Traded for Two Mules, Maeve Entered a Broken Mountain Cabin—Then a Frightened Boy Called Her “Mama”
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Chapter 11 / 19
Chapter 11 - Spring on Black Pine Ridge
Winter ended.
Snow retreated from the valley.
Wildflowers appeared.
The children changed with the season.
Toby gained weight.
Tess laughed loudly.
Neither hid beneath the table anymore.
Maeve planted vegetables.
Gideon built a second bedroom.
One afternoon, Maeve found him carving something.
He hid it.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Poorly carved nothing.”
He smiled.
Later, Toby revealed the secret.
“Papa's making you a comb.”
Maeve's heart tightened.
Her mother's comb was nearly broken.
On Maeve's nineteenth birthday, Gideon gave her the new one.
Walnut wood.
Tiny flowers carved into the handle.
Maeve touched them.
“No one's ever made something for me.”
Gideon's expression softened.
May you like
“Now somebody has.”
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