“Ones about wars and bears and catching fish and boy things.”
“If I find you books like that, will you read more?” I asked.
He shrugged and wrinkled his freckled nose. “I could, I guess. Why do you want me to?”
“Because people who read a lot have more to think about.”
“I do like thinking,” Flynn said. “Mostly about building forts and catching fish.”
“While you’re doing those things or thinking about them, you can read about them. Won’t that be fun?”
“When you put it like that, yeah.”
“Yes, not yeah. Yeah is not a word.”
“But you knew what I meant, so how is it not a word?” He raised one eyebrow and smirked, so much like his father, I had to cover my mouth to hide my smile.
“I expect proper grammar from you, young man. Return to your seat, please.”
“Yes, Miss Cooper,” he said.
Harley’s sister was next. Poppy shared his same sparkle and pretty eyes as well as dark complexion. Skinny and petite for thirteen, she looked much younger than her age. Soft brown curls were pinned back with a bow.
“I’ve never been to school before,” she said before I could ask.
“Have you lived here all your life?” I asked.
“No, before this Harley and me lived in France.” She leaned close and talked just above a whisper.
“Harley and I, not me. ‘Harley and I.’ That’s proper grammar.”
She blinked. “Yes, Miss Cooper. Before this Harley and I lived in France with my dad and mom, but they died so we came to America to see about some gold or silver. But Harley didn’t find any of that because he says the mines are all mined out. He works for Lord Barnes and we moved into a cottage on the property and I keep house. Lord Barnes is very good to us. That’s what Harley says. Now I can go to school instead of making deliveries from the drugstore.” I might not have noticed the little shudder she made had I not been watching her so closely. I saw it sure enough, and I knew what it meant. My heart nearly stopped. I made a mental note to inquire about this drugstore owner and whether or not he always hired little girls to work for him. For a split second, I thought of my sister. I’d left her all alone in the slums where danger lurked around every corner.
“Miss Cooper, I have a secret.” She leaned close and spoke softly in my ear. “No one knows, but I already know how to read English.”
“Why doesn’t anyone know?”
“Because Harley can only read in French, and I don’t want him to feel bad.”
“Who taught you?”
“Josephine.”
Josephine taught her? When had they found time for that? “That’s great news,” I said.
“She lends me books, too, but that’s also a secret.”
“I feel quite sure your brother would be proud of you.”
“Josephine said you’re going to teach the townsfolk if they come to you.”
“That’s correct.”
“Would you teach Harley?”
“I’ll teach any person willing to learn.”
She smiled. “I’ll have to convince him. He’s stubborn as a mule.”