“That’s not true. I listened to their counsel. I simply didn’t accept that they were right.”
“And you were wrong. Wrong in such a way that you lost your home, Father. Your home of over twenty-five years.”
“Only because Harrison wouldn’t cover the bank note. It was petty and childish of him. He loves seeing me humbled.”
“Why would he love that? Why would he purposefully seek to humble you when he’s the one who begged you not to invest in this last venture? Perhaps you don’t remember, but I was there when he told you how dangerous it was.”
“He’s always been an alarmist.”
“He’s always managed to come out on top with his investments.”
Her father looked at her, and his expression saddened. “So he’s convinced you as well.”
“Convinced me of what? The situation speaks for itself. The losses are indisputable. Uncle Harrison has had no call to convince me of anything.”
Her father shook his head. “He’s convinced my own children that I’m unable to manage my own affairs. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he were arranging to have me put away in a madhouse, and then what will happen to your poor mother?”
Susanna clung to her patience. “No one is trying to have you put away, Father. Uncle Harrison only wants you to come to your senses and learn to invest wisely before all of your money is gone.”
“I’m sure that’s what he told you,” he said, shaking his head, “but just look around you. He’s brought us here so that no one will realize what he’s doing. He will have his way unless I’m able to get together a sizable amount of money and find a reasonable investment. I’m sure I can earn back our home and clear my name. If only I can lay my hands on several hundred dollars.”
Susanna’s heart nearly broke for him. She gave him a hug and headed back into her living quarters. It felt like a hopeless cause.
That afternoon, Susanna put aside her concerns about her parents and focused instead on learning to make her first quilt block.
“This is a very simple block. A nine-patch,” Mrs. McGuire explained. “It’s an easy one for you to learn first. We’ll teach you a number of squares. They’ll all be different, and once you have enough, we’ll help you put them together for a sampler quilt. That way you’ll have something to look at when you decide you want to make, say, a quilt of all nine-patch.”
Susanna paid close attention as the women advised her on threading her needle, on taking the smallest of stitches, and on keeping a clean quarter-inch seam. By the time they took a break for a little supper, Susanna felt fairly confident of her ability to make a straight stitch line. When the end of the evening neared, she had made not one, but two nine-patch blocks.
“I’m amazed by how pretty they are,” Susanna declared as she finished ironing the squares.
“There are all sorts of tricks you can use with different fabrics,” Mrs. Lewis told her, stepping up to take the iron as Susanna finished. “I think you’ll find yourself quite good at this. You seem to take to it well.”
“I can’t imagine making my own big quilt, but I’m so excited to learn.” Susanna was already imagining the quilt laid out on her bed. She had so enjoyed this evening with the ladies from church.
Lia came to admire her pieces. “Are you glad you came?”
“Oh, yes!” Susanna held up her two squares. “I’m so happy.”
The ladies laughed. “I’ve never seen anyone quite so excited about a nine-patch square,” Mrs. McGuire admitted.
As the ladies gathered their things and the quilting party broke up, Susanna set her squares aside and helped Lia clean up.
“Where are your boys tonight?” Susanna asked. She couldn’t help but wonder if Owen might be with them.
“Owen and LeRoy took them fishing. I’m hoping if theycaught a mess, they’ll have them all cleaned before bringing them into the house. I don’t mind cooking them—fish fries up fast—but cleaning them will take much too long.”
“I’ll stay and help—but you’ll have to teach me how.” Susanna laughed. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve never learned anything useful. Growing up, I was taught piano and embroidering, but nothing practical.”
“Well, piano can be very useful for church, and embroidering is just fancy sewing. If you can do that, you can learn to make clothes. Just look at what you accomplished tonight.”
The sound of the boys returning caused both women to stop what they were doing and head for the kitchen. Lia was there first as the men entered with the fish. They had thoughtfully cleaned each one.
“These are ready for the skillet,” LeRoy declared. “And I think we’re all hoping for a bite tonight.”
“I’ll put them on right now,” Lia said, taking up the large cast-iron skillet. She put lard in the pan and added wood to the stove. “I kept the stove warm all night, so it will heat right up.” She looked over her shoulder at Susanna. “Want to stay and have some fish?”
“Please do,” Owen said from behind LeRoy. “I’ll walk you home afterwards.”