“You don’t have to apologize,” Amelia said. “You are doing the work you are here for.”
“That still doesn’t excuse me from not being here and supportive of you. It is only fair that I help you and support you where I can. I promise to be more available to help with the garden and yard work. There is a lot that will need to be preserved in the coming weeks and months.”
“That will be wonderful,” Amelia said. “There is a lot I don’t know about in regards to the growing season and the harvesting here.”
Benjamin took a second helping of the meal and smiled at her when he took the bite. After a few minutes in quiet companionship, he said, “What do you think about heading the choir?”
Amelia looked up. It had been so hard to tell what he’d thought when the idea had been suggested after church. “I think a choir would be a lovely thing. I don’t know about heading it though.”
“I agree that you should definitely be one to sing. Your voice is heavenly. Can you lead a choir and sing at the same time?”
Amelia smiled at the compliment. “I have never tried. I wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Would you like to lead the choir, or have someone else do it?” Benjamin asked. “I would love for you to be as involved as you’d like. If you’d rather just sing, then we could find someone who would be willing to lead it.”
“I think I’d rather just sing. Do you want to lead the choir?” Amelia asked.
Benjamin shook his head. “Not really.” He leaned forward a little. “I haven’t told anyone this, but I don’t know enough about music to do anything of the sort. I just know what lovely music sounds like. No idea on how to make it come out right.”
Amelia laughed and Benjamin’s smile widened.
This new playful and talkative side of her husband was a wonderful surprise. What other surprises lay in store?
CHAPTER TWELVE
Benjamin took his dish to the wash basin and began to clean it up, knowing he should have done that more often when she’d fed him before. Amelia approached him. “I can take care of that. You should rest.”
Benjamin shook his head. “I don’t need to rest. I’ve not done anything strenuous in the least. Washing off the dishes will be just fine for me.” He took the dish she held to wash it as well.
“Are you sure?” Amelia asked, sounding almost worried. “I really don’t mind doing the cleaning and house care. You could go write or read or something.”
Benjamin turned to look at her. “Are you uncomfortable with me? Would you like me to leave you alone?”
“Oh, it’s not that at all,” Amelia added in a hurried breath. “I know I caused a bit of a disturbance with my arrival. I don’t want to cause you any difficulty.”
Benjamin quickly dried off his hands then took her hands to look at them. He turned them palm up and studied them. “Do you think you have caused me trouble?”
With his thumb, he gently caressed the rough edges of a callous that was beginning to form on her palm from all the outside labor and inside cleaning she’d done.
Amelia gave a partial shrug. “I know it was a surprise that I arrived with the expectation of marrying you. And you were such a good man to offer to marry me anyway. I want to make sure I do everything I can to help ease your burden. To make things easy for you.”
Benjamin angled her hand to allow her to see it better where he traced her blister from the last few days. “You have made things easier.” He kissed her palm then looked into her eyes. “You have made things immeasurably better.”
“Are you certain?” Amelia asked. “I know I took up a lot of your time, and that made you lose much of your study and preparation time. Finding yourself suddenly married can’t have been easy.”
Benjamin sighed and shook his head. “You’re right about that. You have taken up a lot of my time. I have been thinking of you a lot more than anything else lately. I’ve been thinking of how kind and generous you are. How sweet tempered and patient you’ve been with me and anyone I’ve seen you with. I have thought about what you do and say and how everyone you’ve met has been instantly brightened in their mood just by talking with you.”
Amelia looked down at her feet and Benjamin gently lifted her chin.
Benjamin softly caressed her cheek before once more taking her hand in his. “You, my dear one, are so much braver and more trusting than anyone I know. To come out here with the plan to marry someone you didn’t even know, based only on what my grandparents had said about me. That took a lot of faith and courage. Then when you arrived, you handled my lack of preparation with grace and poise. You allowed me time to come to terms with it, and never once complained about my ill manners. I know I was absent a lot these last few days. It was wrong of me to hide away and leave you alone. I should have spent more time with you. I should have talked to you and gotten to know you better. Will you forgive me for neglecting you?”
Amelia blinked and her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “There is nothing to forgive.”
Benjamin sighed. “While I am pleased you don’t hold it against me, I must assure you, I should have done better. Thank you for your kindness and willingness to work with me.”
Amelia smiled. “Thank you for everything you’ve given me.”
Benjamin squeezed her hand. “I hope together, we can accomplish a lot of good here.”
“I’m sure we will. We have our whole lives ahead of us to do whatever we can.”
“I’m glad you’ll be the one I spend it with,” Benjamin said.
***
Amelia could hardly believe things were going as well as they were. She had hoped for something like this, but hadn’t expected it. She looked at their still joined hands and smiled at the comfort she felt at his touch.
It made sense that now his sermon was over he would be a little more relaxed. Of course, he’d need to begin working on next week’s message and that was all right with her. She wanted to be as helpful and supportive as she could. Though she did hope they would still spend more time talking and getting to know each other.
