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.Linsky, but what did it matter when love was involved? Farming was not an occupation to be ashamed of, after all.As long as people had to eat, he’d keep selling his goat’s milk products, potatoes, and buckwheat to the markets in the big cities while he was able to keep up with the demand.He was confident he would be worth a fortune before long.She’d see.As the day got underway, the household woke and everyone started their daily morning chores.Seth and Timothy returned from the barn, washed up for breakfast, and then dressed for the day’s festivities.Catherine and Madeline helped get Sarah, Michael, and Robert ready for the trip to town.Maggie took care of the kitchen, and then gathered her hatbox full of lace she’d almost forgotten to take to the fair to sell.“Careful with those cherry pies, Seth,” Catherine cautioned on her way out the door to pack the buckboard.“I want a fair chance at winning the prize this year.Old Betsy Macken won it last year.With her being confined to her sick bed this year, I just might have a chance.I have one for the pie-eating contest and one for the auction basket as well.”“Oh? And who are you hoping will purchase your basket this year? Timothy Thompson?” Seth teased.“Of course not.Don’t be silly.Timothy only has eyes for Coreena Maison.If you must know, I really don’t care.I have school to think of.Not marriage.”“If you say so,” Seth quipped.Catherine hadn’t quite gotten over her crush on Zachery Lettington in Philadelphia.He enjoyed teasing her every now and then anyway.“And what about you?” Catherine threw back.“Going to try to win over the fair Anna Louise today?”“I’m going to enter the pie-eating contest,” Michael chimed in, making it unnecessary for Seth to answer his sister.“I hope I get your pie, Sis.It sure does smell good.You make the best cherry pie.”“Why, thank you, Michael.” She ruffled his newly clipped hair and beamed.“It’s mother’s recipe, of course.”The mention of their mother caused a strained silence from the Carmichael family now gathered around the wagon.Catherine lifted Sarah from her pram then rolled the small carriage over to Seth to load into the wagon.She drew her baby sister in for a hug to reassure her everything was normal.Seth liked that about Catherine.His sister had a way of comforting everyone without so much as a word.She’d make a fine teacher.Of course it went without saying they all missed their mother.No one had talked about her much since the day they’d seen her off at the station.“We need to talk about this, Catherine,” Seth said.“We can’t just go on thinking everything is jim-dandy around here without her.”“Seth.Not now.You’ll upset the boys.”“They know what’s going on as well as you and I.Don’t think they don’t.It doesn’t make it any easier for them.Does it boys?”The three younger brothers stood to one side of the wagon peering over the top of the railing at them, eyes wide, heads nodding.“Maggie is good to us, but we miss Ma,” Michael whined.The others nodded again.“I know you do sweetie.We all do,” Catherine confirmed.“But we must not dwell on it.So, Seth, get this pram loaded.I’ll go see what’s keeping Maggie and Madeline.”“We’re right here, we are,” Maggie Flanagan said, unaware of the exchange, her usual cheerful face aglow.“Here, Mrs.Flanagan, let me help you with those,” Seth offered.“Why, how sweet of you, Seth.Come along Madeline.”Madeline tagged behind dressed in red gingham with a flounce around the hemline, and a white bib-apron which wrapped around her body with a huge bow tied in back.Her matching bonnet hung around her neck, her red pigtails resting over her front shoulders.Unlike her mother, Madeline’s face lacked a smile.Seth figured the girl still hadn’t gotten over moving up to the country and living with strangers.“Somebody take a hold of Sarah while I place the blankets down on the seats so we’ll be more comfortable on the long journey into town.We can use them this evening when it cools and the children fall asleep on the way home.I’ve put pillows under the bench seats for later, too.”“Is there room for my boxes?” Maggie held a couple more boxes she’d run back in the house to fetch and was now clinging to tightly, her chin resting on the top box to keep it from tumbling over.“There’s plenty of room under the bench seats on either side of the wagon.We even have room for the pies, and the two large picnic baskets filled for lunch at the park,” Catherine said.“Good,” Seth said.“Let’s get it all loaded, and settle everyone in the back so we can get underway.”Catherine climbed up into the back of the wagon with Sarah and the others, leaving Mrs.Flanagan to sit up front with Seth.Once everyone was settled, Seth clicked the reins, and the horses maneuvered the wagon out of the yard and down the steep hill.Catherine started everyone to singing, and by the time they were half-way to town, Seth was pleased to hear them in a merry mood once again.Even Madeline had the makings of a smile.Yep.Catherine was going to make a good teacher if she ever got the chance.As Seth steered the wagon into the village and rounded the street next to McCarthy’s store, they fell in line with other families coming in from the countryside to join the festivities.Finding an empty spot next to the athletic field where the day’s events were already underway, he nudged his horses and wagon into the tight spot.A quick jerk on the reins and they were there.Seth jumped down, tied the horses to the iron ring in the hitching post, gave the horses a gentle pat on their heads, and then put a hand up to help Mrs.Flanagan down.Timothy, Michael, and Robert didn’t waste any time
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