Grace (War Brides Book 4)

by Linda Ford

“It’s all I want.”

  “Then I’ll be over here so often you’ll start locking the door when you see me come.”

  Nellie laughed and hugged her. “I don’t think so. Now come to the house, and I’ll make us tea.”

  As they sipped tea and ate sugar cookies, Nellie paused. “Will we see you in church on Sunday?”

  “I expect so.” They had both been raised to attend regularly.

  “Are you a believer?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  Nellie laughed. “I mean, are you a Christian? One who belongs to God’s family?”

  “Oh yes. I went to church school every Sunday back home. There was a sweet old lady who taught us what she called ‘Lessons for the Highway to Heaven.’ One of the first lessons told how sin had entered the world and how we were all sinners by birth and by choice. Then she said we had to take care of the sin problem before we could go to heaven, only we couldn’t do it because we’re sinners. Then she explained God had taken care of it. It was a gift we only had to accept. When she asked who wanted to accept that gift, I said I did.”

  “That’s wonderful. God is my best friend. I couldn’t imagine living without knowing Him. I talk to Him about everything: the baby, Tom, my garden, you—”

  “Me?”

  “Of course. Every day I ask God to bless your day and draw you closer to Him.”

  “You do?” Grace couldn’t hide her amazement. “I don’t remember anyone ever saying they prayed for me before.”

  Nellie laughed. “I’m sure people have; they just haven’t told you.”

  “Perhaps.” The idea was entirely too new to grasp.

  “You’ll like our little church,” Nellie said, returning to her original subject. “Everyone is so friendly, and the pastor is a godly man who opens the Word to us every Sunday. He makes me hunger for more.”

  Grace nodded. “I’m looking forward to attending.” And suddenly, listening to Nellie’s excitement, she was.

  It wasn’t until hurrying home, burdened with books and produce, that Grace had a chance to reflect on Nellie’s words. Was it possible to have God as one’s friend? If only it were.

  She ate four carrots on her walk home. It seemed she couldn’t get enough of them and ate three more as she prepared a supper of eggs and salad for herself.

  The evening stretched ahead, quiet and empty, echoing around her.

  She chose one of her new books and curled up in the rocking chair. A snapping noise outside the window brought her to her feet, heart pounding. She crept to the side of the window and peeked out, vowing she’d hang curtains first thing in the morning. She watched and waited a moment but saw nothing but a swirl of leaves and tall scraggly weeds swaying in the breeze.

  “Probably a seed pod on the weeds snapping,” she assured herself, but before she sat down to read again, she pulled her chair into a corner away from the windows.

  She couldn’t concentrate. The house was suddenly full of mysterious sounds. Something creaked in the bedroom.

  “It’s only a board sighing,” she muttered. Even her own voice seemed loud.

  Scratching came from behind her, and she jerked to her feet. “A mouse.” She knew what to do about the mice, and she hurried outside before she could ask herself if someone could be out there.

  In the barn, she called, “Kitty, kitty.”

  The cat she’d brought from the Weltys jumped out of a manger, meowing.

  “Bring your babies and come with me,” Grace said, grabbing the two kittens from their straw nest.

  The mother cat ran after her, meowing.

  In the house, Grace put a blanket on the floor for the two kittens. The mother cat sniffed around, then waited at the cellar door.

  “You go get them.” Grace opened the door and let her down the stairs. “Now maybe I can settle down and read.”

  But a clatter downstairs brought her to her feet. She hurried to the doorway, screaming when the cat bounded up, a mouse crunched between its jaws, and dropped it on the blanket for the kittens. Growling, they pounced on the lifeless body.

  A shudder raced down Grace’s spine. Choking back a gag, she hurried back to the front room and her book.

  Determined to ignore the sounds outside, closing her ears to the crunching coming from the kitchen, she read until the light faded. She knew she should go to bed, but the idea of crawling into bed alone in an empty house made her jaw quiver.

