Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles Volume 4, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in the 1830s and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. This is the fourth in a series. Volume 1 was Amelia Changes Her Tune. Volume II was Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home. Volume III was Autumn Keeps Her Secret.
Esther did not notice that the flock of sheep seemed smaller when she arrived at the Fisher farm. But she was pretty shocked when she yelled for Sammy and as the door of the cabin opened, a sheep strolled out, and then another, and then another.
“What in the world?” Esther’s jawed dropped as she started counting sheep — six, seven, eight… “Sammy, are you in there?”
Eleven, twelve…
“Be out in a switch,” came the familiar voice from within.
Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen. Sixteen sheep!
“What are you doing?” Esther asked when Sammy’s face emerged behind the last sheep.
“I was lonely last night, so I invited them in,” Sammy smiled, as she adjusted her bonnet and pulled on her skirts.
“Didn’t your parents…”
“Know? No,” came the other voice, that of older brother Tristen, as he emerged behind Sammy. “And they won’t know as long as Sammy covers for me today.”
“Mama and Papa are down to the courthouse yesterday and today, on business for the farm. They left us in charge,” Sammy said.
“And you herded your sheep into the cabin?” Estel asked.
“It was her idea. I slept in the loft. Ain’t no sheep can climb a ladder,” Tristen said.
“I’d hate to see your floor,” Esther said.
“It’s dirt anyway, I’ll gather everything up real quick, and we’ll be off,” Sammy said.
The boys started walking toward the field on the other side of the barn.
“Hey, school is this way,” Esther said.
“But Samarai is this way,” Estel said, and they disappeared around the barn.
Esther frowned.
Now I’m the one worried about being late.
A few impatient minutes later, Sammy emerged from the cabin again and said, “Let’s go.”
“But the boys aren’t back.”
“And they won’t be. Tristen said they are going to the river after they take care of Samarai. I’m glad they like that bull. I’m scared of him.”
“But school…”
“That’s what I have to cover for. I guess you do, too. Let’s go.”
But Estel is the one who is going to help me at school. He’s the one who loves school. And now he’s not going?
“Tristen says boys don’t need school after they are 12. They have too many man things to do around the farm,” Sammy said.
“Like fishing and climbing trees?”
“I don’t know, I just figure we don’t have to look after them; they can fend for themselves.”
But can we fend for ourselves?
The two started for Gamble’s Mill along a horse path that bordered a field of hay, then veered left and split a field of corn. It joined a wagon trail that went south to the Black Fork at the new settlement Mr. Gamble had started.
As they stepped onto the wagon path, Sammy said, “Do you think the teacher will like me?”
“Not if you smell like sheep,” Esther joked.
Sammy rolled her eyes.
“No, really. What if the teacher is mean?” I think she will have enough trouble with the boys,” Esther replied. “I hear Tom and Jacob are both coming.”
“You’re right, she’ll probably wear out her switch on them. I hear she’s a mean old lady, never been married because no one could put up with her cackling voice,” Sammy said.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Tristen. That’s why he isn’t going.”
This is going to be worse than I thought.
“My Father says it’s someone from down near Mansfield, works at an inn. He didn’t say anything about being old, but he did say she was a Miss.”
“They all are if they teach,” Sammy said, “Unless they are a Mister.”
“Well, I don’t plan to get switched by her if I can help it. I just hope I can answer things right.”
“You’ll be fine, you’re smart, you just don’t know it yet,” Sammy smiled, then she pointed. “We’ll know soon enough. There’s the mill at the edge of those trees.”
