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Sunday dawned bright and clear. I got into my Sunday dress and headed down to the kitchen. As we ate breakfast, I was surprised to see Caleb ate his breakfast in more of a hurry than usual. I was about to question him when he excused himself from the table and strode up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. Da and I exchanged a puzzled glance, but neither of us knew what was going on.
Da had gone out to the barn and I had dried and put away the last breakfast dish when Caleb walked down the stairs. I turned to ask him what in the world he was doing, but the words died when they reached the tip of my tongue. I stared at him. He was dressed in a broadcloth suit I hadn’t known existed. It looked professionally tailored and was a perfect fit for him. I had never seen him in such a nice outfit and I admit I had to look him over from head to toe.
When my eyes returned to his face, I noticed the embarrassed and sheepish look he wore.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked. “Funeral? Wedding?” I wiggled my eyebrows and grinned mischievously. “A girl catch your eye?”
Caleb actually blushed. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it possible.
He cleared his throat. “No, ma’am. I decided it was high time you have a male escort to church. Especially now that Miles has expressed his intention to court you.”
“He has?” I asked. I tried to recall what had happened the last two days and when Miles and Caleb could have spoken to each other. Nothing came to mind.
“Yep. I was supposed to tell you yesterday, but chose to wait ‘til today. I hope you don’t mind that I waited.”
“I’m glad you did. I wouldn’t have slept a wink if you had told me last night. But when did you and Miles talk?”
“Just before he came to get the boys. Da and I were out in the field near the road and Miles stopped to help us and talk. Da and I had been struggling to put two fence rails back in place and Miles came by in time to help us. Da’s ribs were bothering him again and Da was appreciative and impressed that he would take the time to help us and that he knew exactly what to do.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “I imagine so.”
Caleb nodded. “When we were finished, he talked to us and Da and I both gave him permission to court you. As I’m sure you know, Da doesn’t want to be involved at all. He thinks you’re old enough to make your own decisions without needing him to be there all the time.”
I pulled on the apron strings and lifted the apron over my head. “Yes, but the accountability...”
“Miles has asked me to be that person for you. He said we’ve got a close enough relationship and you would probably confide in me about almost anything.” Caleb shrugged.
I looked up at him and nodded. “That is good. Yes, I think that will work. Does Miles have someone he can confide in?”
Caleb held out his arm to me and I put my elbow in the crook of his arm as we headed for the door. I grabbed Mama’s Bible as we walked past the table.
“He said he had a couple of people in mind and would be speaking to them today.”
We walked to the road in silence. As he turned toward town, I had a sudden thought. “Does Da know you are coming with me?”
Caleb stiffened slightly. “No.”
I nodded, deep in thought. I chose not to consider what Da would think. I knew he would be upset that both of his children were going to church, but I also knew church was more important and maybe, just maybe, Da would start thinking about God in a good way.
It didn’t seem to take quite as long to get to church. As we walked into the church yard, I felt many eyes turn our direction. Were they looking to see who was with me or were they simply staring at the handsome brother escorting me? I didn’t have time to wonder about it long since two boys barreled toward us.
“You came! You came!” John shouted as he neared us.
Caleb let go of me and took one long step toward John, grabbed his arms, and swung him around. “Yes, sir, I did. When I promise somethin’, I do it.” Caleb looked over at me and gave me a wink.
James snuggled up next to me and I gave him a small squeeze. “How are you today, James?”
“Fine,” he signed.
I smiled at him and looked back toward John and Caleb. I almost had to force myself not to scan the church yard for Miles. He was probably in the church anyway and not outside. I gave myself a mental shake and felt James tugging at me to leave the chattering John with Caleb.
We weaved our way through the yard, holding hands and enjoying each others’ company. We had gotten about halfway through the yard when I saw a group of young women heading the opposite direction, their eyes set on a point behind us. I looked over my shoulder in the general direction they were headed and saw only Caleb.
I stopped suddenly as I realized what was happening. Caleb was a handsome, eligible young man. I’d never really thought about it before, but he was probably one of the most handsome young men in town. And he was new to church. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw James looking at me with confusion in his eyes. After church should be interesting, I thought. In the same instant I had a sudden fear as to how Caleb would take all the attention. I tried to shrug off the fear as not being my problem, but if it kept Caleb from coming back to church... God, I prayed silently, help Caleb, please.
***
We didn’t even get out of church before the young ladies swarmed around us again. Or rather, Caleb. I barely sneaked past before getting smothered and forgotten. As I shook Miles’ hand, Miles whispered, “Can we talk after the rest of the congregation has gone?”
