Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) Read Free

always moved and helpless around a lady in tears.
    Aggie liked Zeke ’ s face. Deep lines etched around his eyes and white hair belied his youthful demeanor. He was a bit weathered, but his eyes were gentle and his voice low. He listened intently while stroking one side of an old-fashioned handlebar mustache. She noticed that the side he toyed with was slightly shorter than the other and wondered if it was due to his absentminded habit. Even sitting on the corner of his desk, Zeke was a large, imposing man. Instinctively, Aggie felt that he was a softie with a tender heart. His sympathetic demeanor and the understanding that shone in his eyes prompted her to confide in him, and she hoped he could give her the help she needed.
    Aggie spoke almost incoherently through the threatening tears. “ You see, I can ’ t get all of them ready on time yet, and so they end up missing school because I can ’ t take them all. I need at least a nine-passenger van, but really, with car seats and all, twelve would be much more comfortable. It ’ s what my sister Allie had, and I think -- ” She sniffed and tried to continue her explanation.
    Zeke cleared his throat and interrupted, “ Ma ’ am, I see you need the van. I understand you ha ve the money, but hon , we don ’ t have one that size, unless you want that shiny new one out there, and it has all that fancy, schmancy stuff you said you don ’ t want. Mighty wise financial decision, I might add. ”
    He paused and smiled at Aggie, who continued to fight tears. “ Now, sweetie, we can get you a twelve-passenger van here in a week, at the most two, but I ’ d suggest, if you want cargo space for grocery shopping and such, that you buy yourself a nice fifteen-passenger vehicle. If we take out that back seat, you ’ d have lots of room for storing things. Now, if you need one before next week, and it sounds like you do, I ’ d suggest you shop in Rockland. There are more options in the city, and I see why you need one quickly. ”
    The retired farmer-turned-used-car-salesman chuckled and snapped his suspenders against his chest. “ But as for the school problem, maybe you could just teach those children at home for the rest of the year; that way, you don ’ t even need to go anywhere for a while. It might work until you get a van anyway. Just tell them to bring their schoolbooks home, and then keep them going on their lessons until you get transportation at the least. ”
    “ I was trying to avoid Rockland. I actually live there now, but it ’ s so overwhelming. If you find something, will you call? I ’ d rather wait for you, I think. At least you don ’ t seem ready to talk me into something I don ’ t want. ” She stood to leave, offering her hand.
    Zeke walked to the door and opened it for her. “ I ’ ll be calling you when we get you a good one, and who knows, maybe it can be here before next Friday. ”
    Aggie gave a half-hearted smile and thanked Zeke for his time. She gathered her purse and moved toward the door in a slight daze. As she left his office, Zeke shook his head, and the corners of his mouth turned up in his trademark grin. Zeke Sullivan was quite impressed with Aggie ’ s determination. Her unique combination of grit and delicate femininity was a rare and lovely sight.
    Zeke ’ s words, “ Just teach those children at home, ” played repeatedly in Aggie ’ s mind as she started her little car and turned toward home. Before her sister ’ s death, she ’ d intended to begin teaching the following fall. If she could teach a class of twenty to thirty children, surely she could teach five. Even if only for the last quarter of this school year, it might be a lifesaver.
    Her education philosophy classes had debated whether the home schooling movement was a good thing. Aggie defended home education with the argument, “ The proof is in the pudding. ” She now thought that home schooling might just be an answer to prayer, but she was clueless as to