Easter of 1867 arrived dry and cold, and for David, dark. In a foul mood, he hated getting up early for farm chores, but the Missouri Mule, as he referred to Mr. Jensen, had Sundays off, so David had cows to milk. Sometimes Mr. Jensen could be convinced to come by, but not often, today being an example.
In any event, the cows suffered his mood, and it didn’t improve when he left the barn and saw a buckboard parked in front of the house. Stomping through the kitchen door, he spotted Paisley Mace sitting at the kitchen table with his mother. “What’s he doing here?” David looked at his mother, his face set in an angry grimace.
“He’s here to take me to the Sunrise Service at the church.”
Mace stood. “We should really try to get along, David.”
“I don’t want you here. Get out.” David glared at him.
“There’s no call for that, David. I invited Paisley here.”
“Well, you didn’t ask me, and I want him out.” Challenged, he started to lose control and his hands clenched into fists.
“I don’t need to ask you. Now you stop being rude, or you can go back out and stay with the animals.”
“You can’t treat me like that.” He stepped toward his mother.
Mace stepped in between. “Don’t.” He looked David in the eyes. “You’d better cool down.”
“You’ll regret this.” David stormed out the door.
Mace turned around and looked at Ruth, who’d gone pale around the mouth. “Phew, I thought you said things were going all right. That looked like the David I know.”
“Things have been, really. I don’t understand it. He has never been warm toward me, but he hasn’t acted like that since Matt died.”
“Do you want me to leave? I really hate to, with him in a foul mood. But I don’t want to cause trouble either.”
“No. This is my home. I can ask whomever I want here. We’ll go as planned. Now sit down and finish your coffee. I’ll get my cloak and we’ll leave.”
Mace finished his drink and they attended a wonderful service together. There were several, especially older, residents who remembered times past regarding Ruth and Mace and smiled. And others who fussed like old hens at what they saw as an impropriety.
Later that afternoon, Ruth did regret challenging David. No one knew it because it didn’t show, and Ruth kept silent about the pain.