I nodded. “As long as Caleb doesn’t mind waiting.”
Miles smiled and turned to the person behind me. I walked out of the church and took a deep breath. August definitely wasn’t my favorite month of the year, but it did help the garden grow and ripen.
I looked around the yard and saw that most people were already on their way home. It was a hot day and I think they wanted to get into the shade of their houses. I stood next to the church building to stay out of the sun. I was there only a few minutes before the gaggle of girls traipsed out of the church followed closely by Caleb and Miles.
The two men talked as they walked down the steps. Caleb gave Miles a nod and went over to where John and James were playing with a couple of other boys.
As I watched Caleb join the boys in whatever it was they were playing, Miles approached me.
“Are you ready to talk?”
I swallowed. “I think so. Although, I’m not sure what you want to talk about.”
Miles looked down at his hands and was quiet for a long time. “I’m really not sure how to do this courting thing with you,” he admitted. “It’s been a long while since I courted a girl and then it was with someone I knew growing up. This just seems so different.” He looked over at me, pain evident in his eyes. “I have to be honest, I loved my wife and I’m not sure...I don’t know if I could love someone else. I,” his voice faltered, “I don’t know.”
Hoping he wouldn’t think me too forward, I put a hand on his arm. “I understand.”
Miles forced a smile. “Thank you. You know, it’s been awhile since I’ve had someone I felt like I could confide in. It’s going to take a lot of adjustment.”
“It’ll be harder for me,” I said. “I’ve never had someone like that. Caleb a little, but even with him, I don’t. I’ll be learning from scratch.”
“Knowing you, Anna, you will learn quickly and learn well.”
I turned my face away from him to hide the tears that sprang to my eyes. “Thank you.”
“Well, I suppose I should let you go now,” Miles said. “It looks like Caleb is ready to go.”
I glanced over to where Caleb stood near the boys. “Yes, I believe you are correct.”
Caleb saw us looking at him and walked over. “You ready?”
I put my hand on his arm. “Yes, I am.”
Caleb nodded to Miles. “Good to see you again, Miles.”
“Same to you, Caleb. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday and next Sunday.”
“Don’t push your luck, Preacher,” Caleb said with a smile.
“I don’t believe in luck,” Miles answered. “I believe in prayer.”
Caleb cocked an eyebrow, but didn’t respond.
“I’ll see you three tomorrow,” I said.
“Bye, Miss Stuart!” John replied.
Caleb and I walked slowly home, neither of us wanting to face Da. Our fears were unfounded since when we arrived home, Da wasn’t even around. Caleb searched for him and found him passed out in the barn, so we ate our lunch without him.
* * *
A few weeks later, Caleb was still accompanying me to church. It was almost exactly one year since we had received the letter from Jed, and I had started to get a little depressed. The courtship had gone well thus far and Miles and I spent as much time as we dared after he came home and before I left.
The Sunday of my first anniversary of attending church, Miles preached an excellent sermon about humility. I couldn’t wait to hear what Caleb had to say about it. We didn’t even get out of church before the young ladies swarmed around us again. Or rather, Caleb. I barely sneaked past before getting smothered and forgotten. As I shook Miles’ hand, I whispered to him, “Good luck getting those girls to leave Caleb alone long enough to shake your hand.” I gave a nod toward the group.
Miles took a look behind me and grinned. “Better him than me,” he said.
I laughed and headed outside. I took a deep breath and breathed in the cool, refreshing air. As I stepped off the bottom stair, a hand darted for my arm and I automatically flinched away from it.
“Don’t you dare try to run away from me, young lady,” a sharp voice snapped.
I turned toward the voice and saw Mrs. Morgan glaring at me. “I wasn’t aware that I was running away.”
“Perhaps you weren’t, but you should be,” Mrs. Morgan said.
I looked at her in confusion. “Is there something wrong?”
“Of course there is. It’s rumored all around town that you and Pastor Jenkins are going to get married.”
“What?” I choked. “We haven’t talked...”
“Pish posh.” She waved my words off. “I heard John talking about you courting. Don’t think you can hide that from us.”
I stood up as tall as I could and looked at her with narrowed eyes. “And what exactly is the problem with Pastor Jenkins and me courting?”
