Moonlight on the Millpond (46 page)

“Yes, one day. I stopped at the livery and then picked up a newspaper at the printer. Did you know that the printer's wife has left him?”

“Is that what he told you?”

“Yeah. I don't know how it came up, but he's pretty upset.”

“Where did she go?”

“I don't know. I don't know if he knows.”

“Do they have children?”

“I'm not sure. He didn't say.”

“What a shame. Did you go and see Doyle too?”

“Yes, and he already knew about it. I also saw Mr. Muldoon with two of his sons before I got to the store.”

“Which ones?”

“I'm not sure of the names. One looked to be about five.”

“That's Martin, I think.”

“They're good kids,” Jace commented thoughtfully.

“What makes you say that?”

“They do exactly as he tells them to do, and they don't get upset about it. While we were talking, the older boy wanted to go with some friends who had stopped to speak to him, and Mr. Muldoon said no. I watched his face. He was fine with it—no pouting, nothing.”

Maddie watched Jace's face. She knew he'd not been overly impressed with Mr. Muldoon in the past and wondered whether he might be changing his mind.

“And how did Doyle do while we were gone?” Maddie asked next.

Jace laughed. “I think he got himself invited someplace nearly every evening, and when he was alone, he took himself to the tavern.”

“And you would never have done that.” Maddie barely covered her sarcasm.

Jace smiled. “Of course not. I had Clara coming to take care of me.”

Maddie smiled knowingly and Jace caught it. He reached for her hand and pulled her over to sit in his lap.

“Was I actually the one who suggested that you go to Boston with your aunt?”

“That's how I remember it.”

Jace slowly shook his head. “Never listen to that kind of stupid suggestion again.”

Maddie could have had a good laugh over this, but suddenly she was too busy. Jace had pulled her down for a kiss.

“How are you doing with praying for all men as we're commanded to do? Are you being faithful?” Douglas asked the congregation on Sunday. “Are you remembering? When you're standing in your kitchen and someone walks past the window, do you pray for him or her? When you hear the train coming into town, do you ask God's forgiveness on those dear folks on the train?

“Remember what we're trying to accomplish here, my friends: faithfulness. Some of us sow and some of us reap, and some do both. But of the two, I would have to say that reaping gets more attention. It gets more notice. For that reason it's harder to be a sower, one who's willing to keep praying for all men.

“We must pray as Jesus did: Father, forgive them. If anyone could have called them each by name, it was God's Son, but He didn't do that. He said, Forgive them. That's what I pray too. I don't know everyone in Tucker Mills. If I know a person, I pray for him by name, but if I don't, I don't need to worry about that. God knows that I'm asking Him to save that person and work a miracle in his life with His saving grace.”

Douglas asked his small group of worshipers to sit quietly for a moment and think of someone they knew, someone who needed Christ. He encouraged them to pray for that person and to ask God to forgive and save him.

Douglas did the same thing. As he was standing there in the kitchen corner with his Bible in hand, Maddie Randall came to mind, Jace right after her. Douglas asked God to save this newly married couple who seemed to be searching but not yet ready to find.

Early summer had come and the days were warming up nicely when Jace surprised Maddie by asking her to go for a walk. The walk wasn't much of a surprise, but the time of day was.

“It's nearly dark out,” she told him, thinking he hadn't noticed.

“Is it?” he teased her, and Maddie knew he was up to something.

Nevertheless, she went along, going with him out the door and holding his hand as they walked toward the millpond. It was a moonless night, and Maddie thought that was too bad. She had seen moonlight on the millpond many times and always found it beautiful.

Maddie was on the verge of mentioning to Jace how she wished there was a moon when he took her off the road and into the trees.

“Watch your head,” he whispered as they neared a branch, and Maddie ducked just in time.

“What are we doing?” she whispered as well.

“You'll see,” he told her, still pulling her by the hand and heading toward the pond. “Okay,” he said, having come to a small clearing at the water's edge, “take off your clothes.”

Jace was met with silence. He knew Maddie was still there— he could feel her hand—but not a sound came from her, not even breathing.

“Maddie?”

“What?”

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes, and you have clearly taken leave of your senses, Jace Randall.”

“I'm going to teach you to swim,” he said softly, and found his hand gripped tightly with both of hers.

“You what?” Her voice rose in panic.

“Shh,” Jace found her mouth and covered it, already starting to laugh. “We don't want to be heard.”

“I can't swim, Jace,” she told him as she pushed the hand away. “This is not going to work.”

“Yes, it is. I won't let anything happen to you. Now get undressed.”

Jace let go of her then, and she heard the rustle of his clothing.

