Rebecca's Hope

by Kimberly Grist

  “Thank goodness I haven’t succeeded in offending you. My hours have been cut back at the diner, and I could use your advice on what to do next.”

  Lois gazed at her friend, her eyebrows drawn together, and her lips pressed tight. “I know I am going to be sorry I asked, but did you talk to Sam about this?”

  Rebecca took in a deep breath and sighed. “Whenever the costs of things in town comes up, Sam thinks I’m trying to push him toward marrying. The last time we spoke about my options for living arrangements, the girls interrupted us in their excitement to model their new dresses. When he saw the new outfits, he got mad. Frankly, ever since, I do my best to avoid any subject related to money.”

  Lois placed her hands on her hips. “Are you talking about the dresses you made from the remnant fabric? Are you telling me, he didn’t appreciate the work you put into that?”

  Using her hand to cover her laugh, Rebecca said, “Goodness, I have never seen you get riled up so quickly. I can’t believe you are making me laugh about this. He doesn’t understand why I barter for things like I do. He thinks I usually come out on the short side of the stick.”

  Lois’s mouth dropped open wide. Her normally flawless skin was now blotchy from the top of her face to her neck. “Did you tell him how much that fabric cost me?”

  Rebecca raised her hands in surrender. “Hold on now, you are preaching to the converted. I told you he doesn’t understand the value of my bartering. Now, if he was to do a job for a tool or a side of meat that would be another thing. But mainly I think he was embarrassed I felt the need to provide for his girls.”

  Lois frowned. “I know you mentioned he’d been real bad-tempered lately. Still, I would never guess Sam would react like that. Why you only have the nicest things to say about those girls and what a good father he is. My mother used to tell me it was a mystery the way men think.”

  As her thoughts turned to her problems with Sam, Rebecca sobered. “It makes me feel a little better talking about it. But things went from bad to worse. He as much as told me not to worry about his kids needing clothes when I was as thin as a rail and wearing other people’s castoffs.”

  Rebecca stared out the window and swallowed hard before continuing. “The thing was, Emma had done my hair, and I was wearing a dress of Molly’s. She’d told me how pretty it looked on me.”

  Lois patted Rebecca’s shoulder. “How awful. I would like to throttle the man. You may be a little thin right now, but you are beautiful inside and out. I don’t suppose you reminded him you were here in town working yourself to death for a roof over your head, and none of us locals can afford to actually eat in town, too?”

  Rebecca’s lip quivered. “I didn’t want him to see me continue to cry, so I went for a walk. I never could hide anything from Molly and didn’t want to upset her. But when I got back to the house, she knew everything and tried to pass it off, saying all couples had disagreements. She told a funny story about an argument she and Adam had right after they were married. In retaliation, Molly purposely put too much cayenne pepper in his chili. Adam recalled that he never spoke a word and ate it; all the while the sweat was breaking out all over his face and neck. I could never imagine Molly doing something like that. She had us all laughing.”

  “Later, Adam asked me to join him on the porch after supper. He wanted to speak with me.”

  Lois leaned closer. “Haven’t you always said he was almost asleep before y’all cleared the table?”

  Noticing the look of dismay on her face, Rebecca nodded. “Adam usually lets Emma do his talking for him when it comes to most things— especially as it relates to me. But he and I had a long talk. He thinks I should accept my cousin’s offer and go for a visit.”

  Chapter 7

  Dear Papa,

  Do you think John the Baptist really ate locust? I find that to be a disgusting thought…

  “Doc, what’s the verdict?” Jonas Weber asked Dr. Benton as his daughter and granddaughter came out of the examining room.

  Mary pressed her finger to her mouth to silence her father regarding her daughter’s prognosis until they were out of earshot. “Now Papa, you have seen yourself how healthy Hannah has been. Do you need to ask?”

  Jonas met his daughter’s gaze and gave a curt nod.

  “We are going to the dress shop. Come and find us when you are done.”

  Mary clasped Hannah’s hand as her daughter skipped happily across the street. Pointing at the window, she said, “Mama, look, it’s Rebecca.”

