Chapter Sixteen

Cullen tossed the last pieces of wood into the wagon. With a nod, he was satisfied it was now full. Tessie was not her usual self today when she stopped telling him that Grace was nearly out of kindling. Tessie Miller smiled at him. Something for sure and for certain was up. Grace made it clear she didn’t want his friendship, but he couldn’t let her freeze, now could he?

Muted sound and movement caught his attention. A blur rushing through the woods, and he squinted to see it more clearly. Whatever it was vanished out of sight, and he brushed it off as possibly a running deer most likely frightened by local hunters still plaguing the area. Just yesterday two men in orange vests and camouflage clothing marched out of the woods and down the road like they belonged there—one even so bold as to toss him a wave when he stepped from the forge and watched them leave.

The earth that formed the hillside drive had softened in the current weather, and he was glad he’d harnessed both horses to pull the load of wood instead of just one. He would need each set of muscles to get up there today. The wheels sank deep into icy mud, but both Jax and Rosey moved the load rather easily up the climb. Out of all his horses, the two worked perfectly together. Maybe that was the reason they made the best foals. He smiled considering it. Even in God’s creatures, it was important to have the perfect helpmate.

Reaching the cabin, Cullen took a moment to admire the change. The porch had in fact made all the difference to the place. It was funny how one little thing could change something so much. “One little thing,” he smiled, humoring himself. Little Grace and her little bare feet in her little cabin. That image of her was forever burned into his mind.

Grace was standing outside, her gray dress blowing in the cold breeze. From this distance he could see she wasn’t wearing a coat. She should be wearing a coat, he silently grumbled. He took a long, deep breath, then swallowed hard against the apology he knew he owed her. He should have never said those things to her. Should not have let his feelings toward Freeman seep out in harsh words. It was none of his concern who Grace chose to befriend or not, but seeing her standing on the porch he made, watching him near as if coming home after a long day, did cause his heart to flutter.

He guided the horses forward and came to a stop beside the porch. For a moment they only stared at each other. She didn’t appear to still be angry. In fact, Grace looked at him with a combination of awe and bewilderment.

“I brought you another load of wood. And by the looks of it, glad I did.” The woodpile was gone, and her porch held so few sticks, he wondered how she would get through the next day as it was. “I didn’t mean to intrude,” he added quickly, noting her flour-coated apron. “Tess said you had only a little left.”

“I’m sorry,” she quickly blurted out. Cullen cocked his head to one side, studied the sincerity of her expression, and then nodded.

“It’s me who should apologize. You did nothing wrong.” Something flickered in her eyes he couldn’t rightly read. “I should get this unloaded.”

“I’ll put on some kaffi. Please kumm in and warm up first. Then we will both unload the wagon.” She offered him a second smile before stepping back inside. Cullen wasn’t about to let her lift the first stick, but kaffi sounded wonderful.

Before stepping inside, Cullen kicked the loose wet snow from his boots. The house smelled loving with the aromas of her baking. Grace set a kettle on the stove and fetched two cups. Cullen wasn’t a fan of instant kaffi, but he wouldn’t be rude when she was being kind enough to offer.

“Do you want to talk about it?” She said with her back to him. He shed his coat and laid it on the chair. Did they need to talk about it? He removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Not really. I was wrong.” She turned sharply. “Talking about it will only make me feel worse.”

“You were right. Freeman is who you said he was. I was so desperate for a freind, I didn’t see it. I should have trusted you.” She turned and quickly readied their cups, but Cullen didn’t miss the sharp line of her lips before she did. Had Freeman said something to upset her as he had others? Suddenly Cullen didn’t feel so sorry for what he said about him. Pouring kaffi into two cups, she splattered the hot liquid onto her thumb. Grace quickly retrieved a rag and pumped cold water on it.

“Did it burn you?” He stepped forward and then stopped short of her.

“Nee. I’m gut,” she quickly answered and went right back to stirring the granules. “It isn’t very gut kaffi, but I have sugar if you prefer it.” She handed him his cup and took a sip of her own.

“This is fine.” Cullen sipped and they stared at each other over the brims of their cups, neither knowing what to say.

“Aenti Tess shouldn’t have asked you to bring me kindling. You have work and your own wood to cut.”

“I don’t mind, Grace. It is what neighbors do.”

“And freinden?” She grinned.

“Jah, freinden,” he replied, offering her a warm smile. “And freinden can ask questions, jah?” Why was she grinning?

“You want to know what he said to me.” It wasn’t a question, nor his concern, yet Cullen nodded, hoping she wouldn’t think him too forward, or worse, nosey. By the time he finished his second cup of kaffi, Grace told him about the dinner at the Hilty’s. How Elmo Hilty informed her he owned her cabin, how Freeman suggested they begin courting in secret, and how cruelly he tried to use her circumstances to secure that. Cullen tried to bite back floods of anger, but was struggling. Freeman needed a good talking to. For years he preyed on every single maedel in the community in search of a fraa.

