Healed by Grace

by Jenna Brandt

  “I know that, but I’ve always respected your father as a mentor; I’m not willing to stand by and listen to someone talk about him like that. Besides, what I left out for your sake is that they obviously don’t know you, either. No one lets you do anything. You’ve always done exactly what you want to do.”

  “That’s not true. I wouldn’t be here in Myrtle Grove, if that were the case. Believe me, this is the last place I want to be.”

  Wyatt’s brows came together in a furrow. “Come now, it isn’t the worst place to be. Your cousins told me you had wonderful times here together growing up.”

  “Have you been asking after me?” Grace asked, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t go poking around in my past,” she snapped out, gathering the edge of her skirt, and pushing past him.

  “It wasn’t like that,” Wyatt defended, reaching out and gently grabbing her by the arm to keep her from escaping. “Hope and Davis were talking about your childhood antics after church. I didn’t grow up here, as my parents moved to Chapmin before I was born, so they were filling me in.”

  Grace felt bad, realizing that she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. It didn’t matter, though, she didn’t need Wyatt digging into her past. Some things were better left alone.

  “I have to go, Dr. Hammond. My aunt and uncle are waiting for me over by the wagon.” Grace pulled free from Wyatt’s grip, then turned and walked away. She didn’t look back; knowing she would only see a confused look on his face. It was better than having to explain the truth about why she was sent to live in Myrtle Grove.

  Chapter 6

  The broken look that had been etched across Grace’s face kept floating back into Wyatt’s mind. It had only been there a moment, but it was unmistakable. He wasn’t sure what the root of it was, but he was certain whatever happened to her had been profoundly painful. He wished he could erase the pain he saw there, but he knew that it wasn’t up to him. Sometimes things happened that changed a person forever, and no matter how hard they tried, there was no coming back from it. The war had been like that for him, especially at the end, when he was in the center of it all. Wyatt would never be the man he was before, and he needed to find a way to make peace with that fact.

  “You look upset, cousin,” Hope said, coming up beside him. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m just worried about Grace,” he admitted. “Something is wrong with her; I just don’t know what.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Do you know why she was sent to live with the Abernathys?”

  Hope shook her head. “I don’t have any details, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not sure if anyone does. Faith just told me that Grace needed a fresh start after the war.”

  “I can understand that,” Wyatt admitted. “But I think there is more to it than just that. She looks—haunted.”

  “That isn’t a very nice thing to go around saying,” Hope admonished. “You, of all people, Wyatt Hammond, should understand needing a fresh start after the war.”

  He felt warmth flood his cheeks as he looked away. His cousin was right, of course. He shouldn’t be poking his nose into Grace’s past. She didn’t owe him anything, let alone an explanation. Her past was her business, and he should respect her wishes and leave it alone. He wouldn’t want anyone pushing him for details about his time in the war. He had a hard enough time pushing the memories away without anyone forcing him to think about it.

  “Get down, Wyatt” he heard Michael shout from across the field. “Incoming.”

  Wyatt darted out of the way, pulling with him the wounded soldier he was treating. A cannon ball whizzed by, barely missing them. Two more flew by, knocking into nearby stacks of supplies and trees.

  “That was a close one,” Michael said, joining Wyatt as he continued to work on the soldier behind the protection of a nearby grove of trees. “You need to pay better attention out here, or you’re not going to last very long on the battlefield.”

  “Thanks for that word of encouragement, Michael,” Wyatt stated wryly, securing the bandage that was now wrapped around the soldier’s left arm. “You’re a doctor just like me, so don’t go around pretending you’re some tried and true career soldier.”

  “I never said I was, but I definitely listened in training more than you did. It’s why you’re lucky they assigned us to the same regiment. I might be the only thing that keeps you alive out here.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Wyatt said, then adding to the young man sitting on the ground, “We’re all done here.”

  “Can I go back to the battle?” the soldier asked, flexing his arm back and forth.