  Mary met her daughter’s smile with one of her own. “It sure is, why don’t we see what she is up to?”

  ~

  Lois and Rebecca arranged the newly-dressed mannequins in the window to appear as mother and daughter, placing the ragdoll as if the child held it.

  “We are getting interest already.” Rebecca inclined her head toward the glass and the approach of Mary and Hannah Hood.

  Lois stopped her work to welcome her customers into the shop. “Hello ladies, it is so nice to see you.”

  Mary waved her hand toward the window. “I saw y’all working on the display when Hannah and I were walking to her doctor’s appointment. Excellent job. It looks like some of the shops I’ve seen in the larger cities.”

  If that isn’t a gift straight from heaven, Rebecca thought as she stepped back from the window. Mary Hood was one of Lois’s few repeat clients who actually paid in cash. She was a tough customer and demanded quality, but when she found it, she was not one to hesitate or quibble over price. Thank you, Lord.

  Lois tidied her hair. “Good afternoon, I am so happy to see you. Don’t you both look beautiful.”

  Hannah spun in a circle in front of Rebecca. “This is the dress Miss Lois made me.”

  Rebecca smiled in response to the young girl’s liveliness. “It is beautiful, almost as pretty as its owner.”

  Mary beamed, as she reached to smooth her daughter's dress. “We have had so many compliments on it. I was hoping to have another made. The mother and daughter set in the window seem perfect. Could we try them on?”

  Rebecca noted Lois’s hesitation. She bit her lip briefly before forcing her mouth into a smile and moved toward the window. “Let me get them for you.”

  Hannah bounced up and down on one foot in excitement. “Look, Mama, the dolly has on the same dress.”

  “You ladies have been hard at work. How resourceful to add the ragdoll.”

  “The designs were Rebecca’s,” Lois stated proudly.

  Mary glanced up in surprise. “I have seen the evidence of Lois’s talent, though I had no idea you designed too, Rebecca.”

  Rebecca studied Mary’s expression to determine her sincerity. Feeling a little shy about her work she stated, “It’s not something I typically do. But I have been frustrated with the practicality of some of the current styles and wanted to try my hand at something pretty, yet simple. The dolls are patterned after one my mother made for me when I was little.”

  Mary held the dress to her chest appreciatively, “I say you have more than achieved your goal. This is lovely. I can’t wait to try it on.” She turned toward Lois. “I also wanted to speak to you about ordering several dresses for Hannah. She seems to be going through a growth spurt.”

  Lois’s eyes sparkled in excitement. “I’ll get my measuring tape.”

  Smiling encouragingly to her daughter, Mary said, “Hannah, go with Miss Lois, I want to speak with Rebecca a moment.”

  Rebecca felt her breath catch in her chest as she watched Hannah, still carrying the ragdoll, walk with Lois toward the back of the shop. It was unusual for Mary to contrive a way to speak with her alone. Watching Hannah now, Rebecca thought her health improvement was astounding as far as she could tell. “Is everything alright?”

  Mary reached for Rebecca’s hand. “Oh, yes. I am sorry if I gave you cause for concern. I am frustrated with my father’s attitude more than anything. He is a wonderful man, but he likes to run his family the same way he runs his business.
He is with Dr. Benton now trying to wrangle a cure out of him.”

  Rebecca laughed. “I can see him doing that. But poor Doc. You left him there alone with your father to fend for himself?”

  Mary gave a half smile. “We are honest with Hannah about her condition, but I didn’t want to expose her to Papa’s rant. He believes God is going to cure her and sees Dr. Benton as the means to get it done. I do believe God can heal her, but even if he doesn’t, I am so thankful you helped me to understand the best thing I can do is to learn how to manage her asthma.”

  Rebecca embraced Mary as she blinked back tears. What would it be like to have a father like that? “He may be frustrating, but he loves you and wants the best for you and Hannah.”

  Mary looked at her daughter who was chatting happily with Lois. “Yes, I know what you say is true.”

