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Authors: Ann Shorey
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ones God allowed her to keep.
Matthew removed his straw hat and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Looks like Ruby got the wash hung out.” He glanced at Arthur. “Don’t know what I’d of done without her these past couple of days.” He glanced at the bald man bobbing along beside him. “Or you either, truth be told.”
“Glad to have a chance to help out.” Arthur lowered his voice, although they were still several yards from the house. “Me and Ruby’ve been heartsick at the way things turned out for you and Ellie. Losing Julia wasn’t in no way a blessing—don’t get me wrong.” He glanced anxiously at Matthew. “But it did give us a way to make it up to you for deceiving her about her pa.”
Tears stung Matthew’s eyes at the mention of Julia. Right now he felt he’d lost his whole family. He missed the clatter of the older children in the house, but most of all he missed his wife’s soft voice and smile.
Arthur spoke as if he’d been tracking Matthew’s thoughts. “D’you think she’s better today?”
Matthew shook his head. “I couldn’t see any change when I looked in on her before dinner.”
When they walked past the clothesline, a gust of wind caught at a damp shirt. One sleeve brushed against Matthew’s beard. He put his hand over the spot, remembering the feel of Ellie’s fingers on his face. He longed for the comfort of her touch.
They stopped at a bench beside the back door to remove their muddy boots. From the kitchen they heard women’s voices. Matthew’s head jerked up. He kicked off his boots and strode into the house.
Ellie stood beside the stove wearing a clean apron over her black dress. Her face looked thinner, and smudges like purple thumbprints stained the skin under her round blue eyes.
“Dearest.” He drew her to him.
She leaned against his chest, and for a moment he stood motionless, the better to absorb her presence. But when he kissed the top of her head, she jerked away.
“Supper will be on the table in a minute.” Her voice quavered. “Then would you get the children from Molly’s? They belong here.”
The following week, Matthew drove to Ben Wolcott’s store with Ellie beside him. He stole glances at her as they traveled, hoping a peaceful trip away from the farm would rekindle a spark of affection between them. Over the past several days, she had stayed busy from sunrise to sundown, shining each room in the house, fussing over the children, cooking large meals. At night, she’d fall into bed exhausted and go right to sleep. He wished she’d recognize that he mourned Julia too.
When they reached the store, the first thing he noticed was a prominent handbill tacked to the front of the mercantile.
THE FORSYTHE TOURING COMPANY
PRESENTS
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S
MACBETH
Friday, May 15th
!! Stagehands and Seamstresses Needed Now !!
Apply at Bryant House Hotel
He’d paid little attention to community affairs during Julia’s illness. But now his fears about the play came rushing back. He’d let Ben preach for two Sundays and this was the result. Ben had completely ignored his wishes .
The door opened. Two women left the building deep in conversation, and didn’t look up until they almost collided with Matthew and Ellie.
“Reverend. Mrs. Craig,” one of them stammered. “So sorry for your loss.”
The second woman nodded, and they hurried down the steps leading from the board sidewalk to the street.
Ellie stared after them. “They act like we’ve got the typhoid.”
“That’s the Sims sisters. You know how they are.” Matthew pushed up his hat and rubbed his forehead. “I’ll pay a call on them next week and find out what the trouble is.”
When they entered the store, Ben greeted them from behind the counter. “Good to see you out, Mrs. Craig. What can I get for you today?”
“I’m looking for some calico to make a summer dress for . . .” Ellie’s voice faltered.
Concerned, Matthew rested a hand on her shoulder.
She
Matthew removed his straw hat and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Looks like Ruby got the wash hung out.” He glanced at Arthur. “Don’t know what I’d of done without her these past couple of days.” He glanced at the bald man bobbing along beside him. “Or you either, truth be told.”
“Glad to have a chance to help out.” Arthur lowered his voice, although they were still several yards from the house. “Me and Ruby’ve been heartsick at the way things turned out for you and Ellie. Losing Julia wasn’t in no way a blessing—don’t get me wrong.” He glanced anxiously at Matthew. “But it did give us a way to make it up to you for deceiving her about her pa.”
Tears stung Matthew’s eyes at the mention of Julia. Right now he felt he’d lost his whole family. He missed the clatter of the older children in the house, but most of all he missed his wife’s soft voice and smile.
Arthur spoke as if he’d been tracking Matthew’s thoughts. “D’you think she’s better today?”
Matthew shook his head. “I couldn’t see any change when I looked in on her before dinner.”
When they walked past the clothesline, a gust of wind caught at a damp shirt. One sleeve brushed against Matthew’s beard. He put his hand over the spot, remembering the feel of Ellie’s fingers on his face. He longed for the comfort of her touch.
They stopped at a bench beside the back door to remove their muddy boots. From the kitchen they heard women’s voices. Matthew’s head jerked up. He kicked off his boots and strode into the house.
Ellie stood beside the stove wearing a clean apron over her black dress. Her face looked thinner, and smudges like purple thumbprints stained the skin under her round blue eyes.
“Dearest.” He drew her to him.
She leaned against his chest, and for a moment he stood motionless, the better to absorb her presence. But when he kissed the top of her head, she jerked away.
“Supper will be on the table in a minute.” Her voice quavered. “Then would you get the children from Molly’s? They belong here.”
The following week, Matthew drove to Ben Wolcott’s store with Ellie beside him. He stole glances at her as they traveled, hoping a peaceful trip away from the farm would rekindle a spark of affection between them. Over the past several days, she had stayed busy from sunrise to sundown, shining each room in the house, fussing over the children, cooking large meals. At night, she’d fall into bed exhausted and go right to sleep. He wished she’d recognize that he mourned Julia too.
When they reached the store, the first thing he noticed was a prominent handbill tacked to the front of the mercantile.
THE FORSYTHE TOURING COMPANY
PRESENTS
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S
MACBETH
Friday, May 15th
!! Stagehands and Seamstresses Needed Now !!
Apply at Bryant House Hotel
He’d paid little attention to community affairs during Julia’s illness. But now his fears about the play came rushing back. He’d let Ben preach for two Sundays and this was the result. Ben had completely ignored his wishes .
The door opened. Two women left the building deep in conversation, and didn’t look up until they almost collided with Matthew and Ellie.
“Reverend. Mrs. Craig,” one of them stammered. “So sorry for your loss.”
The second woman nodded, and they hurried down the steps leading from the board sidewalk to the street.
Ellie stared after them. “They act like we’ve got the typhoid.”
“That’s the Sims sisters. You know how they are.” Matthew pushed up his hat and rubbed his forehead. “I’ll pay a call on them next week and find out what the trouble is.”
When they entered the store, Ben greeted them from behind the counter. “Good to see you out, Mrs. Craig. What can I get for you today?”
“I’m looking for some calico to make a summer dress for . . .” Ellie’s voice faltered.
Concerned, Matthew rested a hand on her shoulder.
She
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