Nobody Knows

2

"Harlan! Harlan!"

Harlan ran to the back door.

Cordelia Cary was a flutter of blushing nerves.

"Miss Cary," Harlan said, "do you want me to get Doc for you?"

"Of course not, Harlan," the silver-haired lady replied. "I want you to come in and give me your honest opinion."

Harlan stood on the steps. Now, it was his turn to feel the prickly needles of anxiety. He'd never crossed Miss Cary's portal. Nobody had, except Adelaide and Boomer, Miss Cary's maid and houseman.

"Uh," said Harlan, "I don't think I should come in, ma'am. I mean, I'm dirty from the weeding. Adelaide will have my hide if I track all this in."

"Nonsense," said Miss Cary. "She won't say a word to you. I promise. Now, you get your scrawny bottom right in here, and tell me what you think."

Harlan looked down at this shoes.

Caked in mud. His trousers were sheets of mud, too. He'd given no thought to letting the hose splash his britches legs. The cool water felt good as the hot sun burned down on him. But now, he saw the folly of a moment's pleasure.

He took a deep breath, trusted the old lady to protect him from the maid's wrath, and stepped inside.