Simon nodded gravely, but a twinkle in his eyes hinted at his amusement. “I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree.”
“Would you like to attend church?” Pamela asked.
“My friends from school go there, so yes,” Louisa said.
“That’s a good enough reason,” Simon said, laughing.
Louisa’s gaze darted to Quinn. She’d obviously sensed she’d said something wrong but didn’t know what. Quinn gave her an encouraging nod.
“Louisa’s one of my best students,” Quinn said. “She loves to read.”
“Miss Cooper taught me. Now I can go on adventures whenever I want.”
“Isn’t that the very best thing about books?” Simon asked. “I have wanderlust myself, so books take me to places I’ll never be able to go.”
A light of recognition went off in Louisa’s eyes. “When Pa was real bad, I’d wait for him to fall asleep and then I’d read and forget all about my real life.”
“We’d like to give you a new home,” Pamela said. “One where you didn’t have to be afraid.”
“One where you could have a few adventures of your own,” Simon said. “Would you like to come live with us?”
“I can cook for you and keep house.” Louisa’s hopeful tone and earnest face were enough to break a man’s heart. “And take care of the garden.”
Pamela and Simon were silent for a moment as they looked to Quinn for help.
“Louisa, as a member of a family, you would have chores, as all children do. But it won’t be like with your pa. Pastor Lind and Pamela want you to be their child, which means you’re taken care of, not the other way around.”
“Pa said I had to earn my keep or he’d kick me out to get eaten by a bear.” Louisa’s bottom lip trembled. “What do I do at your house so I don’t get eaten by a bear?”
Pamela held out her hand. “Come here, Louisa.”
Louisa once again looked up at Quinn for reassurance. “It’s all right,” Quinn said.
The child crossed over to sit next to Pamela, who put her hand on top of Louisa’s head. “I’m going to promise you something, Louisa. If you’re our child, we won’t hurt you, and we’ll do our very best to protect you from harm.”
“But what will I need to do?” Louisa asked in a panicked, high-pitched voice. Her shoulders had lifted to her ears, and her gaze went from one of them to the other and back again.
“What specifically would you like Louisa to do?” Quinn asked.
Simon cleared his throat. “We expect you to be respectful and kind to us and anyone who visits. You’ll help Pamela by sweeping the floors and setting the table for meals.”
“Make your bed each morning. And help do dishes after supper,” Pamela said. “In the summer, you’ll help me in the garden.”
“Atten
d church, of course,” Simon said. “Keep up with your studies at school.”
“Keep your hair and clothes tidy,” Pamela said.
Louisa’s shoulders softened. “Is that all?”
“Yes, Louisa,” Pamela said. “That is all.”
“I love to work in the garden,” Louisa said under her breath.
“Do you really?” Pamela asked. “Because it’s my favorite pastime. I grow tomatoes, beans, squash, and cucumbers to make pickles.”
“What about potatoes and turnips?” Louisa asked.