by Molly Jebber
Hand on her hip, Ruth stared at Eloise. “After what my sister did for you, I hope you will search your heart and accept Matt and Becca as a couple.”
Eloise’s face heated and she did not respond. Matt pushed open the door and helped Eloise from the sofa. He kissed Becca and Ruth on their cheeks. “Ruth, thank you for taking such good care of Mother. Becca, I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
Becca kissed his cheek. “You coming to rescue me meant a lot to me. I’ll never forget it.”
“I would not have had it any other way. Isaac was right. You and Ruth must want time alone to talk. Get a good night’s rest.”
Mrs. Carrington nodded and left with Matt.
Would Mrs. Carrington express her regret for her rude behavior and apologize to Matt for all the trouble she had caused them? Maybe this was God’s way of bringing them together with his mamm’s blessing. She shouldn’t get her hopes up just yet. She must wait and find out what Matt had to say about his conversation with Mrs. Carrington.
Becca settled on the sofa. “I can’t believe Matt brought Mrs. Carrington to your house.”
Ruth sat next to her and covered her with a quilt. “He was in a desperate rush. He did not have time to take her anywhere else.”
“Imagine my unhappy surprise to see Matt’s mamm in the stagecoach and no other passengers. If I could’ve walked to Massillon, I would have.”
Ruth fetched towels for her sister to wipe her face and hands. “How did she react?”
She shrugged and pinched her nose. “She insulted me as usual.”
“Did she know you two were no longer together?”
“She did but wanted to make sure I didn’t change my mind and attempt to win him back.” Matt was the first person she wanted to behold after the robbery. In his arms, she calmed. She missed him every minute they weren’t together. She’d considered having a change of heart concerning Matt, and then it all came rushing back as to why she ended their courtship in the first place.
Ruth sat in a chair close to Becca. “Do not let his mother steal another minute from you and Matt. You belong together.”
Becca closed her eyes for a moment. She didn’t see any way possible out of this situation. “I’m at a loss as to what to do. I wish there was a way, but there isn’t.”
Ruth sighed and raised her hands. “Maybe after she has time to reflect on how you saved her life, she will have a change of heart. Relax while I make us some tea.” She rose and went to the kitchen.
Becca pictured Mrs. Carrington. She was quiet, reserved, and her facial expressions looked less harsh. She seemed different. Was it because she was injured and tired, or was it something else?
A few moments later, Ruth returned with tea and offered her a cup. “I am selfish to ask after all you have been through, but I must. Please tell me more about the robbery.”
“It was frightening.” Becca rubbed the dull ache in her forehead. “The robbers threatened to abuse us, stole our money and Mrs. Carrington’s jewelry.”
“How did she get shot?” Ruth’s face flushed and she gripped her dress.
“She kicked one of the men and injured his eye. He recovered his balance and aimed his gun at her. I moved to shield her, but his shot caught her shoulder. The other bandit got nervous and wanted to leave. His partner suggested they take us with them. I convinced them to leave her behind.”
“You are a better person than me.” She waved her hand. “Mrs. Carrington did not deserve such kindness after what she has put you through. Where did they take you? Did they . . . touch you?”
Becca’s hand shook as she sipped the tea. “No. They shoved me with their gun and pushed me around, but nothing like that. They stopped at a family’s house outside of Massillon. Dewey and Nora Grayson are husband and wife. Their children are Luke and Patricia. Mr. Grayson joined me as I warmed by the stove. I told him the men were dangerous.”
Ruth gripped the arms of the chair, her knuckles white. “Where were the children during this?”
“The Graysons’ son, Luke, approached the robbers.” Becca recounted how the child intervened during the time she and his family spent with the men. “It’s a miracle he wasn’t shot on the spot. I had no doubt they might shoot him to make a point. They proved they had no problem with killing people.” She sighed. “There was never a dull moment through the whole ordeal.” Becca pictured their leering and quivered. Their cold and scary eyes had frightened her. She was convinced they would have killed her and the Grayson family if she had not been rescued.
