Free B017GCC62O (R) by Michelle Horst Page B

of the window and see Adam and Sophia walking in the direction of the wetlands.
    I walk to the kitchen and quickly have a glass of water, before heading outside. I wander in the direction I last saw Jack heading in. When I reach the river, I wonder where he could be. I stand and listen to the water rushing over the rocks, the sound calming my insides.
    When I turn to leave, I spot movement by the chapel. I walk through the clearing and then see Jack’s head pop up from behind the chapel wall. On my side of the wall, he’s already made a garden. I slowly walk around the chapel and then smile. He has clay pots littering the sides of the chapel, all different sizes. A few have tiny trees in them. Jack is rubbing his one bicep while he stares at the pots.
    “You’ve been busy,” I say softly, not wanting to scare him.
    His head snaps up and he takes a step back.
    I take a step closer and point to the empty pots. “What are you going to do with those?”
    He looks back at them, a perplexed look clouding his features. “I want to fill them with bonsai trees. The shade will be good for them.”
    “Bonsai?” I lift an eyebrow in surprise. “You like bonsai trees?”
    “Yes, Mistress.”
    I sigh heavily and then with all the patience in the world, I say, “River. Say my name, Jack.”
    He frowns and then whispers, “River.”
    I point to the river to the left of us. “Just like that, Jack. You call the water a river and that’s my name too. You won’t call the water mistress so please don’t call me mistress.”
    His green eyes are intense and I know he’s trying to get a read on me.
    “Why don’t you make a list of the bonsai you’d like and the tools you need and I’ll send one of the men to get it for you tomorrow.”
    His mouth drops open and for a moment he’s stunned, but then he frowns again. “I can’t make a list.”
    I take another step closer to him, hoping he’ll get used to being around me. “Why not?”
    For the first time color tinges his cheeks and then he whispers, “I can’t write.”
    For a moment I’m shocked at what Jack just told me, but I recover quickly, not wanting to make him feel self-conscious. “And read?”
    He shakes his head. “No.”
    “Would you like to learn?” I pray he says yes. It’s something I can help him with, something that might help us bond.
    He stares at me intently and then whispers, “I would.”
    “We can start tomorrow but for now you can just tell me what you want and I’ll make the list for you.”
    “Thank you,” the words burst from his lips and for the first time ever he takes a step closer to me out of his own free will. “Thank you for being kind.”
    “It’s only my pleasure, Jack.” Not wanting to push him too much I start to walk away. “I’ll get the list from you over dinner. Don’t stay out here too late.”
    I can feel his eyes follow me for quite some distance. I’m going to win Jack’s trust. I’m going to show him that there is good in this world.
    ~*~
    I’m itching to go see what Jack did with the new supplies Colby and Ian went to get him this morning. I hope they got everything he asked for.
    Last night at dinner I asked Jack if he would meet me in the kitchen an hour before dinner. I know Miss Ella and Sophia will be busy cooking then. I’m hoping that their presence will help make him feel safe while I teach him to write and read.
    I’ve just poured two glasses of lemonade when Jack comes in. He’s filthy from head to toe and I can’t help but laugh. He looks like a little boy who’s been playing in the dirt all day long. “Go shower and then meet me here, Jack.”
    I’ve printed a list of flowers from the internet. I place the sheet and some paper, and a pen on the corner of the table Miss Ella said we can use.
    When Jack comes back his dark hair is shining and all the traces of dirt have been washed away. “Come sit next to me, Jack.”
    He takes a seat but moves it a few inches away from me.
    I place the