Seasons of Sugarcreek 03. Autumn's Promise (22 page)

A world of good.

The kind words had rung in her ears the rest of the day. They were so different than everything else she was used to hearing. Most folks barely looked at her.

None directly spoke of her circumstances.

Yet, did she really imagine that people would speak of her, to her, frankly?

Plain and simply, she’d been raped by an
Englischer
, held apart by her family, and now was looking forward to forever being a symbol of foolish behavior in the eyes of everyone in her community. As in, “
Don’t go walking alone like Melody did. Look what happened to her.”

As in,
“Look what happened to Melody. Now she’s going to have to carry that burden for the rest of her life.”

As in,
“Melody, you’ve shamed us
.”

Consequently, she’d retreated into herself. If others wouldn’t have a care for her feelings, then she would.

That night, Melody had clumsily knelt by her bed and prayed. “What should I do?” she’d whispered.

Tightly, she’d closed her eyes. With bated breath, she’d strained to hear words of guidance. And then, like the gift that it was…she heard the Lord’s voice.

Just as clearly as if he’d been standing at her shoulder.
Go, Melody. Go and learn to smile again.

“Miss? You going to get up anytime soon?” the driver asked. “We’re here.”

She stood up with a start. Out of the window to her right was the Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, looking just as lovely as Mrs. Sheridan described.

“Oh! I’m…I’m sorry. I’ll get my things and hurry out.”

To her surprise, a woman sitting in front of her picked up the suitcase and carried it out of the van. The driver helped her down the step and took her payment easily, not even counting it before slipping it into his black wool coat.

“Merry Christmas,” he murmured before closing his door and pulling out of the driveway.

Leaving her alone. Staring at the wide front steps. At the garland that was roped around the porch railing. Suddenly, everything seemed to be too much. The trip, the traveling, the stress. The cold. A wave of dizziness fell over her.

The front door opened. A pretty woman just about her age stepped out and stared. “May I help you?”

The world was tilting. Threatening to go black. “I’m Melody Gingerich.”

Blue eyes narrowed. “And?”

“I…I came to stay for Christmas,” she murmured. In a haze, she did her best to concentrate, but the woman’s reaction was truly puzzling.

“You came to do what?” the girl asked, her voice sounding high pitched. Almost angry.

“I have a certificate.”

“For what?”

As the girl’s eyes continued to stare her down, Melody fumbled for a better explanation. But truly, all ideas fled her mind. She didn’t know what to say. How to explain about everything she’d been through. Everything she’d done.

Then it didn’t matter. Because her knees gave way, her world spun, and her suitcase fell to the ground with a thud.

Seconds later, she felt the cold icy snow cradle her cheek…as her world went black.

SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY
is the author of the Sisters of the Heart series:
Hidden, Wanted,
and
Forgiven.
She lives with her family in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time.

www.shelleyshepardgray.com

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