Hope by Barbara Goss (primary phonics books txt) 📗

Hope gave him a quick nod. “You’re doing the right thing, then. We’ll just make his remaining days better.”

“Hope?” Daniel called her over. “Come here for a minute. Sam isn’t due for a few hours yet.”

“I wanted to write a letter to Betsy, but it can wait.”

Daniel placed his hands on her shoulders. “I need another favor.”

“All right: let’s hear it.”

“Is there any way we can convince my father that we’re… we’re making a go of this marriage?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that if he has to die soon, I’d like for him to die happy. He’d like nothing better than to see us together, working things out.”

Chapter Fourteen

“What are you suggesting, Daniel? How can we possibly convey to him that we’re … um… fond of each other? That is what you mean, right?”

“I thought he might 'catch' us kissing or hugging.”

Hope backed away from him, and his hands fell to his sides.

“What?”

Daniel was afraid he hadn't explained it correctly. “I don’t know how else to show him. I want him to die happy.”

Hope gazed over at Joseph. Daniel noticed her face soften as she looked at him. Her fondness for his father endeared her to him even more. “I think the world of you,” he told her.

“Just one quick kiss and one brief hug.”

“That’s all I ask.”

“All right.”

When Sam came into the house to show Hope the bookkeeping, Daniel went outside to work. He was euphoric, and he knew why. Hope had agreed to kiss him, and he couldn’t wait. Was it too soon after Nancy’s death to feel that way?

As Daniel weeded the garden, he tried to think of a way he could kiss and hug Hope so Joseph wouldn’t suspect it had been staged. He came up with several ideas.

Hope looked especially beautiful at dinner. She’d pinned her hair up in a way she hadn't before; it suited her.

Joseph’s coughing started after dinner. His hacking had become worse of late, and more frequent.

Hope stood to reach for his medicine. She helped him to sit up, and she put the spoon into his mouth between coughs. Hope rubbed his back before helping him to lay back down. His eyelids were drooping within minutes.

Daniel stood and motioned to Hope. “Now,” he whispered.

Hope leaned in. Daniel touched his lips to hers while kicking the table with his foot, causing the cup he’d set on the edge to fall to the floor and break. He broke off the kiss and held Hope in his arms. Daniel peeked between his eyelids to notice that Joseph had woken up and was looking at them with disbelief. Before long, he smiled, closed his eyes—still smiling, and fell back asleep.

Hope pulled from his arms. “Did he see?”

Daniel nodded. “He smiled.”

“You’re welcome.” Hope put the dishes on the cart. “I’ll bring the broom and dustpan.” She left the room with the cart.

Daniel sat and thought about the kiss and embrace. He’d enjoyed it despite its being so brief. Her lips had been warm and soft, and she’d felt wonderful in his arms. Could he be in love?

He doubted she felt the same as she hadn’t seemed as touched by the kiss as he had.

Joseph was in unusually high spirits the next day. Daniel liked to think it was because he thought Daniel and Hope were in love, but he never mentioned it, which caused Daniel relief. He’d hate to think he'd lied to his father. Daniel thought he might be in love, but he didn’t think Hope felt the same. She liked him, and she might even be fond of him, but that’s all he could tell from her demeanor. It had been six months since Nancy had died. If he waited six more months, he could officially be out of mourning.  Not that the tradition was abided by people in the West who seemed to do what they had to in order to survive. Still, he felt he owed Nancy the customary grieving period.

Joseph’s cough grew more violent, and his medicine was nearly gone. Daniel decided to call Dr. McAdoo to check in on him and bring him more.

Daniel returned from town with the doctor and a new bottle of medicine. He left the room while the doctor examined Joseph.

Dr. McAdoo shook his head when he came out of the room.

“He’s worse, isn’t he?”

The doctor nodded. “He’s awfully weak. I’m surprised his spirits are so high. I don’t think he’ll last much longer.”

Hope gasped. Daniel hadn’t heard her come up behind him in the hall until then. When he turned, she was standing with her hands to her face.

“Oh, no.” Her eyes teared up.

Seeing her made Daniel’s heart pound in his chest—she really cared.

He put his arm around her and drew her head to his chest. “The doctor can’t believe his spirits are so high.”

Hope pulled away and wiped her eyes. “I’m all right.”

Daniel walked the doctor to the door. When he returned to his father’s room, Hope was holding his hand. She smiled up at Joseph and said, “We’re having your favorite for supper tonight: meatloaf.”

Joseph wrinkled his nose. “Again?”

“It’s Tuesday. Esther made rich, thick gravy to pour over it and your potatoes. I think it will be delicious.”

“She does a good meatloaf,” Joseph said. “I always tease her by making faces when she serves it, but it’s always good.”

“I see the doctor gave us a new bottle of your medicine.”

“I feel too weak today to lift a fork. Can I just have dessert?” Joseph asked.

Daniel said, “Of course you can.” He turned to Hope. “Any idea what’s for dessert?”

“I think I saw rice pudding.”

Hope walked to the door. “I’ll