  Taking a ragged breath, Mary continued. “I can’t thank you enough for the encouragement you have given me. My daughter’s diagnosis has brought me to my knees on many an occasion. When we received the recommendation of Dr. Benton then ultimately met you, it was a godsend.”

  Mary wiped her tears with a dainty handkerchief. “When I am discouraged, I only have to think about how you haven’t let asthma hinder your enjoyment of life. You have given us hope. You are smart, energetic, talented and living independently. There is no reason to think Hannah won’t do the same.”

  Mary stifled a gasp. Rebecca turned toward Hannah, who now had Lois pulling multiple samples of fabric. “Look, Mama. Don’t you think Dolly and me will look nice in this?”

  Rebecca nodded in satisfaction. “She is definitely a force to be reckoned with.”

  Chapter 8

  Dear Papa,

  Yesterday was my first day at school. Papa Horace said it would be my last…

  Having worked for the last two days in silence except for a few grunts and muttered words, Seth stared straight ahead to avoid the angry scowl he anticipated from Sam. He cleared his throat. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I don’t see this is any of your business,” Sam snapped.

  Letting out a breath, Seth replied, “Fair enough. It’s not like I could have helped anyway. After all, what kind of experience do I have with women?” At least he’d made an effort.

  Hours went by in silence as they rode along the fence line stopping to make any needed repairs. At last, Sam broke the silence. “Listen. I’m sorry to have talked to you like that. I realize you were trying to help. I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately.”

  They were quiet again as they got back into their saddles. Seth watched Sam remove his hat and wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Everyone warned me not to get married the first time. I was about your age, went ahead against my parent’s wishes, ignored my friend’s warnings. It turned out they were right. I was in love with a dream, a fantasy, and except for the love we shared for the girls, it got to the point we could barely tolerate one another. I love Rebecca, but at the same time, I sure don’t want to spend the rest of my life arguing about money or playing second fiddle again.”

  Confused, Seth stared over his shoulder toward Sam. “Rebecca is sensible, thrifty too. She wouldn’t have been able to make it on her own for so long if she wasn’t. I feel certain you two can work that out. But second fiddle to who? The girls?”

  Sam muttered under his breath before answering. “Heck no. I appreciate what Rebecca does for the girls, although I think she spoils them. I’m talking about all those fellows in town always hovering around her.” Clearing his throat, he said, “I think it is a matter of time before she throws me over for one of them. Figure she’ll be better off too.”

  Seth cocked his head in the direction of Sam. “As long as she works in town at the diner, all the ‘hovering’ will continue. With so few single women in these parts, I don’t doubt Rebecca gets offers coming and going. Still, she doesn’t take those fellows seriously. From what I know she never even considered allowing someone to court her before she said yes to you.”

  Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “That is not what I hear. You can’t tell me you haven’t heard the same thing. Seems like every time someone comes back from town they have a new story to tell.”

  Seth gritted his teeth, “Who is saying what, to whom, exactly? If I find out who is saying anything against her, you better believe I won’t put up with it for a minute.”

  Shaking his head in dismay, Sam grumbled. “Which reminds me of another thing. There isn’t a person in town who would believe Rebecca would do anything wrong. She’s got every man wrapped around her finger. Before you get all riled up, I’m not saying she has loose morals. Still, I know for a fact she’s been stepping out on me with Doc’s son. What’s his name, Benji or something?”

  Seth chuckled but tried to cover it up with a cough when he saw the sincerity on Sam’s face. “Oh, come on, this is a joke. You can’t’ be serious, you mean B.J.? Doc’s son, B.J. Benton? You are pulling my leg. That is hysterical. You had me going there for a minute.”

  Seth’s jaw dropped when he saw the fury on Sam’s face. “Wait a minute. You aren’t kidding?”

  “I don’t see anything funny about it.” Sam’s jaw clenched. “Every time he is in town he calls on her. I have seen him myself picking her up at Adam’s and taking her back to town.”

  “Sometimes I forget you haven’t lived around here all your life, like the rest of us.” Seth stroked his chin in contemplation. “B.J. is a nice guy once you get to know him. Real smart, like Rebecca, but at the same time, different. It’s almost like he thinks in a unique way, always asking questions, wanting to know ‘What if?’ I’m surprised she never told you anything about him.”

