lightning for what he did. He knew better. Looks like murder to me.”
“If you were God, how would you have handled it?”
Zack shrugged—his familiar response. “I’m not God.”
“If God gave all of us what we deserve, none of us would be alive.”
Travis couldn’t get another word out of Zack. He’d like to think his charge was reflecting on the morning’s Bible reading, but Travis had a hunch other more pressing matters raced through the boy’s mind. The boy’s heavy eyelids showed he hadn’t gotten much sleep during the night.
The closer they drew to the parsonage, the faster Zack walked.
“You must be powerful hungry,” Travis said.
“Sure am.”
“Do you want to walk back to the schoolhouse? This early no one should be about, and it’s been a long time since you were there.”
“Not today.”
Travis lifted his head and peered off in the direction of the school. He startled. What was flapping in the breeze? He stopped dead center in the middle of the road.
“Well, if that don’t beat all.” He chuckled. “Zack, take a look at that tree in the schoolyard.”
Zack stood beside him. “What is it?”
“Looks like somebody strung up a woman’s clothes in the branches.” Travis planted his hands on his hips. A woman’s unmentionables flapped in the breeze. Three pairs of them. “We ought to see what we can do about getting them out of there. Miss Scott will be real upset.”
“I wonder who did that.”
The way Zack asked the question drove an arrow of suspicion straight into Travis’s mind. “Whoever hung those clothes up there had to be pretty spry.”
“I imagine so.”
“Clever, too. But there was a sky full of stars last night.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I doubt if the culprit had any help. Probably did it by himself.”
“Most likely.”
They walked closer and spotted the reverend in the schoolyard. He stared up into the tree, obviously wondering how to retrieve the clothes.
“Morning,” Travis called. “Somebody’s been up to mischief.”
“If I wasn’t a preacher, I’d laugh,” the reverend said. “Best we set those clothes free before Miss Scott gets here.”
“Aw, leave ’em alone, Grandpa.”
“Now, Zack, I know you don’t care for the teacher, but she deserves your respect.” The reverend reached for the nearest branch.
“We’ll do that, Reverend. I don’t think Mrs. Rainer would approve of you climbing trees.” Travis fought an urge to laugh. He glanced at Zack, whose face was the color of a ripe apple. “Should we summon the sheriff?”
“Oh, we don’t need to bother him,” Zack said.
Travis swallowed another laugh, but he couldn’t let him get by with this. “So, Zack, how long did it take you to string up Miss Scott’s clothes? Now I understand why you’re tired this morning.”
Zack didn’t say a word.
“Did you do this?” the reverend said.
“Ah . . . yes, sir.”
Travis cleared his throat and focused his attention on Zack. “I wonder if that lightning bolt is anywhere close.”
Zack took a deep breath. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t for sure. Just guessed. But you’re going to bring down every piece of those clothes. Are they Miss Scott’s?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you steal them from her clothesline?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Not one bite of breakfast until you’ve finished and apologized to Miss Scott.”
Zack winced. “Do I have to apologize?”
Travis narrowed his gaze. “Do you really think I’d let you get by easily?”
“No, sir.” He sighed. “Can I wait until the other kids get here?”
Travis raised a brow.
Zack blew out an exasperated sigh and headed to the tree. Later Travis would have a good laugh. From the mirth on the reverend’s face, they’d both remember this prank for a long time.
Chapter 14
Bonnie slowed her mare as she neared the entrance to the Double H, Morgan and Casey’s ranch. She owed her sister-in-law a wagon load of apologies for the years of leaning on her and the rest of the family far too much. Guilt had kept Bonnie awake the preceding night, and it was time she did something about it. She’d apologized to Mama and Jenny, and she should have done the same with Casey that day, too.
“Mama, I like riding to Aunt Casey’s ranch,” Lydia Anne said. “Can we do this everywhere we go?”
Bonnie laughed. “Sometimes we must conduct ourselves like proper ladies and use a buggy or carriage, but we’ll ride together as much as we can. As soon as you can ride by yourself, we’ll come visiting Aunt Casey, and you can show her how well you can handle a horse.”
“Goody.” She tilted her head and looked into her mother’s face. “I’m glad you’re happy now.”