Somebody Wonderful by Kate Rothwell Read Free Book Online Page A

why.”
    Timona stopped chewing when she saw that Mick was watching her, Timona, with narrowed eyes.
    “Miss Calverson, don’t you be thinking Tucker is some kind of drunk just cause he’s got no work and is poor,” Mr. McCann said in a low voice that only she was supposed to hear.
    Honestly, he was touchy. She swallowed the mouthful of disgusting egg. “I didn’t think any such—”
    “Ma’am, my pa drinks because he is sick.” Rob must have overheard after all. “Mr. Mick, it was my fault. He woke in the middle of the night, aching something fierce. So he had me fetch his pipe and gin. I meant to stay awake but I fell back to sleep. Wasn’t his fault. Poor Pa is sick as they come, Miss Cooper.”
    Mick opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Jenny wailed, “Not so sickly. My Tucker is not so ill.”
    Mick handed her a handkerchief. “Jenny. It’s hard, but now’s the time we got to figure something out.”
    We, thought Timona. The man was wonderful.
    Mick spoke to Jenny. “You posted that letter to Tucker’s brother? Have you got word back yet?”
    Jenny sniffed and nodded miserably. “He’d be willing to take us on.”
    Rob, again acting as interpreter, explained to Timona, “Uncle Dave’s our only relative. He’s got a farm in Indiana or some such place. Out west of here. Chickens, I think.”
    “Turkeys. Horrible birds.” Jenny clicked her tongue. Her thick, dark eyebrows knit into a scowl. “I hate to leave New York. Won’t be no good for Tucker neither.”
    “The children, Jen,” Mr. McCann stroked her shoulder. “They’re your first worry and this is no place for them. Look, love, you have had a long night. What do you say you go back to the widow’s for a rest, and to see how Tuck is faring. He’d want you there, and anyhow, I don’t suppose your young Sarey’s up for much nursing. I’ll just get Rob another cup, and we’ll chat until he has to go to work.”
    Jenny nodded and pushed back her chair.
    Mick got to his feet, too. He picked up her shawl from the floor, and handed it to her.
    A gentleman. Timona couldn’t remember the last time she watched someone perform an act of kindness without expecting a tip or some other, less tangible reward.
    Jenny wrapped the shawl around her plump, disheveled figure. “I’ll go to Tucker. Nice to meet you, miss. Thank you for your help.”
    Timona stood, and offered Jenny her hand. “I am very glad to meet you too, Mrs. Tucker. And thank you again for the use of the gown.”
    Jenny shook her hand, looked her up nd down, and smiled. “Looks pretty on you, I’d say, Miss Cooper. Suits you.” She looked at Mr. McCann. “Much prettier than . . . well, least said, soonest mended.”
    Mick’s mouth went tight, and Timona guessed she was talking about Daisy. She’d never competed with another woman before, but she would imagine the good opinion of friends would help her cause.
    She sat back down and watched Jenny trail out the door.
    Mick cleared his throat. “Begging your pardon, miss, but I should talk to Rob for a few minutes.”
    “Ah.” She stood up again and wondered where she should go.
    “No, Mr. Mick. It’s fine for her to be here. Go on. I suppose I know what you’ll say.”
    “Aye, well.” Mr. McCann turned away from Timona. He put a large hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Rob. I’d say it’s a matter of days. Maybe weeks at most. Tucker’s not going to be with us much longer. When I took a look at him just now, I couldn’t rouse him. His heartbeat’s even more irregular, too.”
    Timona gasped, but the boy only nodded, and frowned down at his hands encircling the white coffee mug.
    Mr. McCann kept his hand on Rob’s shoulder. Timona strained to hear his soft voice. “Thing is, when he goes, Jenny might not do so well for a while. Maybe a long while. She must know he’s dying, I tried telling her, so has Dr. O’Toole. But she won’t, she can’t . . .”
    For a moment, the unflappable Mr. McCann stopped