An Elm Creek Quilts Sampler by Jennifer Chiaverini Read Free Book Online Page A

decided?” She pursed her lips as if she expected bad news.
    “I’ll take the job, on one condition.”
    Mrs. Compson raised an eyebrow. “I already planned to feed you.”
    “Thank you, but that’s not it.”
    “What, then?”
    “Teach me how to quilt.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Teach me how to quilt. Teach me how to make a quilt and I’ll help you with your work.”
    “Surely you don’t mean it. There are several fine teachers in Waterford. I could give you some names.”
    Sarah shook her head. “No. That’s the deal. You teach me how to quilt, and I’ll help you take inventory and prepare the manor for sale. I’ve seen your quilts, and—” Sarah tried to remember what Bonnie had said. “And you’re in the QAS permanently. You ought to be able to teach me how to quilt.”
    “You mean AQS, but that’s not the point. Of course I could teach you. It’s not a question of my ability.” The old woman eyed her as if she found her quite inscrutable, then shrugged and extended a hand. “Very well. Agreed. In addition to your wages, I’ll teach you how to quilt.”
    Sarah pulled her hand away an instant before she would have been grasping Mrs. Compson’s. “No, that’s not what I meant. The lessons are my wages.”
    “Goodness, child, have you no bills to pay?” Mrs. Compson sighed and looked to the heavens. “Don’t let these somewhat dilapidated conditions deceive you. My family may not be what it once was, but we aren’t ready to accept charity quite yet.”
    “I didn’t mean to imply that.”
    “Yes, yes. Of course you didn’t. But I simply must insist on some sort of payment. My conscience wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace otherwise.”
    Sarah thought about it. “Okay. Something fair.” She wasn’t about to take advantage of someone who was obviously lonely, no matter how rude she was.
    They settled on a wage, but Sarah still felt that she was receiving the best part of the bargain. When they shook on it, Mrs. Compson’s eyes lit up with triumph. “I think you would have held out for more if you knew how much work there is to be done.”
    “I’m hoping that I’ll have a real job before long.”
    Mrs. Compson smiled. “Forgive me if I hope not.” She held open the door, and Sarah went inside. “Would you really have swept the veranda for free if I had asked you nicely?”
    “Yes.” Sarah thought for a moment and decided to be honest. “Maybe. I’m not sure. I’ll do it now, though, since I’m on the payroll.”
    “Let me know when you’re ready for lunch,” Mrs. Compson said, as Sarah continued down the hallway toward the front entrance.

Four
    A s she had promised, Sarah swept the veranda. When every dead leaf had been gathered up and even the corners were surely neat enough to win Mrs. Compson’s approval, most of the morning still stretched ahead of her. She decided to move on to the staircases, and swept twigs and leaves and crumbling fragments of mortar to the ground as she descended each curving step. Often she had to stoop over and pull up weeds and tufts of grass that had grown in the spaces between the gray stones. She hadn’t noticed the cracks and the scrawny pale shoots earlier, and she reminded herself to tell Matt about them. From the looks of things, he might need to replace some of the mortar, maybe even some of the stones on the lower steps.
    As she worked, the manor’s shade and a gentle southwest breeze kept the worst of the sun’s heat from troubling her. And as noon approached, she felt her thoughts unsnarling until she realized with a start that she was enjoying herself. If her mother could see her now. Sarah pictured her mother’s reaction when she learned the truth about her daughter’s new career, and had to smile.
    At lunchtime, Sarah returned to the kitchen to find Matt setting the table and Mrs. Compson stirring a bowl of tuna salad. While they ate, Mrs. Compson quizzed them on their morning’s accomplishments, nodding in