Kelly's Chance by Wanda E Brunstetter Read Free Book Online Page B

drawings with him. Chances were none of them had sold yet. By the time they did stop at Cooper’s General Store, Kelly thought she would have a few more drawings to give Mike, and hopefully he’d have good news about the ones he was trying to sell. In the meantime, Kelly knew she needed to be patient.
    “Patient and determined,” she muttered into the night air. The moon was full, and Kelly could see some distance ahead. They were coming to another lock, and Papa was already blowing on his conch shell to announce their arrival to the lock tender.
    Kelly looked forward to each lock they went through. It gave her a chance to rest, tend to the mules, or draw.
    She patted her apron pocket. That’s why I keep my tablet and a hunk of charcoal with me most of the time.
    Tonight, however, there were no boats ahead of them, and they went through the lock rather quickly. Kelly wasn’t disappointed. It was too dark to draw anyway, and getting through the lock meant they would soon be on their way.
    Kelly was hungry and tired. She could hardly wait to stop for the night. But she didn’t smell the usual aroma of food coming from the boat. It made her wonder if Mama was tired and had decided to serve a cold meal. Maybe cheese and bread, with a piece of fruit or some carrot sticks. Anything would taste good.
    When Kelly thought she’d die of hunger and couldn’t take another step, Papa hollered for her to stop. With her dad’s help, Kelly loaded the mules onto the boat, where they would be bedded down in the enclosed area reserved for them. If they’d been at a place where they could have stabled the mules, they wouldn’t have to go through this procedure.
    Kelly stretched her limbs with a weary sigh. “What’s Mama got planned for supper, do ya know?”
    Papa shook his head. “Your mama ain’t feelin’ well, and she’s taken to her bed. You’ll have to see about supper tonight.”
    Kelly felt immediate concern. “Mama’s sick? What’s wrong, and why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
    Papa shrugged. “Saw no need.”
    “But I could’ve come aboard and started supper. Maybe seen if there was somethin’ I could do to make Mama more comfortable.”
    Papa grunted. “It’s best you kept on walkin’. I don’t wanna be late picking up my load of coal in Mauch Chunk tomorrow.”
    Kelly stared down at her clenched hands as anger churned in her stomach. All Papa cared about was hauling coal and making money he never shared. Didn’t he give a hoot that Mama was sick in bed?
    Feeling as though she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, Kelly headed for their small kitchen. She would get some soup heating on the stove, then go below to see how Mama was doing.
    A short time later, Kelly and her dad sat at the kitchen table, eating soup and bread—leftovers from their afternoon meal. Kelly had checked on her mother and found her sleeping. She didn’t have the heart to wake her, so she tiptoed out of her parents’ cubicle with the intention of offering Mama a bowl of soup later on.
    “You’d better get to sleep right after ya clean up the dishes,” Papa said. “I’m planning to head out at the first light of day tomorrow mornin’.” He wiped his mouth on the edge of his shirtsleeve. “If your mama’s still feelin’ poorly, you’ll need to get breakfast.”
    Kelly watched the flame flicker from the candle in the center of the table. More chores to do. Just what she didn’t need. She’d better pray extra hard for Mama tonight.
    ***
    Mike had never been so glad to see his humble home. The time he’d spent at the Nelsons’ had left him feeling irritable and exhausted. Didn’t Betsy ever stop talking or batting her eyelashes? Reverend Nelson had acted a bit strange all evening, too. He kept dropping hints about his daughter needing a God-fearing husband, and he’d even asked Mike to sit on the sofa beside Betsy as they drank their coffee after dinner. Maybe the preacher was trying to link Mike up with