Free Paradise Falls by Ruth Ryan Langan

straightened. “Come on. Ma’ll have supper, and we still have to drop Will at his uncle’s.”
    She hurried across the room and brushed past him, wondering at the little rush of heat when their bodies touched. She stood waiting on the porch as he secured the front door. Will was already sitting in the back of Gray’s wagon, with his bundle of tools, whistling to Chester, who was hunting squirrels in the nearby woods. The hound looked up and started toward them at a full run, jumping smoothly into the boy’s arms.
    Gray helped Fiona up to the high, wooden seat, before climbing up beside her. With a flick of the reins, the horses started across the schoolyard and headed onto the dirt path leading to town.
    Gray shot a glance over his shoulder at the boy, who sat with an arm around a panting Chester. “It looks like school will be ready to start right on time.”
    Will nodded. “All I have left to do tomorrow is clean up some wood shavings and wash the window.”
    Fiona shook her head. “I can do that.”
    “No sense you climbing a ladder, Miss Downey.” The boy kept his arm around the hound’s neck as they made a sharp. turn into his uncle’s yard. “After I see to the cleanup, I’ll check the roof one last time, to make sure I didn’t miss any holes. Don’t want rain or snow to spoil your shiny new schoolroom.”
    As the wagon came to a lurching stop, the boy tossed down his tools and climbed out. At once the dog clambered across to the seat .of the wagon, where he rested his head on Fiona’s lap.
    Gray pressed a coin into Will’s hand before picking up the reins. “Tomorrow morning then, Will.”
    The boy nodded. “I’ll be ready.” He smiled at Fiona. “Goodbye, Miss Downey. I—”
    At the sound of the door opening he turned.
    His uncle stepped onto the porch, squinting against the late afternoon sun. “I won’t be able to spare Will tomorrow. He’s needed here.”
    Gray nodded. “I understand, Dolph.”
    “I’ll miss you, Will.” Seeing the way the boy ducked his head to hide his sadness Fiona added, “Thank you for all your help.” As an afterthought she called, “Will I see you Monday for the first day of school?”
    Before Will could respond his uncle shook his head. “No time for such things. I’ve a farm to run. The boy’s old enough to earn his keep now.”
    Seeing the man’s scowl, Fiona held her silence, though it was on the tip of her tongue to plead the boy’s case. As the horse and cart turned away, she gave a last glance over her shoulder. Will was already inside, the door slamming shut behind him.
    “Does Will’s uncle really need his help so badly there’s no time at all for school?”
    Gray shrugged. “Dolph VanderSleet has a hard life for a farmer. He had only one daughter, and, she’s living in Ohio now. His wife died four, five years ago. He wasn’t expecting to raise his brother’s boy.”
    “Wouldn’t you think he’d be thrilled to have someone to keep him company and chase away the loneliness?”
    Gray kept a steady hand on the reins as they rolled across the freshly cut field. “Some might. And some, like Dolph, see only the work involved. To them, everything in life is a burden instead of a joy.”
    A burden.
    The thought of it had Fiona clasping her hands together as she pictured in her mind the boy who had worked so willingly alongside her these past days. It had been his skill that had made the start of school possible, and now he wouldn’t be allowed to share in the joy of it. That knowledge dulled the keen edge of excitement that had been building inside her.
    As if sensing her sadness the hound began licking her hand until she reached over to scratch behind his ears.
    Gray shot her a sideways glance. “You’re spoiling Chester, you know.”
    That brought the smile back to her lips. “Do you mind?”
    “Not at all. But you might, when he starts shadowing you every time you walk out the door.”
    “That might not be so bad.” She laughed and