Just Above a Whisper (12 page)

“What do you think this verse means?” Jace asked Maddie, leaning close to her over the parlor table.

“The first verse?”

“Yes, in chapter 3. Have you read that one yet?”

“I’m still in chapter 2.”

The two of them were reading in Genesis. They did at least a few verses each night, working their way through those chapters at Douglas’ suggestion and feeling amazed over all they had learned in a short time.

“How is an animal subtle? I’m not sure I get this.”

Maddie studied that verse as well.

“And he talks,” Maddie finally commented. “I’ve never been amazed by that, but I think I should have been.”

Jace’s head hurt a little. He was learning so much and was very excited, but it was all a lot of hard work too.

“Let’s just remember to ask Mr. Muldoon about these and not get bogged down.”

“Okay.”

“Or,” Jace amended, “we could stop and think about what we’ve already read.”

“And not just rush on,” Maddie confirmed, both remembering some tips Douglas had given them.

And so for the next 30 minutes they only talked about what they’d already read, planning to go to Douglas not just with questions but also with some ideas they both had as to what the text might be saying. And as always, they finished their study time with prayer.

“You’re to stay here at the bank and clean today,” Mr. Jenness said sternly to Reese, his wife’s words still ringing in his ears. “You’ll not disturb customers in any way. You’ll wash windows and be absolutely invisible. Do not talk to anyone or be in anyone’s way. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Mr. Jenness,” Reese answered readily enough, but her heart was sinking with dread. Not talking to the townsfolk was going to be tricky. She knew that even if she kept her eyes down, the people who knew her—and quite possibly even the ones who didn’t—would still call a hello to her or speak to her.

“Well, Reese.”

Already humming, she heard her name just moments after she began on the side windows of the building. She knew it was Doc MacKay, but all she did was glance at him.

“Hi, Doc.”

There was a moment of silence before the doctor said, “Does he want you busy?” He could not have missed the fact that she had not stopped working or even had eye contact with him for more than a moment.

“Yes. I can’t talk; will you spread the word?”

“I’ll do that, Reese,” he said, even as he struggled with what felt like an injustice. He’d been planning on stopping at the bank but changed his mind. He needed to have a word with Alison Muldoon first.

“What are you looking at?” Cathy asked of Doyle when she came to the store and found him at the front windows looking down the green.

“It’s Reese. She’s washing windows, but we’re not supposed to talk to her.”

“What’s that all about?”

“Oh, probably that Jenness. He has no control at home, so he wants to control things from the bank.”

“How did you hear about it?”

“Doc came by and told me she asked him to spread the word.”

“And just what is that girl supposed to do for dinner?” Cathy suddenly demanded.

“I had the same question, but I think Doc took care of that too.”

“Well, you just keep an eye out, Doyle,” Cathy warned. “If she doesn’t go somewhere, I’ll march a meal over there myself.”

“Switch to the front windows,” Mr. Jenness hissed at Reese just before dinner. “And get a move on it!”

Reese swiftly finished with the window she was on and climbed down from the ladder. She moved it to the front of the building, wondering what was suddenly so urgent.

Had she been given a moment’s reprieve, she would have noticed that Mr. Jenness sat very still at his desk. He had a letter in front of him that he’d read twice and was now reading again.

Mr. Jenness:

     
This letter is to inform you that my brother, Conner Kingsley, and his partner, Troy Thaden, will be coming to Tucker Mills on 16 August. They will arrive by train and wish to take up residency in the Kingsley house. If my memory serves, the bank has a key. Please make arrangements to have the house cleaned. Hire as much help as you need to get the job done before he arrives
.

     It’s been some time since anyone has visited the bank there, and Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Thaden are planning to stay for several months. A thorough look at the books can be expected, as well as a general measurement of the needs of the residents of Tucker Mills. In other words, we wish to assess all aspects of the Tucker Mills bank and see that needs are being met
.

     Please send word that you have received this letter. If you have questions, plan on discussing them with my brother. Thank you for seeing to this matter
.

Dalton Kingsley

Mr. Jenness sat back, his heart beating painfully in his chest. He sent his flawlessly written reports to Linden Heights each month. There was never a hint of a problem. Why would they come after all these years? He ran this bank to perfection. Why would they come now?

Mr. Jenness felt his heart speed up a little more. He told himself to calm down and breathe slowly, but it was proving to be impossible. He knew he’d done nothing wrong, but that wasn’t the point.

“Are you ready to go?” Mr. Leffler called, suddenly putting his head around the corner, ready to close the bank and have dinner at the tavern.

“Yes,” Mr. Jenness answered, trying not to sound breathless as he pushed himself out of the desk chair. He could feel himself sweating as he joined his teller at the door. He hoped others who noticed would blame it on the warm day.

“Why am I here for lunch?” Reese asked of Alison the moment that lady opened the door.

Alison couldn’t stop her smile.

“Don’t you know?”

“No.” Reese was grinning now too. “Mr. Jenness suddenly came out and told me to come here and eat.”

Alison laughed and pulled Reese inside.

“It was Doc’s doing. He knew Mr. Jenness wouldn’t think to send you to dinner, so he came here and checked with me and then told Mr. Jenness what he needed to do. Doc is respected enough in town to get away with it.”

“I could have gone home. Mrs. Greenlowe will hear of this and wonder why I didn’t.”

“Won’t you have fun explaining,” Alison teased.

Reese knew she’d been plotted against and laughed. She followed Alison into the kitchen to find the family gathered, waiting only on Douglas. He wasn’t long in joining them, declaring that he could smell the stew and fresh bread all the way from his office. He took his seat and smiled as they all bowed their heads.

“Not today,” he stated and waited for everyone to look up. “Today,
all
our conversation is going to be about things we’re thankful for. It’s too easy to bow our heads and recite words we say without thinking.”

“We’re not going to pray?” Peter double-checked with a perplexed furrow of his brow.

“We might at the end of the meal, but not right now. Will you please pass me the bread plate, Hillary?”

Reese wanted to laugh. She wasn’t all that accustomed to praying before a meal, so the shock for her was mild. The Muldoon children, however, looked as though their father had suggested something criminal.

“Who wants to be first?” Douglas asked as he buttered the bread in his hand.

“I’m thankful that Reese could join us,” Alison said, breaking the silence and smiling down the table at her spouse.

Douglas grinned back before looking to his children. They were still taking it in when Douglas said, “A verse on thankfulness works too.”

This got things moving. One by one the children chimed in with a verse or a word of thanks until they were interrupting each other. It made for a delightful meal. And Douglas remembered what he had said. When the meal was over, he asked everyone to bow their heads so he could pray.

“This is the key to the Kingsley house,” Mr. Jenness said the following morning, dangling the key but not handing it to her. “The house is to be cleaned from top to bottom. I want it spotless. You have a week.”

The irritation had returned the moment she stepped into the bank—it was swiftly followed by shock. He was holding the key out to Reese now, but she didn’t reach for it.

“What’s the matter?”

“A week?” she asked softly, her tone belying her severe gaze. “It’s the largest house on the green. It’s the largest house in town!” she amended. “And it hasn’t been occupied in all the years I’ve lived here.”