A Time to Heal(35)

Matthew came into the barn to see how he was doing and to tell him dinner was ready. He appeared relieved to hear that the engine still had a lot of life in it. As they left the barn, Chris saw Hannah hanging laundry on the clothesline.

"Oh, you're doing the laundry," Matthew said as they stopped where she stood pinning up one of Annie's dresses.

"Some people would thank me for my help," she told him with some asperity as she bent down to pluck a pair of Joshua's pants from the basket of wet clothes.

"That means Jenny's doing the cooking."

Hannah stared at him, poker faced. Then she covered her mouth with her hand, but she couldn't stop the giggles.

"Oh, this is so wrong," she said. "We shouldn't poke fun at her. She tries so hard!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Chris saw someone approaching.Jenny. Should he tell them any second she'd hear them joking about her cooking?

Remembering how Hannah had behaved the last time he'd seen her, he decided to stay silent. He felt a little guilty that Matthew would take some heat. The guy had been good to him, especially after finding him in the loft with his sister. But it couldn't be helped.

"So, what's so funny?" Jenny asked brightly and Hannah jumped and spun around.

"Oh, nothing really."

"But you both were laughing so hard."

She looked from Hannah to Matthew and back again.

"Did you come out to tell us dinner is ready?" Matthew asked her.

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You were talking about my cooking, weren't you?" She swatted him with the dish towel she carried in her hands.

"Oh, now why would we do that?" he said quickly, a little too quickly, for she looked even more suspicious.

Jenny turned to Chris. "That's what they were doing, right, Chris?"

He hadn't expected this. "Er, uh, now why would they do that?"

"Because my cooking's still not very good," she said honestly."Now tell the truth. That's what they were doing."

"I—" He held out his hands and shrugged.

"Did I tell you that I'm the farm's bookkeeper?" she asked, giving him a sweet smile. "I sign the paychecks."

"You sign my paycheck?"

She folded her arms across her chest. "Yes."

"Sorry, I'm giving you up for that," Chris told Hannah and grinned when she glared at him. "Yes, Jenny, they were making fun of your cooking."

"I think you should have an extra slice of pie for dessert," Jenny told him.

"Pie?"

"Shoofly pie."

When he hesitated, she frowned. "Phoebe made it."

"Oh, okay."

She tossed the dish towel at him. "You're no better than those two," she complained.

But she was smiling at him, so Chris didn't figure he could be in too much trouble with her.

"Hmmm. Phoebe brought over the pie."

"That she did, dear husband."

"I still get a piece of it, don't I?"

Chris saw Jenny's lips twitch.

"I'll need some convincing," she told him, giving him a smile.

Chris exchanged a look with Hannah.

"See you inside," she said and she slanted her head in the direction of the house.

Chris nodded, showing he understood the silent message.Chris and Hannah walked to the front of the house and climbed the porch steps. He opened the door for her.

As he followed her inside, he turned and wondered where Matthew and Jenny were, then he saw them silhouetted behind a bed sheet. It was obvious they were kissing.

"Newlyweds," Hannah said with a smile.





The explosion caught them unaware as they sat at the table eating.

Matthew jumped up and looked out the kitchen window."The barn's on fire! Jenny, go to the shed and call 911."

Chris shot out of his seat and followed Matthew out the door. Flames were licking up one side of the wooden barn.Before they got to the barn door, Eli came staggering out, waving his arms wildly, his shirt on fire.

Acting on instinct, Chris ran and tackled him, throwing him to the ground and using his hands to put out the flames.Groaning in pain, the man stared up at Chris, his eyes wide and terrified, his face blackened by the explosion.

"What happened?" he croaked.

"Lie still, help's on the way."

The shirt had burned off Eli and his skin was peeling, blistering, a burning bright red mass on his chest and arms.

"Are you okay?"

"Ya," he said. "I think so." He struggled to sit up. "I need to help."

Chris pushed him down, hoping he didn't hurt him further."You stay here."

Hannah raced over and dropped to her knees beside him."No, don't get up. Jenny's called for help."

"Got to—got to help them put out the fire," Eli gasped.