  She sat in the chair, staring into the dusk.

  The cat purred around her feet.

  Grace reached down and rubbed the animal’s back. “If you don’t bring me any mice, you can sleep on my bed.” She went to the kitchen. A tiny skull lay on the blanket. She flicked it away before she picked up the bundle of blanket and kittens and carried it to the bedroom. She settled them on the foot of the bed, then got undressed. The mother cat jumped up and lay down with the kittens. They nudged closer and began to nurse as Grace slipped under the covers. She closed her eyes, the gentle purring of the mother cat comforting.

  Next morning, she returned the cats to the barn. “Thank you for helping me through the night.”

  The mother cat meowed as if she understood what her role had been.

  After breakfast, Grace went to the end of the bedroom where boxes were stacked and opened one of them in which her mother-in-law had packed extra curtains and linens. Grace decided on lace curtains and heavy green brocade drapes. Most of the windows had rods over them, but she needed to fix the end of one rod before it would support the weight of the drapes.

  She made a trip to Billy’s workshop and found a hammer and nails. She bent the first nail, but the second she managed to drive into the wood, then threaded the rod through the curtains. The first window done, she stood back and surveyed the results.

  The lace panel was a little skimpy when the drapes were pushed back, but the brocade material was heavy. “It will be almost impossible to see in after dark.”

  She did the other window, then wandered outside and pulled some of the weeds from the front of the house. Many were already going to seed, their bony branches dry and raspy. No wonder they rattled and snapped in the wind. She threw them into a pile, pausing to push her hair back from her face.

  She had finished the length of the house when she heard a roar and glanced up to see Billy approaching.

  Her shoulders relaxed. She wiped her hands on her apron and brushed her hair back. If only she had time to run to the house and tidy up, but already the airplane taxied toward the barn and rolled to a stop.

  Mr. Boushee jumped down first, then Billy.

  A lump rose in Grace’s throat as she watched her husband glance toward the house. He pulled off his flying helmet. Sunlight caught in his shining dark hair. When he saw her watching, he grinned and waved.

  Tears blurred Grace’s vision. One day away, less than twenty-four hours, and she’d missed him so much. If Mr. Boushee hadn’t been there, she would have run to Billy’s arms and demanded a kiss or two. As it was, she had to content herself with walking sedately to his side and smiling up at him when he draped his arm around her shoulders.

  “We’re back safe and sound,” he said.

  “Your husband knows how to fly this thing,” Mr. Boushee said. “Billy, thank you for making it possible to get to my meeting in time.” He unfolded a handful of bills and handed Billy forty dollars.

  “Whoa. That’s way too much.”

  Mr. Boushee shook his head. “It was worth every penny. Besides, I was going to ask you to give me a ride to town.” He nodded toward the Model T. “I see you like to drive as well.”

  “I prefer machines to animals.” Billy chuckled.

  The other man laughed.

  “I won’t be long,” Billy murmured to Grace before he released her to hurry to the car. “Anything you need in town?” he asked as he stood ready to turn the crank.

  “No, I was there yesterday.”

  He nodded and gave the crank a turn. The engine coughed to life.<
br />
  Grace waved as they drove from the yard, then hurried inside to think about what to make for dinner.

  In the end she settled for using the last bottle of meat she had purchased from Mr. Tunney and cooking up some of the vegetables Nellie had given her. Nellie had offered to provide them with meat from her store of canned beef. “You can pay me back when you butcher in the fall.” She’d gone on to explain how a butchering ring worked. “Neighbors get together and share a beef. That way no one has a whole animal to deal with at once. Everyone takes turns providing the animal to butcher.”

  “But we don’t have any animals.”

  Nellie nodded. “You could have one on your pasture if you wanted. Or you could simply buy one ready to butcher when it’s your turn.”

  It made sense to Grace. She’d wanted to bring some meat home right away, but it was too heavy to carry. She’d mention it to Billy as soon as he got home. Maybe he’d take the auto over.

