Amethyst (51 page)

Jacob sighed. Sometimes Opal asked questions that pushed him to the limits. “Let me finish.”

“All right.”

“They get to know each other better so they can decide if they truly want to marry each other.”

“I see.” She pondered that. “So I’ve not really said I am going to marry you, then?”

“No, not really. But I sure hope you do—want to marry me, that is.”

“But if I already knew that, what would be the sense of courting?” She handed him the board he pointed at. They were working on his house, making shelves for the kitchen. They could hear Joel and Ada Mae arguing in the soddy section over who could spit the farthest. They were splitting shakes at the same time for the new addition to be put up as soon as spring came.

Jacob put a couple of nails in his mouth to have them handy.

“So then…”

He mentally shuddered. Here came another question.

“What is the difference between courting and being betrothed like the Bible says that Mary and Joseph were betrothed?”

He motioned to his mouth to say he couldn’t answer. When he’d pounded the three nails into the wood, one of which bent right over and had to be straightened, he turned to her.

“Betrothal is a promise to marry, much like an engagement, but legally binding in Biblical times. They didn’t court back then. If we were to announce that we planned to marry, then we would be betrothed.”

“I see.”

He picked up another board and took it to the sawhorses. “Hold that end, will you please?” He measured and marked the place to cut. Once he finished sawing, he glanced up to see her watching him. Warmth flooded from his head to his heels. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Look at me like that.”

“But I like to look at you.”

“Could you please add more wood to the fire?”
Or open the door and let it cool off in here
. Sometimes the urge to kiss her rose so strongly that he had to pray it gone. So pray he did.

He found himself praying a lot when they were together. But he also laughed more than ever in his life. And rejoiced for the gift he felt God was giving him.

With Christmas drawing near, Opal finally knew what she would give Jacob for a present. She and Pearl practiced together until they were both delighted with the idea and the way it was turning out.

Each day Opal prayed that the good weather would hold, that no blizzard would roar down and cancel the Christmas services. The Sunday before Christmas the congregation gathered for the regular worship service. With a tree in the corner, decorated by the schoolchildren, the schoolroom even smelled like Christmas.

What if I can’t do this?
Opal swallowed and fought back the butterflies rampaging in her middle. Before the sermon she felt like leaping up and running back out the door.
Jacob, I do hope you like my present. Father in heaven, please let this go right
.

After the sermon Pearl smiled at Opal, and the two made their way to the piano.

“Ah…” Jacob started to say something, but when Pearl nodded, he sat back down.

Opal turned to face the people she knew and loved so well, especially the man in the front row. “This is my Christmas present to all of you.” She stared right at him.

Pearl let her fingers wander over the keyboard, and when Opal had taken a deep breath and nodded, she smiled back and played the introduction they had composed. Opal sang for Jacob, her voice richer than it had ever been. It soared on the high notes, dropping beauty into the ears of those she loved, drawing forth tears as she sang of God’s great gift of love—love so compelling, love divine, a baby in a manger, love for all time. When she finished, Jacob sat with tears in his eyes. He nodded.

She wanted to run to him and throw herself into his arms, but she smiled instead and returned to her seat.

“Opa, sing mo.” Per reached for her, and she hugged him as she sat him on her lap.

Ruby reached over and clutched her hand, then wiped the tears from her eyes.

Jacob stood and turned to the congregation. “And with that gift to us all…” He paused and raised his arms. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and give you His peace. Amen.”

As everyone stood and made ready to leave, he moved to her side. “I’ve never heard that song before.”

“I know. Pearl and I made it up.” She touched his hand. “I wanted to give you something special.”

“You did. I was afraid you would never sing again.”

“You know the verse you read, about the light?”

He nodded.

“Well, I think now the darkness is gone, and the sadness. And I can sing again.” She leaned closer. “I think I’ll sing for our wedding. What do you think?”

As if there was no one else around, he nodded and took her hand. “When?”

“Oh, I was thinking that May would be a good month for a wedding.”

“I agree.” His eyes held hers.

“And then I thought when the new church is finished, I would love to be married in it.”

“Lord, help us build it quickly.”