Amelia looked up at Benjamin. “What do you usually do on Sunday afternoon?”
“Most of the time I spend reading the Bible or studying my books from my library. I’ve also spent time writing thoughts and impressions down as well.” Benjamin released one hand, but not the other. He guided her into the main room of the house and indicated she should sit in one chair then he took the other one to the side of her and looked at her. “What did you do as a family on a Sunday afternoon?”
“Before my father got really bad, we would go to church with him, then we’d come home and Mama and I would take turns reading. That always made Papa seem so relaxed.”
Benjamin nodded, but didn’t speak, allowing her to go on. “Eventually, he could no longer attend church, so either Mama or I would take turns staying with him while the other went. Then one of us would tell Papa about what we had learned from the sermon that day.”
“That would be a good way to really learn what had been presented.”
Amelia smiled. “It was. I got used to focusing closely on the message and got to the point where Mama always insisted I be the one to go because I could retell it so well.” Amelia leaned back and looked up a little toward the heavens, imagining her parents there looking down on her. “I think part of the reason Mama sent me was so she could stay with Papa more. She knew his time was coming to an end. Though when they both fell ill, I don’t think she expected it to hit us all, or for them to not recover.”
“It is hard to know what is to come,” Benjamin said. “But there is comfort in knowing you have someone to be with you through the worst of things.” He took her hand again and the two just sat quietly for a moment.
She wasn’t sure if he was giving her support in her loss, or if he was expressing that he was comforted to know he would have someone in the hard times that life would undoubtedly bring. Either way, she was content to just remain there in peace for a moment.
“Will you tell me of what you write?” Amelia asked after a few minutes.
“I don’t know if you’d find it all that interesting.”
“I think it would give me some understanding of who you are. To read the work of someone must give you a glimpse into their person. Don’t you agree?”
Benjamin nodded. “I suppose you’re right. Though not all the thoughts are my own original conclusions. Many things I have noted are just ideas or experiences that have meant something to me. I do a lot of thinking and forming of opinions.”
Amelia was pleased to see him go over to his study and bring back a leather-bound book and sit down again. He angled himself to face her and opened his book. She listened with contentment as he talked about the different insights he’d gained by reading and talking with the people in his community.
When he mentioned that he would need to write down what he’d learned about service from watching her with Lucy both in the garden and at church, her heart swelled within her knowing that she had done something to make him happy.
She loved knowing that there was hope for them.
***
Benjamin spent a few pleasant hours with Amelia, talking over their thoughts and feelings about different stories in the Bible as well as their opinions on matters of society. He was impressed with her clarity of thought and that she wasn’t prone to unstudied assumptions.
When he’d grown tired of sitting and felt the need to stretch his legs, he put his book down and turned to her. “Would you like to join me on a walk?”
“I’d love to,” Amelia said. “Do you visit anyone on Sunday evening?”
“On occasion,” Benjamin said. “Many families prefer to only see me in the church on Sunday, but I stop by and say hello to a few. However, I was thinking more of a walk to the trees that line the small creek that goes through town. Birch Creek itself.”
“That would be nice,” Amelia said. “Do you know if any watercress grows along the banks?”
“I’m not sure,” Benjamin said. “But if you told me what it looked like, I would help you keep an eye out for it.”
Amelia smiled. “If I see some, I’ll show you.”
Benjamin laughed at her teasing expression then took her hand as they walked out of the house and down the path that led toward the grouping of trees in the near distance.
“I have always enjoyed coming out here when I’ve needed some time to think. I believe getting closer to nature has a way of getting me closer to the Creator.”
“I noticed the same kind of thing,” Amelia said. “I would often go walking in the shade of the trees and always felt more at peace.”
“Then we should make it a habit to come walking here together. Every Sunday afternoon perhaps.”
“I’d like that,” Amelia said. “Something special to look forward to each week.”
She was so agreeable that Benjamin wondered how he had been so panicked at the thought of marrying her. She had been nothing but perfect. He just wished he knew how to do right by her.
They walked in silence for a few minutes and he guided the way through the trees until they reached the gurgling creek.
“It’s not very large,” she said.
“No,” he agreed. “You can step over it in quite a few places. On occasion you can find a fish darting around, but not often.”
“Do you ever go fishing?”
“Not here,” Benjamin said as they continued walking along the path that had been worn near the banks of the creek. There are a few areas nearby that are good for fishing. The children like to swim in them though, so you have to be early to get the fish.”
Amelia nodded but looked a little distracted as she watched the edge of the water. He figured she was probably looking for watercress, but as he studied the plants that grew nearby, he couldn’t tell a big difference between most of them.
Without warning, Amelia squealed in fright and gripped his arm as she jumped away from the path, then began to lift her feet and the edges of her skirt as she danced around in panic.
He’d been so busy watching her that he didn’t even see what had startled her.