  “I wouldn’t recommend it. You risk making that wound a lot worse, not to mention the pain could cause you to pass out.”

  The young man jumped to his feet, picking up his rifle. “I don’t have a choice. We need to win this battle.”

  Before Wyatt could protest further, the soldier rushed off. Wyatt sent up a silent prayer, hoping the young man, who really wasn’t much more than a boy, wouldn’t end up meeting his death by the end of the battle.

  “I know you, Wyatt, and you can’t let that boy’s choice eat you up. We can’t save them all.”

  “Isn’t that our job though, Michael? We took an oath to save everyone we can, but I sometimes wonder if we can do that in a place like this,” Wyatt said, gesturing around at the carnage nearby, trying to block out the sound of gunfire and cannons going off.

  “You can’t dwell on things like that,” Michael said matter-of-factly. “It’s not going to do you any good.” Pulling out his map, Michael looked at it for several seconds, then pointed in the other direction. “It’s time to move on. We need to go check in with the captain and see where he needs us next.”

  “You ready to head over to my parents for lunch?” he heard Hope ask, causing him to return to the present.

  Wyatt nodded, just as Davis joined them. He tried to focus on being with his family, but no matter what he did, the memories from the war kept coming back. He hated that he was a hostage to them, but the truth was, he was alive and so many of his fellow soldiers weren’t. Perhaps being haunted by the past was the price he paid for surviving.

  Chapter 7

  Grace wasn’t sure how she felt about the Hammonds coming over for dinner. When her aunt announced the decision, her initial reaction was to feign a headache and hide in her room. She wasn’t one for lying, however, and figured if she sat far enough away from Wyatt, it wouldn’t matter that he was present.

  When it was time to get ready for dinner, Grace slipped on her green, satin dress, telling herself she shouldn’t care what she wore since there was no one she wished to impress. Yet, to her own alarm, she found herself settling on her prettiest dress, one that enhanced her figure perfectly. She spent the rest of the afternoon irritatingly complaining to herself, that despite her best efforts, Wyatt still seemed to get to her. By the time her hair was done, and her jewelry added to her outfit, she was in one of her sourest moods.

  Grace made her way downstairs and entered the parlor where the Abernathys were already present. Hope and Davis had just arrived, and the rest of the Hammonds were due to be there at any moment. She took a seat next to Faith, at the edge of the sofa, making sure there was no room for anyone else to sit near her. She glanced around the room, realizing that she hadn’t been in there since returning to Oak Haven. Most of the paintings were gone, along with all of the crystal, silver, and figurines. Also gone was the grand piano, and the draperies. She assumed that her aunt and uncle had to sell off their entertainment items like her own parents did. Almost all of the South was in the same predicament; the grandness of their homeland being diminished to nearly nothing.

  “You look really pretty in that dress, Grace,” Faith said, giving her a knowing smile. “I think you know that, though, and made sure of it for a certain someone coming here tonight.”

  Grace wanted to object, but decided against it. Let Faith think what she wanted; arguing would probabl
y only convince her cousin more that she was right.

  “Do you think they will appreciate us bringing up the matter?” Aunt Tabitha asked, a worried look on her face. “I don’t want them to think we are overstepping by suggesting it.”

  Uncle Thomas shook his head. “All of the plantations around here have been hit hard by the war. Sharecropping saved us from losing everything. I think the Hammonds need to consider it, too.”

  So, that was what this dinner was all about. Grace had wondered what the reason for it was. They were using a social gathering as a ruse to delicately bring up the other family’s precarious position with their plantation. It made sense they would feel the need to address the issue. If Hope’s family lost everything, it would affect her marriage to Davis, and put a burden on them to have to take care of her parents. That would be difficult for any newly married couple to manage.

