Embers of Love (14 page)

Dr. Clayton joined in. “The fact that the man goes after her, yet stays to eat, drink, and make merry with her father suggests to me that he was not at all in ill spirits. The fact that, as you say, he did not go there to have her put to death says to me that he was of a mind to put the matter behind him. I tend to think there’s great possibility in your thoughts on
zanah
, meaning that there was some sort of fight and they were angry with each other.”

Deborah nodded. “Even so, here’s this man – this Levite. He’s supposed to be knowledgeable and a strong man of God. So let’s say she was at her worst and he did the honorable thing by forgiving her. As far as I can see, that’s where his merits end.”

“How so, Deborah?” her mother questioned.

It was almost comical the way Harriet Decker stared at them while Stuart kept his gaze on the plate in front of him. He said nothing, but his irritation was evident by the way he mutilated his food.

“The Levite has so little regard for the safety and well-being of his wife. Even if he did consider her nothing more than property, as many did, you would have thought he would want to protect his property.”

“That’s right,” Dr. Clayton said. “Yet he leaves late in the day and heads into territory that he knows will be a problem. He has made no provision for their lodging.”

“Oh, but he has food for the donkeys and for the people,” G. W. interjected. “I remember the preacher saying that.”

“Yes, he had food,” Deborah agreed. “But he made no other provision. Not for safety, not for lodging, and certainly not for the welfare of his wife. So an old man finally shows up, well after they’d given up hope of finding a place to stay, and he takes them in. The Bible says they were ‘making their hearts merry’ when these horrible men show up at the door demanding to have carnal knowledge of the Levite.”

“I say, this is the most inappropriate conversation I’ve ever been forced to endure,” Stuart Albright declared. “I would never allow a young woman of my family to speak as you do.” He looked to Arjan. “Is this how women act in Texas? If so, I’m glad to get my wife out of here before she can be further corrupted.”

Arjan looked at him hard. “Deborah is sharing Scripture and talkin’ about understanding God’s Word. There’s nothin’ wrong with that, as far as I can see.”

“It’s completely unacceptable.” Stuart threw down his napkin. “She’s talking of adultery and men . . . well, I will not repeat the matter. Suffice it to say I cannot and will not sit by and allow my wife to be a part of such conversation. Elizabeth, go pack your things.”

Deborah had never seen Uncle Arjan truly angry, but the muscles in his neck tightened and his eyes narrowed over Stuart Albright’s outburst.

“Son,” Uncle Arjan began slowly, “this is the Vandermark house. My sister-in-law is the lady of the house, and it’s entirely up to her to say who stays and who goes. But to my way of thinkin’, you’re the one who should leave. Unless, of course, you can make yourself civil.”

For a moment, no one said anything. To her surprise, it was Lizzie’s mother who defused the situation. “Mr. Albright, I must say it is the height of rudeness that we should chastise our hostess and her family for the topic of conversation that they choose. In fact, I find the subject quite interesting.”

Stuart looked at her strangely for a moment, but Harriet simply patted his hand. Deborah, too, found her behavior confusing.

“Would anyone care for dessert?” Deborah’s mother asked. “I find difficult questions go down better when accompanied by pecan pie.”

“Sure sounds good to me,” G. W. replied.

Rob and Uncle Arjan nodded, while Dr. Clayton patted his stomach. “I think I can find room,” he declared.

Stuart said nothing. He fixed Deborah with an icy stare, made only more chilling by the blue of his eyes. He was cold and harsh. His stare told her clearly that he did not approve of her or her intellectual discussion of the Bible. It was almost as if he were trying to will her into silence.

Better men than you have tried, Mr. Albright.
The thought made her smile.

“So now, what was your question, little gal?” Uncle Arjan asked.

Deborah met her uncle’s amused expression. It was almost as if he could read her thoughts. “The men come with their demands of . . . unmentionable evil.” She looked at Stuart. “Is my word choice better?”

He refused to answer but instead folded his arms against his chest. Deborah smiled sweetly. “I suppose I can understand how disturbing the Bible can be.” She turned back to her uncle. “The men want their way, and the host and the Levite, wanting no part of that evil, offer instead the man’s virgin – Oh, should I not use that word?” She again looked to Stuart for an answer.

