eleven

I promiss. Garnet had written the words because deep in her heart she knew God wouldn’t have brought her across the ocean and put her through all of her trials without having a purpose. During her prayer, a sense of certainty filled her that His intent was to allow her the joy of children and a family without ever having to wed again. In the three weeks she’d been with the Walshes, she’d been provided for and treated with kindness and respect. Even so, Garnet didn’t believe in making promises lightly. Writing those two words committed her, and she felt the gravity of her vow as she waited for Master Walsh.

“Look!” Hester pointed. “Widow Wheelock wrote us a message! What does it say?”

Ethan ran ahead, but Garnet kept her gaze on Master Walsh. “I promise,” Ethan read aloud, and relief transformed his father’s features.

“What do you promise, Widow Wheelock?” Christopher’s brows furrowed, momentarily making him look exactly as his father had on other occasions.

“I asked her to give us her word that she would remain here.” Joy radiated from Samuel, and he scooped Hester into his arms. “Because of your promise and generous spirit, Garnet, my family is together, and my daughter will learn how to keep a happy home. We are all beholden to you for all you have done and will do.”

“And I’ll help you.” Hester hooked one arm around his neck and twisted toward Garnet. “We can garden and cook, and whilst you spin, I can card wool. Aunt Dorcas set me to that task every day.”

“That’s a fine plan.” Samuel tickled Hester’s tummy. “I suppose I ought to shear the sheep on the morrow, then.”

“But I was to go get salt,” Christopher said.

“And so you will. I’ll accompany you to the Mortons’, and after Falcon and I shear his sheep, we’ll come here and do ours. I’m sure Goodwife Morton would be amenable to sharing a chore with Widow Wheelock. You and Aaron bring the salt here, and we’ll all preserve the fish together.”

Garnet wiped the slate and wrote as quickly as she could, Ruth asked preecher to supper.

“Yes, she did.” Samuel shrugged. “Henry, John, and Peter Morton could give the message to the reverend, then walk over here to fetch Ethan. Ethan, you may use the wheelbarrow so you boys can go gather beechnuts, butternuts, walnuts, and acorns. Until the Morton boys arrive, I want you and Hester to go pick the last of the beans and peas.”

They all walked back to the house. Ethan lifted the re-corder from the table and handed it to Garnet. “Would you please play a tune?”

Garnet thought a moment, then began to play the simple notes.

Samuel Walsh sat by the hearth and cuddled his daughter close as he began to sing, “ ‘Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. . . .’ ” The fierce tenderness of his hold and the sincerity of his voice touched Garnet deeply.

The next day, Garnet heard Master Walsh singing that same hymn as he set out toward the Mortons’. Garnet set to work at once. She wanted to accomplish several tasks ere Ruth arrived.

Just past midmorning, Ruth arrived. She barely scrambled down from her wagon ere she dashed off and purged her stomach.

Garnet dampened a rag, knelt beside her, and blotted her friend’s face.

“Don’t fret over me. I’m not sickening.” Ruth managed a wan smile. “I told Falcon this morn that we’re to be blessed with another child. The first months, my stomach puts up a fight.”

Empathy flooded Garnet. She’d always been hale, but when her husband had gambled away all they owned, hunger drove her to eat food that must have been spoiled. She hadn’t recovered from that ere they put her aboard the ship and seasickness plagued her.

Ruth took the rag and passed it over her own face. “Don’t look so worried, Garnet. The time I carried Mary, I was sickest of all. Since the nausea is bad again this time, I’m hoping the babe will be a girl.”

Fleetingly running her hand across Ruth’s tummy, Garnet frowned. She couldn’t feel so much as a tiny hint of a babe.

“No, I won’t show for a few months yet. By then, the sickness will cease. It only lasts the first few months.”

Garnet rose and helped Ruth stand.

“Samuel made me promise that you’d nap after nuncheon.” Ruth let out a small laugh. “In truth, ’twas a promise easily made. Whene’er I’m carrying, fatigue nigh unto overwhelms me at midday.”

Staring at Ruth, Garnet couldn’t respond.

“I won’t feel quite so guilty resting since you will, too. Garnet? Garnet!”

Everything inside her started shaking, and no matter how hard she tried, Garnet couldn’t draw a breath.

“Here. Come here now.” Ruth tugged her over a few yards and leaned her against the split rail fence.

“Mama? I brought you water.” Mary held out the dipper.

“Nicely done.” Ruth took it. “Take Hubert and Hester with you and go a-gathering. We’ll need herbs aplenty when the fish arrives.”

“Is the widow ailing again, Mama? She’s wan as can be.”

“Off with you, Mary. Do my bidding.” Ruth pressed the dipper to Garnet’s mouth. “Sip this. We must talk.”

Having carried many children, Ruth asked some piercing questions and pressed one of Garnet’s hands between her own. “You carry a life within you. You’re shocked, but things will work out. By my reckoning, you have almost five months to go—that’s time aplenty for you to get used to the fact and prepare.”