Opal watched as he turned and greeted the others who were waiting. He might be Reverend or Pastor Chandler, but he was her Jacob. And from the way she was feeling, being married might be just as exciting as training horses or rounding up cattle.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

“All right, time for confession.” Mrs. Grant laid her hand over the pages of the record book.

Amethyst looked up. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that ever since Mr. McHenry left, you’ve been like a flower without water, wilting.”

“I…I thought…” Amethyst brushed a tendril of hair back from her cheek. Even her hair no longer stayed up where it belonged, let alone her thoughts. They kept escaping, running west, screaming,
Why, why? What went wrong?
She started again. “Did you notice the way he signed those drawings he’d framed for me?”

“First thing. Love, JM.”

“When I said I was sorry we had nothing stronger to put in his coffee, he said he no longer drank anything stronger.”

Mrs. Grant raised her eyebrows, eyes wide open. “That is good news. No longer shades of your father.”

“True, but when we were out in the mixing room and he tried both the pine and mint lotions, one on each hand, all of a sudden it was like a heavy shade blotting out the sun. Oh, he was charming and pleasant from then on, but I no longer saw what I thought might be love shining in his eyes. We were never alone for another moment before he left.” She rose and went to stand at the window.

“I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I.”

“Do you love the man?”

“I do. It all started because he was nice to me. I know Mr. Hegland and Mr. Harrison were nice to me also, but they are already married, and that makes it different. At first I thought I wasn’t good enough for him, but that never stopped the love from growing. I…I’ve never felt this way about a man before. But I guess it is over. I’ve not had a letter from him since he returned home.”

“It’s only been about ten days.”

“I know. But last time I had a letter right away.” Amethyst took in a deep breath and let it all out. “I sent him a thank-you letter for the pictures. We’ll see if he answers.”

“Let’s back up to something you said. You didn’t feel you were good enough for him?”

Amethyst nodded. “You know what I came from, what a sorry sight I was.”

“But that has nothing to do with how good you are, how valuable you are. According to God’s Word, we are all of immeasurable value.”

“You know what I mean—different class of folks, education, experience.”

“But now?”

“But now, thanks to you, I am no longer a poor ragamuffin who’s afraid to say two words in a row. And I thank God for you every day.”

“That is wise, because He is the one who orchestrated all of this. You mentioned going back to Medora to visit for Christmas so you could see Joel in the pageant.”

“Yes. I would like to do that.”

“I think that would be a very good idea. And if McHenry has any intelligence at all, he will make you very welcome. Write and let him know you are coming.”

“No. I want it to be a surprise. If he really doesn’t care, then I will know.”
And go on with my life
.

“Just remember, he’s not the only fish in the sea.”

Amethyst smiled and then grinned. The two chuckled together.

“Something else to contemplate. If you are thinking you cannot be married to the man because you will let me down, think again. We could move the whole business to Medora if we wanted. The train goes right through there, and I know how to travel on it. After all, what’s a couple of days either way? If Marquis de Mores could build a meat-shipping enterprise there, we could certainly do the same with lotions and soaps.”

Three weeks later Amethyst stepped off the train and thanked the conductor for his care for her.

“You are welcome, Miss O’Shaunasy. I hope I am working the car on your return.”

She nodded, her hair securely fastened under a bird’s-nest hat with a curved feather flipping in the breeze. At least it wasn’t as cold as the last time she had arrived in Medora. It was hard to believe an entire year had passed. And such changes had happened.

She glanced down at her rich wool coat, trimmed with a fur collar. The seamstress had chosen the material for her traveling outfit to match her name. Her fitted vest was fashioned of rich purple and amethyst plaid with a matching dark purple skirt and fitted jacket. A fur muff matched the collar of her coat, and the rest of her things filled the two trunks that were being unloaded onto the platform.

“Aunt Colleen!” Joel called from the back of his horse. He flipped the reins over the hitching rail, slid to the ground, and came running to throw his arms around her. “Sorry I’m late.”

She hugged him back. “My, I think you’ve grown a full foot since I left.”

“Four inches. Me and Ada Mae are racing. Isn’t Big Red a fine horse?”

“He is handsome. A horse of your own—now, that is a wonder.” She nodded to the luggage handler. “Yes, someone will come to pick them up. Thank you.”

Joel looked nearly straight into her eyes. “You look different.”

“I do?”