had been before. He tried one more time. "You look like you're a thousand miles away," he said.
Lottie shook her head. "No, not a thousand miles," she said, her voice low and soft. She waited until Jason had finally left before adding in a whisper, "...only about fifteen years..."
Carlotta Hatfield placed the last clean glass on the shelf behind the bar and looked around to make sure she hadn't missed anything. It had been another late night and business had been good. She smiled to herself. She had made a good choice in moving to Seattle to make her fresh start. Her saloon had only been in operation for six months but already she was making nearly enough to live on. It was nice to be in charge of her own place again after losing the one she'd had in San Francisco. After that had come two more years of working for others again in bleak, tawdry dancehalls and rundown saloons filled with smoke and hopelessness. She had saved every penny she could but soon realized that she would never be able to afford to replace what she had lost...San Francisco was just too big and there was no competing with all the new, well-financed establishments crowding into the city. Then she had heard about a small town just starting out in the Northwest-Seattle, the man had called it. A logging town, filled with hard-working, hard-living men with adventurous spirits—like hers. Before she had really even thought about it, she found herself starting a new life in a new place. Seattle. A good, strong-sounding name for a place of new beginnings.
Lottie moved around the room, wiping off an occasional table, brushing a bit of dust off the windowsill. The place was clean and ready for business tomorrow, but still she tarried. It was so much easier to keep busy than to try to sleep and find herself lying there in the dark, struggling with memories she'd just as soon keep buried. One in particular was the most difficult-much more difficult than losing her business had been. She felt the tears well up as she found herself remembering a day two years before the fire that would haunt her until the day she died. With her husband Jack in jail (ex-husband now, she reminded herself), Lottie had been faced with supporting their young daughter on her own. But when the only jobs she could find were in saloons and dancehalls, she had been grateful for her sister's offer to keep Katherine until she could find something better. She remembered how excited she had been that she had finally scraped up enough money to start a small business of her own and for her daughter to come and live with her in the tiny house she had rented. But it had been so long since she'd seen Katherine. She hadn't realized, perhaps, how long-until that fateful visit. Lottie had thought to surprise everyone and had come to visit unannounced. She had been so excited when Katherine herself had opened the door. Katherine had been excited too. "Mommy, come quick!" she had squealed, running back inside the house. "Aunt Lottie's here!"
Aunt Lottie. She turned away from the lamp that she had just dusted for the third time. Enough of this, she told herself. This kind of melancholy thinking will get me nowhere! I just have to move on with my life, that's all. And I have. I found a nice, growing town to settle in. I've got my own place, just like I've always wanted. Katherine is taken care of...she has everything I want for her, including a family to love her. Just let it go. Let her go. It sounded so simple, even to her.
But it was hard. She was so lonely. Oh, she was making a few friends. There were some nice people in this little town of barely 100 residents-most of them men. There were a few loggers from some local operations and the mill workers from the sawmill on the edge of town. There were also three or four farming families and a few merchants. Most everyone treated her well...although some of the women threw sidelong glances at her when she happened to meet them in the street. She was used to that, though. She knew what so-called respectable women thought of women like her but she had learned long ago not to let it bother her...much. Besides, this was a man's town-and Lottie knew how to handle men. All she wanted to do was to make a go of her saloon and restaurant—to be her own boss again. And perhaps, in doing so, to leave behind some of the pain.
Yes, she thought again as she blew out the last lamp before heading for her room, Seattle had been a good choice. Just then, she heard a knock at the front door of the saloon. Lottie glanced at the clock, frowning slightly. Who would be here at one in the morning when tomorrow was a workday?
More curious than nervous she relit the lamp, walked to the window, and peered out onto the porch. All she could make out were two small boys she thought she might have seen before but couldn't quite place. They seemed to be standing behind someone.
It seemed safe. Lottie went to the door and opened it a crack. "Yes?"
"Pardon me, Miss Hatfield. I am sorry to come to your door at such a late hour."
Lottie recognized the man's voice even before she placed his face; The trace of Scottish brogue and formal manner of speech were hard to miss. "Come in, Mr. Bolt."
Jonathan Bolt stepped into the room, then glanced behind him and waved the two boys forward. By now Lottie could see them more clearly and knew them to be Jonathan's two youngest sons. The Bolt family had moved into town only a short time ago so she didn't know them well but Jonathan Bolt was well-regarded by the locals as an educated and hard-working man. She knew that he and his wife had three sons and she remembered someone mentioning that the wife was sick. She thought that might be why they had moved from their home on nearby Bridal Veil Mountain which Jonathan and his wife had apparently owned for many years. Lottie gave the boys a friendly smile which the taller, blond one returned. The younger boy retreated behind his father's legs, watching her.
Jonathan continued, "You may have heard that my wife is quite ill."