Misery swamped Garnet. As a little girl, she’d dreamed of her future. She’d marry a man who cared for her, and they’d have babes to cradle. Her dreams came to naught but nightmares. Her husband had given her nothing but heartache and a babe he’d not be around to support.

And what will Samuel Walsh say? Surely, when he asked me to stay, he didn’t anticipate I’d have a child.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. Accustomed to marshaling her sizable family, Ruth took over and organized chores for the children and kept Garnet busy.

“We finished faster than we expected.”

Samuel’s voice made Garnet spin around.

“I confess,” he said as he put the spring-back shears on the table, “ ’twas the thought of eating a tasty nuncheon that spurred Falcon and me to shear his flock so quickly.”

“You’ll have wool aplenty to spin this winter.” Falcon gave his wife an affectionate pat.

“Father!” Henry burst through the doorway. “We just brought back our third wheelbarrow full of nuts!”

“Bring back a fourth; then you may eat.” Ruth shooed him away and tugged on her husband’s hand. “Come, Falcon.” A moment later, Ruth shut the door, leaving Samuel and Garnet alone in the keeping room.

Samuel gave Garnet a quizzical look. “Ruth’s behaving oddly. Do you suppose ’tis because she’s increasing? Falcon told me they will be blessed with another child.”

Slowly shaking her head, Garnet took up the slate. She bit her lip, gathered all of her courage, and wrote down a few words.

❧

I have babe to.

For a moment, Sam stared at the slate and felt a bolt of sheer anger. I had everything planned. This will ruin it. Sam tore his gaze from those stark words and looked at Garnet. “You’re with child.”

Eyes wide and glistening, she nodded and swiped away the first message.

I can’t tell whether she’s happy or devastated. The first noontime Ruth came to call, she inquired if this might be a possibility, yet I banished it from my mind. ’Twas foolish of me.

Garnet caught her lower lip between her teeth. Laboriously, she scribed, You want me to lea—

“Give me that.” Sam yanked away the slate and set it on the mantel. Curling his hands around her upper arms, he pivoted. “Sit, Garnet.”

She sank onto the bench and clenched her hands in her lap. Though he’d considered her already pale, all color bled from her face.

“Am I to take it that you’ve just realized your condition?”

Her head bobbed a jerky affirmative.

Naomi resented carrying our children. She made life miserable because she— He caught himself. I cannot compare Garnet to her. Garnet is a different woman and has displayed nothing but a sweet temperament.

“This changes nothing.” As Sam voiced those words, resolve built within him. “No, it doesn’t.” He rested one knee on the bench and tilted her face up to his.

The cloudy tint to her eyes testified to her confusion and concern.

“Neither of us counted on this eventuality, but the Lord chose to quicken a life within you, and we bow to His wisdom.” Though he spoke the truth, it sounded harsh. Sam couldn’t honestly say this development pleased him, but the widow oughtn’t be made to feel guilty. He cleared his throat. “Widow Wheelock, you promised to stay and help my children. I make that same promise in return. I will provide for your child as I would for my own.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Sam couldn’t tell the cause of her tears—relief? grief? delight? But he had no right to ask such personal questions. Having the babe would strain her. She was not yet fully recovered from her ordeals. A thought shot through him. “Garnet, ’tis a difficult question I pose you, but I would know: In the time since your husband died, has any man forced himself upon you?”

She shook her head.

“So your husband sired the babe.” Relief flooded Samuel. The Almighty had spared her that horrific burden. “You will continue to abide here, and we’ll pray the Lord gives you succor in the months ahead.”

Her narrow shoulders straightened. Garnet wiped away her tears, and determination painted her features. She took up the slate and wrote, This changes no thing.

The very words I spoke to her. Samuel nodded once with great emphasis. “This alters nothing whatsoever.” In his mind, he agreed completely, but his heart called him a liar.

With all of the children at the table, nuncheon passed quickly and without any further discussion of the pregnancy. As soon as he finished his bowl of stew, Samuel rose. “We’ve sheep to shear.”

Falcon stood. “And you have three more than I. We’ll have them done by the time Brooks arrives with the fish.”

Once they were out in the barn, Sam let out a heavy sigh. “Ruth told you?”

“Aye.” Falcon said nothing more. They set to work, but instead of the jocularity they’d enjoyed that morn, the men remained silent. Finally finishing the last ewe, Falcon said, “Even with Brooks fetching the sturgeon, I need to replenish my smokehouse. What say you to us going hunting?”

“Venison would suit me.”

“After that turkey you shot, Ruth’s been after me to get a few.”

“It made for good eating.”

Falcon leaned back and studied Sam’s face. “Left to your own devices, you or Christopher would have burned it o’er the fire. You might think to dwell on the improvements in your life now that the widow is here.”

“The problem with sage advice is that ’tis easier to give than to live. Nonetheless, Hester is home. For that, I’ll endure—”

Ruth cleared her throat loudly.

Sam wheeled around. Ruth wasn’t alone. The shattered look on Garnet’s face told him she’d heard his thoughtless words.