Ruth bolted upright and clutched her apron. “What did they do?”
She exhaled through her teeth and recounted the entire episode to Ruth.
Ruth held her face in her hands and wept. “I prayed God would bring you back to me unharmed. You have spoiled me. I never thought we would live together again after I left home. Yet, here you are. I treasure our time together. I do not know what Benjamin and I would do if anything happened to you.”
Becca caressed Ruth’s hand. She thought several times her life might end. All the faces of the people she loved flashed before her more than once when the robbers pointed their guns at her. She planned to shove this horrible nightmare out of her mind. “Everything happened fast. I didn’t have time to panic. Besides, I learned firsthand, God does provide us with the courage and words to say when we need them. If I hadn’t had my faith, I would’ve panicked.”
Ruth wiped her face with the back of her hand. “You have always been the strong one. I had Caleb when I left home. You came alone. It is another reason I admire you. I wish I had one ounce of the strength you do.”
Becca patted Ruth’s knee. “Caleb dying young was much harder for you. You had to survive without help from anyone. We are both strong.” She flexed her arms and giggled. “As for Mrs. Carrington, she’s almost as bad as the bandits.” They laughed. Becca slapped a hand on her mouth. “I shouldn’t say such things, it’s not proper.”
Ruth giggled and reached to smooth Becca’s messy hair. “It was at Mrs. Carrington’s expense, but the remark caused us to laugh and we needed it.”
She set her teacup on the table. “I never want to experience anything like it again. Hester begged me to take the later stagecoach because it doesn’t carry the bank’s money. I should’ve taken her advice. Tell me about your time with Matt’s mamm.”
“She infuriated me when she insisted you and Matt were not right for each other. I let her know how much I detested her behavior toward you. I could not stand the sound of her voice and told her to stop talking. I told her if she did not, I would dump her off at the Inn.”
Becca put her hand to her mouth. “I don’t blame you for speaking what was on your mind. The woman brings out the worst in me, too.”
Ruth sneezed and pulled a handkerchief from her apron pocket. “I have to admit she would be a terrible mother-in-law. Enough talk about Mrs. Carrington. How was your visit with Hester?”
Becca told Ruth about her time with Hester and Grace, delivering the young couple’s boppli. Her eyes widened. “With all the bad news, I almost forgot my exciting news. I visited with Mamm and Daed.” She recounted how she came to visit them.
Ruth’s chin snapped up. “I am relieved Mother is all right. Were they worried their neighbors might see you there?”
She hadn’t encountered the bishop or familiar faces while walking to their house. “No, they didn’t mention it. It was understood I shouldn’t be there, but Mamm’s fall prompted the visit. The Amish mamm we helped had no problem with me assisting Hester. The other mamms we helped weren’t Amish and lived outside of town.”
Ruth put a hand to her heart. “I am thrilled you told them more about Benjamin. I am anxious for them to meet him. I hope they visit soon.”
“They’re happy we were able to help him. They can’t wait to meet him.” She drew a breath and put a hand over her heart. “They want to come, but Daed told me it is hard for him to leave home because of taking care of the farm. He assured me they will visit in the near fut
ure.”
Ruth scooted to the edge of her chair. “I understand. I am thankful we are a family again. I love receiving Mother’s letters. When they do come here, Benjamin will light up their lives with his big brown eyes and sweet personality.”
“Yes, and they will light up his life as well.”
“Speaking of family, Benjamin has been asking about Matt. To him, Matt is already a part of this family. Where do you stand with him?”
She wanted to marry him, but she chose not to. She had shown Mrs. Carrington she was willing to do anything to protect her during the robbery. Would it mean anything to the woman? She had to put Mrs. Carrington out of her mind. There was no use guessing what the woman would or wouldn’t do. She appeared to have a heart of stone. “You got a taste of Mrs. Carrington’s manipulative personality. Nothing has changed there. Maybe now you understand my dilemma and why Matt and I can’t be together. You must take Benjamin to visit Matt. It’s best if I stay away from him.”
