Page 9 of A Joyful Ring
“How much for the strawberries?” Gunder asked. The price the boy wanted made him wonder if the strawberries had been raised in beds of gold. “And the apricots?”
The child sized him up, narrowed his gaze, then named a price Gunder was surprised to realize he could afford. “I’ll take the apricots.”
He paid the lad, pleased to have something to contribute to the community picnic tomorrow. Something he doubted anyone else would bring. Of course, it would have been better if the apricots could have been baked into a cobbler, but even fresh, they’d be a welcome treat.
“What are you going to do with the apricots?” Lars asked as they carried the crates to where they’d left the wagon at the livery.
“I thought I’d take them to the picnic tomorrow. I want to contribute something.”
Lars nodded approvingly. “If you want, I could take those apricots to my daughter and have her bake a pie or cobbler with them.”
“I wouldn’t want to put anyone to extra trouble,” Gunder said, although his mouth watered at the thought of a cobbler like the one Mr. Adamson’s wife had baked and brought to the livery two summers ago. “Do you think people will enjoy them fresh?”
“They will, Gunder, and it is kind of you to buy them to share.”
“My mother always said it was important as aguest to never arrive empty-handed.”
“Your mother sounds like a wise woman.”
Gunder nodded. “She is wise, and good, and loving.” His voice quieted. “I miss her very much. I miss them all.”
“It’s nice you had a close family, Gunder. Not everyone experiences that. At least I assume you must all be close.”
Gunder nodded, thinking of his parents, his sisters, and how much he loved each one of them. “We are. Were. Before I left, I mean. It was hard to leave them behind, but God willing, I’ll see them again someday.”
Lars nodded once as they reached the wagon, then set the cherries beneath the seat. Gunder set in the apricots, then followed as Lars showed him around the rest of town.
“I’ll introduce you to Mrs. Franklin,” Lars said, leading Gunder up the porch steps of a sprawling three-story house. “She’s a widow, and opened her home as a boardinghouse, much like Mrs. Baldwin did in Lovely.”
Lars opened the door and held it as Gunder removed his hat and stepped inside, careful to wipe his boots on the rug by the door. While Lars wiped his boots, Gunder looked around the tastefully decorated entry. The home seemed elegant, yet also comfortable and clean.
“Mrs. Franklin?” Lars called, leaning slightly to the right to peer into a sitting room.
“Coming!” a female voice carried from down the hallway.
A woman with chestnut hair piled high on herhead bustled down the hall with a smile wreathing her face as she wiped her hands on the crisp apron she wore.
“Well, Mr. Hoffman! I didn’t expect to see you today since you were just here yesterday,” she said, her voice expressing her obvious pleasure at his presence in her home.
Gunder noticed the tips of Lars’ ears turned red and wondered if the freighter was enamored with the pretty widow. Although the wrinkles around her eyes and the spots on her hands made Gunder think she was close in age to Lars, the energy that fairly pulsed from her, the sparkle in her green eyes, and her cheerful countenance made her seem years younger. She was neither tall nor short, not plump nor too thin.
As Gunder watched Lars smile at her, he had a good idea the freighter found her to be quite to his liking.
“I’m not staying in town this evening, Mrs. Franklin, but I wanted to introduce you to our newest freighter.” Lars settled a hand on Gunder’s arm. “This is Gunder Birke. He just arrived in Lovely yesterday.”
“Oh, you dear, brave boy. May God bless you and keep you,” she said, taking his hand between hers and giving it a motherly pat.
Gunder had no idea why her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him with sympathy and concern. A sudden urge to pelt Lars with questions about the freighter who’d filled the position before him made him curious to learn what had caused the vacancy.
Gathering his wits and manners, Gunder smiled at the pleasant woman. “Thank you, Mrs. Franklin.”
“Perhaps Lars already explained how we do things here, but your room is at the top of the stairs, first door on the left. Breakfast is ready at six, and supper is served at six. Keeps things simple that way. I also provide a lunch you can take with you since it is such a long trip back to Lovely. I wash the bedding once a week. I always have plenty of water for washing up, and expect clean hands and faces at the table.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Gunder nodded to her, tamping down a smile as he envisioned her inspecting the hands of her boarders and sending them back to do a better job.
“We didn’t mean to interrupt your day, Mrs. Franklin,” Lars said, nervously spinning his hat around in his hands. “I just wanted to introduce Gunder while we both were in town.”
“It’s good of you to stop by, Mr. Hoffman. Is your daughter looking forward to the festivities tomorrow?”