  She brought up the subject over dinner.

  “We’ll go this afternoon. I can kill two birds with one stone and teach you to drive at the same time.”

  Grace dropped her fork with a clang. “I hoped you would forget about me driving.”

  Billy stared at her. “Of course I won’t. It makes perfect sense.”

  She grimaced. “Trying to teach me to handle something that size when I can barely manage to produce a meal doesn’t make one bit of sense.”

  He grabbed her hand. “Grace, will you stop putting yourself down all the time? You are far more capable than you let yourself think. This—” he nodded at his plate—“is a very decent meal. In fact, it’s excellent. You amaze me with how quickly you catch on.” He paused, but she only stared at him. “I have no doubt you can drive a car, run a house, or anything else you put your mind to—probably even fly an airplane.”

  She gasped. “Fly an airplane? I couldn’t.”

  He grinned. “Well, maybe not. I probably wouldn’t let you practice on Gracie Two, but you know what I mean.”

  She only shook her head.

  He sighed. “Gracie, why must you believe that all you have going for you is your looks?” He grinned. “Not that I have anything against having a beautiful wife, but you are so much more, and you can’t see it.”

  She looked away, too confused to answer.

  He waited a heartbeat, then pushed away. “Come on. I’ll help you clean up, and then we’ll get on with driving lessons.” He stacked the dishes and carried them to the washing-up stand.

  Sighing deeply, she put away the food, then washed while he dried. But she could not relax, knowing what was to follow.

  They stood in front of the car.

  “I think the first thing you need to know is how handy it will be to be able to drive. You can visit Nellie, run over and see the Weltys, or see whoever else you want to visit in a matter of minutes. You’ll soon get used to going twenty miles an hour. Just think of all the time that will save you.”

  She nodded, unconvinced.

  “You can go to town and get as many supplies and books as you like and not have to worry about trundling home under the weight.”

  At the mention of books, she shot him an apprehensive look, but his attention was on the auto.

  “Now have you been paying attention?”

  “I always pay attention.” She had no idea what he meant but determined to make a good showing, prepared to prove her worth.

  “Then what’s the first thing you do?”

  “Turn the crank.” She stepped to the handle and, throwing her weight into it, gave the crank a spin.

  “Be careful, it has a—”

  She felt the crank connect with whatever it did inside the engine, then it kicked back with a force that almost sent her headfirst into the hood. She stepped back and gaped at the auto.

  “I was going to say, be careful, it has a kick when it connects.” He almost choked as he tried to suppress his amusement.

  Grace gave him a slanted look. “I noticed.”

  His eyes danced with laughter. “Try again. This time, prepare for the kick.”

  She gritted her teeth, tightened her fists around the crank, and again threw her weight into it, this time refusing to let the heavy thrust throw her. She was rewarded with a sputter, then the engine roared to life. She stepped back and grinned at Billy. “Nothing to it.” She dusted her hands together.

  Billy laughed. “Told you. Come on, get behind the steering wheel.”

  She sobered. Starting the engine was only the beginning. Her jaw felt brittle as she climbed up behind the wheel. Suddenly, the ground looked very far away; the bonnet of the auto very long. How would she control this monster?

  “Grace, pay attention. The pedals are very important. Try them out and know what each is for. Right, for braking; left for neutral and the two forward gears; the middle is for backing up.”

  She repeated his words and tried her feet on the pedals.

  “Now this—” he showed her the handle beneath the steering wheel—“is the throttle. It controls how fast you go. This is the hand brake and clutch.” He waited while she repeated every word. “Now, push the brake ahead and push on the left pedal.”

  She did as he said, her breath caught in her chest. The car jerked forward. She screamed. “What do I do?”

  Grinning widely, he sat back, his arms crossed over his chest. “Take the steering wheel and head down the road.”

  She wrinkled her nose. It was obvious he wasn’t going to be any help except to fling about orders, so she grabbed the wheel with both hands, her knuckles white against the black steering wheel. Biting her lip, she felt the power beneath her palms.

