Page 17 of Dancing On Air

“That’s fine, but we don’t have orchards,” grumbled Albert. “We farm the lord’s land. Our boys helped me plow and plant the wheat. These two are too young to do that.”

“Albert, please,” said Edna, looking like she was about to cry.

“I’m really strong,” said Bertram, stepping up to them. “I’m also almost eight. Did Lady Eleanor tell you that? I can be a lot of help. I know everything about planting and harvesting crops.”

“Do you, now?” said Albert, not seeming at all convinced.

“Bertram knows how to read,” said Eleanor. “And I’ve been teaching him to write as well.”

“Really?” Albert’s head popped up. Peasants didn’t have either of these skills.

“Did you hear that, dear?” whispered Edna. “We can’t read or write, so he might be a good asset to us after all. Especially at harvest time when we sell some of our own crops.”

“Well, I guess it’ll be all right. But I don’t see why we need both of them. That is just another mouth to feed.”

“Mr. Woods,” said the abbess. “It seems Lady Eleanor has made a bad decision. I suggest you only take the older boy.”

“Nay! I didn’t make a mistake,” said Eleanor, knowing how badly Edna wanted both boys. She had spoken to Eleanor for hours about it. She lost two sons, and the only thing that was going to help her get through this was if she had two boys to fill the void. Plus, Eleanor wanted the boys to stay together.

“Please, Albert,” whispered Edna, wringing her hands. “I know our sons are gone now and can never be replaced, but this will hopefully help me to be able to stop my grieving.”

“She’s right,” said Eleanor. “And Bertram and Hamlin are already like brothers, so it would be sad to split them up.”

“I agree,” said Edna, her eyes roaming over to little Hamlin. “Are you hungry, Hamlin?” she asked.

“We like pies. And cakes,” said Hamlin. “Do you know how to make them?”

“Why, yes, I do,” said the woman. “However, we farm vegetables and don’t have a lot of fruit for pastries.”

“I’ll be sure to send plenty of apples and pears from the orchards here at the abbey,” promised Eleanor, getting a scowl from the abbess, but she didn’t care. Her father had enough money that Eleanor would pay for the fruit herself if needed.

“What do you say about all this?” the abbess asked Albert.

“Well, I guess it would be nice to have two boys back in the house again. However, I want to make it clear that they will never take the place of our sons, Alfred and Simon.”

“Of course not, Mr. Woods,” said Eleanor. “And neither does anyone expect that. But in time, I am sure you will all feel like a family again.”

“Get in the wagon, boys,” said Albert, with a nod of his head.

“Can I ride up front and hold the reins?” Bertram was climbing up on the bench seat of the wagon before Albert could even answer.

“Mayhap he will be more help than I thought,” said Albert with a shrug, hurrying over to the wagon.

“Hamlin, come with me,” said Edna, holding out her hand to the little boy. Hamlin was reluctant, still clinging to Eleanor.

“It’s all right. Go with her,” said Eleanor, bending over and giving the boy a kiss on the cheek.

“Do I have to ride in the back all by myself?” asked Hamlin, looking frightened. Just then, a dog stuck his head up over the side of the wagon. “Is that a dog?”

“Why, yes, that is Roger, our dog. Would you like to pet him?” asked Edna.

“Would I!” Hamlin took off at a run for the wagon with Edna right behind him.

“Lady Eleanor,” said the abbess.

“Yes?” asked Eleanor.

“I have had several complaints lately from the townspeople about that boy Finnian, whom you placed with the butcher a few years ago.”