“Are you moving?” Jace asked, knowing she only stood there.

“We're not actually going to do this, are we?”

“Yes. Now strip down, Madalyn.”

Maddie put her hands out and encountered Jace's bare flesh. She knew at that point that she wasn't going to get out of this. Had it been the least bit light, she would have walked home on her own, but she couldn't see a thing in front of her.

“How am I going to find everything again?” she asked with some heat, beginning to work the pins on her dress.

“Just make a pile. It will all be there when we get back.”

Jace heard her loud sigh and smiled to himself. It sounded as though she was getting the job done, but he gave her a few more seconds.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Jace put his hand out and found cloth.

“Maddie, what is this?”

“My shift, and I'm not taking it off.”

“How long is it?”

“It stops just above my knees.

“That'll probably work. Are your shoes and stockings off?”

“Yes.”

“Here's my hand.” Jace found hers and began to lead her into the water. They were almost there when Maddie gasped.

“What is it?”

“You're trying to kill me,” she accused. “You've changed your mind about our marriage and you want me dead.”

Jace's entire frame shook as he found her shoulder so he could laugh into it.

“Your laughter doesn't fool me,” Maddie said, fighting some giggles of her own. “You want out of this marriage, and this is how you figure to do it.”

“If anyone is going to be the death of someone, Maddie, it's going to be you,” Jace told her, still trying to stop laughing. “Come on now.”

The water was unbelievably cold. Maddie gasped a few times, but Jace only told her to hush.

“Okay,” he said close to her ear, the water to their waists. “It drops off here just a bit, but we're not going out far enough to have it over your head. Okay?”

“Okay,” she shivered against him, waiting for her body to acclimate to the water temperature.

Coaxing her deeper into the water, Jace began the lesson. Through muffled laughter and more accusations from Maddie, Jace taught her to stay afloat. She even managed to stay above water on her own for a ways, his hand never leaving her side. They worked on it until Maddie's teeth chattered so loudly Jace knew it was time to conclude the lesson.

Back at the house, Jace helped his shivering wife into a dry nightgown and bundled her with quilts in front of the parlor fireplace. He put on dry clothes of his own and wrapped himself around her for added warmth. Maddie stared into the flames until she felt Jace's gaze on her.

“You were wonderful,” he said when she looked at him, the firelight bouncing off her face.

“It was so cold.”

“But next time you'll know a little more.”

“Next time?” Maddie said, brows raised, but Jace just grinned at her. “Honestly, Jace, I thought a few times there that I was going to drown. You too.”

“We won't let that happen,” Jace said quietly, pulling her damp head to his shoulder. “I'm not sure if either one of us is ready to die.”

Maddie would have sat up and looked at him, but Jace pushed her head down.

“Just get warm, Maddie,” he whispered. “And know that I'm proud of you.”

Maddie wanted to ask what he'd meant, but something in his voice stopped her. She knew he would not get angry, but she did suspect that no matter what she asked right now, Jace would not have an answer this time.

Epilogue

Maddie was beginning to think that Jace would never get home for dinner. It had been ready for some time, and she'd been pacing the kitchen floor for what felt like an hour. This had not been one of Clara's days off, but Maddie had put dinner together for her and told her to go home.

Clara had looked at her oddly but gone out the door, not overly fazed. And now Maddie waited alone. She checked the food she was keeping warm. She tasted the tea and even some of the potatoes, but still Jace didn't come. She stood in front of the window as long as she could stand it and then paced to another window to peer out of that one.

After what seemed like ages, she spotted him. He was coming from town, and she knew he would have to stable the horses and put the wagon away. She nearly went outside to meet him but then stopped, wanting him to be indoors for this special announcement.

“Hi,” Maddie said with a smile when the door opened.

“Sorry I'm late,” Jace said in return, giving her a kiss. “Doyle wanted to talk my ear off.”

“How is he?” Maddie asked, catching the breathlessness in her voice.

“Fine. Cathy asked me to dinner, but I told her you were waiting. I think she's planning to visit you later this afternoon. She asked how you were.”

They were at the table now, Maddie having brought out the warm dishes. Jace began to fill his plate, but Maddie only stared at him.

“Are you all right?” he asked when he caught her.

“I'm pregnant,” Maddie said, unable to wait another moment.

“Oh, Maddie.” Jace was instantly on his feet, taking her into his arms. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I looked at the calendar and thought about my soreness right now, and I'm sure of it. Sometime last month, I think.”

Jace kissed her ever so gently and then wrapped his arms tightly around her, trying to absorb her into his very being. He stood and rocked her in his arms for a long time.