The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [24]
Aaron, Mark, and Davis presented him with a new pocket-knife, and Evan made a fuss, turning it over and over in the palm of his hand. With a grin and another thanks, he stuck it in his pants pocket. This family knew what pleased each other.
John stood, then sat back down. His forehead wrinkled. Studying him caused Bert to fear the worst. What if he’d learned the truth about her and was about to tell his family? But surely he wouldn’t do that on Evan’s birthday.
He cleared his throat. “When I purchased Uncle Parker’s ranch, I decided when each one of you became eighteen, I’d give you a homestead of your own to do whatever you like—even if it meant selling it back to me at a fair price. Evan, I’m giving you one hundred sixty acres and ten cows.” He stood again and took two steps to shake Evan’s hand. “Your acreage is a new piece on the northeast section of our ranch. I bought it from the Wide O.”
Silence filled the room. Evan swallowed hard, no doubt to keep the tears from dripping over his cheeks. Bert glanced at Leah as the woman dabbed at the wetness beneath her own eyes. How strange, this moment. If any of Bert’s brothers received a birthday gift, it was stolen.
“I don’t know what to say,” Evan said. “You’ve been more than generous by offering to help pay part of the fees for school. Thank you, John. I’ll make you proud of me.”
“You already have.” John hugged him, and this time it was Bert who turned her head to keep the tears from dripping over her cheeks.
A few moments later, Leah asked for their attention. “Bert has something special for Evan.” She nodded at Bert. “Go ahead, dear.”
With numb feet and her head spinning, Bert retrieved the fiddle from atop Leah’s bed. She returned, her heart pounding as hard as when she thought Leon planned to hang her.
“No one’s picked that up since Pa died,” Evan said.
“I can play some, and I hope none of you mind since it belonged to your pa.” She tucked the fiddle under her chin and clenched her fist to stop the shaking. “Here’s my gift to you. Happy birthday, Evan.” Closing her eyes, Bert hoped the short song would be pleasing to all of them.
This is your birthday, and a fine one too.
It marks a time of being grown
The new things you can do.
Boyhood pranks are behind you now
But still you have your dreams,
You’re one step closer to chasing them down
By crossin’life’s new streams.
Once she finished and glanced at Evan, he turned bright red. “That’s beautiful. Where did you learn the song?”
“She makes them up,” Leah said. “I learned the other afternoon that all Bert has to do is hear a tune, and she knows how to play it. And, like Evan’s birthday song, she makes up the words too.”
“If I’d have known she could entertain us, I might have asked her to play in the evenings,” John said. “I’d forgotten how much I missed the fiddle.”
“You’re welcome.” Bert did her best to swallow the lump in her throat.
“I do say this is the finest birthday a fellow could ever have.” Evan glanced around the parlor. “All of you have made this special. I hope when your birthdays come along, I can do the same for you.”
Bert returned the fiddle to the bedroom, still nervous, but not as much since the Timmonses appeared to enjoy her song. She set the instrument on Leah’s pretty blue and yellow quilt when she heard a sound. Whirling around, she saw John standing before her.
“That was a fine thing you did, Bert. I know Evan will never forget it, and I won’t either.”
The words to respond tried to stick in her throat, but she willed them out. “I’m beholdin’ to your mama for letting me play your pa’s fiddle. It’s the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen.”
“And I hope you’ll play and sing for us a whole lot more. I really enjoyed it.” He smiled, and she felt her insides jiggle.
“I also appreciate the way you’re helping Mama. She’s taken to you, and all of us like to see her happy.”
“Thank you.”
He moistened his lips and appeared nervous. “Just wanted you to know how we feel about your friendship and hard work.”
Anything John Timmons wanted her to do,