Page 73 of Always to Remember
“That’s it, Miz Meg,” Joe said. “We won’t let you fall.”
She smiled as she eased over the edge of the hill. Then she shrieked as Clay pushed against her backside and sent her sprawling over the top.
She scrambled to her feet and glared at the man as he worked his way over the edge. She was tempted to place her foot on his shoulder and send him back down the hill.
Rubbing his hands on his thighs, he turned as red as the sun-banked horizon. “I’m sorry. It just seemed the best way to get you over the edge.”
Meg dusted off her skirt and flicked her hands over her backside. “No harm done, but I think I could have gotten over without assistance.”
“Come on, Miz Meg,” Josh said. “It’s pert’ near time.”
The boys grabbed her hands and pulled her toward the far side of the plateau. When they reached it they released their hold, fell to their stomachs, and peered over the ledge.
“Oh, don’t do that,” she said. “You’ll fall.”
“No, we won’t,” Josh assured her.
“It bothers Mrs. Warner for you to be so near the edge,” Clay said. “You won’t miss anything if you scoot back.”
Joe glanced over his shoulder. “How come we can call her Miz Meg and you can’t?”
“Because she and I have a business arrangement. It wouldn’t be proper.”
“She call you Mr. Holland?”
“No. You need to be watching for the bats now.”
Meg was grateful the boys turned their attention back to the view before them. She didn’t want to explain why she wouldn’t say their brother’s name. Carefully, she walked to the edge and eased onto her stomach beside Joe. Clay stretched out beside Josh, and she was glad they had the buffer of the twins between them.
“Gawd Almighty! Look at the sky,” Josh said.
“Yep, it’s beautiful all right,” Clay said.
The deep blue sky melted into wisps of pink weaving among streaks of lavender and orange. Meg couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually watched the sun set and appreciated its majestic farewell. The moon was already a faint glow as though anxious to bring on the night.
“Do you come here often?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Josh said. “As often as we can. It’s a good place to be glad for all the things we have.”
For all the things they had: an occasional biscuit, a brother who was shunned by the community. She didn’t know if their innocence was a blessing or a curse.
“Look, Miz Meg. There they are.”
She peered over the edge at the hills fanning out over the countryside. She saw a small spiral of smoke rising into the fading sky. “Where do they come from?” she asked.
“We don’t know,” Josh said. “We figure there’s a cave or somethin’ down there, but it’s one of those things where the not knowin’ makes it special.”
Josh scrambled over Clay’s back. Quickly, Joe followed him. Josh reached across Clay and patted the spot he’d vacated. “Move over here, Miz Meg, so you can see better.”
She wanted to tell them that she could see just fine where she was, but she could tell from their expressions that the twins thought they were offering her the most wonderful gift in the world. How could she possibly face them tomorrow if she hurt their feelings now?
She scooted over until she was as close to Clay as she could get without actually touching him. The twins nestled beside Clay as though settling in for a long night’s sleep.
The spiral of smoke widened and reached higher. The flurry of activity blackened the sky. Meg heard high-pitched squeaks and the rustle of wings. She’d never experienced anything like it.
Moments passed, and no one spoke, as though each was mesmerized by the incredible number of bats soaring toward the distant horizon.
“Where do they go?” Meg whispered.
