He laughed. “Well, I suggest we pray about this and then talk to Christopher and the others. If the children aren’t of a mind to be cared for by us, then we sure don’t wanna go imposin’ such a thing on them.”
“No indeed. I would not want that.” She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you for your understanding.”
He surprised her by pulling her down on the grass beside him. Wrapping her in his arms, Euphanel lost herself in the moment and the warmth of his touch.
Jael looked across the table at her father. “I’m so sorry, Father. I never wanted to shame you like Justine did.” She could see him wince at her sister’s name.
“I was wrong, Jael. I was wrong for how I treated her. I was a proud and boastful man, and the price was the life of my child.”
“No, Father. Justine’s death was her own choice. Certainly she was saddened by the things that happened, but the responsibility was hers. She loved the wrong man and he was a scoundrel for deserting her.”
He shook his head and dabbed the napkin to his lips. “That much is true, but I acted wrongly. And now you’re telling me you married a man you did not love—one who has left you to fear what he might do. ”
“I asked him for a divorce.” She bowed her head. “Not just for that, but . . . well . . . there were other women. I’ve never confronted him about it, but I knew that he’d had his way with my lady’s maid back in Philadelphia. It was one of the reasons I didn’t want servants when we came here. He insisted, however. I don’t know if he’s bothered any of them or not, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”
“This is outrageous,” her father said, slamming his fist on the table. “No daughter of mine deserves to be treated in such a fashion. How can I help you?”
Jael breathed a sigh of relief. Her father understood. He loved her enough to put aside his fears of scandal and offer his support. “I don’t exactly know. I cannot abide how Stuart has treated the Vandermarks. I wish you could do something about that before we even consider what I need. They are good people, Father. The very best, in fact. Deborah says it is because God guides their steps. I’m thinking perhaps it’s time I considered His place in my own life.”
“Well past time for the both of us. When your mother died, I did you girls a great injustice in turning away from God.” Remorse rang in his words and echoed in his sorrowful expression.
“I don’t know what can be done,” Jael continued. “But I know you are a thoughtful and wealthy man in your own right. Since you are in partnership with Stuart, I thought perhaps you could influence him to do better by the Vandermarks.”
“He’s determined to have his revenge. I don’t know what I could do. However, I will look over the contract we have with Vandermark Logging, and I will ask my lawyers to do the same. Perhaps there is a way to nullify it and start over.”
Jael looked at the food on her plate and pushed it back. She was still uncertain as to whether or not she was pregnant, but just discussing her poor choices and husband’s hard heart was enough to leave her unable to eat.
“If you don’t mind, I believe I’ll retire for the evening. This conversation has robbed me of my strength.”
Her father nodded. “By all means. And Jael . . . please promise me that you won’t keep such things from me in the future. I want to make a better life for us, but I need the truth to be spoken.”
She gazed across the table to see his eyes were filled with tears. “I promise. I will be truthful with you, even if it’s painful.”
Rob arrived home on a sweltering Sunday evening, the twenty-second day of May. Mara had already been invited to spend the evening at the Vandermark home, just in case Rob arrived. He had actually planned to be home on Saturday, but something forced the delay, though Deborah hadn’t yet heard what that something was. She smiled at the way her brother had changed as she observed him and the rest of the family relaxing on the lawn. He no longer swaggered like a young dandy seeking female companionship, but rather walked with the confident air that their father once used. Still, his whimsy popped up from time to time, like when he teased Mara or told stories of when he and G.W. had been young. His eyes would almost twinkle in delight as he confessed his childish adventures.
“They make such a nice couple,” Deborah murmured. She looked at Christopher and smiled. “Do you suppose folks look at us and think the same thing?”
He chuckled and put his arm around her shoulder as they enjoyed the porch swing. “No, they probably say, ‘What in the world does that sensible Vandermark woman see in that Irishman?’ ”
She elbowed him ever so slightly. “You know that no one around here cares about that. And those who pay a mind to such things are too busy hating the black folks to worry over an Irishman or two.”
