A Place to Belong (13 page)

Melba let out a little gasp. Mrs. Pratka clutched her elbow and propelled her out of the room, saying loudly, “Let’s see if we can lend a hand to Gussie.” But Danny heard her add in a whisper, “We need to talk.”

When they drove Ma and Peg to Katherine’s house, not only Katherine was waiting for them; John Murphy was, too.

“This is a rare coincidence,” he said as he jumped to
his feet and smiled broadly at Ma. “I had just stopped by for a few minutes to discuss with Mrs. Banks a change of feed for her horse.”

Danny saw that Mr. Murphy had scrubbed so hard his skin was still red, and the high collar on his shirt was stiff with starch. Some coincidence! Danny scowled at him and said, “You’re a blacksmith. What would you have to do with feeding Mrs. Banks’s horse?”

“Danny! Don’t be rude!” Ma warned.

But Mr. Murphy extended his smile to include Danny, too. “The lad was not being rude, just curious,” he said. “To answer Danny’s question, I am not just a blacksmith. I have a half interest in the livery stable as well.” Mr. Murphy looked back to Ma. “Which could provide a very comfortable living for a small family.”

Peg asked, “Do you help take care of the horses? Do you let your children ride them?”

“I have no children,” he said, “never having been married.”

Danny wished Mr. Murphy wouldn’t keep staring at Ma. “Ma came to St. Joseph to get married to our father,” he said.

Ma blushed. “
Foster
father,” she said. “And you needn’t explain, Danny. John heard the entire story while we rode together on the train.”

John! Danny had felt warm and comfortable when he had heard Ma call Alfrid by his given name, but he didn’t want her to be friendly to Mr. Murphy, too.

“I have a cat named Whiskers,” Peg said to Mr. Murphy. “I wanted to bring him, but he hid and wouldn’t come.”

“You’ll see him soon, Peg, when you and Ma—” Danny began.

“Here, Peg, let’s take off your coat,” Ma interrupted.

Katherine waved a hand toward the overstuffed chairs and sofa. “Everyone, please sit down,” she said. “Who
would like a cup of coffee or hot apple cider?” She grinned at Peg. “And who’d like to help eat the pan of shortbread I made?”

“Could I have a piece now?” Peg asked.

“Surely. Come and help me put some on a plate—some currant cakes, too. We’ll let you pass them around.”

As Katherine and Peg left the room, Ma removed her hat and coat. Before Danny knew what had happened, Mr. Murphy had steered her to a place next to him on the sofa. Alfrid sat down on a chair across from them.

Something was going wrong with his plan, and Danny didn’t like it at all.

12
 

“P
EG’S WITH HER
mother, and you won’t be needing me,” Melba said to Alfrid when he and Danny returned to the farm that evening. “I’m wanted at home, so I’ll be on my way tomorrow.”

“I thought you’d stay for the wedding,” Alfrid said.

Melba avoided his eyes and said only, “I’ve been away from home too long.”

“It was good of you to help us,” Alfrid said. “I can’t thank you enough,”

For some reason Danny didn’t understand, Melba looked guilty instead of pleased. She smoothed down her skirts and spoke quickly. “I know Gussie’s not much of a cook, but she’ll do until your new wife takes over. In the meantime, if there’s anything you want, just call on Ennie.” Melba gave a long sigh. “Dear Ennie is so good-hearted, she’s already offered to send over some baked goods now and then, and perhaps a roast and a few other things for your dinners.”

“She needn’t go to all that trouble,” Alfrid said. “In fact, I wish she wouldn’t.” Now
he
looked guilty.

“Nonsense,” Melba said. “Ennie truly cares for your welfare, Alfrid. I’m surprised you haven’t seen that.”

Danny couldn’t stand it any longer. He rushed out to the kitchen, where Gussie was preparing to leave. “Ma is supposed to marry my fa—foster father,” he blurted out, “but everybody tries to get in the way! I don’t know what to do.”

Gussie buttoned the last button on her coat and tied a scarf over her hair. “It’s up to your Ma and to Mr. Swenson, not to you.”

“But having them get married was my idea!”

