The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,58

pretended not to notice the indignation in the big boy’s voice.

“Oh, sorry.” He crawled down from the wagon to kneel near his wheel, pretending to inspect it as he gave Baby Boy the list Minna had put in his pocket. “Son, you run on over to the general store and start gatherin’ up your momma’s necessities while Pearly and I fix the wheel.”

Pearl Detter turned red in the face and wished he was a man grown. He’d bust Isaac Jessup in the nose for sure.

“It’s Pearl, not Pearly,” he muttered.

Isaac shrugged. “Sorry. I ain’t much good with names.”

When he was certain Baby Boy was too far away to hear, he gave the smithy’s son a steely glance. “I ain’t too good with names,” he repeated, “’cause I don’t think they matter all that much. My daddy always said it was what’s inside a fellow that makes him a man. It don’t matter how big he is, or how good he is with his fists, if he’s a coward, it’ll show. Somehow… someway.”

Pearl flushed. He recognized the rebuke. He would have liked to be angry, but was too shamed before this big, gentle man to make the effort. Pearl Detter knew the misery of being made fun of and he’d spent every day Baby was in school making sure his life had been hell.

Pearl ducked his head. “I s’pect you’d be right about that, Mr. Jessup. I’ll be gettin’ that wheel grease if you don’t mind waitin’.”

He ran back into the livery just as his father was coming out.

“Jessup.” Arnold offered his hand. “What can I do for you?”

Isaac shook the man’s hand. “I’m fine, Arnold, just fine. Your son is takin’ real good care of me and mine. He’s a boy to be proud of, I reckon.”

Arnold beamed. When Pearl came back with the bucket of grease, Arnold gave him a sharp thump on the shoulders and knelt to help remove the wheel.

“You’re sure right about Pearl, Mr. Jessup. I am proud of him.”

Pearl’s belly flopped. He felt like he’d swallowed a worm and now it was squirming on him from the inside out. When they’d finished with the wheel, Pearl dusted off his hands.

“Pa, can I go and say hello to Mr. Jessup’s boy? He sits behind me at school.”

Arnold nodded. “I reckon, but you hurry on back. There’s still work to be done.”

When Pearl darted off toward the store, Isaac suffered a spurt of worry then let it settle. Whatever happened now was up to the boys. He’d interfered all a man should in a case like this.

Baby Boy was leaning on the counter, watching the jar of peppermint sticks next to his left ear as if they might suddenly jump into his mouth. And because he was staring so hard at the jar, he missed seeing Pearl Detter come into the store.

“How you doin’, Baby?” Pearl asked, and then took a couple of steps back just to prove he meant no harm.

Baby Boy pivoted, and looked toward the door. Pearl was too close, and it was too far away to make a run for it.

“Your pa is talkin’ to my pa,” Pearl offered, and then stared at the candy jar for something to do.

Baby Boy thought about running anyway, then doubled his fists and stood his ground. Whatever happened, it couldn’t be too bad with the storekeeper nearby.

Pearl dug in his pocket. “I came to get myself a sweetie.”

Baby glared and pretended he didn’t care that Pearl Detter had two whole pennies to call his own.

The storekeeper was in the back room weighing Minna Jessup’s flour into a sack. “Mr. Calley, I’ll be gettin’ myself two of these here candies,” Pearl shouted.

While Baby looked on, Pearl plunked down a penny and dug two of the biggest sticks of candy out of the jar. To Baby’s surprise, Pearl shoved the biggest stick in his face.

“Want one?” Pearl asked.

Baby didn’t know whether to say thank you, or wait for Pearl to ram it up his nose.

Pearl persisted. “So, do you want it or not?”

Baby wasn’t giving in this easy. Not after what Pearl had put him through. “Why are you bein’ so nice?”

Pearl shrugged and stuck his candy in his mouth for lack of anything else to say. Reluctantly, Baby took the peace offering.

Isaac Jessup walked into the store just as Baby stuck the candy into his mouth.

“Hey now, Baby, I didn’t say you could have one of those.”

“It’s my treat, sir,” Pearl said, and ducked his head. “I

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