That night, though Scott read a few extra minutes, and spent some time after their reading just talking, Charlie found that
she felt as jumpy as a flea inside, thinking of school.
Charlie was still fretting over the fact that she knew only Lucy of the children who would be at school the next day.
"I guess we should have gotten you acquainted with some other kids around here," Scott said, sounding regretful. "Time just
seemed to get away this summer."
"At least I know Lucy," Charlie said, not wanting Scott to feel badly, as though it was his fault she hadn't met any other kids.
"That's right, you do," he said, and gave her an approving smile. "And I bet you'll make some more friends right off."
"I hope I do," Charlie said, wishing she had Scott's confidence.
After that, they talked of other things. "I saw Mr. Val today," she told Scott.
"Did you?"
"Yes. He bought me a lemonade."
"That was kind of him."
"Yes," Charlie said again. "Is he married, or anything like that?"
Scott looked amused. "No. He's not married, or anything like that. Why do you ask?"
"I just wondered. If he was, or if he had kids."
"No. No kids, either."
Remembering how she'd disliked the sheriff when she'd first come to stay at Lancer, Charlie said, "He's real nice."
"Yes, he is. He's a good man," Scott agreed.
Finally, after Scott had ordered her to lay down, and scrunch down under the quilt, Charlie kept on talking, wanting to keep him
there with her a bit longer.
"I met a lady today. Wilma, is what Mr. Val said her name was. She was working at the café."
"Uh huh. Wilma Stark. She owns the café."
"She was hollering at Mr. Val. He said her bark is worse than her bite."
"What had Wilma all stirred up?" Scott asked.
"She saw the man, the one with the glass eye, behind the café looking in her barrels, and she was real upset about it."
"Ah. Well," Scott said, which Charlie felt wasn't really an answer at all.
"What would she keep in those barrels?" Charlie asked.
"I don't know entirely. Some trash, more than likely."
"Why would she care if someone went thru her trash?" Charlie asked.
"I don't know," Scott said again. "I'm sure she has her reasons."
"Well, why would he want to go thru someone else's trash?" Charlie asked then.
"It might be that he was looking for something that he could repair to use. Something like that, maybe."
Charlie thought a moment or so. Remembering the man in the park in Stockton.
Scott tucked the blankets in more firmly around her. "Time to be getting to sleep," he said.
"Alright," Charlie agreed, but then went on talking.
"You know something else, though?" she asked.
"What?"
"It was really strange. When I saw the man leaving the alley, after the lady from the café hollered at him? Well, he was
walking pretty fast. But then, just a few minutes later, I saw him again, and he was walking all stiff, and slow."
"Hmmm," Scott said.
"Don't you think that's sort of strange?" Charlie asked him.
"There could be all sorts of explanations for that."
"Well, but I still think it's strange," Charlie insisted.
Scott leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. "Let's leave the mysteries for another day, alright? You need to get to sleep."
"It is sort of like a mystery, isn't it?" Charlie said, seizing upon the thought.
"Yes. It is. Now put it out of your mind for right now."
Charlie caught at his hand, as he moved to stand up. "Sit with me a little longer. Please?"
Scott paused, looking at her intently. "Alright. But no more talking."
Charlie held his hand until she was so still, and so quiet, that Scott thought she was asleep. He reached over and turned
down the lamp, and then stood up, going to the door of the room.
"Scott?" she asked, in a sleepy voice.
Scott paused at the door, half open, to look back over towards the bed. "I thought you were asleep."
"I almost am. Will you still go with me in the morning? Into school?"
"Yes. I'll go with you."
"Okay."
"Good night."
"Night," Charlie said, and turned over as he closed the door, pulling the quilt up over her chin.
L
The next morning, Charlie was dressed in a burnished brown dress, with minimal frills, and Teresa did her braid, tying
a matching bow at the end.
"Thanks, Teresa," Charlie said, lacking her usual vivaciousness.
The older girl reached down and gave Charlie an impulsive hug.
"You're going to be just fine!" Teresa encouraged.
"Did you go to the school here?" Charlie asked, knowing that Scott or Johnny had neither one attended the local school.
"I sure did. And, you know what else? Your teacher is a friend of mine!"
Charlie recognized Teresa's comments for what they were, being encouragement. She felt suddenly very lucky
to have Teresa.
"You're sort of like a sister, you know?" she offered to Teresa.
Teresa smiled, obviously pleased.
"Well, thank you. That's how I think of you, too." She gave Charlie's braid a final pat. "There you go. Let's get down to
breakfast."
After breakfast, which Charlie managed to enjoy, despite her nerves, she and Scott set out for town, in the buggy.
After a quiet spell, Scott asked, "Still feeling nervous?"
"A little. But not as much as I was before."
"That's good."
Once in town, though, and nearing the school, Charlie scooted over closer to him, and Scott felt her tremble, even
if she wouldn't admit to it.
He pulled up outside the school. There were already children swarming the school yard, and going inside, and several other
wagons were present, fathers driving, and daughters being delivered.
"Do you want me to go inside with you?" Scott asked. He, himself, was a bit unsure of what was right at the moment, and
decided to let Charlie take the lead. Charlie risked a look, and saw that the other two girls being driven by their fathers
were preparing to go inside alone.
So, she shook her head. "No, that's alright," she said, though in truth, she would have much rather had him beside her
as she walked in.
"I'll be here after school," Scott said then, and gave her an encouraging smile.
Charlie nodded, and then bit at her lip a bit, picking up her slate and lunch pail. She hopped down from the buggy,
and sighed. "See you later," she said.
"See you later," Scott echoed, and watched until Charlie had gone inside the school building with all the others, and
the door had been closed.
L