Saturday Snippet: I Might Have Laughed

Today's Saturday Snippet is taken from

Mail-Order Barber

Mail-Order Husbands-Hopeful Husbands, Book 29

by Zina Abbott 

 

           Now, that loft would become useful for another purpose. Assuming she and Mr. Delaney could find a barber willing to agree to their terms, he could use the loft as his sleeping quarters and a place to store his clothing and personal belongings. The potbelly stove on the main floor Edward used for heating could also provide hot water for washing and perhaps morning coffee. Other than offering for him to take his meals in the house with her and Tobias, Rowena could enjoy the privacy of her own home.

          “Mama! Mama! Wait up!”

          Upon hearing Tobias’s voice behind her, Rowena turned around. “Tobias! Why are you home for lunch so early?” Fists against each side of her waist, she leaned slightly forward. “Did something happen at school?” Please say you did not get into trouble with the teacher.

          “No. Mrs. Chamberlain let us out early for lunch, Mama.” Tobias shrugged. She said the way we were all behaving, she needed to take a breath. Something about spring fever, but I think it was mostly Mick O’Malley mouthing off after Andy teased him about having trouble with his reading out loud. Mick threatened Andy, said he’d catch him later and make him pay. That’s when Mrs. Chamberlain said she felt a case of the vapors coming on and told everyone but Mick and Andy to leave early for lunch.”

          “I see. To be clear, you weren’t saying anything rude to Mick, were you?” Dropping her hands to her sides as she straightened, Rowena pressed her chin against her neck and gave her son a pointed look.

          “No. Well…” Tobias lowered his gaze to the ground and scuffed the dirt at the side of the road with the toe of his shoe. “I might have laughed. But I didn’t say anything bad to Mick. He’s twice as big as I am, so I don’t want him to beat me up. He’s too big to be in school, anyway.” Screwing his face into a scowl, Tobias huffed. “That’s what Andy says. Mick already turned fourteen back in January.”

          “If he was still thirteen when he started eighth grade, then it does not matter when he turned fourteen. He needs to finish the school year. You will turn ten on July fifteenth, so you will be almost fourteen when you leave eighth grade.” Gently raking her fingertips through his hair, Rowena softened her tone. Smiling, she watched her son’s gaze shift side to side while he considered her words.

          “Oh. I didn’t think of that.” Tobias wrinkled his brow and shifted his pressed-shut lips from side to side. “All I know is, Mick keeps saying he sees no reason to graduate from eighth grade. He plans to start working as a miner, just like his pa. He doesn’t need any schooling for that.”

 

My most recent release, Mail Order Barber,  is the final book in the Hopeful Husband's series. It is currently available as an ebook for purchase or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

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