Circle of Love Read Free Page A

are peppermint sticks," Mr. Nash said. From a jar on the counter he produced a small sugary stick covered with red and white stripes and handed it to Stefan.
    "Now, let's fill your order. Miss Kelly," Mr. Nash said. "What's first on the list?"
    Frances blinked. "I had a list," she said, "but my plans have changed. I've agreed to escort Stefan to

    New York City to meet his aunt and uncle, so I won't need to stock up on supplies." She thought a moment, "m just get something to cook for supper tonight and breakfast tomorrow. Carrots, of course, and a fryer. ... We can take the leftovers on our trip. . . . Oh, and a small jar of molasses. I think Stefan wiU like flapjacks.'' She came up with half a dozen items and Mr. Nash fit all her purchases into a string bag.
    "Ill put it on your account," he said. "Have a good trip, Miss Kelly, and a safe return."
    *Thank you, Mr. Nash." The parcel wasn't heavy, so Frances picked it up and led Stefan out of the store and down the sidewalk to where Johnny's wagon was hitched.
    As she pulled two carrots from her bag and handed them to Stefan, showing him how to offer them to the horses, she heard Johnny's voice behind her. "Well, well, who's this fine young man who's giving a treat to my horses?"
    Frances turned to face Johnny, but he didn't look at her. He kept his eyes on Stefan.
    "Johnny Mueller, this is Stefan Gromeche," she said. "Stefan came to Maxville with the orphan train riders."
    This time Johnny did look at Frances, with surprise. "He's an orphan train rider? Then where is . . ." He straightened and glanced around.
    "Stefan's aunt and uncle recently arrived in the United States. When they foimd he'd been sent west on one of the orphan trains, they asked that he be returned."
    "My uncle has a huge mustache," Stefan said. He spread his hands two feet apart. "It's this big."
    "My, my, that's very impressive. I'm glad you have

    a fine uncle like that to claim you," Johnny said. He smiled at Stefan. "Would you like to pet my horses? Here . . . Fll hold you up."
    This was the Johnny Frances had known, the Johnny with whom she'd fallen in love. Smiling, she watched him reach out to Stefan. Johnny was kind, gentle, and playful, and Frances loved him all the more.
    But in a few minutes Johnny said, "It*s getting late, Frances. Find the people who are to take care of Stefan, and Fll get your boxes of supplies fix^m the store."
    *The only supplies I bought are already in the wagon," Frances said.
    He looked surprised. "But you told me you needed to buy a great many things."
    Frances pointed to the string sack. *This is all Til need. I don't want bugs to get into my flour or ants into the syrup while Fm away." She looked at Johnny without smiling and said, "I agreed to escort Stefan back to New York City. If you'll please lift him into the wagon, we can be on our way."
    Johnny, unable to move, stared at her. "You're going to New York?"
    "Yes. Fll be gone close to three weeks." She added, not knowing why, "Longer, if I decide to stay awhile."
    Stefan, too impatient to wait for Johnny to help him, clambered up the spokes of the nearest wagon wheel and into the bed of the wagon. He squirmed like a puppy among some empty feed sacks, finding a comfortable place in which to settle down.
    "Frances," Johnny asked, "where will you stay while you're in the city? Who will look out for you?"
    She could hear the shock and hurt in his voice.

    She wanted to hold him and cling to him, but anger kept her backbone as stiff as the whalebones in her corset. "A Miss Claudine Hunter, from the Children's Aid Society, will meet us at the station and reunite Stefan with his aunt and uncle. And, in case you haven't noticed, Fm perfectly well able to take care of myself!"
    "But the church social . . . It's Sunday. . . . We've always gone together. . . ."
    "I'm sorry," Frances said. "I promised Andrew that I would take Stefan to his family." As she climbed up on the seat of the wagon she added, "Besides, you didn't ask