Clara floundered for a way to explain that although she’d said the words, she’d meant them for herself, not the girls.
Blue leaned back on his heels. “And now you want to help?”
More nodding.
“That’s a very noble thing. Let’s see.” He looked around the room.
Clara did, too. It might be good if the girls had something to do that made them feel useful, but what on earth could two little girls do that wouldn’t put them underfoot?
“Well, you could always make sure there are three pieces of firewood by the stove. You could keep the stack by the door neat. When I’m not sawing, you could clean up the sawdust and put it in that coal pail.” He pointed. “And I think you could keep those buckets full of snow. I melt it for my water. You think that’s enough?”
“Yes,” they chorused and sprang into action, grabbing the buckets and heading outdoors to find snow. There was plenty from a previous snowfall along the north side of the church and in the trees.
Clara waited until the door closed behind them. “Thank you. That’s most generous of you to give them useful tasks.”
He picked up a board and carried it to the sawhorse. “Children should feel useful and appreciated.”
“I certainly agree. Even if they’re girls.”
He put the board down and stared at her. “What difference does it make if they are boys or girls? Each child can contribute something.”
Not wanting to meet his gaze, she stared at the board between them. “Some people don’t value girls the same way.”
“Well, that’s just plumb foolish.”
She wondered if he truly believed it or only thought he did. “You said you had two children. Were they girls?”
“One of each.” His answer was curt, and she glanced at him. His eyes had grown cold and distant.
“Did you treat your daughter as you did your son?”
He grabbed the tape measure. “I have no idea what you mean. Here, let’s measure this.”
She took the end of the tape and held it where he pointed. She understood his reluctance to talk about his losses and would not press him even though she was a bit curious. But that was all. What events had shaped his life mattered little to her. Just as her life mattered little to him. They’d been thrown together by accident, and only temporarily. Not that she wasn’t grateful for a warm place to sleep, good food to eat and a job that allowed her to earn her own way.
He tossed aside the tape measure as if it had offended him. Then he grabbed it and stuffed it in his pocket. “Would you like to see how the pews are going to look?”
“I’d love to. You know, I never considered the workmanship that goes into furniture making.” She ran her hand along the smooth finish of a piece of wood ready to assemble. “But it’s kind of fun.”
He nodded, his eyes again alive with feelings. “Wait until you see the finished product. You’ll be amazed at how much pride it gives you to know you had a part in making it.” He stood up a piece of wood cut in an angled L shape. “Hold this.”
She did so as he stood up a matching piece. The girls skidded in at that moment, snow dusting their coats, their faces rosy from being outside.
“Who’d like to help put the pew together?” Blue asked.
“Me,” the girls cried in unison and shed their coats.
“Hang them up,” Clara reminded them.
They did so, then hurried to Blue’s side. He showed them how to hold the other upright and picked up another piece. “This will be the seat.” As he worked, he explained everything he did.
He screwed the seat into place. Clara helped him with the back and let herself glow with pride to realize he would have struggled to do it on his own.
“There is our first pew.” He stood back, hands on his hips, grinning. “Who wants to try it out?”
The girls didn’t need any more invitation. They sat down and folded their hands primly as if attending a service.
“It’s very nice,” Eleanor said.
Libby ran her hands along the seat. “It’s so smooth. Just like Mama’s—”
“Libby!” Clara could not let her again mention her smooth skin. She’d already been embarrassed enough.
Blue chuckled.
Clara remembered what Bonnie had said about him. That she’d never heard him laugh. Seems her girls had restored his ability.
She sneaked a glance at him. Did he appreciate it or resent it? She couldn’t tell from his expression.
“You and Mama should try it out, too,” Eleanor said.
Clara hesitated. She didn’t care to sit next to the man on a church pew. She tried to assess her feelings. They’d bent over the same piece of wood, he’d guided her hand when she tried to plane the wood that now made up the seat of the pew, she’d walked across the yard with him. Why would sitting side by side on the pew make any difference?
It didn’t.
Aware the girls watched her curiously, she sat down next to them.
Blue faced them. He eyed the spot beside her.
She almost laughed at the wary expression on his face. So she wasn’t the only one who found this a bit awkward.
“Mr. Blue,” Libby said. “It’s a nice bench.”
“I’m sure it will hold all of us.” Eleanor paused. “Won’t it?”
“Of course it will. I made it strong.” He took the two steps that brought him to them and sat down, perching as if ready to run for the hills at any moment.
The idea so amused her that she couldn’t contain a chuckle. She tried to cover it with a cough.
He turned and regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Are you laughing at me?”
She nodded. “But no more than at myself. I was just as leery about sitting here, though I have no idea why.”
He sucked in air and slowly relaxed until he sat against the back of the pew. “Nor do I.” He shifted a little. “The pew is quite comfortable.”
“Yes, it is.”
The girls got down and hurried over to the sawdust with broom and dustpan.
Blue and Clara remained on the pew. For a pair so reluctant to sit they showed no sign of being in a hurry to get up.
Clara told herself it was simply that it felt good to rest for a few minutes. When was the last time she felt so relaxed? She tried to think. Certainly not since she’d left her father’s house. Not while she was living there, either. Maybe when she’d lived in the house Rolland had provided. Her own little domain. Would she ever have such a thing again?
Blue shifted to glance at her. “That was a mighty big sigh.”
“I didn’t even realize I sighed.”
He continued to study her.
She met his eyes and saw the questions and uncertainty there. Likely he hoped she would explain what she was doing in Edendale. But she dared not. She suspected that if Father showed up, Blue would feel it his duty to turn her and the girls over to his authority.
She sprang to her feet and hurried to the piece of wood on the sawhorses. “I’ll help you measure this.”
He pulled the tape measure from his pocket and handed her one end.
She ducked her head and concentrated on the task, giving it far more attention than it required.
For