Bittersweet (29 page)

“We all got books.”

“Shh, Dale.” Sean reached over Ma and poked his little brother. “Don’t ruin his surprise.”

“This doesn’t look like a book to me.” Galen drew a pair of britches from the crate.

Ma nodded. “And they’re brown. They won’t be showing the dirt much.”

Colin set aside the Bible. “Mr. Josh bought them when we all got so grubby at the fair. I told him brown’s your favorite.”

“And we helped him pick out the shirts, too!”

“Dale …” Sean huffed.

“It’s not ruining the surprise. He can see them, can’t you, Galen?”

He draped the britches across the table. “Sure and enough, I can see a fine white shirt here.” He started lifting the first storebought shirt he’d ever received. “And there’s another beneath it!”

“You needed a new Sunday-best shirt. Whilst I ironed the one you have, I saw the elbow’s about gone on it.”

Galen nodded and drew out the other shirt.

“It’s blue, just like Dale’s.”

“Aye, Colin. It surely is.”

“Miss Laney picked it out. She said it matches our eyes.” Dale opened his eyes wide. “Our
handsome
eyes.”

Colin cracked his knuckles. “So what book did you get?”

Bless him, Colin is trying to help me through this. He’s striving so hard
to grow and stretch into manhood
.

“Indeed, son. What book did Ruth choose for you?”

Galen solemnly laid aside the blue shirt and lifted not one, but two books. “My, my. The new
Farmer’s Almanac
and my own copy of
The Animal Husbandry Guide
.”

“You won’t have to be riding over to the Broken P to read their guide anymore.” Ma’s voice held an undertone.

Galen put the books down on the table with exaggerated care. Ma was underscoring how things would change. Anger flashed through him again—at Ma, for not having faith that he’d conducted himself above reproach; at Ishmael, for forcing him into a sham of a marriage; but most of all at Ivy, for telling the lie that broke dear Laney’s heart and ruined his life.

A bit of white caught his attention. Galen peered at the bottom of the crate. Lying in the bottom were three handkerchiefs. All were white, but each had been painstakingly monogrammed in a different color. A green one, a brown one, and a blue one—all evidence of Laney’s heartfelt sentiments toward him. He dared to run his rough finger over the delicate, impossibly tiny stitches. She must have spent hours on them, designing a different style for each of the three monograms.

He’d known she couldn’t read until last year. Josh had subtly orchestrated things so Laney never had to reveal her secret. Following Josh’s lead, Galen had never let on that he knew. But Laney had learned—and the letters she’d embroidered on the handkerchiefs were more than mere pictures. They were proof of her triumph.

But they’re saying something even more. Here’s absolute proof right before
me that she more than returns the feelings I hold for her—’tisn’t a mere fancy
on her part, but an abiding love. She waited these years for me to see we were
meant for each other, but I took too long. Now we’ll never be together. She’s a
lass whose heart and soul are finer than the stitching she did, yet a vile lie now
keeps us apart. My poor little Laney
.

“Thar’s sommat else in that crate,” Ivy said as she craned her neck. “I can see a scrap of white.”

Galen dumped everything in atop the handkerchiefs. He refused to reveal the sentimental gift Laney had made for him. “I’m done, Ma. The lads ought to be going to bed now.”

Someone yawned and Ma said, “You boys have stayed up late enough.”

The sound of Ma giving them good-night kisses pulled Galen back to the bitter reality of how life went on. “Off to bed with you now.”

“We didn’t have our prayer.” Colin didn’t budge.

“It’s my turn.” Dale folded his hands and waited for the others to do the same. “Dear Jesus, thank you for being the Christmas baby. Thank you for all of the presents today. Please keep us safe and warm and well. God bless Ma. God bless Galen. God bless Colin. God bless Sean. God bless me, too.”

And Lord, please bless and be with Laney
.

“And God bless Ivy. Amen.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

T
ap-tap-tap-tap
. “Laney?”

Even before Ruth called her name, Laney knew it was her sister-in-law. Dear, exuberant Ruth—only she could knock like a frenzied woodpecker.

Ruth didn’t wait for an invitation; she came on in. “I saw the light on under your door.” Relief sketched across her features.

“Oh good. You’re reading the Bible.”

Laney nodded.

Josh sauntered in. He acted as if he was casually following his wife, but Laney knew better. They were worried and had this all planned out. “What passage were you reading?” he asked.

“Genesis.” Laney pressed her hand to the open pages. “Where Laban tricks Jacob, and Jacob ends up married to Leah instead of Rachel.”

Josh’s features went taut. “Nonetheless Leah was his wife, Laney. She bore him several sons.”

“But he still loved Rachel, and it wasn’t his fault that Leah was his wife.”

Ruth came over and sat on the bed. She laid her hand atop Laney’s. “But this isn’t Bible times. Men can’t have more than one wife.”

“Whatever feelings you and Galen had for one another have to end.” Josh’s hand curled tightly around the bedpost. “He’s a married man with a child on the way.”

“But it’s not his child,” Laney asserted. “I’m ashamed of myself for thinking even for one minute that it might be. It’s not his. I’m sure of it.”

Josh and Ruth exchanged a look.

Laney gasped. “You can’t think it is! Josh, you’re his best friend. You—of all people—should know he wouldn’t have … have …” Her voice died out.

Josh’s face remained grim. “In the end, it doesn’t matter whether he fathered the child. It’s still his baby, and Ivy is his wife.”

“What if Ivy and Ishmael lied and there’s no baby at all?”

Josh shook his head. “It’s rare you see anyone that livid. Ishmael is normally mild-mannered.”

“Ivy’s still lying.”

