Chapter 27

Ada June slid off her chair so fast Bo had to jump out of her way. This day was turning out better and better. She hadn't had to pack Emmy Lou around for hours or even carry her back to Aunt Dottie's. Miss Mathena was doing that. Her stomach was full, and she had a pocketful of sucking candy.

Now the schoolteacher wanted to go to Elsinore's with her. Elsinore would like that, and maybe the preacher's missus would know what to do for Elsinore's cough. Not that she appeared to know much about that kind of thing, seeing as how she didn't even know how to make cornbread.

But that was all right. She knew how to read and she was going to teach her. Once Preacher Gordon got there, Ada June hadn't had the first bit of trouble talking to his missus the same as she didn't have trouble talking to him anymore. The words came right out without getting choked up in her throat.

Best of all, the teacher made Connor leave her alone after church. She still didn't know how she did that, but she did. That was enough to make Ada June want to hug her.

Then letting her wear her stockings and slippers and combing her hair. The combing yanked enough to bring tears to her eyes, but she hadn't let on.

Now she reluctantly slipped off the schoolteacher's soft shoes and started to peel off the stockings that didn't have even one hole in the toes.

"No, no, Ada June." The preacher's missus held up a hand to stop her. "Those are yours now. Leave the others and I'll wash them for you. But you'll have to put your boots back on. Slippers don't work for outdoors."

Ada June looked at Preacher Gordon to make sure it was all right.

"Whatever Miss Mira says."

When his missus laughed at that, a warm feeling curled up inside Ada June. After she pulled the stockings back up, she peeked over at the schoolteacher. "Thank you, Miss Mira."

When the woman smiled, Ada June knew it would be good to call her that, although she'd still think about her being the schoolteacher.

Preacher Gordon came out on the porch to watch them off like he was scared that his missus would maybe never come back. Like she might get lost in Sourwood. Ada June didn't see how that could happen, but then she remembered about her not knowing how to make cornbread. Same as she could show Miss Mira how to do that, she'd make sure she didn't get lost heading to Elsinore's. It wasn't that far. Just over in the woods a ways.

With Bo alongside her, Ada June stayed in front to lead the way. That let her hide her smile. The schoolteacher might wonder what had her smiling like a possum. She peeked back at Miss Mira to make sure she wasn't walking too fast and was some surprised to see she was smiling too.

Just as well they didn't meet nobody on the path to Elsinore's house. Else folks would wonder about all the grinning. Her ma had smiled a lot. Ada June did remember that about her.

At Elsinore's, she was glad to not hear Selinda crying before they got to the door, like as how she did the last time she came. But then after she opened the door a crack to speak out a hello so Elsinore would know who was coming, she heard the baby whimpering. Somehow that was worse than the squalling.

"Miss Elsinore, you here?"

"Now where else would I be, Ada June?" She sounded cross.

"I brung you company."

"I ain't sure I'm up to no company," Elsinore said. "It ain't that Miss Nicey Jane, is it? I ain't wantin' to hear her preachin' at me."

"It's the preacher's wife. Miss Mira."

"The preacher has him a wife?" Elsinore's voice showed some interest. "Well, bring her on in, seein' as how she's here a'ready."

Ada June pushed the door all the way open and went in. Bo slipped past her and headed for the fireplace. He did love to lay by a fire.

Miss Mira followed them but stopped just inside the door and looked across at Elsinore. She was laying abed like as how she was most of the time whenever Ada June came.

"Miss Elsinore, I'm Mira Dean. I mean Mira Covington. I just got married yesterday and I haven't gotten used to my new name." She looked a mite nervous as she held out the jar of soup. "I brought you some of Miss Effie's soup she gave us at church this morning."

"That's right neighborly of you," Elsinore said. "Miss Effie makes a fine soup."

Miss Mira came on into the room then, but she appeared to still be some hesitant. The cabin was a mess, with ashes spilling out on the hearth and baby Selinda's dirty nappies piled on the floor by the bed. A few clean ones were draped across the line down through the middle of the room. At least the fire was burning. That meant Elsinore had been up to keep it going, unless'n she'd let Horace Perry in the door after all.

She wasn't about to ask if that was so. She took the jar of soup from Miss Mira when she looked like she didn't know what to do with it and put it on the table. A plate of food and a glass of milk looked untouched. The baby was still whimpering.

"What's the matter with Selinda?" Ada June asked.

"I don't have no idee. She just nursed. She never seems happy." Elsinore coughed. "You got any babies, Mrs. Covington?"

"Not yet, but I hope to someday."

"They can be a right smart of trouble. Ain't that right, Ada June?" She didn't wait for Ada June to answer. "Ada June knows from having to take care of that Emmy Lou and sometimes help me see to Selinda."

"What a pretty name," Miss Mira said. "May I hold her?"

"If'n you want." Elsinore waved her hand toward the baby on the bed beside her. "She's fussy, but I just put a new nappy on her afore I laid myself down for a rest."

Miss Mira picked up the baby. "Her little hands and feet feel cold."