Mrs. Morgan looked up at me with disdain. “You are the problem. Until almost a year ago, you were a hermit. You rarely came to town and when you did, it wasn’t to be friendly or to make friends. In fact, you seemed to shun everybody who tried to be friendly with you. Now, you are suddenly coming to church and making friends with everybody: John, James, Pastor Jenkins, that negro woman, the new woman Wilma, and who knows who else.” She stopped to catch her breath. “As far as I can tell, you aren’t a real Christian and you are going to corrupt all these good people who are and have gone to church their whole lives.” As she finished, the look in her eyes changed from disdain to a challenge.
My quick temper flared up briefly as I stood there, dumbfounded and speechless. I had no argument to defend myself with. Anything I said for myself would be considered prideful and would be counterproductive. As my brain processed this information, a young voice piped into the conversation and I became aware of the crowd of people near us.
“Begging your pardon, Mrs. Morgan, but Miss Stuart is a Christian. She has been for a year now. She is friends with people now because Jesus changed her heart and mind. I think she’s always been friendly, but she hid it for awhile because she didn’t feel worthy of having friends and no one was friendly to her.” John’s eyes blazed with righteous anger. “And she most definitely ain...isn’t corrupting anybody. If anything, she’s helped James and me get more uncorrupt than before by encouraging us in productive things instead of what we were doing before.”
John gave me a quick glance and I tried to smile at him. “Pa’s said a few times now that he’s learned things from her that helped him, too. I don’t know about the butcher’s wife or Mrs. Wilma, but have you seen any supposed-to-be Christians talking to either of them much? I know I haven’t. And why not? Just because the butcher married a negro woman? And just because Mrs. Wilma’s new, don’t mean she can’t be associated with. Miss Stuart’s acted more like a Christian these last couple of months than I’ve seen any of you do in the last couple of years.” When he was finished, he spread his legs apart and crossed his arms across his chest, defying anybody to refute what he said.
Mrs. Morgan stared at John as did I. As we stared at the ten year old philosopher, someone started clapping. I looked up and the crowd had grown bigger.
Someone in the middle of the group shouted, “Who thinks this young man’ll be our next preacher?”
A nervous laugh rippled through the crowd and the tension between Mrs. Morgan and I dissipated.
“All right people. Show’s over. Let’s get moving,” Miles announced from the top of the stairs. “I think we all have better things to do than stand around gawking at my son.” He lowered his voice as he came down the stairs and stood next to Mrs. Morgan. “John, I’ll be talking to you later. Mrs. Morgan, next time you want to make accusations about someone, I suggest you think them through first.
“And while you’re thinking about them, remember Matthew 7:1-5: ‘Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.’”
I smiled as I started to walk away. As I was about to take my first step, a gentle hand rested on my shoulder. Since the crowd had dispersed already, I wondered who it could be. I turned my head and saw Miles looking at me. I turned back to look at him fully and raised a questioning eyebrow.
“I wanted to tell you everything John said was true. I’m proud of the woman you have become. From what I’ve heard from the talk of those who grew up with you, you seem to be acting more like you did when you were younger.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Meaning before your mother died and you were forced to take all the responsibility of Jed and the house on your shoulders.”
“I wasn’t forced to do that,” I interrupted. “I begged Da to let me take care of Jed. I didn’t want Jed to leave, too. Not right after Mama died. I was afraid if Da sent him away, we’d never get him back.”
Miles looked at me with a look I couldn’t figure out in his eyes. “You begged your father to let you do that? You wanted to have the responsibility?”
I nodded. “Yes, I did. Da was going to send Jed away to someone who could feed him. We had a cow, so I told Da I could do it. I was nine and had been doin’ all the cooking and cleaning practically since Mama found out she was pregnant. She was really sick through the whole thing.” I looked off into the distance past Miles’ head. “That was the hardest year and a half of my life. I was a mother at the age of nine. I did all the cooking, cleaning, and feeding. Plus trying to keep up with my school work.”
Miles shook his head in amazement. “I always knew you were an amazing woman, but now I know better. You are more than just an amazing woman; you are an incredibly talented and blessed woman.”
Warmth rose to my cheeks and I ducked my head in embarrassment. “Thank you.”
Miles nodded and looked around the nearly empty yard. “I think your brother is waiting for you. I’m glad he came.”
I followed his gaze to where Caleb stood by himself, near us, but not too close. “I am, too. I wonder where all his admirers went.”
Caleb must have seen us looking toward him and decided to come over. He heard my last comment, too.
“Ah, I just said somethin’ and they all made excuses to leave.”
I puzzled over what he could have said to scare them off, but decided to ask on the way home. I looked around for John and James. “I’ll see you three tomorrow,” I said when I spotted them nearby.
