“Someone’s coming!” Beverly darted to the door and peered out. “It’s a carriage, no, two carriages.” The girl turned back to Hester who peered at her over the back of the sofa.
“Hello!” A familiar voice tumbled through the over grown yard and into the house. “Is anyone home?”
“Miss Polly!” Beverly raced out the door before Hester could call her back. “What are you doing here? Who are all these ladies? Is Alyssa with you?”
Hester chuckled at the girl’s assault on the old boardinghouse keeper. Carefully placing the tea tray on the coffee table, Hester twisted placing her feet on the hard wood floor and pushed herself upright. The next second she sat blinking as her head spun. She didn’t even remember sitting down.
“Come on in,” Beverly seemed to be inviting the visitors inside. “Hester, look who has come to visit.”
Hester tried to rise again, but sat back down abruptly.
“Are you unwell?” Polly hurried to the sofa, another older woman on her heels.
“Hester fell down the cellar stairs when she was looking for Jonas,” Beverly answered quickly.
“Dear heavens,” the woman with Mrs. Olson gasped. “Are you hurt?”
Hester looked up into dark eyes and smiled. “I’m afraid I bumped my head.”
“You should see a doctor,” the woman peered at her carefully. “Harlan, Harlan!” she shouted, making Hester cringe, as the woman hurried back outside.
“That’s Maud,” Polly said, more quietly. “She’ll ask her husband Harlan Dixon to fetch Doc Walker. You can’t be too careful with a bump to the head.”
“Mrs. Olson,” Mrs. August walked out of the kitchen drying her hands on a towel. “I’m afraid we aren’t in a fit state to entertain guests.”
“Good, because we aren’t guests.” Polly stood straight meeting the other woman’s dark gaze with bright blue eyes. “We’re the welcoming committee and volunteer house help. Becky told me that you barely made a dent in the work here yesterday, so we brought reinforcements.” The old woman’s bright grin left no room for discussion.
“Thank you,” Hester hurried to interject. “I don’t think I need the doctor though.”
“Harlan’s off to fetch the Doc,” Maud Dixon hurried back into the room, this time followed by the woman Hester knew as Becky, a short plump woman with gray curls, a stunning redhead, and three more younger women, one with gingery curls and the other two with dark brown hair.
“I’m Maud,” Polly’s friend grinned. “This is Mrs. Williams and her step-daughter Janine.”
Janine shifted a little girl on her hip and smiled around. “I’ve always wanted to see inside this house,” she said her dark eyes wide. “When we were kids Bruno offered to break in for me, but I was too frightened.”
“Janine, Bruno would have tried to fly if you had asked him,” the girl with the curls said flicking her skirt over worn riding boots. “He still would for that matter.”
“Well, I try not to ask him to do silly things for me anymore. I think he has enough to do with the sheep, me and little Alice,” she said.
“Sara, stop teasing Janine,” Maud scolded. Quil, do we have everything we need?”
“Yes mother,” the dark-haired woman offered looking around her seriously as if calculating something in her mind. “We even brought the paint that Mr. Payton ordered.”
Mrs. August gaped at the group of women in the parlor, unable to respond to the unusual collections.
“What do you need us to do first?” Polly turned to look around her. Although the house had been swept and dusted to some extent it needed a thorough scrubbing.
“I’ll start on the windows,” Maud offered. “Ruth you can help me.” Without blinking an eye, she grabbed the short woman by the arm and headed toward the window. “Don’t worry, I’ll show you how,” Maud added traipsing to the door.
“I’ll fetch the other supplies,” Sara smiled, “I think you’d better rest Hester. My father-in-law will have Doc here in no time.” The young woman grinned her green eyes dancing. “I have a feeling you and I will be good friends. We must be about the same age.” The young woman’s bright laugh filled the room as she strode back out the door.
“I don’t know what to say,” Mrs. August whispered looking at Hester for help, as the women all dispersed to various jobs. “What should I do?”
“Why don’t you put on the coffee,” Hester whispered back. “I’ll speak with Polly.”
Mrs. August stumbled toward the kitchen, too shocked to argue.
“I’m going to check on the goats,” Janine said dreamily from where she stood studying the stairs.
“I’ll come with you,” Beverly hurried to fall into step. “The goats have been very sweet.”
Polly smiled watching the two traipse out the door as Sara walked back in carrying buckets and cleaning supplies.
“Polly,” Hester called, walking to the older woman who stood by the door. “We certainly didn’t expect you and the others to come help with the house. What was your plan?”
“We’ll do whatever needs done. Some of the men folk will be along after school lets out.” Polly looked around smiling as Becky rejoined the group. “Becky, why don’t you see if Mrs. August can use some more help in the kitchen, you know your way around there after being here yesterday. Quil get some polish and start on the woodwork in the office across the hall.”
“Oh Hello,” Hyke stumbled into the room. “I came to see Hester. Are we having a party?”
Hester giggled. “Uncle Hyke, some of the ladies from town have come to help us get this house ship-shape.”
“Well isn’t that a treat?” The old man smiled walking to his niece. “How are you feeling?”
“Dizzy,” Hester admitted.
“Doc Walker will be along to see her shortly,” Polly interjected. “Harlan’s off to fetch him now.”
“You gave me a scare,” Hyke said, bending and kissing Hester on the top of the head. “I’m headed back down to that pit of despair,” he added. “It’ll be safe and clean when I’m done with it.”
“What’s all this?” Cecil walked into the room wiping
