The Holiday Courtship. Winnie Griggs

a woman was by the bread she baked. I think you’d pass even her test with this loaf.”

      She raised a brow at that. “But you haven’t tasted it yet.”

      “The aroma and how nicely it slices are enough to tell the tale.”

      He turned to transport the bread to the table and paused a moment. His kitchen table was of a modest size, square with four chairs situated around it. But this evening, the children had rearranged things so that there were two chairs on one side. Should he say something or let it go?

      He glanced Miss Whitman’s way, wondering if he should let her handle this. But she had her back to them and hadn’t yet noticed. There was no way for him to bring it to her attention without the children, or at least Alex, noticing.

      He decided to let it go and carried the bread platter to the table as if nothing was amiss.

      Later, as they prepared to take their seats, Miss Whitman gave them an apologetic smile from her position at the stove. “I couldn’t find a large serving bowl. So for tonight I think we’ll just put the pot on the table to serve from.”

      Hank quickly took the pot from her. He didn’t think he actually owned a large serving bowl. He rarely cooked more than he could eat in one sitting, so he had no needs in that area. He supposed that was yet another thing he’d have to take care of now that his household had expanded.

      Miss Whitman placed a folded cloth on the table and he carefully set the pot on it.

      She took her seat and he moved to the other side to take his. He’d barely settled when she gave him a meaningful look.

      “Mr. Chandler, would you say the blessing for us, please?”

      “Of course.” What else could he say? Before he bowed his head, he saw Alex touch his sister’s arm and then fold his hands to indicate they were going to pray. That sort of direction was no doubt why Chloe felt the need to keep her brother close.

      Then Hank closed his eyes and reached deep for the words. It had been quite some time since he’d prayed aloud. “Lord, we thank You for granting us safe travel home to Turnabout. And thank You for this meal we are about to partake of. Thank You, too, for bringing someone as generous as Miss Whitman into our midst. We ask that You grant Aunt Rowena’s friend renewed health so that she may get to Turnabout in the coming days. And in all things keep us mindful of Your grace. Amen.”

      As he looked up, Miss Whitman softly echoed his amen and gave him a warm smile of approval.

      That smile touched a spot inside him he’d thought long dead.

      Then she sat up straighter. “Rather than passing this heavy pot of stew around, if you’ll pass me your bowls, I’ll serve each of you.”

      “Here, let me help.” Hank stood and reached for Alex’s and Chloe’s bowls. He held them up to the pot while Miss Whitman ladled the thick, rich-looking stew into each. Then he set the full bowls in front of the kids and reached for his own.

      Alex and Chloe were mostly silent during the meal, but Miss Whitman seemed to take no notice. She kept the conversation going without apparent effort. She asked him some questions about his sawmill and about his home.

      He did his part to keep the conversation going, mostly by asking her questions about her life before she’d moved to Turnabout. But she always answered superficially or changed the subject. Was she trying to act the woman of mystery? Or was she truly hiding something?

      When the meal was done, Miss Whitman stood to fetch the cobbler while Hank carried the stew pot to the counter.

      He saw what was coming a split second before it happened. Miss Whitman had approached the table with the cobbler and was frowning down at the dish, saying something about hoping she hadn’t let it bake too long.

      At the same time Chloe, who had slipped a bit of bread to Smudge, straightened back up just as Miss Whitman was in the process of setting the dish on the table. Somehow her movement jostled Miss Whitman’s arm so that the dish slipped from her grip and landed on the floor with a plop, sending bits of filling and crust splattering in a wide radius.

      Chloe slapped a hand over her mouth, a stricken expression on her face. Alex let out a loud oh, but for a moment there was no other sound, no other movement in the room. Then Smudge approached one of the splatters and began delicately lapping it up.

      Miss Whitman reached a hand out toward Chloe, but before she could reassure or comfort the girl, Chloe erupted from her chair and, with tears flowing, went running to her room.

      Hank felt he should follow her, but what was the point? Even if he knew what words to say, she wouldn’t be able to hear them.

      He looked to Miss Whitman and she returned his gaze with a self-reproaching grimace.

      “That was my fault,” she said. “I’d forgotten—one of the first rules of interacting with the deaf is to never approach from their blind side if you can avoid it.” She looked down at the mess on the floor, then faced in the direction Chloe had run off.

      “Go,” he said, guiltily relieved she wanted to be the one to comfort his niece. “Alex and I will clean this up.”

      She gave him a grateful smile. “There’s a bit left in the dish. If you set it aside before Smudge gets to it, you and Alex should still be able to have some dessert.”

      “I don’t—”

      She made a small movement with her chin that stopped him. Then she glanced toward Alex, who was wearing a helpless, suspiciously watery-eyed look.

      Of course—she wanted him to keep the boy distracted.

      He rescued the remaining cobbler, placing the pan on the table. “I suppose it would be a shame to let a perfectly good pan of cobbler go to waste,” he said thoughtfully. “What do you say, Alex? Let’s get this cleaned up for Miss Whitman. Then we can reward ourselves with dessert.”

      Alex obediently slid from his chair. As Hank placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder, he glanced Miss Whitman’s way. She gave him a barely perceptible nod of approval, then lifted the slate and chalk and started out of the room. Then she paused, turned back and, with a quick, graceful movement, reached down and scooped up the cat with one arm. “I’ll get Smudge out of your way,” she said by way of explanation. “And Chloe will probably be glad of his company right now.”

      Now, more than ever, Hank was convinced the pretty, warmhearted schoolteacher would make the perfect mother for the children.

      If only he could convince her of that.

      * * *

      Janell pushed Chloe’s door open and stepped inside to find the girl crying into her pillow. She sat down on the edge of the bed, setting Smudge beside her.

      Chloe immediately sat up. When she saw who it was, she swiped the tears from her face and her expression tensed, taking on a prickly, resentful tightness, even as she cuddled the cat.

      Janell placed a hand on the girl’s knee, giving her what she hoped was a reassuring smile. Then she picked up the slate and wrote Not your fault.

      Chloe read it, but rather than easing her distress, it seemed to increase it.

      Janell quickly erased the slate and tried again. I should have paid closer attention.

      Chloe rested her chin on her pet’s soft fur. “It wouldn’t have happened if I could still hear.”

      Again Janell erased the slate and started writing. Mishaps happen to everyone. Didn’t you bump and spill things before your accident?

      Chloe’s expression shifted as a touch of doubt and thoughtfulness crept in.

      Feeling she’d done all she could for now, Janell gave Chloe’s leg another pat, then stood. It was going to take time, but she was determined to get through to the girl.

      When she returned to the kitchen, Janell