  The car veered toward the grass on the right side.

  She darted a panicked look at Billy, but he leaned back, grinning.

  She turned the wheel to right the course and it headed for the left side. Slowly she brought the steering wheel back to center. The car stayed in the middle of the trail.

  She let her breath out in a gush and began to giggle. “I did it. I did it. Oh no, I have to turn. Billy, help me.”

  “Just turn the wheel whatever direction you want to go.”

  Her heart racing, she cranked right. The car ambled around the corner and headed for the ditch. She wheeled toward the left. Slowly, slowly, she reminded herself, until she stayed in the center.

  She sighed. “Am I doing alright?”

  “More than alright. You’re doing very well.”

  She beamed at him, bouncing up and down on the seat.

  “Now maybe you should pull back on the throttle. Remember where it is?”

  “Here?” She touched the lever.

  “That’s right. Pull back just a little.”

  She did as he said, gasping back a scream when the automobile jerked forward, rattling along at a frightful pace. “Too fast, too fast,” she yelled.

  Billy laughed. “Just watch where you’re going.”

  She blinked hard, her hands clenching the steering wheel. After a few minutes, the speed seemed less intimidating.

  “By the way, where are we going?” Billy asked.

  She didn’t take her eyes from the road. “Can we go to the Deans?”

  “Good idea. Do you want to practice stopping before we get there?”

  She’d only begun to breath easy, and now her lungs tightened up again. “Stop. How do I stop?”

  “Pull back the throttle. That’s the one beneath the steering wheel.”

  She did as he said.

  “Now push the left pedal twice. And pull on the hand brake.”

  She did as he said, and they jerked to a stop.

  “Wasn’t that fun?”

  “It was scary.” A laugh tickled the back of her throat and escaped. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, it seemed very funny, and she laughed so hard, tears ran down her cheeks.

  “See, I told you it would be fun. Almost as much fun as flying.”

  “Never.”

  “Some day. Now do you
want to go see Nellie or not?”

  She sat up straight. “Let’s go.”

  “First the—”

  “I can do it.” Steadying herself with a deep breath, she repeated the steps he had told her and headed down the road toward the Deans.

  6

  Billy pulled the car in beside the other autos and buggies in front of the church.

  Grace waited for him to come around and help her down, smoothing her gloves and removing the kerchief she’d tied around her hat to keep the dust off. She wiped her face with her handkerchief, then took Billy’s hand and stepped down. “You know, I like going to church.”

  “You do?” Billy stopped to give her a startled look.

  “You don’t have to look so surprised.”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t help thinking how annoyed you were back in Britain that your Father made you go.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “ ‘It won’t do you any harm, and it might do you some good,’ ” she droned in imitation of her father. “Honestly, I would have sooner stayed home any day and read a good book. But this church is different.”

  “You’ve made that conclusion after what—four weeks?”

  “I knew it was different from the beginning.”

  Billy pulled her hand through her arm and led her toward the church steps. “I think you just welcome the chance to get all dressed up.”

  Grace patted her hat, then swirled her skirt a little as she walked. “It’s a fine dress and bonnet, isn’t it?” She’d bought them both at Church’s store in town.

  Billy grinned down at her. “It certainly looks fine on you.”

  “Thank you, Billy. I confess I like to wear my nice things, but that isn’t why I like church. Nor is it because I get to see Nellie. I could simply drive over and spend the hour visiting if that were the case.”

  “True enough.” He paused at the bottom of the steps. “Perhaps it helps that you aren’t being forced to go.”

  “That makes me sound petty and rebellious. No, it’s because what Reverend Albright says makes sense. He makes me want to listen.”

  “I am impressed. But I agree. He is a good speaker.”

  They stepped inside, ending the conversation, but Grace promised herself they’d finish it later. She didn’t mean only that Reverend Albright was a good speaker; she meant his words tugged at something inside her.