Ruth crossed the room and selected a clean nightdress from the laundry. “Nonsense. You cannot let Mrs. Carrington dictate your life. After what you have been through, you must realize now more than ever, life is too short. You need to marry the man you love and honor Matt’s request he not communicate with them. Do not coax him into trying to fix things with them. Let him be.”
Becca lifted her arms and Ruth pulled her soiled dress from her. “I am going to pray and hope God intervenes in my situation with Matt.” She winced. “Oh, I ache.”
Ruth grimaced and touched Becca’s side. “You have bruises the size of small plates.” She slipped a clean nightdress over Becca’s head. “I am praying God will find a way to bring you two back together.”
“I need all the help I can get.” She shifted to get into a comfortable position. “My bruises will heal. My heart is another matter.” Mrs. Carrington had expressed genuine appreciation for what she had done for her during the robbery. Maybe by helping her during the robbery, Mrs. Carrington had gotten a glimpse of her character. If the robbery could bring them together, it was worth it. She better not get her hopes up yet. Once the woman healed, she might return to her arrogant self.
Chapter Eighteen
The next morning, Matt mixed batter for pancakes. Eggs crackled in the cast iron skillet on the stove. He placed bread and butter on the table and pulled milk out of the icebox. “How is the pain?” His mother entered the kitchen with one hand on her shoulder.
She gingerly sat. “I am sore all over, but the pain in my shoulder is diminishing. The whole ordeal was rather frightening. I am glad we are all safe.”
He served her, then poured milk in their glasses. He had tossed and turned all night wondering what she said to Becca before the robbery. He was sure his mother had been unkind, given her history with Becca. Whatever she said to Ruth could not have been positive either, considering Ruth’s stern face when they left. His mother was in pain, but it did not excuse her behavior. He could not wait any longer to find out what happened during her stay with Becca’s sister. “I was surprised Ruth spoke in a harsh tone to you when we left. Did you say something to upset her?”
His mother drank her milk and wiped her mouth. “Becca had confided in her about our conversations. She is angry I do not approve of you and Becca courting.”
He slammed the bottle of milk on the table. “I am too. Mother, if you do not do everything in your power to convince Becca you would be blessed to have her for a daughter-in-law after all she has done for you, I will never speak to you again. I would not want to be associated with such an ungenerous person.”
“I am appreciative for all she did for me during the robbery, but it does not mean she is the right woman for you. All my concerns about her being a suitable wife for you remain true.”
Matt raked his hand through his hair and grunted. “You make it hard for me to love you sometimes, and this is one of those times. You could have risked your life for hers, but you did not. You measure someone’s worth by how much money they have acquired and not by their integrity, their honor, and how they treat others. Did you think only of yourself during the robbery? How important was your money when you thought your life would end? Becca offered to sacrifice her life for yours. Would you have done the same for her? No, I think not.”
“You remind me of my father. People took advantage of his goodness too. He gave money to his friends when they were in need, even when our family was struggling and could not spare it. He could have worked as an accountant for a big company and made a lot more money, but he did not like the way they shunned the middle class. He said the worth of a man was not how much money he had acquired but his honor and integrity. My mother tried to coax him to no avail. He should have listened to her, and we would have had a better life.”
She grasped his hand. “Again, I appreciate what Becca did for me. I admire her courage and admit I misjudged her. I panicked and could not think straight. She did. Like it or not, money is what bought the nice house you were raised in and the clothes you wore and paid for your education.”
He jerked his hand away and stiffened. “You are shallow and selfish. Money and status are too important to you. They will not bring you happiness and have blinded you to what is important in life. Love and family are what should matter. You care about your needs ahead of everyone else’s. I cannot be in the same room with you. Eat your breakfast while I go to the living room and read. When you are finished, I will take you home.”
