“You’ve been very busy. You must be tired.”
“I had a couple of hours sleep this morning. The Reverend and his wife have been doing a wonderful job with everyone.”
“They sound nice people.”
“They are.”
They cantered beside Dr. Cranford’s wagon but only for a mile before he told them he would be alright. There were no hidden dangers from now on, he said, and they needed to be getting home.
“Do you want to go to the rectory?” Seth asked Hannah as they watched the wagon continue along the road. He put up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to get rid of you.”
“I’d rather clean up first,” she replied. “Do you want to call in?”
“No. I’ll clean up too. We want to look our best, don’t we?”
“We do.”
“Then we’ll go and freshen up at my place. We’ll just drop off the horses and then we can walk.”
“Yes.”
But she ought to meet Seth first, she thought, except that she still felt she wasn’t psychologically prepared after the events of this and the previous day. She didn’t want the difficulty of meeting someone she didn’t know and forming a relationship with him. With this Seth she felt comfortable and all she wanted to do was relax. When they reached Sadie and Ronald’s house Ronald suggested he take them to the farm.
“No, we’ll walk.” Hannah virtually ran to the door, for some reason desperate to get out. She didn’t want to talk to anyone else or hear about Seth and the other brides and grooms. She certainly didn’t want to hear about Seth’s bride to be.
Seth strode after her. “We’ll see you later,” he said and ran after Hannah to catch her up.
“They had on wedding rings,” Laura said. “They must have married before they left town.”
“Yes,” Sadie replied and outside Seth and Hannah were virtually running towards the direction of his house.
“We need to be clean for them,” he said.
“Yes, we do. It’s not really dark, is it, because the moon is so bright?”
“It’s a beautiful moon.”
Seth grabbed Hannah as the ground started to shake. It had done it a few times while they rode to Lower Pine and back and was disconcerting for both of them. He held her tightly and she clung on a bit desperately.
An earthquake, a baby born. What would happen next? A marriage, of course, and they would have to return soon so they didn’t keep their fiancés waiting. Maybe the Reverend would come out to them and bring their future spouses because he would feel it was improper for Hannah and Seth to be together, even though they weren’t marrying each other. The earth shook again and Seth turned towards Hannah to surround her totally with his arms.
They were strong arms. They felt safe. They felt good. She must not even think that. She drew back abruptly and walked on. “Do aftershocks last for long?” she asked.
“Sometimes a few hours, I think. My mother has felt a few elsewhere though they weren’t aftershocks, I suppose. It was just the earth rumbling. I guess people get used to it but an earthquake like this one hasn’t happened here, as far as I know. Well, not in my lifetime, anyway.”
“I always thought the ground was solid,” Hannah said.
“It feels it but not now. There was an earthquake in San Francisco four years ago where about thirty people were killed but mostly there haven’t been any casualties in other earthquakes in this area.”
“Twenty seven people died,” she said, beginning to shiver. They had been so busy since the actual quake that she hadn’t had time to react, but suddenly the horror of it started to hit her. Twenty seven people and some of them were children. Twenty seven. The number hammered itself into her brain.
“You’re cold,” Seth said, moving closer to her.
She turned abruptly, put her arms round his waist and the tears started to pour down her face. “Twenty seven people died,” she said. “Twenty seven.”
He held her closely, his expression sad above her head. Twenty seven and he knew them, though not all of them well. “Yes,” he said.
“Are they all in Heaven?”
“They were God fearing people who went to church. They talked about Jesus being part of their lives. I’m sure they’re all in Heaven.”
“I’d like a Bible,” she said. “But I never bothered to bring one.”
“I have one,” he replied, holding her tighter. “We could read a bit when we get to the house. We’ll probably have to stay overnight because it will be so late but I’ve got a spare room.”
For Rachel but he could change the bedclothes in the morning and Hannah would like the flowers. He would also cook her a meal because he didn’t get one at the James’ house and she said she hadn’t eaten either because she was worried about him. It was a few minutes before they let each other go as they stood holding on tightly.
It was Hannah who drew back first, a bit embarrassed at her weakness. She blew her nose on a handkerchief she took from her pocket and smiled a bit weakly.
“Sorry,” she said.
“It was a shock and you haven’t had a chance to let it sink in,” he replied.
“Nor have you.”
“No.”
They started to walk again. “Are there many farms along this road?” she asked.
“A few. Would you mind if we check each one?”
“We must. We forgot to check Sadie and Ronald’s house to make sure it was safe.”
“I checked it. It’s alright.”
“You think of everything,” she said.
“Not really. I was just more aware of that. How many babies have you delivered before?”
She smiled. “I think you probably know the answer to that without asking.”
He chuckled and the sound was nice. “I have delivered animals.”
“Which was very helpful. I’ve never really had anything to do with babies though I do have a niece and nephew. But I was in my teens when they were born and wasn’t interested. My mother was at Rosemary’s children’s birth but not me.”
