The Unplowed Sky Read Free Page A

and speared another slice of ham. He had inherited railroad money and was interested in scientific farming, though the actual work was done by tenant farmers. He said nothing. Turning even pinker, Mrs. Raford raised her hand in a delaying gesture as Hallie started to sit down.
    â€œHallie, dear—out here it may be different. I’m sure you mean no impertinence, but we don’t sit down to table with ser—those we employ.”
    Hallie flushed till her body burned with surge after surge of pounding blood that also throbbed dizzyingly in her temples. “I—I—” The words clogged her throat.
    She swallowed, and her eyes blurred as she stared at the Rafords’ surprised faces. Could that be a hint of amusement—a sudden special interest—in the man’s eyes? Hallie longed to take off her apron and let them know she wouldn’t work for anyone who thought they were too good to eat with her. But she couldn’t. She had Jackie.
    Mrs. Raford said soothingly, “You’re getting good wages, Hallie, and a nice room. And we let you keep your—your little brother. It seems to me that this should be a perfect situation for you.”
    Hallie’s cheeks burned. She had never in her life been so hurt and angry. She wouldn’t sit with them now if—if they begged her! “I do appreciate your letting me keep Jackie,” she said and returned to the kitchen where tears came, despite of all she could do to choke them back.
    Somehow Hallie finished serving breakfast, put the dishes to soak, and went upstairs. Jackie was just rousing. He swallowed hard when he recognized her and a few tears edged down his cheeks, but he didn’t cry or make a fuss.
    Hallie bragged about him because he could almost tie his shoes. He was an appealing little boy with their father’s dark eyes and curly hair, which Hallie had so often wished she had inherited. Surely Felicity would change her mind, decide she couldn’t live without him, and come back.
    No, she wouldn’t. Felicity looked out for Felicity first; and the less Hallie thought about her, the better. In the kitchen, Jackie and Hallie had a good breakfast from the plentiful leftovers. Jackie wouldn’t put Lambie down, and he wouldn’t go outside alone. He stayed in the kitchen while Hallie did the dishes and dogged her steps while she hung out the laundry, ran the Hoover over the downstairs carpets, dusted, and made preparations for lunch.
    She had done these same things at the MacReynoldses’; happy to be useful, to cook food her employers enjoyed. Now, in her mind, was a hateful thrum: I’m a servant. A servant. I’m their servant .
    The Rafords were polite. They complimented her on lunch, extolled the roast she fixed for dinner. And so it went for two days. Hallie was thoroughly miserable, though she tried to be cheerful with Jackie and entertain him as she worked.
    He tagged her like a silent little ghost. She cursed Felicity and kept telling herself that he’d get over being so fearful once he could believe she wouldn’t leave him. Still, though she could manage the work with ease, this was not a happy house. Most of the time, it was very quiet. She could see why Jackie didn’t want to play alone in their room. The Rafords ignored him completely. He was a nuisance they put up with to have a highly recommended cook-housekeeper.
    Jackie deserved better than that. He needed more than that—and so did she! When she had saved up some money—maybe by the end of summer—she would take Jackie to town and hunt another job.
    Hallie didn’t last the summer. She didn’t last a week. On the fourth morning, hands closed on her shoulders while she was fixing breakfast. Before she could move, Mr. Raford swung her around. He kissed her full on the startled lips, smothering her cry.
    Then he moved away and gave her that lazy, big-cat smile. “My wife has a headache. She