Buckeye Dreams by Jennifer A. Davids Page B

breathed. “No wonder. We should keep him in our prayers.”
    Daniel stared at her. His mother had always told him and his brothers to pray for Carr, to take his pain into consideration and not hold his actions against him. But her words had fallen on deaf ears. Elijah Carr’s many attempts over the years to get the farm had hardened their hearts.
    Seeing the look on his face, Katherine paused. “I’m sorry,” she said. “If you don’t want—”
    “No, I’m just ashamed of myself,” he said softly. “I should have the same compassion for Carr as you do.”
    “Oh Daniel,” Katherine said gently, “he’s always been a thorn in your family’s side. It’s only natural—”
    “Exactly. Only natural. We’re called to be like Christ. We’re not called to give in to our sinful natures. Keep me in your prayers, too. Pray that I can see the man instead of the sin, as you can.”
    Katherine blushed and quickly returned to dropping seeds in the soft earth.
    Over the past week, she’d slowly become comfortable around him, but she still never failed to blush furiously whenever he paid her a compliment. From what he’d learned about her family, he imagined compliments had been few and far between. She didn’t talk about them very often, but his aunt had told him a great deal.
    He shook his head. And he thought he had been a black sheep! He watched as she dropped another seed in the ground. From what his aunt had told him, she’d learned a lot since coming north. And not just about housekeeping and farming. Since her arrival, she had read a number of the books in his collection and had been very happy to talk with him about what she’d read. She’d attended one of the finest schools the South had to offer, but her father had only allowed her enough education to make sure she would make someone a charming wife. Daniel could hardly imagine her being the matron of a plantation, not with her intellect and hatred of slavery.
She deserves a much different life than that, he thought
.
    Katherine was now waiting for him at the end of the row, looking toward the barnyards where the cows and horses grazed. He joined her, and she turned and shyly smiled at him. Her family may not have appreciated her, but he certainly did. As he looked into her unique eyes, he could certainly understand how Thomas had come to care for her.
    The sound of a buggy drew their attention to the drive. Mary stepped out the front door as it drew to a halt. A slender older gentleman with a Vandyke beard and wearing a frock suit climbed out. He removed his tall beaver-skin hat, and Daniel immediately recognized James Harris, his old professor from Ohio Wesleyan.
    “Professor Harris,” Daniel said as he walked over. He wiped his hands on his handkerchief before extending his hand, wishing he was a good deal less dusty. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
    The older man smiled broadly and shook his hand vigorously. “Daniel, it’s very good to see you home safe.” He peered over Daniel’s shoulder to look at Mary and give her a gentle smile. “Mary …,” he began and then seemed to remember propriety. “Do excuse me. Mrs. O’Neal, how good to see you.”
    “James,” Mary half scolded, “you’ve been too close a friend of our family to be formal.” She limped over and gave the professor a warm embrace.
    Daniel did not fail to notice the slightly reddened cheeks of the old bachelor as they parted. “I heard about both your losses,” the professor said. “I’m terribly sorry.”
    “Thank you,” Mary replied quietly. “How is your nephew?”
    As they spoke, Daniel turned and found Katherine standing off to the side. He saw the apprehension on her face and smiled reassuringly as he walked her over to his old instructor.
    “Professor Harris, may I introduce another good friend of our family, Miss Katherine Wallace. Katherine, this is Professor James Harris.”
    “How do you do, Professor?” Katherine murmured.
    “Miss Wallace, it is