“Or six,” he said, motioning toward his brothers and sisters.
Deborah nodded. “Or six.”
“Wouldn’t you agree to that, Deborah?” her mother called from the yard below.
“What was that?” she asked. “I didn’t hear your question.”
“I was just saying it would certainly be a shame if Rob couldn’t be here for the wedding, and that perhaps you would agree to move up the date.”
“To when?” she asked. “And why can’t Rob be here on the eleventh? I thought he was staying several weeks.”
Rob clasped Mara’s hand. “I wanted to do just that, but in order to finish my studies sooner, I agreed to take on some work this summer. I reckon I’ll have to head back to Houston by the first.”
“But that’s just a little over a week,” Deborah said, looking to Mara, then to Christopher and back to her mother. “Are you suggesting we move the wedding up to this Saturday—the twenty-eighth?”
“Well, why not? Everything is ready, and Pastor Shattuck has no other plans.”
The pastor nodded. “It’s true. I’m as free as a man can be.”
Deborah turned to Christopher. He was already grinning from ear to ear. “So I take it that you like the idea?”
“I didn’t want to wait until the eleventh anyway, if you’ll recall. Six days from now suits me just fine. Fact is, the pastor’s here now—we could just get the formalities out of the way.”
The men laughed, but feminine sensibilities prevailed. Mother was the one to put everyone in their place. “Deborah deserves a nice wedding. We’ll move it up to Saturday. That will be soon enough.”
A million butterflies seemed to release at once in Deborah’s stomach. She put her hand to her waist to try to vanquish the feeling. Christopher didn’t help matters at all when he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Just six days and you’ll be mine.”
“You should give a maniacal laugh and twist your mustache when you say that,” Deborah teased, trying not to show how nervous she felt. “I remember the villain doing that once in a play I saw in Philadelphia.”
Christopher feigned distress. “I’m the villain?”
Deborah put the back of her hand to her forehead. In the voice of a pathetic damsel in distress, she stood and pleaded, “Oh please, sir! Do me no harm.”
“You are mine, dear lady. No one can save you now,” Christopher declared, jumping to his feet to pull her close.
Her family laughed at their antics and Rob even clapped. “You two really should work on the stage.”
Deborah shot him a scowl. “Don’t encourage him. Next thing I know, he’ll have some plan for us to perform scenes for patients.”
“Well, we have a full day ahead of us tomorrow,” Arjan said, nodding to Jimmy and Tommy. The trio got to their feet and Arjan continued. “I asked Jack to stop the train here in the morning at five. We’ll head up to the camp and get done what we can.” He looked to Rob. “Don’t suppose you’d like to dirty your hands.”
Rob didn’t get a chance to speak. “If you don’t mind, Mr. Vandermark,” Mara interceded, “I have plans for him.”
The men chuckled and whistled, but Mother quickly agreed. “Rob is resting this week.
We will let him court his girl and enjoy our celebrations and food, but he will not work.”
“Wish somebody would let me rest for a week,” G.W. said, getting to his feet. He rubbed his thigh gently. “ ’Course, my leg would really stiffen up if I just sat around—like that could ever happen. These rowdies of mine keep me busy day and night.” He hoisted a child under each arm and turned to Lizzie. “What say we clean these two up and get them to bed?” The twins squealed in protest.
“Yes, it’s well past their bedtime. I should have had Sissy take them inside earlier.”
“Oh, it did them good to be up, and who knows? Maybe they’ll let us sleep past five-thirty.”
“If they do, then you’ll have cold breakfast,” Mother threw out.
“There truly is no rest for the weary,” G.W. said. “I reckon we’ll be to breakfast on time.”
“They sure are a precious pair,” Rob said as the little family started for the house. “I’ll enjoy being an uncle and spoilin’ ever’ last one of your children.”
“You do, and you’ll answer to me,” G.W. called over his shoulder. “My children ain’t gonna be spoiled. They’re gonna be well behaved and brought up in the way they should go—just like we were.”
