Read A Quilt for Christmas for Free Online Page A

clumped down the aisle, swearing and pounding the floor with their heavy feet.
    By the time the service was over, the Starks had cleared out. There was no sign of them in the church yard.
    â€œThank you, Reverend,” Missouri Ann told the minister as she curtsied to him at the doorway. “If you hadn’t spoken up, they’d have hauled me back to that awful place, and me and Nance would never have got away.”
    â€œOh, don’t thank me. I wouldn’t have done you much good in a fight. But Print there, I believe he could have taken on the whole family and beaten them with one hand.” The reverend cleared his throat. “Such talk on this holy day. You must forgive me. Happy Christmas to you, ladies.”
    Eliza led the way to the sleigh, Missouri Ann and the children behind her. The cutter was designed for two, so it would be a tight fit. Just as they reached the sleigh, Print Ritter came up. Missouri Ann seemed tongue-tied, so Eliza said, “We are grateful to you, Mr. Ritter. If you hadn’t stood up beside Reverend Hamlin, I believe the Starks might have dragged Missouri Ann out of church.”
    The blacksmith looked uncomfortable. “I don’t like seeing a person mistreated, especially by the likes of the Starks. I’m glad you’re shut of them, ma’am.” He lifted his hat to Missouri Ann, who blushed and mumbled her thanks. “And I’m real sorry that Hugh got killed.” He didn’t look sorry. Missouri Ann thanked him again in a low voice, and he added, “If them fellows bother you again, you just let me know. I’ll take care of them.”
    â€œWe will,” Eliza said.
    The blacksmith glanced at Missouri Ann, but she was too embarrassed to look up.
    â€œYou think the Starks’ll join up with the Union and maybe go away?” Davy asked, when the five were crowded into the sleigh and Eliza had spread a quilt over them. The bricks for their feet had long since gone cold.
    Missouri Ann shook her head. “They’re copperheads!” she whispered, as if the words could not be spoken aloud.
    â€œYou mean they don’t support the Union?” Davy asked, astonishment in his voice.
    â€œThat’s what I’m saying.”
    â€œBut Hugh joined up with the Kansas Volunteers,” Eliza told her.
    â€œOh, Hugh was different,” Missouri Ann said. “Your daddy was a fine man,” she told Nance, who was cuddled in her arms.
    â€œMaybe his brothers will join the Confederate army then,” Eliza said.
    â€œThey’re too cowardly.”
    Davy laughed at that. “Papa says all the Confederates are cowards. That’s why we’ll beat them.” Then he added, “The Starks backed down awful fast when Mr. Ritter stood up to them.”
    Missouri Ann seemed to think that over and looked out at the snow-covered land with a slight smile on her face. The snow hadn’t started again, but the wind had come up, and the faces of the five were red and cold. “They got what they deserved.”
    â€œDo you think they’ll trouble us?” Eliza asked. “Maybe they’ll come looking for you at the farm.”
    â€œNot considerable trouble,” Missouri Ann replied. “They wouldn’t do that.”
    â€œI guess Mr. Ritter scared them away,” Eliza suggested.
    â€œIt ain’t that. They ain’t got the money to pay the mortgage, and they’re scared they’ll lose the place, poor as it is.”
    â€œSo we have nothing to worry about,” Eliza said.
    â€œOh, I didn’t say that. The Starks is too mean to give up. They’ll bother us some, maybe steal chickens or break down a fence. We have to keep a watch for them. But they wouldn’t burn down the house or steal me and Nance.”
    â€œAnd if they did, I’d go after them with Papa’s gun,” Davy said.
    Eliza turned to stare at her son, suddenly realizing he wasn’t a child