Where the Wild Rose Blooms by Lori Wick Page B

forgotten. Both girls fell asleep without sharing another word.

    "What are you doing?" Milly called down to her brother from her place in the hayloft. He'd just moved the ladder away and stranded her above him.
    "Moving the ladder."
    "I can see that. Why?"
    Clayton tipped his head back and stared at her. "You can come down when you've told me what's bothering you."
    "Oh, Tag."
    "Don't 'oh, Tag,' me. Now what's going on that's ruining your weekend, Milly? Even Dad and Mom have noticed."
    He heard Milly's sigh from his place on the barn floor. A few more seconds went by and she said, "Let m£ down from here and I'll tell you."
    Clayton did so, and after they had both taken seats on the bench by the stalls, Milly explained what had happened in the schoolhouse the day before. It wasn't long before she was crying. Clayton put an arm around her.
    "I feel just awful. Tag. Anyone can forget, and it's so hard to stand up there and have everyone looking at you. I know Miss Bradley must have hurt her. Her whole body jumped, and Miss Bradley didn't just do it once either. She must have hit her five or six times. "
    She turned her face into her brothers coatfront and cried. In so doing, she missed the clenching of Clayton's jaw. He could hardly stand the thought of anyone being hit on the back of the hand, but with Jackie, somehow it was worse. He was certain her pride had taken a beating, but that wasn't what

bothered him. He had looked at her hands many times. For a girl who often helped in the general store, her hands were remarkably smooth and soft-looking with no jagged nails or calluses. He could well imagine what a few whacks with the ruler must have done.
    The most frustrating part of this was realizing his position; he had no place in this situation. It was not his job to go to the teacher, nor could he even talk to Jackie and try to bring her comfort. Indeed, he was quite certain what her response would be if he tried.
    "I think the worst part—" Milly had calmed enough to go on and voice Claytons own thoughts—"is that I'm not close to Jackie, so I can't even tell her how sorry I am."
    "No," Clayton agreed quietly. "She wouldn't welcome that."
    "I could see that Danny was upset too. Lexa and Sammy probably were also, but they had their backs to me.
    "We'll just pray for her, Milly. It doesn't have to be one of us to help her. We'll just pray that Danny or Eddie or

maybe her mother will talk to her and make her feel better."
    Milly sniffed and Clayton produced a handkerchief She thanked him and sat up straight to repair her face. The subject of Jackie was dropped, but she was still heavy on both of their minds.

    The Saturday before Christmas brought heavy snows to the mountains in Colorado,
but
many made it out for

church the next day. Christmas was on Thursday of that week, and excitement was high. The Fontaines planned to have Mitch and the Taggarts join them for Christmas dinner. Addy and the girls would be doing the bulk of the meal, and Elaine was to bring the dessert and rolls with fresh butter. Eddie was planning a splendid tea for the afternoon, and Danny and Milly already had their heads together about their own activities for the day.
    At the moment, however, they were all bundled to their ears and getting ready to go home after the sermon. Pastor Munroe had ended his message with a tender prayer for blessings on his congregation in the week to come. He had asked God to remind them that His Son was to be celebrated all year long. Eddie had gone up to thank him for the reminder.
    "And how are the wedding plans coming, Edwina?"
    "Just fine." She smiled. "Less than three months now."
    Pastor Munroe chuckled. "I may seem old to you, but I well remember the day when I counted the hours until my wedding." Mrs. Munroe had come to his side, and he sent her a warm smile.
    "Robert wrote and told me heel been in touch with you and that you'd like to meet with us when he arrives."
    "Yes, 1 would. I met him of course