Lizzie gave an unladylike snort that she quickly covered with a coughing fit. G. W. offered her a glass of water, further irritating Mr. Albright. Deborah decided she was being too difficult and drew a deep breath. “I do apologize, Mr. Albright. I tend to let my temper get the best of me from time to time, but there is no call for me to take it out on you. Now, where was I?”

“You were about to mention that the host offered his virginal daughter and the Levite’s concubine to the evil men instead,” Dr. Clayton threw out.

Deborah gave him a smile. “Of course. So for whatever reason, they reject the virgin and take the concubine. They do all manner of evil to her throughout the night. God alone knows what that poor woman must have had to suffer. And the story doesn’t stop there.”

“It does give a person a mite to ponder,” Uncle Arjan said between bites of pie.

“You should ask the preacher about it,” G. W. suggested.

“I did,” Deborah said, looking hard at Stuart Albright. “He said my mind was a wonder, and that for a woman I thought entirely too much. He said that God knew what He was doing by putting it in the Bible, and that men of God would understand it, and women needn’t worry about it.”

Dr. Clayton managed to draw her gaze from the smug expression of Mr. Albright. “I’m a man of God, and I don’t believe I understand it.”

“Neither do I,” her uncle agreed. “Seems to me it’s a hard story to understand.”

“If your own minister will not reveal its mysteries,” Mrs. Decker began, “then perhaps it is best we leave it as an example of the thoughtlessness of men toward women. I will definitely remember this story and use it as an example of how women have been treated throughout the ages.”

“I hardly believe that was God’s purpose in the story, Mother.” Lizzie said, much to Stuart’s displeasure.

“You can hardly know what God was thinking,” Stuart said firmly. “Now, if you don’t mind, and with your permission, Mrs. Vandermark, I would like for my wife to pack her things so that we can make our way to Philadelphia.”

Deborah started to comment, but her mother spoke instead. “Mr. Albright, I am a woman of reason. It is my understanding that Lizzie is of age and capable of making her own decisions. She is of the belief that the marriage did not take place, and therefore she is not your wife.” Albright started to speak, but Mother held up her hand. “However, even if she is your wife, and I’m not saying that she is, she is still able to decide for herself if she will continue being your bride. There are alternatives that would rectify the situation either way.”

“Of all the nonsense.” Stuart got to his feet. “Mrs. Decker, let us speak with the legal officials in town. I’m certain we can accomplish more there than here.”

Mrs. Decker nodded and got to her feet. “I believe you may be right in that. Elizabeth, I want you to come to town and stay with us that we might be able to speak with you privately.”

“There’s nothing anyone can say to me that I would not allow these good people to hear,” Lizzie replied.

“Well, there is much I would say to you, and frankly, I believe it very rude to bring strangers into such intimate conversation. It only serves to make both parties uncomfortable.”

“I doubt anyone would be all that uncomfortable, Mother. And these are not strangers to me.” She exchanged a smile with Deborah’s mother.

Deborah was proud of Lizzie. It took a great deal of courage to stand her ground in the face of her mother’s demands.

“Very well. Perhaps we shall speak of it tomorrow.”

Deborah’s mother walked out with Mr. Albright and Mrs. Decker, leaving the others to consider all that had just happened.

“I’m so sorry,” Lizzie said. “I never meant to bring this on you all.”

“Y’all,” G. W. said with a smile. “If you’re gonna be a Texan, you ought to learn to speak like one.”

This brought chuckles from the table, but to Deborah’s surprise, Dr. Clayton’s expression remained serious.

“Are you all right? Is something wrong?” she asked.

He nodded. “I’m fine, and yes, something is wrong. I’m afraid I shall be thinking long and hard about Judges nineteen and twenty.” He smiled. “And I agree with the preacher – at least in part. Your mind is a wonder.”

Deborah didn’t even think before elbowing him soundly as she might have done one of her brothers. Realizing what she’d done, she covered her mouth with her hands. Her uncle and brothers dissolved into laughter, while Dr. Clayton looked at her in surprise.

“You have to watch yourself with her,” Rob warned. “That’s why we won’t sit beside her. We’ve had sore ribs too many times.”

Deborah shook her head and lowered her hands. “I’m so very sorry. I never meant – ”

He put a finger to her lips and grinned. “You are forgiven, but you really should learn to control that temper of yours.”

