Down Jasper Lane (Amherst Island Trilogy)

He raised his eyebrows, his expression sardonic. “All high and mighty today, aren’t you?”

Miss Gardiner asked Ellen to stay behind and clean the blackboards, which seemed grossly unfair, yet she agreed to it with stiff-lipped politeness, and the McCafferty children walked home with Jed and Lucas.

By the time Ellen escaped the schoolroom, her scarf wound up to her nose and the red tam o’shanter Rose had given her pulled down over her ears dusk was falling and she was feeling thoroughly sorry for herself.

The walk home which she usually enjoyed with the others was cold and miserable by herself, with a sharp wind blowing right in her face, and the sight of the farmhouse, smoke billowing from its chimney, its windows twinkling with lamplight, did not cheer her. She felt, for the first time since her arrival, as strange and apart as ever.

She let herself in quietly, but Rose heard her and called from the parlor.

“In here, Ellen, dear. I’ve something for you.”

Another chore perhaps, Ellen wondered sourly, since this day seemed as misbegotten as it could possibly be. She opened the door.

“Surprise!”

Over a dozen faces grinned at her, all the McCaffertys and the Lymans as well, and Lily McAndrew and Johnny Spearson and others from school; even Captain Jonah grinned toothlessly at her from by the fireplace.

Ellen was so shocked she stumbled backwards and shut the door on the room. There was a moment of stunned silence, and then laughter erupted from the parlor.

“Come back in, Ellen, we won’t bite!”

“It’s your party, you silly goose!”

Blushing madly, Ellen opened the door. “You surprised me.”

Jed guffawed. “So it seems. You’re the daftest person I know.”

“And you’re the rudest,” Ellen shot back, but she was grinning, for she realized that surely the only way the McCaffertys would have known it was her birthday was if Jed had told them.

Peter tugged on her sleeve. “Come see the presents, Ellen! And may I open one? Just open, I mean. I won’t take it.”

Laughing, Ellen followed him to a table heaped high with paper-wrapped parcels. She’d never seen—much less received—so many presents. Amazed and humbled, as well as a bit sheepish about her earlier surliness, she handed one to Peter to open, and he tore into it with relish.

So many wonderful things! There was a new sketchbook and fresh pencils from Dyle, who winked knowingly, even though Ellen had never told him about her drawing. There was an apron with lace edging from Rose, and silk hair ribbons from the girls, and a big bag of mint humbugs from Peter who asked hopefully if she would share. Blushing, Lucas handed her a thin, flat parcel; Ellen opened it and saw it was a book of printed reproductions of famous paintings.

“Inspiration,” he explained with a self-conscious smile, and touched, Ellen thanked him.

“And there’s something in the kitchen,” Rose said, her eyes glinting. “And I think I can hear it!”

Mystified, Ellen went towards the kitchen. The door was closed, and she heard a scratching sound, followed by a faint whining.

Puzzled and a bit alarmed, she opened the door and a black, long-eared puppy fell upon her with velvet paws.

“A dog!” she exclaimed, caressing the silky head. “But how...?”

Everyone had followed her out into the hall, and Rose clapped her hands in delight. “Jed thought of it. His hunting dog, Maggie, had pups in the summer, and they’re old enough to give away now.”

Ellen’s hand stilled on the puppy’s silky ears. “He did?” she said softly, but no one seemed to hear. As everyone trickled back into the parlor for cake, she searched Jed out, and found him loitering by the back door, hands thrust in his pockets, scuffing his boots against the doorframe. Her throat was suddenly tight, and she didn’t know what to say.

She gathered the puppy up in her arms, burying her face in the silky fur for a moment before she looked up again. “Thank you Jed,” she said sincerely, and was rewarded with an indifferent shrug that still didn’t dent her happiness. “Did you keep a puppy for yourself? For a hunting dog?”

He nodded. “One with white stripes.”

“What did you name him?”

“Stripes.”

Ellen gave a little gurgle of laughter. “Well, that’s rather original.”