“I should speak to him. It is not right that he thinks to pressure you.”

“He does not pressure me, Cullen. I told him how I feel and made him bring me home. I was surprised he said those things, but it isn’t the first time my feelings were hurt.”

He hadn’t prepared himself for what he was about to say, and Gott must have agreed that his timing was off because the sound of a buggy approaching interrupted his attempt.

He and Grace went to the door and watched it come up the hill. Cullen stepped from the porch and began unloading the wood so as not to draw attention to the fact that he’d been alone with her just moments ago. Elmo Hilty brought the buggy to a halt. Setting the brake, he let out a heavy grumble, sounding more bear than man. Tipping his hat, Cullen did the same.

“Cullen. May I ask why you are here with Grace alone today?”

Maybe it was a fair question, but he had been the one seeing to Grace’s needs since the day she arrived in October. Not Tessie, not Elmo, and certainly not his spoiled son.

“Aenti Tess asked Cullen to bring a load of wood to me,” Grace defended. Grace didn’t like the way Elmo looked at her now any more than she had at his table. Freeman certainly favored his stern expressions and stiff posture.

“Figured it proper to see that a woman living alone did not freeze. And what brings you to Grace’s home today?” Cullen kept his voice calm. Elmo’s face crinkled; the man always wore a stern look, and Cullen never imagined it could grow stiffer, but it did.

“I suspect the two of you have a few things in common,” he said, scratching his wiry bearded chin. “You should know Freeman has shared with me that he has an interest here.” Cullen shoved the armload of wood onto the porch floor and marched to the side of Elmo’s buggy.

“Grace, would you please go inside before you get a chill,” he asked, knowing full well she didn’t like to be ordered about. To his surprise, Grace turned without questioning his need for her to do so and certainly without her regular defiant opposition to him.

Yes, something had certainly changed between them.

“Freemen will be here first thing in the morn with ya pay.” Elmo’s voice raised, his stubby neck craned to see her directly around Cullen. “He asked that I stop and tell you such, which I think I should do more often.” Grace flinched. He could see she was trying to find the right words to say. She lifted her chin, clasping the sides of her apron.

“I had plans to speak with Cullen here about our next order, but he wasn’t home working as he should be.” His eyes set firmer on Cullen, now narrowing in a predatory glare. They were gray with no sign of blue lingering in his advanced years. “A man should mind his own haus and not that of others. I think now I might have to reconsider what I truly need, as should you.”

Looking back to Grace, Cullen could see she knew what Elmo was implying. The man dared to threaten their business dealings if his son was challenged in his pursuit of a fraa. The Hilty buggy shop was his biggest customer. Her mouth fell open, and when she closed it, she continued to storm inside and slam the door behind her. It was for the best, considering she would be out of earshot.

“Mr. Hilty, we have done business since my daed made your first set of buggy springs.” Crossing his arms, Cullen couldn’t imagine the man capable of continuing business without him. “But if you have no further need of me, then I pray only the best for you and your family. As for tending to another’s haus, I am doing as the Lord instructed. No one in our community would see that Grace is left to fend for herself, especially not me. If Freeman had such interest here, I would be chopping less wood. ”

Elmo’s teeth clenched, clearly stewing over his decision to force Cullen’s hand in their business arrangement and defending his lazy son. With or without the Hilty family, Cullen had plenty of work.

“Bishop Mast preached just this Sunday about how we should each help our neighbor. I expected Freeman to do as such, but since he has not, I could not allow for one to do without. And since when did men make claim on others? She is not a horse, and no one should be taking it upon themselves to collect a woman’s wages when she doesn’t want them to.”

Again, Cullen had stepped ahead of Elmo’s control. Would God see this as disrespect? He hoped not, because his feet were planted firmly against the elder sitting above him.

“Freeman has many responsibilities. More than you even know,” Elmo said matter-of-factly. “I do believe that shall be the last bit of help you shall be showing your neighbor.”

“Ordering a man to go against Gott’s word? Against our own bishop?” Cullen gave him a quizzical look. Elmo was in no position to bark orders, and yet he wasn’t bending.

“I own this land. I own this cabin. I decide who kumms and who goes.” The warning was made.

With a slap of the lines against his horse, Elmo left before Cullen could argue such demands.

Was Elmo truly threatening him? And what about Grace? Was she to care for herself, or better yet, simply be tossed out into the cold until giving Freeman what he wanted? Cullen released the tight squeeze of his fist. How far would Elmo really go to keep Cullen off his land? Unlike Freeman’s threats, Cullen had to think on this one. Or think around it.