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"Thank you. She..." He hesitated for a moment, looking down at his boys. "She has taken a turn for the worse tonight. My oldest son is with her now."
Lottie wondered where this was going. Perhaps Jonathan knew that she had some limited nursing skills. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she offered. "Does your wife need care?"
The man seemed quite uncomfortable. "My son and I can see to her care but we could use your help, Miss Hatfield. It might be best if... the younger ones were away tonight."
Lottie could see that this was a man who did not find it easy to ask for anything and it took a moment to realize what he was saying. Could it be that his wife was that ill? Was that why he had taken his children out of their beds so late at night?
"You mean you want me to watch your sons for you." It was not a question.
He nodded. She noticed for the first time how exhausted the man looked. Perhaps that was affecting his judgement. Why had he come here...to her, of all people? She was a saloonkeeper, for goodness' sake. And they hardly knew each other. On his rare visits to her place for a glass of beer, she and Jonathan Bolt had probably not exchanged more than 20 words. Yet here he was.
He seemed to read her thoughts. "I realize how unusual this must seem to you. I did not realize that my wife was..." his voice trailed off as he glanced down at the son who had smiled at Lottie earlier. The boy met his gaze. Lottie couldn't see the other child at all-he had completely disappeared behind his father. Jonathan looked at Lottie again. "When I stepped outside our cabin for a few moments, I saw your lights still on. I don't know you well, Miss Hatfield, but you seem to me to be a kind and honest woman. I thought perhaps my sons could stay here for a little while tonight. They really shouldn't be at the cabin now. They won't be any trouble...they'll do whatever you tell them. They're good boys."
Lottie could hear the quiet desperation in his voice. She was also gratified by his appraisal of her character-and his honesty. She nodded. "I'm sure they are, Mr. Bolt." Lottie usually referred to most of the men in town by their first names but somehow it didn't seem appropriate with this one. He seemed so much more...dignified than the others-except perhaps George Stempel. And of course she would help him. That was just the way of things, neighbors helping neighbors, especially out here in the virtual wilderness. "I'd be happy to let the boys stay here. I think I've got an extra mattress in the..."
He shook his head. "They'll be fine with just a blanket and a place to lay their heads. There's no need to be makin' up any beds for them."
"Oh." She looked again at the taller boy who gazed back at her calmly with pale blue eyes that seemed much older than he was. "I'm Lottie." She told him. "What's your name?"
"Joshua." He said quietly. Then he held out his hand to her and she realized with some slight amusement that he expected her to shake it. Solemnly, she did so.
Jonathan reached behind him, took the smaller boy's arm, and gently dragged him forward. "This is Jeremy." He told her.
She bent down and smiled again. "Hello, Jeremy."
His eyes, peering at her from behind the too-long, brown hair falling over them, were a brighter blue than his brother's—and big as saucers as he stared at her.
"Jeremy." His father said in a stern voice. "Miss Hatfield is talking to you. You will honor her with a reply."
Jeremy swallowed hard, then said "hello" so softly that she could barely hear him.
"He's shy." Joshua told her.
"Is that so?" Lottie was still smiling. "Hello, Jeremy. It's nice to meet you." She was rewarded with a hesitant smile.
Jonathan cleared his throat. "My family and I thank you for your help." He said formally. "I'll be gettin' back to my wife now." He turned to his sons. "You will do whatever Miss Hatfield asks, is that clear?"
They both nodded. Jonathan reached out and placed a hand on each child's head, tousling their hair. "Allright, my boys. I'll see you in the morning. Joshua, take care of your brother." Then, with a heavy sigh, he turned and left.
Lottie and her two young charges stood in the center of the floor looking at each other. Once their father was gone, Jeremy inched his way over to his brother until he was standing right next to him. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her, either. Lottie had a feeling the older one, with his solemn manner and wise expression, knew something of what was going on but surely not the youngest boy. Why, he had to be even younger than her own Katherine—certainly much too young to be saying goodbye to his mother. Her heart felt near to breaking as she watched the two children. What could she do for them, she wondered?
Joshua made it easy for her. "Should we go to bed now, Ma'am?" He paused. "I think my brother is tired."
"Uh, yes." Lottie said, smiling at little at his attempt at subterfuge. She knew both boys had to be sleepy. She thought a moment about where to put them. Even though Jonathan Bolt had told her they could sleep on the floor, she didn't feel right about putting them there. Someday soon she hoped to have all the rooms upstairs fixed up for paying guests but there was no furniture there now. It had taken every cent of her savings and a loan from her sister's husband just to put a down payment on this building; She'd be making payments to George Stempel for many years to pay it off. All she had right now was her own bed and the chaise in her bedroom. Well, she'd give them the bed, she decided. The poor things looked exhausted standing there! And no wonder-they had probably been sound asleep in their own beds before their father had taken them out on such a cold, rainy night.