  A few moments later, the Hammonds arrived with Wyatt. As he breezed into the room, Grace couldn’t keep her eyes from him. She tried to pretend she didn’t notice him, but she wasn’t sure if it was convincing anyone. He looked good in a clean white, button-up shirt, a brown vest, and black jacket. The chain of his pocket watch was hanging out of the vest, and it reminded her of the night they spent together before the war. She was certain it was the same watch. His dark hair was slicked back, which made his hazel eyes and chiseled facial features stand out even more.

  Wyatt looked over at her, and she quickly glanced away, hating that he caught her staring at him. For the rest of the time in the parlor, she avoided looking at him, choosing to focus on everyone but him.

  Aunt Tabitha returned and announced that dinner was ready and everyone should move into the dining room. The long wooden table, which was the final remnant of Oak Haven’s former luxurious decorations before the war, had a simple setting of plates, utensils, and glasses on it. The finer items were gone, just like the ones from the parlor. Grace noticed that her aunt had pulled out the last set of good candles, placing them on a set of tin candlestick holders; an expense Grace wondered if the family could even afford. Conservation of candles was still a necessity, since the family coffers were not replenished yet. Sometimes she worried she was an added burden that they didn’t need. She should think about how she could contribute to the family, rather than simply being an extra mouth to feed.

  Grace noticed throughout the meal, Wyatt watched her. She wondered why he continued to show interest in her when she had tried to dissuade him from doing so.

  Towards the end of the meal, Joanna gave the Abernathys a warm smile. “Thank you for having us. It’s been a long time since we’ve had time to enjoy a meal with all of you like this. We’ve been so busy trying to get the plantation back up and running.”

  “We understand. Without the workers we used to have, and the added issues from Lincoln’s Homestead Act, finding workers willing to work for a wage we can afford is nearly impossible,” Thomas agreed. “Which is why we ended up resorting to sharecropping. If I’m honest, we were against it in the beginning. This land has been operated by Abernathys for generations. Suddenly, we had to let strangers use parts of it to farm; however, it will give us the opportunity to dig out of the hole the war has put us in.”

  “I don’t want to sharecrop,” Luke stated firmly. “Joanna and I can handle our land on our own.”

  Joanna glanced over at her husband, her look making it clear she doubted what he was saying. She remained quiet; however, and played with her fork, instead.

  “Father, I think you should listen to Mr. Abernathy,” Hope pleaded. “This might be the only way to save us from losing Fairmore.”

  “Fairmore is no longer your home. You don’t need to worry about it,” Luke reminded Hope.

  “But it is my home,” Joanna said, finally speaking up. “And I agree with Hope. I think we need to consider looking into taking on sharecroppers.”

  Luke was silent for several seconds before he finally nodded. “I need to listen to the women in my life. You both took care of the plantation when I was unwilling to do it myself.” He looked over at Thomas and added, “Why don’t you and Tabitha tell Joanna and me about the process in the parlor.”

  “And the rest of us can spend some time on the veranda,” Faith suggested.

  “I’d like that,” Hope agreed. “I’ve been wanting to discuss the knitting party I want to have for you to make clothes for the baby.”

  The younger members of the Abernathy and Hammond families made their way to the back of the house, stepping out into the cool evening air, taking seats on the benches that lined the garden path.

  “You don’t have to have a knitting party for me, Hope. It’s a lot of work, and considering the war just ended, there are more pressing concerns.”

  “We need something to celebrate, and what can be more exciting than a new baby,” Hope gushed with pleasure. “Once you’ve made the official announcement around town, I’ll send out the invitations for the party.”

  “I can see I’m not talking you out of this,” Faith relented. “I just hope you will get some help and not do it all on your own.”

  “I think I can talk your cousin into helping me. Isn’t that right, Grace?”

  Grace had remained quiet during their verbal exchange, as did the men. None of them wanted to come between the best friends. Now, she looked as if she felt relieved they had resolved it. She nodded, saying, “Of course, I will help.”

  “I have one question; how many clothes does one baby need?” Davis asked with confusion. “I can’t imagine the need for a party to make so many clothes for him.”