“You were very good,” he said.
“I just kept trying to think things through. What was the bit that came afterwards?”
“The afterbirth. It’s called the placenta. I think the babies get nutrition from it when they’re still in the womb.”
“So they eat when they’re inside.”
“I don’t know how they do it. Maybe the goodness goes through the cord which connects the baby to his or her mother.”
“The cord we cut?”
“Yes.”
“You should be a doctor.”
“I like being a farmer.”
“Are there doctors for animals?”
“Yes.”
“What are they called?”
“Veterinary surgeons. Vets for short. They don’t just treat illnesses or injuries. They also keep an eye on the animal’s general health.”
“Yes. We have them out for the dogs on occasions. What do they have to do with your animals?”
“Check them if they’re pregnant. Examine their skin and the hooves of the cows and horses. That sort of thing.”
“They would be able to deliver babies too then.”
“They definitely would.”
And it was so nice being able to ask questions of a man, Hannah thought, without having to pretend you were someone you weren’t. It was nice not having to impress Seth because she felt so relaxed with him. He didn’t make judgements about what she knew or didn’t know or about how she looked or didn’t look. She must look a mess now but he had been willing to hold her while she cried.
Which his fiancé would be able to do and she was a fortunate woman. Would the other Seth be as open and relaxed? Would she be able to talk to him as easily as she could this Seth?
Except that the other Seth was nice, as was apparent in his letters, though, of course, nobody knew anyone until they actually lived with them. Which made marriage by mail a rat
her precarious undertaking and she was now bang in the middle of the process.
They walked for another half a mile before they reached the next farmhouse and it appeared to be stable when they approached it. Hannah hung back as Seth knocked on the door and the family inside told him they were fine. It had been a shock, they said, but everything and everyone was safe. Would Seth like to come in for something to eat and drink?
No, he replied, much to Hannah’s relief. He was going home to clean up and then he would be getting married though probably not until the morning. Margaret Lessing went inside for a moment to return holding out a big dish and a large wine bottle which was filled with water mixed with juice.
“Have that when you get home,” she said. “I cooked it earlier and it’s still warm. Keep some of it for your new bride and in a couple of days I’ll bring round something else to welcome her.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind.”
It smelt delicious, Hannah thought as the scent wafted across to her when Seth drew parallel with her, and they had not eaten anything much for a couple of days. She had not thought about it a lot and was too worried about him to eat with Sadie. He lifted the covering, took a potato and held it to her mouth. “Open wide,” he said.
She giggled, did what he said and he put another potato in his mouth. He drew a deep breath of appreciation. “Now that is food,” he said.
“Not what you cook?” she asked.
“Never what I cook. Would you like a drink?” He pulled out the cork. “It’s not wine.”
“A few sips would be nice.” She drank, handed him the bottle and he took a few mouthfuls.
“I’ll carry the bottle,” she said.
“Thank you.”
“Are there any dangerous animals around?”
“Not really. Maybe the odd lizard.”
“I’ve seen those. There were some on one of the stations where we stopped. They look like tiny monsters.”
“They are tiny monsters.” Seth frowned as he looked ahead. “The road is blocked. The rocks must have collapsed during the earthquake. We’re going to have to go round them.”
“Or over them. We could climb.”
“Not with food to carry. This area has a lot of rocks which go quite a way beyond here. The road runs through them, almost like a gully, and not far beyond is a farm.”
“We could eat the food, couldn’t we?” Hannah said. “We could then leave the dish to collect later. If we can’t get it we could buy another one.”
“I have a dish like this,” Seth said. “I could replace it. Let’s sit down then and eat. I am rather hungry. You must be too because we haven’t eaten much since yesterday. You should have had something at Sadie’s house.”
“I couldn’t. I told you. I was worried about you.”
“Thank you.” He took off the lid and there was only one spoon. Logical, Hannah said, because they didn’t know she was there. She had stood back because she didn’t want to tarnish his good name, she told him.
“Is Seth a good name?” he asked.
She smiled. “It’s in the Bible.”
“Yes. He was Adam and Eve’s third son and probably very special because Cain had killed Abel so they had lost a son. Mum says that’s why they called me Seth, because I’ve very special.”
“You are,” Hannah said with utter conviction.
“And Hannah was a nice lady so we’ve both got good names. We can share the spoon, if you don’t mind doing that. We can take alternate mouthfuls.”
“Good idea. You go first.”
“Never. Ladies must always go first. Here. Open your mouth.”
He filled the spoon, she opened her mouth wide and he put in the food. He went to put some in his mouth and paused.
“We should thank God first,” he said.
“Yes. I’m sorry. We have a lot to be thankful for.”
“We do. Shall I say the blessing out loud?”
“That would be nice,” she said.