Gussie nodded. “That’s why your ma came out here, so why worry about it?” She opened the back door but turned before she stepped outside. “Just stop your frettin’ about whether they’ll get married or not. There ain’t nothin’ you can do about it.”

Danny just stared at the door after Gussie had closed it behind her. Oh, yes, there was something he could do. He just had to figure out what it was!

Alfrid rode into town to see Ma the next few evenings, but he came home as solemn and serious as when he left, Danny wished he would talk about Ma, but he didn’t.

Gussie reported that just about every day while Danny was at school, Mrs. Pratka brought favorite dishes over to add to the noon meal and stayed to eat and chat with Alfrid.

“About what?” Danny demanded.

Gussie shrugged. “About nothin’ very important. She does most of the talkin’, but the mister’s gettin’ kind of used to her, I think, because now and then he has somethin’ chatty to say hisself.”

Danny groaned. He hurried outside to help Alfrid,
who was shoveling a path through the snow from the house to the barn. “Do you ever see Mr. Murphy, the blacksmith, when you’re in town?” Danny asked him.

Alfrid nodded. “As a matter of fact, I do. He often stops at Mrs. Banks’s home for a short visit.”

“To see Mrs. Banks?” Danny managed to ask.

“To see your mother,” Alfrid said. He handed Danny the shovel. “There isn’t much more to do here. Could you finish this job?” Before Danny could ask him another question, Alfrid went into the barn.

Miss Clark kept Danny after school one afternoon. “Danny, you don’t have your mind on your work,” she said. “I had to call on you twice to recite before you even heard me, then we both discovered you weren’t prepared.”

“I’m sorry,” Danny mumbled. “I’ve had a lot to think about lately.”

Miss Clark leaned her elbows on the desk and rested her chin in her hands. “Yes, you have, Danny. A lot of difficult things have happened to you, but you’ve handled them well. You usually seem to be able to think ahead, to plan for tomorrow. I admire that quality in you.”

“A plan! That’s what I need—a plan!” Danny said aloud.

Miss Clark looked puzzled. “A plan for what?” she asked.

Danny backed toward the door. “It’s just something I have to work out for myself,” he said.

Miss Clark shrugged. “All right, Danny. But don’t forget what I said about keeping your mind on your schoolwork.”

“I won’t,” he answered, and ran out the door and halfway home before he was out of breath.

During the rest of the walk he thought hard about both Mrs. Pratka and Mr. Murphy, trying to remember
everything they had done and said, and an idea began to tickle the back of his mind. Danny laughed aloud as he suddenly knew what to do. Oh, he had a plan, all right. And it would begin with Mr. Murphy!

Danny didn’t waste any time. As soon as he arrived at the farm he went straight to Alfrid and said, “I miss Ma and Peg, and I’d like to see them tonight. Will you take me with you when you go to visit them?”

Alfrid hesitated. “It will be a short visit. Tonight is another meeting, and it’s important that I attend. Ralph Waldo Emerson will be the guest speaker.”

“I’ll go to the meeting with you, too,” Danny said quickly. “You promised that when Mr. Emerson came to speak you’d take me to hear him.” He had no wish to spend any more time than necessary with Mr. Murphy.

“I know I had promised,” Alfrid said, “but tempers are high and I’m not sure it will be safe for you. The meeting hall is in a rough area, and ever since Kansas was granted statehood there have been more rabble-rousers than usual hanging about the streets. Lately they’ve been congregating on the street next to our meeting place, and they try to interrupt the speakers. Maybe it would be better if you stayed with your mother and I picked you up when the meeting is over.”

“I’d really like to hear Mr. Emerson speak. Miss Clark read us a poem Mr. Emerson wrote. I’m not afraid,” Danny insisted. “I’ll be with you,”

Alfrid nodded as he thought. “If there’s any sign of trouble, I suppose we can leave quickly.”

“Then can I go?”

“Yes,” Alfrid finally agreed. “You may go. Just be sure you finish all your schoolwork.”

“I will!” Danny ran into the house, shouted a hello in Gussie’s direction, and dashed into the dining room, flinging off his coat, hat, and scarf as he ran. He rummaged
in the drawer of the sideboard until he found paper and ink, then seated himself at the table to write.

