Where the Wild Rose Blooms by Lori Wick

was to the class, and stood before her teacher.
    "I am very disappointed. You have had weeks to learn these." Her voice wasn't angry, but Jackie knew it would do no good to try
to explain.
    "Hold out your hand."
    Jackie did as she was told, and her entire body convulsed as the ruler came down across her knuckles five times. She thought her hand would break with each blow.
    "Return to your seat."
    Jackie did so, her eyes blinded by tears. She didn't look at anyone or lay her head on her desk and sob as she longed to do, but sat looking straight ahead at the portrait of George Washington, blinking rapidly to dispel the moisture. Miss Bradley began to say something to the class but then faltered. Jackie would have been surprised to know that her own sister had caused the stumble. Lexa was looking at Miss Bradley with something akin to hatred.

    "Mitch," Morgan called into the back room. "Have we received that order from Denver?"
    "Not yet. I expect the
 snow has something to do with the holdup."
    Morgan came into the room now, and Mitch turned to look at him. The light from the window shone full in his face for several seconds, and Mitch was alarmed by how tired and old he looked.
    "You know, Morgan, I didn't ask you to join me in Georgetown so you could work yourself into an early grave.
    "Why," Morgan asked with a grin, "am I looking half dead?"
    "What time did you come in this morning?"
    Morgan shrugged. "I couldn't sleep."
    His avoidance of the answer told Mitch that the noise he'd heard around 4:00 A.M. was Morgan arriving for work. The older man slowly shook his head.
    "We have different strengths, Morgan, and I'm thankful for that. You're more aggressive than I am, but we're not going to starve if you take a little time
off. You've been down here every day since you arrived in July. I live right upstairs, but I've never had the desire to be here as often as you do. I really think you need to slow down-spend some more time at home. Eddie will be leaving in three months. Take as much time with her as you can."
    "That's just it, Mitch."
    "What is?"
    "Eddies leaving. It's shown me that I won't have my children here forever. I need to be sure I'm established now, while I'm still young enough to do the work. They won't be around forever, so I've got to see to Addy and myself on my own."
    Mitch's heart ached. If only you were seeing to eternity the way you see to this life on earthy Morgan. My heart would find rest knowing you 're going to be with me up there.
    "Do you ever think about the folks?" Morgan asked out of the blue.
    "Yes. I think about them a lot."
    "So do I. They nearly worked themselves to death in their old age. That's why I'm working now."
    Both men were silent for a moment.
    "At least they're at rest now."
    "Are they, Morgan?"
    "What do you mean?" The younger man frowned at Mitch.
    "I'm just saying I'm not sure."
    "Well, of course they're at rest," Morgan said a bit testily. "They were good people. They deserve to be in heaven."
    "Is that really what you believe, Morgan? That good people go to heaven?"
    "Well, of course. Don't you?"
    "No. "
    The single word hung between them for several uncomfortable seconds, and then the bell sounded at the door that led to the hardware.
    "I'll get it." Morgan spoke quietly, but when he turned away his face did not hold his usual enthusiasm for any and all customers.
----

9
    The entire wagon was quiet on the way home that afternoon, and Clayton couldn't help but notice. Sammy was beside him on the seat, and she looked so sad that Clayton was tempted to put an arm around her. He planned to ask Milly about it as soon as they were home, but the snow was deep in places and the ride was taking longer than usual. He realized he should have brought the large sleigh.
    "Everything okay, Milly?" he questioned as soon as he'd pulled into the barn.
    "Sure," she answered easily enough, but her voice held no conviction.
    "It seemed like everyone was pretty quiet today."
    "Well," she