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Authors: Cheryl St.john
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building.
The drone of voices hushed as they entered the aisle. The Telfords were already seated in their pew, third from the front on the right, the pew where she'd sat with them every Sunday since becoming engaged to Joe seven years ago.
She couldn't sit with them now, she realized belatedly. She paused a few rows back and slipped into an available wooden seat. Tye sat beside her, his long thigh brushing her skirts, and stared straight ahead. He'd hung his hat on the row of hooks inside the door, so he had no brim to take refuge beneath.
A few whispered comments broke the silence.
Meg glanced around, taking note of the townspeople unwilling to meet her eyes. Friends who'd greeted her every Sunday morning since she could remember now avoided her. The ones who did look at her did so with disapproving stares.
Finally Reverend Baker walked to stand behind the pulpit, Fiona stumbled through the beginning hymn, and the congregation stood.
Meg opened the hymnal. The words and music blurred. Voices rose on all sides. She blinked, determinedly cleared her throat and joined them. Towering beside her, Tye remained silent. She extended the hymn book, and he took the other side obligingly but didn't sing.
Later, instructed to sit once again, she noticed his long fingers massage his thigh unconsciously. She glanced at him, and his hand stilled. Reverend Baker began to speak, and Tye met her eyes at last. He hadn't wanted her to see this. Hadn't wanted the same ill treatment to befall her. He'd said as much that first day in his rented room.
But she'd asked for it. She'd insisted. And she'd gotten what she'd asked for.
She couldn't help thinking that the Telfords would gather for dinner after this, as they always did, and afterward they'd sit on the wide front porch, and the children would play on the lawn. Even during the war, she'd eaten Sunday dinner with Joe's mother, sister and sister-in-law. And after his death, they'd been her strength and her only family.
Dinner! Her mind ran through the supplies she had to prepare a meal. She couldn't regret losing company for her Sunday meal. She'd gained a means to hang on to her life. They would come around, she told herself again. She hadn't changed. Nothing had really changed. They would see that.
The service ended finally, and she and Tye made their way to the back like everyone else. No one greeted them. Everyone carefully maintained a reproachful distance.
Reaching Reverend Baker, the couple received their first greeting and smile. "Meg, you're looking lovely. Hatch, I was pleased to see you in the congregation this morning."
"You're the only one."
The reverend grinned at Tye's low remark. "I hope this doesn't mean you won't be callin' on me Sunday afternoons anymore. I enjoy our talks together."
"I'll make it a point to visit," Tye replied. "Probably not today, though. I've got a lot to figure out around the place."
"Why don't you come to the Circle T for dinner next week?" Meg asked eagerly.
"I'll do that," the reverend said, and shook Tye's hand.
Meg smiled up at Tye. He settled his hat on his head, and they crossed the side yard, pointedly ignoring rude stares and whispers.
Tye made a step of his laced fingers, and she climbed onto the seat and tied her bonnet beneath her chin.
She'd been the prettiest woman there, just as she'd always been the prettiest woman anywhere in Aspen Grove. Tye wished he could be proud to have her beside him. But she hadn't married him for any reason he could take pride in.
He'd borne the indignities of his birth and his mother's status his entire life, and he detested her observing it. He would have done just about anything to avoid her seeing how unkindly people could behave, and never for anything would he have allowed her to suffer the same if there was any way to prevent it. He'd come here for her.
Because she'd asked him. And, he admitted to himself, he knew he'd never deny Meg anything she asked.
She'd taken his arm in front of
The drone of voices hushed as they entered the aisle. The Telfords were already seated in their pew, third from the front on the right, the pew where she'd sat with them every Sunday since becoming engaged to Joe seven years ago.
She couldn't sit with them now, she realized belatedly. She paused a few rows back and slipped into an available wooden seat. Tye sat beside her, his long thigh brushing her skirts, and stared straight ahead. He'd hung his hat on the row of hooks inside the door, so he had no brim to take refuge beneath.
A few whispered comments broke the silence.
Meg glanced around, taking note of the townspeople unwilling to meet her eyes. Friends who'd greeted her every Sunday morning since she could remember now avoided her. The ones who did look at her did so with disapproving stares.
Finally Reverend Baker walked to stand behind the pulpit, Fiona stumbled through the beginning hymn, and the congregation stood.
Meg opened the hymnal. The words and music blurred. Voices rose on all sides. She blinked, determinedly cleared her throat and joined them. Towering beside her, Tye remained silent. She extended the hymn book, and he took the other side obligingly but didn't sing.
Later, instructed to sit once again, she noticed his long fingers massage his thigh unconsciously. She glanced at him, and his hand stilled. Reverend Baker began to speak, and Tye met her eyes at last. He hadn't wanted her to see this. Hadn't wanted the same ill treatment to befall her. He'd said as much that first day in his rented room.
But she'd asked for it. She'd insisted. And she'd gotten what she'd asked for.
She couldn't help thinking that the Telfords would gather for dinner after this, as they always did, and afterward they'd sit on the wide front porch, and the children would play on the lawn. Even during the war, she'd eaten Sunday dinner with Joe's mother, sister and sister-in-law. And after his death, they'd been her strength and her only family.
Dinner! Her mind ran through the supplies she had to prepare a meal. She couldn't regret losing company for her Sunday meal. She'd gained a means to hang on to her life. They would come around, she told herself again. She hadn't changed. Nothing had really changed. They would see that.
The service ended finally, and she and Tye made their way to the back like everyone else. No one greeted them. Everyone carefully maintained a reproachful distance.
Reaching Reverend Baker, the couple received their first greeting and smile. "Meg, you're looking lovely. Hatch, I was pleased to see you in the congregation this morning."
"You're the only one."
The reverend grinned at Tye's low remark. "I hope this doesn't mean you won't be callin' on me Sunday afternoons anymore. I enjoy our talks together."
"I'll make it a point to visit," Tye replied. "Probably not today, though. I've got a lot to figure out around the place."
"Why don't you come to the Circle T for dinner next week?" Meg asked eagerly.
"I'll do that," the reverend said, and shook Tye's hand.
Meg smiled up at Tye. He settled his hat on his head, and they crossed the side yard, pointedly ignoring rude stares and whispers.
Tye made a step of his laced fingers, and she climbed onto the seat and tied her bonnet beneath her chin.
She'd been the prettiest woman there, just as she'd always been the prettiest woman anywhere in Aspen Grove. Tye wished he could be proud to have her beside him. But she hadn't married him for any reason he could take pride in.
He'd borne the indignities of his birth and his mother's status his entire life, and he detested her observing it. He would have done just about anything to avoid her seeing how unkindly people could behave, and never for anything would he have allowed her to suffer the same if there was any way to prevent it. He'd come here for her.
Because she'd asked him. And, he admitted to himself, he knew he'd never deny Meg anything she asked.
She'd taken his arm in front of
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