“What’s happened?” He looked around to discover the problem, but could see nothing. He turned to her and at the tears in her eyes and with her hands by her neck and chest as if trying to calm herself down, he felt a strong sense of protectiveness.
“Are you hurt?” he asked as he moved closer to her. She shook her head and pointed at the edge of the water.
“It was a snake.”
Benjamin looked back to where she pointed but could see no sign of it now. He’d seen gopher snakes in the area before, and while he was relatively certain that she’d seen something like that, he scanned the area for a few moments longer to be sure it wasn’t a venomous snake.
“I think it’s gone,” Benjamin said softly to reassure her. “Did it strike you?”
“No,” Amelia shook her head. “Just frightened me something awful.”
Benjamin pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry you were frightened. I can’t be sure since I didn’t see it, but it was very likely just a harmless water snake or a gopher snake that eats vermin and doesn’t bother people.”
Amelia took a shaky breath and nodded, though he knew she was still upset. He placed one hand on the back of her neck to hold her close then rubbed her back with his other hand.
She practically melted into him as she wrapped her own arms around his waist and dozens of other sensations washed over him. The emotions warring inside his chest and mind felt strongly of admiration and protection and possessiveness and strength and fear of loss and respect and even love.
As he held her, he grew more and more certain that love was becoming the strongest of all the emotions he felt.
***
Amelia didn’t want to ever let him go. He was exactly what she needed in life, and now that it seemed they were finding the right kind of companionship and interaction together she went and fell apart at the sight of a harmless snake.
At least he was kind enough to hold her as she calmed down. He had done the same kind of thing for her years ago. Though she doubted he would remember it.
“Are you all right?” Benjamin asked when she eased her hold on him.
“Yes,” Amelia said, pulling back enough she could wipe her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry I reacted so poorly. I didn’t mean to ruin our nice walk.”
Benjamin shook his head. “You didn’t ruin it. And it’s not your fault that snake decided to come out of nowhere to make himself known.” His gentle smile helped calm her even more and she managed to step out of his arms and stand on her own.
“You always know how to make me feel better.” She looked at the water then back to him. “Just like you did when I was younger.”
“Really?” Benjamin asked. “How so?”
“Do you remember when we were asked to help with the wood splitting and hauling for the Parker family that lived near the sawmill?”
“I remember doing that a couple of times, yes.”
“There was one time we were helping out and an angry raccoon nearly chased me down. You came to my rescue while all the other boys just laughed. Instead of teasing me for being upset, you were so kind and gentle with me. I never forgot that.”
Benjamin kept his eyes on hers as if trying to remember the incident then smiled. “I’m vaguely remembering that. It must have been what, ten or more years ago?”
Amelia nodded. “It was the second year you had been there. When you and your parents first arrived in Ohio to be with your grandparents, I was rather smitten with you.”
“Really?” Benjamin asked. “I was so self-absorbed, I didn’t notice much outside myself and my own interests.”
“Not self-absorbed,” Amelia corrected. “Self-aware. You knew right from wrong and knew how to be kind to others. I noticed right away that you were different and special. I wanted to be more like you and watched you all the time.
Of course, I was too afraid to say anything to you. Then when you moved on after your schooling, I was almost heartbroken.”
Benjamin studied her with obvious surprise. “I had no idea.”
Amelia gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “I couldn’t tell you that as a teen. Not when you were working so hard on your studies and planning to devote your life to service. Once you left, I would often visit with your grandparents and ask about you. I think that’s why they sent you that letter when my parents were gone. They probably noticed my interest.”
Benjamin took a step forward and reached for her hand.
“I’ve loved you for so long,” Amelia said in a rush. “And very much want to be a good wife and companion for you. I know there is a lot I’ll need to learn and adjust to here. But I promise I’ll do my best.”
Benjamin shook his head and Amelia’s heart dropped, then before she knew what had happened, Benjamin took her in his arms and kissed her.
All her fears vanished as she felt the love and acceptance from her husband in that kiss. He was the only man she had ever kissed and she knew there would be no other. Everything she needed was here with Benjamin. The way his arm steadied her back and his palm rested flat against her was both reassuring and thrilling.
He kissed her sweetly at first, whispering against her mouth how she was the perfect woman for him. His next kiss was even better when he admitted that he was grateful she’d trusted him enough to come to Birch Creek. The final kiss drove away all her doubts as he spoke the words, “I love you.”
EPILOGUE
“Can you believe we’re actually going to have our picture taken?” Amelia turned to her husband and smiled widely. “I’ve heard about photographers before, and I wish we could have had our family portrait taken before my parents passed.”
A momentary wave of sadness washed over her. Not just for the missed opportunity of a photograph, but that her parents wouldn’t be around for any of the wonderful things yet to come. She placed her hand on her middle and sighed.
The Preacher's Bride: A Golden Valley Story (Brides of Birch Creek Book 6) Page 12