To Honor and Trust by Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller Page B

bedrooms.”
    Callie nodded. “And don’t forget to ask Lula if Mrs. Bridgeport plans on your going over to Biscayne this afternoon.”
    â€œThat I will. You children have a fine day.” Maude waved toward the girls before she turned on her heel and strode from the room.
    Callie sat down beside Lottie and quickly checked her answers. “That looks perfect. And your coloring is quite lovely, Daisy. I think that picture should be hung on the wall.”
    Daisy clapped her hands. “Maybe Thomas can make a frame for my picture. Could you, Thomas?”
    He shrugged. “If Miss Callie says we can go look for some wood.”
    â€œI’ve planned for us to take the bicycles and ride around the island to look for indigenous plants.”
    Daisy waved her crayon in the air. “What’s an indignant plant?”
    Callie chuckled. “The word is indigenous , and it means plants that are native to Bridal Veil Island. Plants and trees that we don’t find in Indianapolis.”
    â€œLike the live oaks? We don’t have those at home.”
    â€œExactly. That’s excellent, Lottie. Do you remember why those trees are called live oaks?”
    She bobbed her head. “Because they stay green all year long.”
    â€œRight! You did a good job remembering what you learned last year.”
    Daisy pushed her lower lip into a pout. “I ’membered, too, but Lottie said it before I got a chance.”
    â€œWell, I’m proud of you, too, Daisy.” Callie tousled theyounger girl’s blond curls as she glanced toward Thomas. “Why don’t you girls go downstairs and see if Maude will help you bring the bicycles from the rear garden out to the front of the house? I think Thomas will be through with his algebra by the time you’ve brought all four bicycles around.”
    The girls jumped up from their chairs, clearly eager to spend time outdoors on such a beautiful morning. “I’ll tell Miss Maude.” Daisy elbowed her sister on the way out the door.
    â€œNo, I will,” Lottie countered, pushing ahead of Daisy.
    â€œNo arguing, or we won’t be able to go,” Callie called after them. All sounds of their bickering ceased, but Callie guessed they’d simply lowered their arguing to whispers.
    A short time later, Thomas looked up from his worksheets. “I’m finished. Do you want to check them before we go?”
    Callie grinned. “You know I do.” She took the paper from him and scanned his answers. “Wonderful, Thomas! I do believe you’ve gained a good understanding of algebra. And there’s nothing like the lure of the outdoors to get you moving along on your schoolwork, is there?”
    He nodded and headed toward the door, his long-legged stride outdistancing Callie. “I’d rather be outside than anywhere else. Of course, I’d rather not have the girls along, but if that’s the only way I can get out of this classroom, then I won’t object.”
    Callie retrieved her straw hat, and soon the four of them were bicycling along a path that would lead them away from the cottages to a more secluded portion of the island. During their previous winters on Bridal Veil, Callie had explored portions of the island, but with more than four thousand acres on the fifteen-mile-long island, there were places she’d not yet seen. And the children were always interested in discoveringnew and different areas during their outdoor adventures with Callie. Sometimes they explored the river side of the island and at other times the area that bordered the Atlantic Ocean.
    Today, however, Callie thought they would attempt to locate some plants and trees that might be different from any they’d previously discovered. Thomas had taken the lead, with the two girls and Callie following close behind. “Stay on this path, Thomas. I don’t want to go toward the ocean.”
    He glanced over his shoulder.