Getting to the heart of the matter

The schoolmistress let Joesephine stay inside while the others lolled under the redwoods and sat in the tall grass. She had been stunned into her own silence from her exchange with the girl. She decided that afternoon to make a trip to Jo's house and have a word with her parents. Esther had always liked Josephine's folks--they were kind and open-minded, and always listened to her suggestions.

Esther arrived at the Ayer's farm that Saturday, while Sarah was in the yard watering the garden and tending to the first green shoots of what might be peas. Sarah was bent over the tiny starts when she heard the sound of a single horse shuffling slowly up their dirt road. She stood erect and stretched out of habit--waiting to see who might be calling--hoping it wasn't another set of neighbors come to offer false consolations and baskets of food. When Esther's mottled mare came above the horizon, she felt relief, then tensed at the thought that this might be worse than a bunch of nosy neighbors.

Esther saw Sarah watching her approach, she waved and nickered for her horse to quicken her steps. Sarah waved too, then began walking toward her. Esther met Sarah at the gate to the house and dismounted her mare.

"Hello, Sarah, " she said with more gravity than usual.

"Hi Esther, how are you?" Sarah asked.

"I'm worried about Josephine," she blurted out before she even took a moment to hedge her concerns with small talk.

"Well, Esther...I think I know what you are getting at," she sighed, "let's go inside and have some lemonade--you can leave your girl here." Sarah stroked the horse's nose briefly, then turned toward the house.