John grinned. “I can’t wait.”
“Why?” I asked, instantly curious.
“Because,” he answered mysteriously.
I glanced at James and he signed the words, “It’s a secret.”
I shook my head in amusement. “Okay, okay, I’ll try to wait until tomorrow.
“You ready to go home?” Caleb asked.
I nodded, noticing the haunted look in his eyes. From long experience, I knew better than to push Caleb into conversation about anything very serious. Instead, I decided to ask him just one question and then let him lead the conversation. “What did you say to those girls to make them scatter?”
Caleb chuckled and started toward home. “I asked if any of them were over twenty three or had kids.”
“What? Why did you ask that?”
Caleb put his arm in mine and said, “I’m partial to older women who are either widows or at least almost out of their twenties. None of them were or were willing to admit it, so they left.”
“Why those particular facts?” I asked.
“I’m getting old, Anna. I’m thirty-two, work long hours in the fields, I hardly say a hundred words a day, even to you. I’m far from being a poet and I’m not all that good with kids. I’ve made some bad decisions in my life, and I’m not a devout Christian like you and don’t see myself ever becoming one.”
I was quiet for a few minutes while we walked down the tree-lined roads. “If any woman thinks you would’ve never made a bad decision in your life, she’d better rethink her priorities. As for you becoming a Christian, you never know what God’s plan is. He could win you over yet,” I said with a grin.
Caleb and I walked on in silence until we reached the edge of our property. “What about my age?”
“Caleb Iain Stuart! You are only thirty-two. That is the prime of life, not old age. Sure, some men marry at the age of eighteen, but not all. If you’re too old, the girl’s father won’t allow you to court her. Don’t worry about such silly nonsense.”
Caleb stepped back and held his hands up in surrender. “Yes, ma’am. I think I get the picture.” He sighed and mumbled something under his breath.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is there a woman in particular you are worried will think you are too old?”
Two mottled, red spots showed up on Caleb’s cheeks. “Who said there was someone?”
I bit my lip in an attempt to keep from smiling. “Well, you kind of implied it.”
Caleb grunted. “It’s nothing.”
I grabbed Caleb’s arm as he tried to get away from me. “Caleb, there is no need to be embarrassed. You have every right to like a woman. I...” I swallowed hard. “Just like I have every right to like a man.” My cheeks suddenly grew hot.
Caleb turned on me and we stood in the middle of the road, staring at each other. “Do you? Like a man, I mean?”
I laughed and wagged a finger at him. “I asked first, Brother. You have to answer before I think about answering.”
Caleb grimaced. “Shucks, I was hoping to trick you into saying you like Miles.” He started walking along the road again. After a few more yards, he spoke up. “Her name is Maggie.”
I searched my memory, but couldn’t remember anybody I knew named Maggie. “Who’s Maggie?”
Caleb cleared his throat a few times. “She’s a woman I’ve been writing to. I’ve never actually met her in person.”
“And?” I prompted when he was silent too long.
“And what?”
“How did you find her?”
“I saw an ad in the paper. She was advertising to become a mail order bride. I wrote her and we’ve written a few times. She’s also writing another guy, but her last letter said he found someone else and she wants to come meet me. She wants to stay at the boarding house for a little while to let us get to know each other in person before deciding if we wanna marry. I’m not sure yet what to think.”
I listened in stunned silence. When he finished, I blurted out the first question that came to mind. “How old is she?”
“She’s thirty-one and has a daughter from her first marriage. I should’ve probably told you that. Her husband died two years ago and she’s starting to run out of money and no one will hire her. Her daughter’s name is Rachel and she’s ten.”
“So what happened to all your worries about the young women?”
Caleb scuffed his toe in the dirt as we stopped outside our front yard. “They’re still there. I’m afraid when she sees me, she’ll see who I really am and won’t like me. I’m worried she’ll see how hard it is to work the farm and what long hours I have to work. It’s unfair to her daughter that I’m no good with kids. Even if we don’t have any of our own, Rachel’ll still need a father. Maggie’s a devout Christian, too. What if she rejects me because I’m not a Christian?” He cleared his throat as if uncomfortable. “There’s other things, too.”
I stepped in front of Caleb and put my hand on his chin, forcing him to look at me. “Caleb, these are all things you will have to work out on your own and with Maggie. If it is God’s will for you to marry Maggie, He will work it out. Even if that means you becoming a Christian. As for you not being good with children, that’s hogwash and you know it. You’ve done great with the Jenkins boys when they’re here.”
“Yeah, but they’re boys.”