“Whoever said you two were well behaved?” Deborah asked.
G.W. grinned as the twins giggled in his arms. “There are some things a fella just knows.”
Now it was the women who laughed. Mother, in particular, seemed amused as she came up behind Lizzie and G.W. “Come along,” she told Lizzie. “I shall tell you a few stories about your well-behaved husband.”
“Now, Ma, that ain’t exactly fair,” G.W. protested as the women sidestepped him and headed for the door.
“We’re heading to bed,” Jimmy announced, giving Tommy a poke. “He’s already half asleep.”
Tommy yawned and nodded. “Been a long day. Even for a Sunday.” The boys headed for the house.
“Well, I should be getting back,” Pastor Shattuck told Arjan.
“Are you sure you don’t want to just stay the night? Awful dark without the moon to lead you back.”
“I’ll be fine, Arjan. Thanks for the invitation. I’d actually like the time to just pray and think on the Lord.”
Arjan got to his feet. “Well, let me bring your buggy around.”
“Much obliged,” the pastor told him.
Deborah came to the rail of the porch. “So when are you two going to tie the knot?” she asked Rob and Mara.
Rob grinned. “Well, if I have my way, it’ll be as soon as I get this schoolin’ out of the way. I’m just as anxious to marry my gal as you are to marry your fella.” He put his arm around Mara’s shoulder. “I reckon the time can’t pass fast enough for either of us. Now, if you’ll excuse Miss Shattuck and me, we’re gonna go see what’s left to eat. I’m starvin’.”
“You just had supper three hours ago,” Deborah reminded him.
“No wonder I can feel my stomach pressin’ against my backbone,” he replied. “We’d best hurry, Mara, before I plumb fade away.”
“Mara, before you go, did you have some special time I needed to pick you up tomorrow?” her father asked.
Rob answered for her. “If you’ll allow me, sir, I’ll bring her home in the afternoon.”
“I think that would work out all right.”
“I was also hopin’ you and I could spend some time discussin’ a few things,” Rob told him. “Things regarding ministry work. I’d like to have your opinion on my future plans.”
Pastor Shattuck appeared quite pleased. “I would like that very much.”
“And I’ll fix supper for us,” Mara declared.
“Maybe you can get my brother to talk serious about marriage,” Deborah said, smiling.
Rob turned. “Whoever said I wasn’t serious about marriage? Mara knows exactly how I feel. She’s also got more sense than to go marryin’ a man who doesn’t even have a job or home of his own.”
Christopher stiffened beside her, and Deborah put her hand on his arm. “Maybe she’s just heard from Lizzie and Mother how difficult it is to be married to a Vandermark man.”
Pastor Shattuck surprised them all. “I’ve actually been meaning to talk to young Rob about how stubborn and ornery we Shattucks can be. Especially the womenfolk.”
Everyone laughed at this. Mara gave a slight rise of a dark brow and batted her eyelashes. “Why, Papa, whatever do you mean?” She took hold of Rob’s arm in a possessive manner. “We Shattuck women are docile, reserved, and obedient.”
The pastor gazed heavenward. “I’ll say nothing further on the matter.”
Deborah loved the merriment and wished it could go on and on. Just then, however, Arjan led the horse and buggy around the corner of the house. The dapple gray gelding seemed almost ghostly in the pale light of the lantern Arjan had hung from the frame.
Pastor Shattuck climbed up and bid them good-night. “I shall see you both tomorrow, then. Arjan, please thank Mrs. Vandermark for another delicious meal.” He snapped the reins lightly and the horse moved forward.
“Well, I reckon I’d best get to bed. You sweethearts behave yourselves,” he directed. “I don’t want to have to come lookin’ for you.”
“We have patients to see in the morning,” Deborah stated, “so we won’t be out here for long. Besides, the mosquitoes are biting something fierce.”
“Is that what it was?” Arjan teased. “I thought it was your mother pokin’ me with her knittin’ needles.” He opened the screen door. “See you in the morning.”