“Your father and I provided a good life and education for you. We continue to involve you with influential people to further your research with your father and open your world to other opportunities.” She touched her shoulder, then rested her hand in her lap. “You are the selfish one. You want to add Becca to our family, but you have not thought about how unhappy she might be in our world. Maybe she would be miserable planning dinner parties, mingling with our friends, and forcing herself to speak properly.”
Matt flared his nostrils. “You have pointed out these same concerns over and over again to me about Becca. I am sick of it. You need to shut your mouth. Do not mention Becca’s name again. You are not half the woman she is and could learn a lesson in kindness by observing how she treats others. I do not care about the things you mentioned.” Dispirited, he shook his head. “You are going to live a lonely life if you do not change your attitude. I suspect your friendships are shallow and meaningless. If you lost your money and status tomorrow, those high society friends of yours would dwindle away. You can choose to be a better person. Do it for yourself, for Father, for me, and for Becca.” He strode out of the room.
A few minutes later, his mother passed him, selected a book from the shelf behind him, Virginia of Virginia by Amélie Rives, and glared at him. “I am going upstairs to read until after one when your father should be home.”
He moved his eyes to the medical journal he was reading. He had nothing more to say to her. Go upstairs. Out of sight would be good. He flipped through the pages and his eyes got heavy. He settled in the chair and closed his eyes.
A hand on his shoulder wakened him. He opened his eyes and straightened. His journal slid off his lap and slapped the floor. “Mother, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. The time is after two. Your father should be home by now. I am ready to go.”
Her stern face and direct tone set his teeth on edge. Rest must have provided her with energy. She was not bent over and her wincing in pain had ceased. No doubt, she was a tough woman. He would give her that.
He walked outside to the barn, readied his horse and buggy, and guided it to the front of his house. He helped her into the buggy. “Once I have delivered you to your front door, do not visit my home or office. Do not bother sending me invitations to dinner in the mail or any other correspondence.” He focused on the dirt road ahead. She had no retort. Good.
Matt stopped the horses in front of his parents’ house and handed the reins to the stable hand. He must have seen them coming. He thanked th
e stable hand. His father approached them. The horse’s neighs and squeak of buggy wheels outside the house must have alerted his father they had arrived.
Horace Carrington helped his wife out of the buggy. “Eloise, what happened to your arm?”
His mother fell against her husband’s chest. Stroking her hair, his father held her with his other arm. “Please talk to me, what happened?”
“Walk me inside. I would like tea. I will tell you the whole awful story.”
Dr. Carrington Senior gestured to Matt. “Come in, son.”
Matt paused. He would oblige. He wanted to hear what his mother would tell his father. Would she admit Becca had saved her life? What would his father’s reaction be? Yes, he would not miss this conversation for anything. He followed his parents inside and sat across from them.
Iris entered the room. She carried a tray of teacups to Matt and offered him one. “Thank you.”
Iris passed Eloise and Horace Carrington cups of tea.
Horace waved a dismissive hand. “None for me, Iris.”
She bowed to him.
Eloise sipped her tea. “Iris, this is not hot enough. You bumbling simpleton, bring me another cup.”
“Yes, Mrs. Carrington. Right away, Mrs. Carrington.”
She reached for Matt’s cup.
He shook his head. “Thank you, but my tea is fine.” His mother treated the house staff terribly. “Mother, be kind to your housemaid. You scare her with your direct tone.”
“How I treat Iris is none of your business. I pay her to do her job well. If I am not strict with her, she will become lazy.”
“I doubt you are right. When you treat people with respect, they want to do a good job for you.”
Iris hurried into the room and passed his mother a cup of tea. She waited for Mrs. Carrington to sip it.
“This is much better, Iris. You may go.”
Iris bowed and left the room.
“Mother, do you ever thank your staff or praise them for a job well done? I have witnessed your softer side. I suggest you show it to us and others once in a while.”