Her eyes widened, but she said nothing. Instead she put the Bible aside and picked up her fork as Dr. Clayton went back to eating.

“We should definitely keep him around,” G. W. said, smiling. “I’ve never seen anybody be able to shut her up like that.”

C
HAPTER
12

A week later, Mr. Perkins stood at the front of the small church with preacher Artemus Shattuck at his side. “As you know,” he began, “Brother Shattuck has been riding the circuit to speak to us every other Sunday. I’m happy to announce that he has agreed to become our regular minister and move here to Perkinsville.”

The congregation murmured and nodded approvingly. Brother Shattuck smiled and bobbed his head in return. G. W. thought it a fine idea to have a regular preacher, although he couldn’t help but wonder how Deborah would feel. She had often commented that Brother Shattuck had admonished her on more than one occasion that she should marry, saying her husband would explain the biblical things she didn’t understand.

“Let’s pray and be dismissed,” Brother Shattuck announced after shaking hands with Mr. Perkins.

G. W. bowed his head and found that his focus of prayer was once again for Lizzie’s safety and security. He had unexpectedly fallen hard for this young woman. She had been a quiet strength in his life these past few weeks, for when he needed to talk about his father and the accident, she was there for him. Little by little, he had found that his memories had lost their power and God was healing his pain.

He also found himself praying that God would take Stuart Albright and Mrs. Decker back to Philadelphia or any place but Perkinsville, Texas. He didn’t like Albright, his bossy way of dealing with folks, and the claim he had on Lizzie.

“Amen. Now go with the Lord’s blessings,” Brother Shattuck declared.

Casting a quick side glance, G. W. saw Deborah slip away, leaving Lizzie to remain in the family pew. He wasn’t about to desert her and leave her to the likes of Albright, so he offered her his arm as they exited their seats. Lizzie took hold of him and smiled. “I thought the sermon quite interesting today.”

G. W. nodded. “Preacher definitely gets all fired up for the Lord. That’s a good way to be.”

“I agree. Although I’m not sure what Deborah will think about him becoming the regular pastor.”

“She’ll get used to it. It’s him I feel sorry for,” G. W. said with a grin. “My sister isn’t likely to let him off easily.”

Lizzie laughed softly. “No. I’m sure she won’t.”

They shook hands with Brother Shattuck and G. W. thanked him for answering God’s call. They were just making their way down the steps when Mr. Perkins approached with a couple of strangers.

“Excuse me, G. W., but I want you to meet Mr. Wright and Mr. Bishop of Buffalo, New York. These gentlemen have come to Perkinsville to observe our logging and milling industry.”

Lizzie patted G. W.’s arm. “I’m going to go speak with Mrs. Greeley for a moment.”

He reluctantly watched her go, then turned his attention back to the trio. The men extended their hands and G. W. obliged with a firm shake. “G. W. Vandermark,” he declared. “Glad to meet you.” But he eyed them cautiously.

Lately, there had been more and more visitors from the East showing up to buy property and start new sawmills. Logging in East Texas was becoming something akin to a gold rush of sorts. Where once yellow pine had been considered too full of resin for practical use, it now was finding more public approval. Especially as eastern white pine became scarcer. Eastern investors were like bloodhounds, sniffing out a profit to be made.

“I was hoping I might persuade you to take these gentlemen with you for a visit around some of the logging sites. I know you have a decent camp where they might stay and learn about the industry.”

“I don’t know. That takes me away from my work,” G. W. answered. The last thing he wanted to do was play nursemaid to a couple of society fellas.

The man introduced as Mr. Wright spoke up. “I assure you, Mr. Vandermark, we won’t be any problem. We are quite happy to sleep outdoors and enjoy God’s nature. We aren’t without our own skills in the woods. We both grew up in forested areas. What we’d like to do is see how your operation differs from those we’ve been a part of in the past.”

G. W. could see that Mr. Perkins had his mind made up that he should somehow be the one to show these men around. He decided to oblige him, for Perkins was his family’s oldest and dearest friend in the area.

“I suppose they can come along. They can ride the train out and back.”

“I had in mind that you might actually show them the full extent of your property and operations. They’ll even hire out some of the livery horses,” Perkins explained. “And, of course, you will be subsidized for the time away from production.”