“Good night,” Deborah and Christopher said in unison. Rob and Mara were already well on their way to the kitchen.
Turning to face Christopher, Deborah gazed deep into his eyes. “Six days. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I told you, woman—I would have married you long ago if you’d just said the word.” He bent his head to touch his lips to hers. “I would still marry you tonight. All we have to do is catch up to the pastor.”
Deborah felt a delicious shiver run up her spine. The thought was tempting, and no doubt, Christopher would have had the preacher back before she could so much as tell the others. But reason and sense surfaced.
“Saturday is soon enough,” she told him. “It’s only six days.”
“Only?”
The look in his eyes—the desire in his expression—caused Deborah to take a step backwards. “Yes . . . only.” She felt her backside come in contact with the porch rail.
Christopher stepped forward like an animal cornering its prey. “God created the world in six days. That’s a long time, as far as I’m concerned.”
Deborah’s breath caught in her throat. Christopher wrapped her in his embrace and began kissing her. His lips first touched her forehead, then trailed down to her eyelids. Deborah sighed and sank against him. He kissed her nose, her cheeks, and earlobes. Deborah raised her mouth to meet his, but instead Christopher began to kiss her neck. She couldn’t help the gasp that escaped or the trembling that began in her knees and ran up her body.
Christopher moaned softly against her ear just before claiming her mouth in a hungry kiss. Deborah had never known such passion. She felt as if her skin were afire under Christopher’s consuming touch.
“Oh, Deborah.” He spoke her name as if it were a secret.
All rational thought lost, she tightened her hold on his neck, encouraging his lips once again to take hers. He eagerly complied; then without warning, Christopher stepped back and dropped his hold. Deborah thought she very well might have sunk to the floor had she not quickly grasped the porch railing. She looked at him in question and saw the burning desire in his eyes.
“I think six days will be very long,” he said, turning to leave. “I’m going to the cabin. Good night.”
Deborah fought the urge to follow him. “He’s right,” she said rather breathlessly to the night. “Six days is going to seem like an eternity.”
“You do look thinner,” Mara told R
ob as he cut himself a hunk of ham.
“I don’t eat as well there as here. Of course, no one there cooks as well as the ladies of Angelina County. And besides, I don’t do anywhere near the amount of physical labor. Although I have become quite handy at tending the grounds and gardens.”
Mara poured him some buttermilk. “I can scarcely allow myself to believe you’re really here.” She handed him the glass. “I’ve missed you.”
He grinned and put the ham aside. Rob took the buttermilk and placed it with the ham. “I missed you, too. I haven’t had a chance to tell you that you’re the prettiest gal in all of Texas.” He touched a curl of her ebony hair. “I think about you nearly as much as I ponder the Scriptures.”
She smiled. “I don’t suppose the teachers appreciate that.”
Rob shrugged. “They don’t seem to mind. I get my work done, and that’s what matters. One of my instructors reckons I have a unique way of lookin’ at life. He said I have a way of talkin’ and thinkin’ that reaches the common man. He thinks I’ll do well in small towns with everyday folk.”
Mara couldn’t help but nod. “I agree. That’s one of your charms.”
Laughing, Rob picked up the glass and downed about half of the buttermilk. “I didn’t reckon I had any charms.”
“Oh, you have them all right. I have to say, I’ve heard plenty of stories about you from some of the other young women in the area. You were quite the charming suitor, as I hear it told.”
Rob sobered and shook his head. “Those times seem like a long ways back. Fact is, sometimes I can’t rightly believe that was me. I’m not that man anymore.”
“Thank God for that,” Mara said most sincerely. “I could not have loved that man as I love you.”
He studied her face for a moment. “I know. I’m just glad God showed me in time. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
She smiled and gave him a nod. “Just don’t be reckoning it any other way, because I don’t intend to let you get away.”
Grinning, Rob picked up the ham. “Honey, you’d be hard-pressed to get rid of me now.”
Hope Rekindled Page 18