"Ain't no wonder. She won't keep on no kivers. Kicks them right off."

"Is there a blanket I can wrap around her?"

Ada June didn't see why Miss Mira didn't just grab up the blanket from right there on the bed. Weren't no need tiptoeing 'round Elsinore. But she reckoned Miss Mira couldn't know that.

"There's that one there I cut out of an old quilt Miss Nicey Jane give me. I didn't aim to be bad mouthin' her earlier. She's a good woman." Elsinore pushed up in the bed and shoved a pillow behind her to lean against the wall. "She just ain't never had to worry 'bout when her husband comes home. Leastways not lately. Last time she was down this way, she did claim as to how once upon a time, Mr. Riley was gone a spell and how she had to carry on takin' care of her young'uns." Elsinore let out a long sigh.

"Oh?"

Miss Mira laid Selinda down on the little blanket to wrap it snug around her. She picked her back up and cuddled her close. The whimpering stopped, which made Ada June feel better. She didn't like babies fretting.

"Like as how she thought I weren't doin' as good, but I do fine by Selinda. All babies fuss some."

"They do." Miss Mira rocked Selinda in her arms.

Elsinore motioned toward a chair. "Sit yoreself down if'n your feet is tired from shanks' maring over this way."

"Shanks' maring?" Miss Mira turned one of the chairs by the table toward the bed and sat down.

"I reckon you ain't mountain, if'n you never heared that before. Means going afoot when a feller don't have a horse." Elsinore peered over at Miss Mira. "Preacher Gordon ain't got him a horse for going, has he?"

"No. I suppose he does that shanks' maring too." Miss Mira held Selinda out in her lap and babbled some nonsense words at her.

Something about babies made folks talk silly. Ada June did the same, but now she kept her mouth closed as she poked at the fire. It was burning fine, but she needed something to do whilst she listened to Elsinore talking things she'd never heard.

She never knew Miss Nicey Jane had that kind of trouble with her man. That was some hard to believe about Mr. Riley. Not that Ada June had been around him much. He always turned the other way whenever she come across him in the holler. 'Course he weren't the only one to do that. Like they was afraid they might have to say howdy to her.

With her back to the women, she poked at the coals under the log to make sparks scatter up the chimney. A body could find out a lot by staying quiet and out of the way.

"You appear to be fond of little ones," Elsinore said.

"I love babies."

"You're apt to have one yore own self afore long."

Ada June looked over her shoulder at Miss Mira, whose face went a little rosy and not from being too close to the fire like Ada June's.

"If the Lord wills it," she said.

"I reckon as how the Lord does send down the babies he intends us having. I'm hopin' for more, soon's Benny gets home."

Ada June wondered if she ought to say something. Could be she should've told Miss Mira about Benny. How everybody but Elsinore figured Benny wouldn't never come home. That poor Benny had stepped over to the other side and the news just hadn't come calling on Elsinore yet.

But Miss Mira kept her eyes on the baby as she murmured, "More like this sweet child would be nice."

Somebody must have done told her about Elsinore's unlikely hopes. Ada June turned back to drop a chunk of wood on the fire. She'd need to bring more in to stack by the fireplace before she left so's Elsinore would have it handy. But right now, she aimed to keep her ears open to see what else she might hear.

Elsinore had a coughing fit. Worse than yesterday. Ada June might ought to go beg Miss Nicey Jane to come see about Elsinore, even if she didn't like the woman preachin' at her. Or maybe Miss Mira would tell Preacher Gordon and they'd figure out what to do.

"That's a bad cough." Miss Mira sounded concerned.

"I can't seem to shake it."

"Maybe you should call in a doctor."

Elsinore spit in her handkerchief and made a sound that was something like a laugh. "Ain't no doctors around these parts. But no need for you to be worrying. I'll get somebody to make me a tonic if'n I ain't better soon. Having Selinda there just pulled me down some." She motioned with her head toward the baby. "But I ain't wishin' different. Benny's gonna love her when he gets here."

When Miss Mira didn't say anything, Elsinore went on like she had to convince herself. "I wouldn't be a bit surprised were he to show up this very night. Same as Mr. Riley did for Miss Nicey Jane them years ago. I've heared he was gone the better part of a year. Most as long as Benny. But he come back. Benny will too. Something's just delayed him some, but he'll come. Selinda needs her pa."

"All children do," Miss Mira said.

Her words stabbed right through Ada June. What about her pa? Nobody ever seemed the first bit worried about that. She didn't want to listen to no more. "I best get in some wood."

Bo followed Ada June out the door to where Horace Perry had stacked up a good pile of split wood. 'Twas a shame Elsinore couldn't turn loose her thinkin' about Benny and let Horace Perry be Selinda's pa. True, he weren't much to look at but appeared he knew how to be caring.

If'n he acted a mite friendlier, Ada June wouldn't mind thinkin' on him as a pa. But she reckoned her pa, whoever he was, hadn't ever thought on being friendly with her. Guess it could be Mr. Horace Perry same as anybody else in Sourwood.