Read Online Earthly Vows by Patricia Hickman - Free Book Online Page A

party,” he said. He slipped on his jacket. “I’m not hungry anyway. I hope we
     meet again, Reverend. See you, Fern.” He turned and left.
    “I’m getting a headache, Jeb. Can we leave?”
    Donna spotted them. Her face brightened. She rested against her chair back to allow one of the waiters to fill her soup bowl.
     “They’re bringing your food,” she mouthed.
    “Donna’s already ordered for us. We ought to go in,” said Jeb.
    One by one, each dinner guest turned his or her face from the table and looked at Fern, a set of curious eyes connecting back
     to Jeb, and then turning back to whisper.
    “You going to tell me who Walton is?”
    She lifted her face. “I knew him once.”
    “Where’s his wife?”
    “He didn’t say.” She took a breath. “He followed me, Jeb. I went outside to be alone. Don’t make it something else.”
    “Do you want to be alone now?” He let go of her arm.
    “This isn’t right, what you’re doing.”
    “What am I supposed to think, Fern? A man I don’t know shows up and ends up out in some garden with my fiancée. You think
     I’m an idiot?”
    “I know you’re not, Jeb. But I told you I didn’t want to come, didn’t I?”
    “So you knew this Walton would be here?”
    “You’re not listening, so what difference does it make?”
    “Why’d he come alone?”
    “I think he came to see me.” She waved to acknowledge Donna. “We never brought things to a proper close. I think he wanted
     to make sure I was all right. Everyone’s looking at us. Can we stop talking about it?” Marion waved at Jeb. Jeb cupped Fern’s
     elbow with one hand, and clasped her wrist with the other. He steered her back toward the dinner party. Marion had commented
     about Walton finishing law school when Fern and Donna were in college. But she had never mentioned him before. “I hope we
     can return to the party and at least be civil.”
    Fern smiled at the hostess, but she didn’t comment any further. “I wish you would say something, Fern,” said Jeb. “I told
     you I didn’t want to come.”

    Marion was talkative, telling Jeb that while he and Fern were out for their walk, Donna started a rumor about them. “She says
     you’re getting married this week, is that right?”
    “Tuesday, most likely in Abigail’s church. A simple ceremony,” said Jeb. But he said it without looking at Fern.
    “I’m surprised Abigail isn’t throwing you-all a big wedding. I’ll bet she had no say in this,” said Marion.
    “She didn’t at all,” said Donna. “I think I was the instigator and Mother never lets that happen. I’ll be surprised if she
     lets them up and get married without a big to-do.”
    Jeb tried to keep from looking at Walton’s empty chair. His bowl was cleared by the wait staff.
    “Let me see your ring, Fern.” Marion extended her hand to Fern, who was seated next to her. The rock on Marion’s hand could
     sink the table.
    Fern held her hand up to Marion. Her tone was staid when she said, “It’s very old. Jeb’s mother left it to him.”
    “I’ve never seen diamonds in that sort of arrangement. It’s a fine ring and the plainness of it is what I like best,” Marion
     said to the entire party.
    “I propose a toast,” said one of the men.
    “If it’s all right with the preacher,” said Henry Oakley.
    Several of the men said, “Hear! Hear!”
    Donna elbowed Fern until she lifted her water glass.
    Jeb touched his glass to Fern’s. There were shadows under her eyes. She was breathing heavier than usual, her chest rising
     and then sinking. As she lowered her glass, Marion began bending her ear again, wanting to know about her trousseau.
    Henry touched Jeb’s arm. “How about we get down to business, Reverend? Marion and I have been friends for years with Jon and
     Rachel Flauvert. They’ve traveled all over, you name it, Mexico, Peru, what have you. I think they’ve been to China or some
     such. We lost our last pastor to some big church outfit in New