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twisted the ring on her right hand. She’d give Mama’s best pearl if only she could take back those hurtful words. She wished she hadn’t said them, wished they weren’t true, wished she could somehow comfort him as she’d managed to comfort Betsy. She opened her mouth to say so, but he lifted one hand and shook his head.
    â€œI can’t think about it tonight. I wasn’t this tired even after Chickamauga.” He strode to her side and took Betsy from her. “Let’s talk about it later. I’m going to put her in her crib.”
    When he’d disappeared up the stairs, Ellie leashed Sugar and started for home, the mist of regret heavier in her mind than the settling fog.

Chapter Six
    T he next afternoon, Ellie straightened the piece of wire she’d found in the stable. She tied a rag, one of Lilah May’s old, frayed red kerchiefs, onto one end. Then she set the other end on the windowsill and weighted it down with Pride and Prejudice , flying the kerchief out her window like a flag.
    Dear God, I’m putting this flag out here like Gideon’s fleece. Despite what she’d said to Graham, she realized during her sleepless night that she didn’t know whether Leonard Fitzwald had told her the truth about their debt. She needed advice—and help in searching Uncle Amos’s library at Magnolia Grove.
    If only her uncle would get well again, she could tell him about her conversation with Leonard and get his opinion. But since Doctor Pritchert told her uncle to avoid the exertion of business, Ellie was on her own. Besides, Uncle Amos had sounded so confused this morning, he couldn’t have helped her anyway.
    Her childhood Sunday school teacher used to say Gideon sinned by putting out his fleece to seek an answer from God. But Ellie didn’t see it that way. Gideon needed to know whether God was going to deliver his enemies into his hands. And in a way, that’s what Ellie needed to know too. She’d never thought of Leonard as an enemy before, but after last night, she wasn’t sure.
    â€œIf Graham sees the red flag and comes over by the time I’m ready to leave, I’ll ask him to go with me to Magnolia Grove. If he doesn’t, I’ll go alone,” she whispered to the Lord. “Above all else, don’t let me get outside Your will.”
    Ten minutes later, she went to the dining room and poured herself a glass of sugar water. She sipped it as she watched out the window for a sign of Graham. If he hadn’t come by the time she finished her drink, she’d have to go.
    When her drink was gone, she took her glass to the kitchen and then returned to the center hall. She tied on her plain, wide-brimmed straw hat in front of the mirror at the back door. It was time to go, and Graham hadn’t arrived. With a pang of disappointment, she pulled on her gloves and gave Sugar a goodbye pat. “I’m riding Buttercup today, so you can’t come along. We’ll take the landau tomorrow.”
    At least tomorrow she’d have company, even if it was only her dog.
    Pushing down the self-pity that wanted to rise up in her, she headed out the door. If God didn’t want her to have help, that meant He would do the helping. Ellie learned long ago not to complain about that. If she didn’t want to marry, she had to do things alone. Hard things. Hard work. Hard decisions.
    She stepped into the stable, where Roman led Buttercup out of her stall, saddled and ready to go.
    His eager service made Ellie smile. She wasn’t alone, after all. “Roman, I hope our fortunes will soon be restored so we can hire a gardener. Then you can do only what you love—care for a stable full of horses.”
    â€œI’ll pray with you ’bout that.” The handsome older man held the reins in his mahogany-colored hand while Ellie mounted.
    She spoke to Buttercup, and the horse started toward Commerce Street. As they turned onto