Rhonda Gibson - Groom by Arrangement

She sighed and told Peter, “Go get your lunch pail, and I’ll put an afternoon treat in it for you and Jackson while you eat lunch.” If Jackson wanted the little boy, too, they were going to have a problem because Eliza knew she would never give Peter up.

* * *

Over the next couple of days, Jackson fell into a routine with Eliza and Peter. He arrived at the shop early and Peter came in a little later. Eliza picked the boy up each day around noon and returned him midafternoon. Jackson made sure Peter went straight back to Eliza after work.

“Pa, Ma says you should come for supper tonight. She’s making chicken potpie. I think that sounds good, don’t you?”

Jackson smiled down at the boy. “Sure do.”

He and Eliza hadn’t spent time together since she’d taken over the Tuckers’ house, and he found that he was looking forward to having dinner with her and the boy. Jackson handed Peter a small bucket. “See that box over there?” he asked Peter.

“Yes, Pa.”

“Your job this afternoon is to fill it with coal. Do you think you can do that?” He ruffled the boy’s hair, something he’d gotten into the habit of doing.

Peter nodded. He didn’t look nearly as cheerful as he had when he’d come back from lunch. Jackson suspected that the newness of working in the smithy had worn off for the little boy.

Bart Hamilton came into the shop. He was a small man with a big nose. “Afternoon, Jackson.” His wife, Judith, had him doing repairs to their house. He’d already been in once for a bag of nails.

Jackson answered, “Afternoon, Bart.”

“Do you have another sack of nails I can buy? Judith’s nagging me about putting shutters on her windows. You’d think the woman was rich or something.” He chuckled.

Jackson walked over to a shelf and pulled down a sack of nails. He’d made up several bags over the past couple of days and was glad to see these sell. “Sure do. How’s the family?”

Bart dug in his pocket to pay for the nails. “Doing good, although Judith seems to think Millie’s coming down with something. The girl hasn’t had much of an appetite the last few days.”

He took the money. “Millie took care of Mrs. Kelly’s shop before it burned, didn’t she?” Jackson asked, trying to put people and names together. He felt sure Eliza had called the girl Millie.

“Yes, it’s a shame about her house. I’m thankful Millie wasn’t there when it happened.” Bart shook his head. “Judith says if she hadn’t changed her mind about letting her spend the night, she might have been.”

Jackson had to agree; things might have turned out much worse. “Well, I hope she gets to feeling better soon.”

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