Maybe it was time to pay the bishop a call. He was chosen by Gott to handle such complications, was he not?

Cullen watched the buggy clatter over the hill and drive down the narrow lane heading out of the holler before looking in on Grace safely tucked inside. Opening the front door and stepping inside, he found Grace crying. It was not good for a woman in her condition to be burdened so.

Taking a step forward, he froze. Elmo most likely would be visiting Tessie Miller and Bishop Mast before day’s end to share his opinion with them as well. Cullen had always earned respect the honest way, but how would it affect Grace? She was all that mattered, and he couldn’t leave her, nor could he be found alone with her again without causing her harm. There were rules, and he and Grace had bent them plenty already. What kind of foundation would they be setting for a tomorrow if they ignored the rules? There was a proper way of doing this. And Grace Miller deserved his best effort.

“I have caused you troubles, and you have been nothing but gut to me.” Her voice quivered.

“So now you think me gut?” he teased, and she couldn’t help but laugh through her hurt. It warmed his heart how she cared more for him than her own reputation.

“You are a smarty, Cullen Graber. Even after this, you stay calm, crack jokes.”

“Would you prefer a dummkopp?” He tilted his head.

“Nee. I most certainly would not.” Good, so she absolutely had no interest in Freeman Hilty.

“Don’t mind Elmo. He likes to bark orders to others when it is his own blut that he should be reprimanding instead.”

“But he is your biggest customer, Freeman told me this.” Her eyes lined with worry, and even that look of hers told him he could not trust himself to look deeper into them. “My troubles have spilled over onto you; I am afraid it has cost you.”

“I have many customers, Grace. One less might be a gut thing. Gives me more time to chop wood.” He winked.

“Cullen, be serious. Elmo says this is all his. He all but told me he was considering selling it before I came. He could change his mind.” Her brows furrowed, worry etching her delicate flesh. “I should have never agreed with Sadie to let Freeman drive me home. I should act more like a sinner,” she clipped.

“And how does one do that?” He asked sharply, crossing both arms.

“I don’t know,” she huffed, flinging a hand in the air. She was cute all frustrated like that. “It is what Daed said to do when he caught me smiling or laughing at something my sisters said.”

“You are no longer a sinner, are you?” Their gazes locked. He liked when she did that.

“Nee,” she said with a lifted chin. “But Daed says…”

He hushed her, holding up a hand. “Don’t fret on acting like something you are not. Just be you, Grace. And you should smile more. That shouldn’t be hidden.” In her blank stare, Cullen felt his neck warm.

“Don’t be worried about this. I will not let you go without the things you need.” Too bold, Cullen. “No one will let you go without.” Better.

“You really mean that, don’t you?” The way she looked at him, with pure admiration, made him feel like a better man than the one he knew he was.

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”

“No, I don’t suppose you do.” She tilted her head, staring at him intently. “Do you make promises?”

“I don’t think one should. Sometimes you can’t keep them, and I would never want to disappoint anyone. I don’t want to disappoint you.” You have done it now, man. Grace probably thought him too forward. Fingering the brim of his hat, he waited, his heart hammering in his chest for what she had to say to that.

“I can’t imagine you disappointing anyone.” Her deep blue eyes held a searching, like water flowing in a quest for a place to settle. Could he win her over, convince Grace to stay in Walnut Ridge, explore this thing growing between them, or would Elmo and his plans for his son’s future stand in their way?

With chin up and shoulders straight, there again was that confident woman stealing too many of his thoughts. “I trust you, Cullen Graber.”

Those words, from her, hinted at something strong and powerful and utterly vulnerable all the same. A tiny sprout of hope pushed up from the frozen soil of his heart at those words. Man wasn’t meant to be alone, and he, for once, agreed.

Taking the door handle in his hand, he pulled. It was just another broken thing that surrounded her. Cullen swung it back and forth, testing it. “I can fix this.” He shot her a grin and stepped back out into the cold.

…

Watching Cullen drive his team and empty wagon over the hill, Grace marveled that his control over the large animals was as gentle as his touch. Hugging herself, she tilted her head and took in the scents of sawdust and smoke still lingering around her. She trusted him, and knowing that changed everything. He had defended her and, in doing so, changed everything. Cullen Graber had somehow taken part of her troubles and made them his own, leaving her less to carry.

That was how she had always envisioned a man to be, but she hadn’t trusted Gott’s timing and had let the first boy who floated her a smile sweep her off her feet. Tessie was right. It was time to forgive the one person who needed forgiven most. Only then would she be able to face the past that came calling and a future that didn’t look so scary. Closing her eyes, Grace bowed her head and began to pray.