He still thought she was the prettiest girl he’d ever known. Her black hair turned almost blue in sunlight. Her dark eyes were deeper than the starry sky. She flashed a smile brighter than the sun. Will wished she’d smile at him more often.

Will would fight any man who wanted Maria for a wife. Only if she loved the man would Will let her wed. And then, only if the man were good enough for her.

Chapter 7: An Uncertain Future

On Friday afternoon, April 1, Will came home from the academy in bad humor, as he had earlier in the week after seeing the poor grade on his essay. Last night, he’d forgotten an algebra assignment, and the teacher ridiculed him in class today. It was just a mistake—he didn’t forget assignments often. The teacher made him stay after school and do the problems before he left. And he still hadn’t told Mama and Pa about the essay.

When he got home, he found Maria in tears. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I can’t find the horse you gave me. I lost it.”

His school problems seemed less important as he put an arm around her shoulders. “I can make you another.” Though the next horse probably wouldn’t be as good. He discovered the animals as he carved the wood, and every piece of wood was different. But he could whittle her something new.

“Thank you,” she said, stifling a sob. “But the first one was so nice.”

The evening meal was glum. The whole family debated where Maria’s horse might be.

“It’s only a silly carving,” Cal said.

“Maybe to you,” Maria retorted. “But Will gave it to me. I loved it.”

Later that evening, after the younger children were in bed, Will, Maria, and Cal sat with their parents in the parlor. Maria took her usual chair near the fireplace. “Ouch,” she exclaimed after she sat. She stood and picked up the seat cushion. “It’s Shanty,” she said, holding up the missing wooden horse.

“April Fool’s,” Cal crowed. “I hid it.”

“The tail broke off.” Maria picked up the tail from under the cushion and cradled the two pieces of Will’s carving in her hands.

Distraught at seeing his hard work damaged, Will examined the figurine. The tail had snapped off cleanly. “Maybe I can glue it back,” he said to Maria.

“I’m sorry,” Cal said. “I didn’t mean for it to break.” His exuberance shifted to a remorseful tone.

Will’s temper flared at Cal’s heedlessness. “Saying sorry isn’t enough,” he hissed. “I worked hard on that horse. I made it for Maria.” His fist shot out and cracked against Cal’s cheekbone.

The younger boy fell to the floor.

“Will,” Pa shouted. “Go to your room.”

Will hesitated, already repenting his action.

“Now,” Pa said.

As Will turned to go, Mama knelt beside Cal. “It’s not even cut,” she said. “But it’ll bruise. Let’s go put some meat on it.” And she led Cal toward the kitchen.

Once in his room, Will threw himself on the bed. He’d seen Maria’s reproachful stare after he hit Cal. He hadn’t intended to hit his brother. But Cal’s foolish act damaged Will’s gift to Maria, a gift she treasured.

How could he and Cal be brothers? Will wondered, as he often had over the years. Cal ambled blissfully through his days, not caring what happened. Will cared about everything.

He remembered when Cal was born. Until then, he’d been the only boy. Maria had been there, but she was a girl. And she was adopted. Will was Mama’s firstborn, her real child, and that made him feel special.

Then Cal came. After Cal was born, Will watched his parents smile at each other and down at Cal as if the baby were the only child in the world. Will felt left out of their triad, distant from his parents and their newborn. Maybe that’s when he decided it would be him and Maria against the world. Cal was the interloper, the one who stole Will’s parents.

Mac followed Jenny and Cal into the kitchen. “Let me see, son,” he said, tipping Cal’s chin to inspect the injured cheek. It was already swelling—the boy would have a shiner for sure. “It’s a whopper,” he said. “But it’ll heal.”

Jenny put a piece of steak on Cal’s cheek. Cal whimpered when the meat touched the bruise. Jenny looked at Mac. “We need to talk to Will,” she said.

“I’ll do it,” Mac said.

“You gonna whup him?” Cal asked, his expression brightening.

“We don’t whip children in this family,” Mac replied. “But we also don’t hit each other, and Will should not have hit you.”

Mac climbed the stairs slowly, wondering how to talk to Will. He would have to get the older boy to apologize to Cal. But there was a bigger issue. What were he and Jenny to do with Will? The boy’s anger against Cal was out of place, but there was something more going on in Will’s head, and Mac needed to find out what.

He knocked once, then entered Will’s room. Will lay on his back on his bed, staring at the sloped ceiling above his head. He sat upright when Mac came in.

Mac sat at Will’s desk chair. “Tell me why you hit Cal.”

Will blew out a long, slow breath. “I don’t know.” He paused. “I didn’t mean to hit him.” Will’s jaw jutted out, reminding Mac of Jenny when she turned stubborn. “But he ruined Maria’s horse. The horse I gave her.”

“He shouldn’t have hidden it,” Mac agreed. “It was a silly prank. But he did apologize.”

“So he gets off scot-free?” Will looked defiant.

“You didn’t give your mother and me a chance to punish him. Your fist did the punishing,” Mac said. “What more do you think he should have to do?”

Will stared at the floor. “I don’t know.”

They sat silently for a moment.

“What’s wrong, son?” Mac asked. “You haven’t been happy all year. I know school isn’t suiting you, but you need an education.”

Will shrugged. Then he reached under his bed, pulled out a wrinkled paper, and handed it to Mac. “I failed on the essay.”

“Failed?” Mac was shocked—the boy had written a fine essay. He read the teacher’s comments, then looked at Will. “This man doesn’t know what he’s talking about. A personal story about your experience is a fine theme for an essay.”

“Doesn’t matter to him.” Will sighed. “I want to quit school.”

“Seems you’ve done as much as you can at the academy. After seeing what this man said about your essay, I’d support your wish to leave the school. Though I should talk to your mother before we decide.”

“Thanks, Pa.” Will’s face relaxed.

“Are you ready for Harvard, do you think?” Mac asked.