"C'mon, boys. I have the perfect place for you. And once you're settled, I think I'll make us all some hot cocoa. How does that sound?"
Both boys' eyes widened at her suggestion. Chocolate was hard to come by out here and she wondered briefly if they had ever tasted it before. Well, no matter. She had little experience with children, especially little boys, but she'd never known one to turn down sweets of any kind. Besides, she told herself, they were just little men. And, as she had just been reminding herself, she knew how to handle men.
Lottie showed the boys where they were to sleep and went to the kitchen to light a fire in the stove and put some milk on to heat. When she returned to her room, she found both boys sitting up in her bed with the covers drawn up. They had undressed to their longjohns and their clothes were neatly folded and placed at the foot of the bed. She sat down on the chaise across from them.
"Well, boys, the cocoa will be ready soon. What would you like to do while we wait?"
"Whatever you would like, Ma'am." Joshua said politely.
Lottie knew that Katherine loved to be read to. But the one or two children's books she had kept with her were packed away somewhere on the second floor. "Shall I tell you a story?"
"Oh, yes Ma'am!" Joshua answered. Even Jeremy nodded.
Lottie closed her eyes for a moment, conjuring up images she thought would interest a little boy. Truth be told, she loved storytelling and she found herself welcoming the opportunity. Finally opening her eyes again, she looked into the two eager young faces and launched into her tale. She began with a logger and a tall tree, then wove in a grizzly bear, a rattlesnake, ten Indians, and a bald eagle. She found herself getting so carried away she almost forgot about the milk heating on the stove.
"And they all sat down together for a big feast!" she finished. "I'll be right back, boys." Lottie was delighted by their twin looks of disappointment as she hurried off.
*****
Lottie sat up suddenly and looked around the dark room, straining to see. What had awakened her, she wondered? She reached for the clock on the table nearby and squinted to see the numbers. It was nearly three in the morning.
There it was again—the sound that had woken her up. It was very quiet but it was coming from her bed on the other side of the room. Wrapping her chemise more tightly around her, Lottie got up and lit the lamp on the table. Then she walked over to check on the boys. Joshua was lying with his back to her and had one arm over his brother. Jeremy was on his stomach with his face buried in the pillow, his small body shaking with sobs.
"Are you all right, Honey?" Lottie sat down gingerly on the other side of the bed and reached for Jeremy's shoulder. Joshua looked up at her, his arm still around his brother, but he said nothing. Jeremy buried his face deeper in the pillow but his quiet sobs suddenly ceased.
Lottie tried again. "Jeremy, what's wrong? Do you miss your...home?" She had almost said mama.
"He's okay." Joshua said suddenly. He seemed embarrassed for his brother.
"Is there something I can do?" Lottie asked. She had thought she was talking to Joshua at that moment but the answer came from a different direction.
"No, thank you." said a muffled voice.
Perhaps she should let him be, Lottie thought to herself. Any fool could see what was wrong; The boy was homesick and lonely for his mother. There really wasn't much she could do. But Lottie was a mother too, and she couldn't sit by and watch this little boy suffer without doing anything.
"Come here, Jeremy." She reached for his shoulders and he had no choice but to sit up. Then he sat looking at her, his face streaked with tears. She gathered him into her arms and was surprised when he didn't fight her. With Jeremy in her lap, she looked over his head at his brother. "What does your mother do when you boys need comforting? Does she tell you stories?"
"Sometimes she sings to us." Joshua said quietly.
Lottie nodded to herself. She had sung to Katherine...many years ago when her daughter was still a baby. What were the words to those lullabies? She struggled to remember them. Finally, softly, she began to sing. She wasn't sure she was in tune, she wasn't even sure any of the words made sense. All she knew at that moment was that two little boys needed her and she wasn't going to let them down.
Gradually, as she sang, she felt Jeremy's body relax in her arms, his head resting against her shoulder. It felt so good to be holding a child again. Joshua had laid back down and looked about to drift off. Lottie gave Jeremy a little hug, then gently put him back on the bed and drew the covers up over him. He wasn't yet asleep but he was close. Still, he was watching her again with that intent gaze of his.
"Goodnight, Jeremy." Lottie whispered.
"Goodnight, Miss Hatfield." Jeremy said. Then he smiled at her...not the reticent smile from before but a genuine, little boy smile that nearly broke her heart yet again. "I liked your singing."
She smiled back. "Call me Lottie."
"Okay." he said, closing his eyes at last. "Goodnight, Miss Lottie."
*****
Lottie and the two boys were finishing breakfast early the next morning when the knock came at the door. Filled with a sense of dread, she went to open it-and found herself face-to-face with Jonathan's oldest son. This one she recognized right away; He was tall and dark-haired and he looked so much like his father. What was his name? She remembered all their names started with "J"...