“So what?” I protested. “I still think you’ll be good with children, girls or boys. Just watch, if Maggie comes here, Rachel’ll be glued to your side the entire time.”
Caleb shrugged. “Now you have to answer my question.” His grin turned mischievous and I groaned.
“Do I have to?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said, holding my arm captive while I tried to walk away.
“Miles,” I said.
“Really? I know you two are courting, but I thought it was more for John and James.”
“No. And don’t you dare tell him, John, or James, either!” I commanded.
Caleb chuckled. “Yes’m. Wouldn’t the gossips love to hear that?”
I glared at him and he let go of me and backed away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it,” he apologized. “I wouldn’t say anything to them either. I’d rather just tell Miles. But I’ll keep it to myself if you keep quiet about Maggie and Rachel.”
I nodded. “I will.”
“Now we’d best get inside before Da thinks we’re lazy bums.”
Caleb opened the door and I stepped through with Caleb following close behind.
“Where do you think you went, Caleb Stuart?” Da demanded as we walked in.
Da stood in the kitchen doorway, bottle in hand, eyes bleary with drink and pain.
Caleb stood up straight. “I went to church again with Anna.”
“Yer not gonna be one of them lily-livered Christians are ye?” Da asked.
“I don’t know yet,” Caleb responded. “If I am, I won’t be a lily-livered one at the very least.”
I stayed behind Caleb hoping Da wouldn’t see me, but he did. Da snorted at Caleb’s answer and glared at me. “Ye’d better not go corruptin’ me boy, Anna Stuart. If ye do, ye’ll be kicked outta this house before ye can wonder what be goin’ on.”
“I’ll not be corrupting Caleb, Da. If he becomes a genuine Christian, I lay no claims to it. God’s the only one who can do that. And I wouldn’t call it being corrupted, either.”
“And,” Caleb interrupted me, “I chose to go of my own free will. Anna was as surprised that I was going as anybody else. Well, except John, who practically begged me to come.”
Da stared at Caleb. His voice was gruff and full of conviction when he next spoke. “What you two need to do is get married and get outta me house.”
My mouth dropped open. “What?” I squeaked.
“Ye heard me, Anna,” Da said. “I wanna be able to live here by meself.”
“You’ve never told us that before,” Caleb said. From the look on his face, he was as confused as I was.
“That’s because I knew it wouldn’t do any good. Now with Anna being courted by that Pastor,” he nearly spat the last word out, “at least one o’ ye seems to be doin’ something.”
Caleb and I exchanged a glance. “We don’t always tell you everything,” Caleb said in a quiet voice.
Da glanced between the two of us sharply. “What’re ye saying? Ye are doing somethin’, Caleb?”
“They’re still figuring things out,” I said. “But, Da, I thought Caleb would be living here with you.”
“He can build a cabin o’ his own somewhere on me land and we’ll still farm together. But, nay, he’ll not be livin’ with me once he’s married. If he ever is.” At that, Da turned and went back into the kitchen.
“It should be an interesting couple of months,” Caleb said. “Maybe I’ll write to Maggie tomorrow and ask her and Rachel to come out in about four months or so. That should give me enough time to at least get started on a house.”
“Talk to Miles. You and him could organize a house raising.”
Caleb stared at me. “They would do that?”
“They would love to help you out, Caleb.”
“But I’m practically a stranger to them!” Caleb protested.
“That doesn’t matter. If someone in the community needs help they rally around that person.”
“Unless it’s their own pastor,” Caleb commented.
“They rallied around him for awhile, but after a year or so, they thought he could handle it on his own. And he could have if he’d been a farmer or store owner. But pastors and doctors both have so many more responsibilities and they need to be on call at all hours of the day and night.”
“Could you mention it to Miles tomorrow?” Caleb asked.
“I’ll have to tell him about Maggie and Rachel.”
Caleb looked away. “Whatever you need to do.”
“Sure, I can do that. Should I also mention he should start courting me fast in case I get kicked out when you become a Christian?”
“WHEN I become a Christian?” Caleb raised his right eyebrow. “You don’t know everything I’ve done. God wouldn’t let me in heaven and I don’t want to talk about it.”
I cocked my head and looked at him.
“I still think God can do a miracle with you, Caleb.”
“Aren’t you puttin’ the cart before the horse there, Anna?”
I laughed. “Nah, it’s called woman’s intuition.” I sidled a glance at him. “Or wishful thinking.”
Caleb threw his head back in laughter as he moved past me to go upstairs and change.