He put the dish on the ground and held out his hands. She took them and they closed their eyes. “Thank You, Father, for the delicious food and for looking after us. Thank You also for Hannah because she’s a lovely lady and has done so much to help. I’m glad all those people are with You and the food You’ll give them will be delicious. This food looks and smells wonderful.”
“And tastes delicious,” Hannah said. They opened their eyes and she screwed her nose. “Sorry.”
“That’s alright.” He closed his eyes again. “Please comfort those who have lost family members and friends. In Your Name, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
“Amen,” she added. She took the spoon from Seth, filled it and held it to his mouth. “Eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
And feeding each other seemed the most natural thing in the world as the meal continued. When they finished Seth stretched and lay back.
“That was absolutely out of this world,” he said.
She lay back beside him. “It was but you would have been better on your own because you could have had it all. I’m sure you gave me bigger mouthfuls.”
“We both had plenty.”
He looked up at the sky which was clear above them, with the moon bright and with a multitude of stars of varying sizes. “That is beautiful, isn’t it, and the stars are not affected by the earthquake because they’re up there.”
“It is absolutely beautiful. I’ve never noticed quite how many stars there are because I haven’t lain outside at night.”
“Me neither.”
“I thought you might have done so being as you live in the country.”
“I haven’t had anyone to lie with. How many stars are there up there?”
“You want me to count?”
He grinned as he looked at her sideways. “Yes. Every one of them.”
“I think only God knows how many stars there are,” she said.
“It says in the Bible that God knows how many hairs there are on our heads. You must have millions.”
“I didn’t know that,” Hannah said, something I would never admit to the other Seth because it would show my absolute ignorance.
“My mum showed it to me.” Something I would never admit to Rachel because she would probably think me unmanly to talk about my mother.
“Your mum sounds a nice person.”
“She is. What about yours?”
“I never really thought about it before but this earthquake seems to be doing something to me. She has always been gentle and loving and she has put up with a lot in me. I think she would have liked it if I had become a society lady but she never complained or tried to make me something I’m not.”
He turned on his side to look at her. “She sounds a nice person too. Do you have many friends?”
Rachel didn’t because she was an orphan living on a restricted income, he knew. She had told him that in her letter. But surely Hannah would be surrounded by friends because her family had money.
“No. A few acquaintance from church but they’re all married so they have their own lives.”
“I would think every man would want to marry you,” Seth said.
“Know me, not marry me. I seem to have the kind of face that attracts that sort of man.”
“You are beautiful,” he said with feeling.
“I wouldn’t go that far but you’re a real gentleman to say so. You’re a gentleman in every way.”
“No man has a right to force his attentions on a lady. That’s why you came here, you said.”
“Yes. I got a bit frightened sometimes because some of the men were married and associated with my father. One man particularly used to pester me. I’m also not getting any younger.”
“Is it impolite to ask a lady’s age?” Seth asked.
Hannah smiled. “I’m not really sure. I’m twenty three.”
Rache was nineteen, Seth thought, and Hannah almost the same age as him. He had thought nineteen a good age because really the man should be older. He had to
ld Rachel he was twenty one in case she thought twenty three old. “I’m also twenty three,” he said. “I turn twenty four in a couple of weeks.”
“Are we getting old?”
“Not to a forty year old, I shouldn’t think. My mum is forty four but please don’t tell her I told you if you ever meet her.”
“I won’t.”
“Did you tell your father that man was annoying you?”
“No. I should have, I guess, but I didn’t want to upset him. I should have told my mother too. I realise now I was stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” Seth said. “Really they should have noticed what was going on.” He frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to criticise them and I’m sure if you’d told your father he would have done something about the situation. But you’ll be alright now because Seth will look out for you.”
“Yes.” Hannah sat up as the ground shook again and grabbed Seth’s hand. “We’d better move away from the rocks in case they slip and hit us.”
“Yes.” He stood and leant down to take her hand again. “Let’s go over there until it quietens.”
They walked back a few feet hand in hand and neither of them seemed to notice what they were doing as they turned to look at the rocks. But there was no further earth movement and Seth eventually walked back to the rocks.
“We have to go through the gully to get to my farm,” he said. “Maybe we should go back to Lower Pine because I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“I can climb over rocks,” Hannah said.
“Yes, but they might slip.”
“Take me back then,” she said a bit crossly, turning to walk in the direction they had come. She walked a few steps, stopped and put her face in her hands. He tore after her.
“Hannah?”
“I can’t meet him looking like this,” she said.
“You’re beau....” He paused. “No, you definitely can’t. You’re an absolute mess.”
She took her hands from her face and gave a weak smile. “You can’t go looking like that either. You’re dusty. Your hair needs washing and your face is a bit dirty. We washed when we were with Sadie but we’ve got dirty again.” She licked her finger and ran it down his face. “It definitely needs washing.”
“You could wash it with your spit,” he said, moving closer to her.
Lone Pine Bride (The Brides Of Lone Pine Book 1) Page 8