“Things To Be Bought in Town,” he headed the paper. Under this he made a list:

Just to make the list look more official, he added “flour” and “salt.” He folded the paper in thirds, wrote on the back, “Private. Do not read this,” and took it to the kitchen, where Mrs. Pratka would be sure to see it. He knew her curiosity would get the best of her, and she’d read it. She was so sensitive about her cooking, this letter was bound to chase her away.

“Whatcha got there?” Gussie asked him.

“A shopping list,” Danny said. He started to read. “Soda, flour, salt.”

“I think we got plenty of salt,” Gussie said. “You could cross that out.” She thought a moment. “How come you’re puttin’ together a shoppin’ list?”

“I want to be helpful,” Danny said. He held out the paper so she could see the back. “Do you want to read it?”

“Private?” Gussie snickered and rolled her eyes. “No, thanks. I’m not much for readin’, and a
private
shoppin’ list about flour and soda ain’t that interestin’.”

Satisfied, Danny laid the list on a shelf where it could easily be seen. “Leave it right here, then. Promise?”

“Promise,” Gussie said. “Here—take these plates and
put them on the table when you go back to the dining room.”

Danny charged through his arithmetic problems and spelling words and wolfed down his supper. He was so impatient he could hardly stand it until he and Alfrid were in the buggy and off to St. Joseph.

“What has Ma been doing while she’s staying with Mrs. Banks?” Danny asked. “No one’s told me.”

Alfrid’s mouth turned down, and his words were almost bitter. “She’s been cleaning Mrs. Banks’ house and the house of the woman next door to earn money. She insists that what I sent her for train fare was merely a loan, and she’s intent on returning to me every penny.”

“Ma’s like that,” Danny said. “She wouldn’t want you to think she had no pride.”

Alfrid’s brow wrinkled. “Is that why she’s paying me back?”

“I’m sure of it,” Danny said. “If you knew Ma—”

Alfrid interrupted, his voice so low he seemed to be talking to himself. “I don’t know her. I really don’t know her at all.”

“Maybe I could tell you more about her,” Danny offered, although he didn’t know how or where to begin.

But Alfrid shook his head. “Not just now. Let me tell you what to expect at the meeting we’ll be going to tonight. A few days ago the Southern states seceded from the Union and organized a Confederacy with Jefferson Davis as their president. The talk now is that Missouri will go with them.…”

His interest caught, Danny listened intently, forgetting about Ma until he and Alfrid arrived at Katherine Banks’s home.

Ma met Danny at the door with a vigorous hug that lifted him off his feet. “I’ve missed you!” she cried. “How’s my darlin’ boy?”

Danny held his mother tightly, wishing with all his
heart that she’d set a date for the wedding. Then he could enjoy having Ma and Alfrid together and forget all about Mrs. Pratka and Mr. Murphy.

Peg ran to hug Danny, and as he swung her around, he heard Ma say politely, “Good evening, Alfrid.”

Alfrid answered every bit as quietly and formally, “Good evening, Noreen.”

That didn’t sound like Ma. It didn’t sound like Alfrid, either. What was the matter with them?

Danny and Alfrid were no sooner seated in the parlor than a loud knock came at the door. Ma rushed to answer it, and Alfrid stared down at his hands. Danny knew who the visitor was going to be. That was fine with him. There was no time like the present to put his plan into action.

Ma’s footsteps were light as she reentered the parlor, and her face was bright with smiles. “Look who’s here,” she announced. “John Murphy.”

“Ah, and there’s that fine lad, Danny,” Mr. Murphy said. He shook hands with Alfrid first, then Danny, and bent to kiss Peg, who—to Danny’s dismay—flung her arms around his neck in a hug.

“Here’s a little something for you, Noreen,” Mr. Murphy said, and pulled from his pocket a twist of peppermints, handing it to Ma with a flourish. So! Mr. Murphy was bringing Ma little gifts, was he? Danny could easily think of something for Alfrid to bring to Ma. Maybe a flower? But with the snow there were no flowers blooming. Oh well, he’d figure that out later. Now it was time to carry out his plan.