Autumn drifted into winter, and Sharps kept his eye on the people who’d become like family to him. Mrs. Hall, her husband, and her brothers moved into a larger house just outside town that suited the five of them, while Sharps, Steve, and Frank shared a house a little distance away. Both properties had stables large enough for their horses and the mules Bart and Mrs. Hall planned to keep to till the land.
They all found things to keep them busy during the long winter months, including exercising the animals.
Bart found some odd jobs as a carpenter and began building a reputation for himself. His wife helped Mrs. Fox with her students. The widow’s pregnancy was hard on her, and there were days she wasn’t able to teach at all, so Mrs. Hall took over. When Sharps heard tales of how easily s