"Good morning, Miss Hatfield." The young man greeted her solemnly. "I'm Jason Bolt."
"Good morning." She searched his face briefly for some idea of what was happening but his expression was carefully composed. Lottie stepped back from the door. "Come in. The boys are having their breakfast in the back."
"Thank you for that." He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
Lottie decided to be direct with him. She glanced behind her to make sure the children had not followed her out, then asked, "How...is your mother?"
"She's gone." The young man's handsome features betrayed very little of what he must be feeling but she detected just a hint of a tremor in his voice. "I've come for my brothers. They need to say good-bye before we..." He hesitated, then apparently decided not to finish his thought. "I hope they haven't been too much trouble for you."
How dignified he was, Lottie thought, even in the face of such tragedy. She knew he couldn't be more than 17 or 18 but he had the manner of a much older man.
"They were no trouble." She said kindly. "I was glad to do it. I'll go get them for you."
She went to get the boys and helped them put on their coats. As she led them into the main room, she looked for Jason. He was standing at the front window, his back to her. Lottie's practiced eye didn't miss how rigidly he held himself. The young man was holding onto a lot of pain.
"Jason! Jason!" Joshua and Jeremy ran to their older brother and he turned around and knelt down to greet them. Almost as a father would, Lottie noted.
"How's mother?" Joshua asked after he had given his brother a hug.
Jason glanced at Lottie before replying. "We'll talk about that outside. You've got your coats on already? Good. Let's go." He stood up. "Thank you again, Miss Hatfield. The Bolt family won't forget your kindness."
"Thank you." Joshua echoed.
Both brothers looked at Jeremy expectantly. He ducked his head a bit, peeking at her again from underneath his bangs. Here in the light of day, Lottie could see, his shyness had returned.
"Thank you." He said very quietly. "Good-bye."
Jason had one little brother on either side of him, an arm around each one as they headed out into the street. Lottie watched them go with a heavy heart, knowing this would be one of the longest walks they would ever take together.
"Lottie?"
This time it was Jeremy's voice breaking her out of her reverie. She turned to see him standing in the kitchen doorway, an expression of concern in his eyes. "What is it, Jeremy?"
"Jason said...well, he told me to come in here and check on you."
"Did he?" Lottie turned her face away from him for just a moment to dab the tears from her eyes with the potholder in her hand. Then she faced him again. "Well, I'm fine. I told him that and I'm telling you the same thing." She made a gesture meant to shoo him away. "Now get out of my kitchen and let me get back to work."
Jeremy didn't move but kept on looking at her. He looked like he was going to say something else but Lottie wasn't sure she wanted him to.
"Jeremy, I said I'm fine."
"I know. But I just wanted to be sure."
Lottie turned to the stove and began pouring hot coffee into the serving pot.
"Lottie?"
"Yes, Jeremy." It was hard to keep the exasperation out of her voice.
"I was trying to remember if I ever said thank you. For that night, I mean." He paused for a moment before going on. "If I didn't, I'm sayin' it now."
She felt fresh tears sting her eyes and tried vainly to stop them before he could see them. Who would have thought that a few simple words from a young man who had become like a son to her could affect her this way? What was it Jason had said that morning all those years ago? The Bolt family won't forget your kindness. And she had to admit, they had kept that promise. Oh, you sentimental fool, she told herself, this won't do at all! You won't get any work done the rest of the day if this keeps up.
"Well, you did say it." she told Jeremy when she could trust herself to speak. "But, you're welcome." She finally looked at him, seeing once again the shy but now-familiar smile and the trusting blue eyes filled with affection-for her. His bangs were still too long (even after all these years), and always managed to remind her of that little boy standing in the middle of her saloon, hiding behind his father's legs. She resisted the impulse to walk right over there and hug him-by handing him a stack of cups and saucers from the counter instead. "And, if you want to return the favor, you can help me carry these out there." She indicated the dining room with a motion of her head.
"Yes, Ma'am." Jeremy said, openly grinning now as he took the stack from her and turned to go. He looked back, a mischievous expression on his face. "Should I tell Miss Essie to expect you at choir practice tonight?" He ducked expertly to avoid being hit in the face by the potholder she tossed at him.
"No one wants to listen to my old bullfrog voice, Jeremy Bolt." Lottie said sternly.
His expression grew serious. "Lottie, we would all be proud of you."
"Get out of here, Jeremy, or the coffeepot is next!"
Jeremy laughed and disappeared. Lottie watched him go. "And I'm so proud of all of you." she whispered to no one in particular. She had a feeling, as she glanced up toward heaven, that she wasn't the only one.
*****
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