  Sam snarled. “She mentioned him a time or two. Said y'all had all been good friends since you were kids.”

  Smiling now, Seth leaned back into his saddle as he reflected. “Growing up we always liked it when he would ask questions in school because if he could get the teacher off track, she would forget to give us homework. But B.J. and Rebecca—” Seth shook his head. “I can tell you right now; you are wrong about that.” Seth chuckled again.

  Sam’s eyebrows narrowed. “I don’t find the humor in any of this. He comes from money, is all right looking, has a good education. He sure pays attention to her anytime he is in town. Recently, I found out he writes her letters and she writes back.”

  “True enough,” Seth agreed, still chuckling.

  “Seth, you are starting to make me angry. What is so funny?”

  “For it to make sense, I would need to go back a ways.”

  Only the sounds of the horses trotting along were heard as they headed home. Seth lifted his hat briefly, taking advantage of a slight breeze as he thought. “When Rebecca came back to stay with Uncle Horace, she was so sick; it was months before they let her out of bed. Because she had problems with headaches and dizziness, it was years before they even let her go to church.”

  “Rebecca loved being around the other kids, but me, Emma and B.J. were about her only friends allowed to visit. She and I would play checkers, but since Rebecca could read almost anything, B.J. would bring medical journals over for her to read out loud. Later, he would have her quiz him on things. It was years before Molly finally talked everyone into letting Rebecca have a trial period at school. We were all excited about the idea. I told Pa we would take good care of her. None of us had any idea what B.J. planned.”

  Sam stared at Seth with a troubled frown. “Go on.”

  Seth met Sam’s gaze. “Thinking back now, B.J. would get us to spin around to see if we would get dizzy and to see how long it would last. Afterward, he would scribble his findings in a notebook.”

  “On her first day at school, everything started out fine. But at recess B.J. headed straight toward Rebecca. Before any of us could do anything, he grabbed her around the waist and began spinning her. She screamed, but he wouldn’t stop. Told her it was for her own good.”

  Avoiding eye contact, Seth swallowed hard before
he continued. “I was stunned. I am ashamed to say it was almost as though I was paralyzed and couldn’t move. I saw Emma running toward them yelling. From out of nowhere Brian Scott pulled Rebecca away from B.J. and punched him in the nose.”

  “Rebecca started vomiting. The teacher was yelling, the girls were screaming, and the boys were cheering Brian on. It was pure chaos. The teacher called Brian off, telling him she needed his help getting Rebecca to the doctor. B.J. got up, still pinching his bloody nose. He started yelling orders. I imagine you can guess what happened next. Brian punched him again.”

  Closing his eyes, Seth was quiet for a moment as the memories replayed in his mind. “The next thing I knew Brian scooped her up and headed for Doc’s office. Everything happened so fast. Still, I don’t think I budged one inch. All I could think about was Rebecca was going to die, and Pa was going to kill me for letting it happen.”

  Still seeing a puzzled expression on Sam’s face, Seth explained, “Not having known Rebecca when she was little, it is probably hard for you to comprehend how sickly she was. From that one incident alone, it took her about a week to recover. Even though she didn’t seem any worse for wear, Uncle Horace told us she wouldn’t be going back to school.”

  “Dr. Benton came over with B.J. to apologize and explained the reason he spun Rebecca around was he thought that would cure her dizzy spells.” Seth burst out in a full belly laugh saying. “B.J. has been trying to make it up to her since.”

  Taking note of Sam’s narrowed eyes and mouth still formed in a thin line, Seth apologized. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he said, “I am sorry for laughing. It sure wasn’t funny at the time. You see B.J. always wanted to be a doctor like his father. Growing up around Rebecca, seeing what all she went through, he wants to specialize in illness like hers. That is why they write. He asks her questions from her point of view. Now don’t get me wrong, I know he loves her but not any more than the rest of us do. He wants to invent the cure for her condition. I suppose he still wants to make it up to her too.