“Were they slaves?”
“No, but both sets of parents were until Trent’s grandfather died. Mrs. Quincy was from the North and the first thing she did was to free all the slaves and give them land if they wanted to stay. Some left, but most of them are still around here, working their farms.”
“So, did Solomon’s family have a farm?”
“Yes, but it went to his older brother. Anyway, by that time, Trent had inherited all the Quincy property. He asked Solomon to come manage it for him, so he could concentrate on his medical practice and the school.” She peered at Livvy. “But, let’s get back to the subject at hand.”
A clap of thunder reverberated through the room. Livvy jumped up. Reprieve.
“I’d better get home. I wouldn’t want to get caught in a downpour.”
Halfway home, the rain started. First tiny drops, then, as Mama would say, it was raining like cats and dogs. Livvy grinned. Whatever that meant.
Well, she’d done it. She’d managed a ride without totally disgracing herself. That was good. Because she intended to invite Charles to dinner on Sunday. She’d always made excuses when he suggested going for a ride. But this time, she’d invite him. Wouldn’t he be surprised to see how well she could sit a horse. Perhaps, then, he’d realize she could perfectly well teach the girls to ride. He’d never know that she was quaking inside.
* * *
Rain fell in torrents with thunder and lightning that didn’t appear close to letting up. Charles sighed as he looked out the window at the gloomy afternoon. When the storms had started two days ago, the children’s excitement had tickled him and he also welcomed the rain, but now restlessness had settled over the students and teachers alike. At least mornings and early afternoons kept them busy in class. But even the lamps couldn’t lighten the gloom.
Oh, well, it would stop when it stopped. He returned to the bookcase where he’d been shelving textbooks, and finished lining up the science section. That was it for the day. He’d like to hole up a little longer, but that would hardly be fair to the rest of the staff who were trying to keep the students occupied. After all, the boys usually had their riding lessons this time of day. In fact, all the students were accustomed to outside activities after school, and this was the second day in a row they’d been cooped up inside.
To be honest, the main thing bothering him was that he hadn’t seen Livvy for a few days, since they couldn’t take the kids to midweek services at church.
He headed down the hall to the former ballroom, which had been converted to an auditorium and activities room.
To his surprise, he found Helen and Hannah Wilson, the sign-language teacher, hauling boxes from the large closet at the back of the room. Whatever they were doing, the girls were excited about it, but the boys hung around in small groups, muttering and frowning.
Charles sauntered over to where Jeremiah and two other boys had their heads together.
“What’s going on, fellows?”
All three boys jerked around, guilt on their faces. Jeremiah recovered quickly and threw Charles a cocky grin. “Just trying to think of something to do so we won’t have to work on stupid fall decorations.”
“I heard that, young man.” Helen waltzed over and gave Jeremiah a mock frown, then repeated her words so he could read her lips. “You won’t think it’s stupid when you’re having fun at the Harvest Festival.”
Roger Brumley, a new student, scowled. “But it’s girls’ work.”
Uh-oh. Time to step in before the boys got themselves in trouble. “Helen, do you really need the boys’ help with this project?”
She tapped her foot and gazed at the boys’ hopeful faces. “Oh, if you have another way to keep them busy, we can manage without them.”
“I thought we could head out to the barn and stable and see if Albert has something we can do.”
With wild cheers ringing in his ears, Charles gathered up the younger boys and told them all to get into boots and rain gear.
They trudged across the lawn, wet mud squishing around their boots, and through the muddy barnyard. The smell of damp straw and manure drifted out through the open barn door. Albert was busy polishing a saddle.
“Need some help, Albert?” He walked over to the old man with the boys trailing behind.
Albert’s eyes gleamed. “Ain’t too much work to do today, but we can find something. I’se sure glad for the company.” He glanced toward the back of the barn. “Some of them empty stalls need to be mucked out. Now that the horses are in the stable, I reckon Dr. Trent done say he goin’ to buy some more cows. He keeps it up, we goin’ have us a dairy farm.”