  “Or her,” Faith added. “Despite your wanting a nephew, you might end up with a niece.”

  “As long as she or he is healthy, that’s all that matters,” Nathan said, stopping the siblings from fighting. “Besides, we plan to have lots more babies, so we can always have the other gender down the road.”

  “Lots?” Faith squeaked out. “We might need to discuss how many you’re thinking of. This first one is doing a number on my body. Sometimes I swear our baby likes kicking my ribs just for sport.”

  “I did make a promise to your father,” Nathan teased. “And between all of us, I am still rather afraid of him.”

  Everyone laughed at the last comment, including Grace. It was wonderful to hear her laugh once more. Without thinking, Wyatt leaned over and whispered, “Your laugh is still the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.”

  Grace’s head jerked towards him, her eyes widening at the declaration. For a moment, he wondered if he ruined the moment by blurting out his feelings. A smile formed on her lips; however, and he realized she wasn’t upset by his admission.

  “I’d forgotten how much you like it.”

  Wyatt liked seeing Grace relaxed. It was the first time since she re-entered his life that she reminded him of the old Grace. Not that he expected her to be exactly like she was before—the war had changed them all—but it was nice to see that she wasn’t completely different from the girl he adored.

  The temptation to ask her to go for a walk crept into his heart, but he realized that she was barely becoming comfortable around him again. Wyatt didn’t want to ruin that by asking for too much, too soon. He decided his best course of action was to be patient. When the time was right, he could make his move where Grace was concerned. For now, he was content that they were starting to form a friendship again.

  “Now that we have the matter of the baby clothes settled, let’s talk about having a picnic down by the river,” Hope suggested. “I think we should have one this weekend after church. What do all of you think?”

  The group agreed it would be a nice outing. They spent the next hour going over what everyone would bring, and by the end of it, they had a firm plan in place. As Wyatt headed back to his home, he was grateful for the dinner and the chance it gave him to be around Grace again. Hopefully, this weekend, he would be able to move their friendship into something more.

  Chapter 8

  Grace
still needed to get the picnic items she was responsible for, which meant she needed to go into town. As she was gathering up her shawl and tapestry bag, Nancy followed her around her room.

  “Can I go with you,” Nancy begged. “Please, Cousin Grace, please. I promise I won’t be a bother.”

  “Don’t beg like that,” Ida rebuked her younger sister, coming into the room. “You shouldn’t burden Grace with yourself like that.”

  “It’s all right, Ida. She can come along, and you can, too, if you’d like.”

  “Really?” Ida asked, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

  “Certainly; I like spending time with the both of you.”

  “Thank you,” the older girl said with an appreciative smile.

  “Go gather up whatever you need, while I go see if there is anything we can pick up for your parents,” Grace ordered.

  “I told you she’d let me go,” Nancy said as she exited the room. “You always think you know everything.”

  A smile formed on Grace’s face as she shook her head. Being an only child, she never had to deal with siblings and all that came with it. The closest thing she had to that relationship was her bond with Faith. They’d had their fair share of fights growing up, but they always managed to work it out, just like the Abernathy children did.

  Grace made her way downstairs and found her aunt in the kitchen. “I need to head into town. Is there anything you need, Aunt Tabitha?”

  The other woman glanced up from the stew that she was stirring in a giant pot on the stove. “Not at the moment, but I’m glad to see you’re heading into town. This doesn’t have anything to do with Wyatt Hammond, does it?”

  Grace’s brows came together in a furrow as she shook her head. “No, I simply need to pick up some items for the picnic after church on Sunday.”

  “So, it does have to do with Wyatt. You want to make sure everything is right for him. You don’t have to hide how you feel about Wyatt from me. He’s a good man and could provide a good life for you. You’re well past the marrying age, and should have been married before the war. Now that it’s over, it’s high time you settled down to start a family of your own.”