“He’s lovesick. When you ran out on him, it broke his heart,”Bettysaid.
“I had to go, I had to—” Daisy stopped short. If she wasn’t careful, she’d reveal her brother’s secret. It didn’t matter that he’d already made it to Canada safely. If their father found out where he was hiding, he’d find a way to getathim.
“I don’t know if Greg’s going to want to see you,” Betty said. “He only comes out for meals and even then I have to coax him outsometimes.”
“I didn’trealize…”
“I can see why he’s been so upset since you left. During the time you were here, you were always quick to help around the house and in the fields. You’re a hard worker, much harder than your friends,”Bettysaid.
“They tried to work the best they could,” Daisy said, knowing full well that it was a lie. Well, maybe River put his back into it every day, but Meadow certainlyhadn’t.
“Would you likesometea?”
“I’d rather go back and see if he’ll talk to me,”Daisysaid.
“All right. But don’t be surprised if he’s a little…hostile. Last door on theright.”
Daisy frowned as she wandered down the long corridor. She’d never been past their living room. The overwhelming use of wood extended to the back of the house. It was a wonder they had any forest left. They’d had to have used half the trees in the woods toconstructit.
When she reached the end of the hall, she faced the door to Greg’s bedroom. It was shut tight, so she gently rapped on theframe.
“Go away,” Greg bellowed from theotherside.
“It’s… it’s Daisy,”shesaid.
Silence. The tick of the grandfather clock in the living room echoed down the hall. She waited, hoping that he’d at least let her speaktohim.
“I know you’re upset that I left,” she said. “But Icameback.”
She waited, but again, nothinghappened.
“Please open the door,” shecalled.
She listened intently for any indication of movement inside the room. Nothing. Frustrated, she knockedagain.
“I just need a minute. I need to apologize for leaving without telling you goodbye. It was wrong. I know that now. I was so caught up in making sure that we got my brother to... that we took care of what he needed to do to keep him safe. I was blinded by my mission and I made a terrible choice,”shesaid.
She sighed. He was so damn stubborn, but she wasn’t about to give up. If she had to sit outside his door for the rest of the day, she would. But before she could begin a vigil, Betty ambled downthehall.
“While you’re waiting for him to come out of hiding,” she said. “Why don’t you join me in the kitchen for somehuckleberrypie?”
Daisy bit the edge of her lip. He’d have to come out at some point. She hadn’t eaten much since she’d left Canada. The rumble in her belly made the prospect of some of Betty’s delicious pie even moreappealing.
She trailed her down the hall and into the kitchen. As she settled into a chair, Betty pulled a fresh-baked pie from the oven. Bubbling purple huckleberries pushed against the thick crust, breaking through and spilling over the sides inplaces.
“This one’s a bit of a mess,” Betty said. “I think Ioverfilledit.”
“It looks wonderful,”Daisysaid.
“I hope this doesn’t spoil our lunch.” Betty placed the pie on a pair of trivets in the center of the table. “But how can I resist it when it’s just come out oftheoven?”
“I know what you mean,” Daisy said. “A good home-cooked meal is something I used to take for granted. Now I know how much of a blessing it truly is. I guess I take a lot of things forgranted.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Greg is acting like a kicked puppy. He’ll comearound.”
“You seem so sure of it,”Daisysaid.
“Of course I am, dear. A man wouldn’t put himself through that much suffering over someone he didn’ttrulylove.”
