Free Kelly's Chance by Wanda E Brunstetter

later, Mike entered the store, carrying a large paper sack. He handed it to Kelly and grinned. “This should get you by for a while.”
    She peered inside the bag. Several large clumps of charcoal, as well as some smaller ones, completely filled it. Mike was right. These would last a good while, and tonight she planned to start putting them to use. “Thanks,” she murmured.
    He winked at her. “You’re more than welcome.”
    Kelly cleared her throat, feeling kind of warm and jittery inside. Maybe she was coming down with whatever had been ailing her folks. A day of rest might do her more good than she realized.

     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 10
    ***
    Sunday morning dawned with a blue, cloudless sky. It would be the perfect day for Kelly to enjoy the warm sun and draw. She hurried through her breakfast and morning chores, anxious for some time alone. Mama would be tending to Papa’s needs for the next little while, and after that, she would probably take a rest herself.
    Papa had taken to his bed last night and not even shown his face at the breakfast table. Kelly figured he must be pretty sick if he wasn’t interested in food, for her dad usually had a ravenous appetite. She had taken him a tray with a cup of tea and bowl of oatmeal a little while ago, but Papa turned his nose up at both and said he wanted to be left alone—needed some sleep, that was all.
    It seemed strange for Kelly to see her dad, who was usually up early and raring to go, curled up in a fetal position with a patchwork quilt pulled up to his ears. His breathing sounded labored, and he wheezed and coughed like the steam train that ran beside the canal, despite the medicine Mama had been spoon-feeding him since their visit to Mike’s store last evening.
    Thinking about Mike Cooper made Kelly remember their mules had been sleeping in his barn all night. She needed to feed and groom the animals, then take them outdoors for some fresh air and exercise. Wouldn’t do for the mules to get lazy because they’d stopped for a bit. As soon as she was finished tending the critters, Kelly hoped to finally have some free time.
    As she headed for the barn, which sat directly behind Mike’s house, Kelly hummed her favorite song—“Hunksa-go Pudding.” Would Mama feel up to fixing a big meal today? Would it include a roast with some yummy hunks-a-go pudding? Kelly sure hoped so. It had been a good long while since she’d enjoyed the succulent taste of roast beef and hunksa-go pudding, where the batter was put in the fat left over from the meat and then fried in a pan on top of the stove.
    Forcing thoughts of food to the back of her mind, Kelly opened the barn door and peered inside. Except for the gentle braying of the mules, all was quiet. The sweet smell of hay wafted up to her nose, and she sniffed deeply. She stepped inside and was almost to the stall where Hector and Herman were stabled when she heard another sound. Someone was singing.
    “Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, that calls me from a world of care.”
    Kelly plodded across the dirt floor, and the sound of the clear, masculine voice grew closer. She recognized it as belonging to Mike Cooper.
    “And bids me at my Father’s throne, make all my wants and wishes known.”
    Kelly halted, feeling like an intruder on Mike’s quiet time alone with God. He must be deeply religious, for not only was he kindhearted, but he sang praises to God. Whenever Kelly sang, it was some silly canaler’s song like “Hunks-a-go Pudding” or “You Rusty Canaler, You’ll Never Get Rich.” As a young child she would often sing “Jesus Loves Me,” but she’d been a lot happier back then. Sarah had still been living with them, helping share the burden of walking the mules and visiting with Kelly for hours on end. Papa expected twice as much from Kelly now that Sarah was gone. But was that any excuse to quit worshipping the Lord?
    Kelly knew the answer deep in her soul. She was angry with God