“She might be.” Ruth wouldn’t meet Laney’s eyes.

“Might?!” Laney felt a second flash of surprise, then indignation. Ruth started brushing her thumb back and forth on the back of Laney’s hand. “Laney, you know I’ve struggled with all of the silly rules of society. Being proper isn’t easy for me, but even I know a man shouldn’t ever be alone with a woman. Galen admitted he’s been alone with Ivy on more than one occasion.” Ruth winced. “And he even gave her a blanket.”

“He was showing Christian charity.”

“He showed poor judgment.” Josh shook his head sorrowfully.

“Galen acknowledged seeing her alone, and that’s compromised her. She’s in a fix now, and almost no one else knew she existed.”

Laney stared at her brother. “You can think whatever you want. You can believe whatever you please. I know the man I love.

Galen wouldn’t ever … indulge. He’s an upright man.”

“Even upright men sin on occasion.” Josh’s voice ached with sadness.

“Laney, you must listen to us.” Ruth stopped rubbing Laney’s hand and squeezed her arm. “You just called Galen the man you love. That cannot continue. He’s married to Ivy. Regardless of the tenderness you hold in your heart for him, he’s her husband. It’s wrong for you to nurture any feelings. It’s …”

“Adulterous,” Josh finished.

Their words hit Laney with devastating impact. She could scarcely breathe.

“As for Ivy—even if we assume she’s told a lie …” Ruth still held on to Laney. “She’s not a Christian, Laney. She doesn’t have the same sense of morality we do.”

“Which is why it’s so very wrong to condemn Galen!”

“Laney,” Josh heaved with a gigantic sigh. “They’re married.

Deciding who’s to blame isn’t going to change that fact. It doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t matter? Oh, Josh. I’m so disappointed in you. You know Galen’s character. You’re supposed to be his friend.”

Josh’s gaze held steady. “I am his friend. The length and quality of that friendship is the only thing that’s keeping me from tearing him limb from limb for hurting you.”

“You’re more important to us,” Ruth declared.

“But this isn’t a situation where you have to choose between us.”

Ruth slid her hand back down and curled her fingers around Laney’s. “Josh taught me that I didn’t have to be perfect for him to love me. Can’t you see? Instead of expecting Galen to be flawless, Josh is accepting that this is the way things are for Galen. Just because you care for someone doesn’t mean they’re always right.”

Josh sat at the foot of her bed. “You’re reading about Jacob.

Don’t forget, Laney—he cheated Esau from his birthright. It’s a reminder that even though a man might do something wrong, God can still use him for mighty works.”

Laney slowly shut her Bible. “But think about Leah. She knew Jacob wanted Rachel, but Leah played her part in her father’s deception and trapped Jacob.”

“Look how sadly that turned out,” Ruth said quietly. “Jacob never wanted Leah. She always knew he didn’t want her. Ivy was humiliated by being dragged into church today. Everyone knows she’s sullied. Galen married her, but Ivy can’t possibly ever forget that he didn’t want her.”

“Galen’s rejection isn’t what should upset her; don’t you see? Whoever the real father is—that man is the one who spurned Ivy and left her in this predicament. Galen didn’t care for her; he cared for me.” Laney dared to add, “I love him, and I’m sure he loves me.”

“The best thing you can do is stay away.” Josh gave her a stern look.

Tears filled her eyes. “Now, more than ever, Galen needs to know I believe in him.”

“I’m so sorry, Laney. But Josh is right. You can’t go over there.

At least not for the next week. Things need to settle down.”

“A week!”

Ruth nodded. “You’ll see him at church. I know you’ve grown accustomed to seeing him every other day—” “Ruth.” Josh’s voice carried a warning.

“Sweetheart, pretending otherwise is only going to make it difficult for Laney to accept this.” Ruth stroked Laney’s arm. “I know you dreamed of one thing, but it isn’t to be. What we’re going to do is pray for God to bring along the man He wants for you.”

“I couldn’t possibly ever love another man.”

Josh rose. “It kills me knowing you’re heartbroken. But, Laney, don’t make this any worse.”

“It couldn’t possibly be worse!”

“You’re wrong.” He took Ruth’s hand and tugged her from the bed. “You’re too distraught to see how even the most innocent of actions on your part would cause others to make suppositions about you.”

“I don’t care what other people think. I spent years worrying over that. I was miserable. I have to live by my convictions and answer to the Lord—not to anyone else.”

“If you won’t think about yourself, think about Galen, then.” Her brother didn’t back down in the least. “He’s on mighty shaky ground in the community now. The last thing he needs is for you to give everyone reason to gossip about how you’re stealing away the attention and affection a man owes his wife. I’m serious, Laney. For everyone’s sake, you have to let at least a week go by before you so much as step foot on his land.”

“Pray about it, Laney.” Ruth leaned over and brushed a kiss onto her cheek. “We will, too.”

They shut the door behind them. Laney set her Bible on the nightstand and blew out the lamp. As she curled into a ball of misery, tears started flowing again. Her prayer consisted of only one word.
Why?

Ivy sat on the edge of the cot and stretched. She hadn’t slept much last night. Part of the problem was that the cot was so soft. After a lifetime of sleeping on a pallet on the ground, her body couldn’t quite get used to this floating feeling.

A few times she sneaked over to be sure Mrs. O’Sullivan’s leg stayed up on a pillow. Ivy wanted to scoot her cot right next to the bed, but the ladder to the loft was in the way. It felt so lonely, though, sleeping with so much space between her and everyone else. She and Ishy had started out sharing a womb, then a cradle. Never once in her whole life had she spent a night away from her twin.
Well, I hope Ishy got more shut-eye than I did
.