by Jenna Brandt
Faith’s defenses took over, still trying to protect Nathan from people’s scrutiny. She placed her plate and cup on the corner of a table as she asked, “How did you hear about that?”
Bonnie reached out and patted Faith on the arm. “Everyone knows, dear. It’s no secret. I want you to know I’m here for you; no matter how all of this turns out.”
Faith’s brows furrowed together in confusion. “How what turns out? I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Why, your wedding, of course. With all Nathan has been through, he’s a different man now. You two might not find your way through this, and if that happens, you’ll have to let him go. You’ll need your friends and family around you to help you through it.”
Yanking her arm away from Bonnie, Faith stated in anger, “Never! That will never happen. I’ll never give up on Nathan or what we have together.”
With a sympathetic expression, Bonnie soothed, “Oh, dear, you’re still so young. You think love can conquer all, but you haven’t been around long enough to realize that just isn’t true.”
With conviction, Faith insisted, “You’re right, love may not conquer all, but God can. He’s what holds us together. He’ll get us through this difficult season just like he has everything else.”
Faith rushed past Bonnie, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall at any moment. She didn’t stop at her table, but blew right past her family, knowing that at any moment she would be a heaving sob.
Once outside, Faith headed over to the oak tree in the corner of the property. Her attention focused on their initials and her finger traced the letters once more.
F.A.
+
N.M.
Concentrating on it helped her remain calm, and kept the tears from falling. When they had put them there before he left, Faith thought it meant they would be together forever. Had she been foolish to believe so blindly? Nathan was still distant. She wasn’t sure if they could ever bridge the gap between them.
Faith felt an arm wrap around her waist and felt breath against her neck, just before Nathan announced, “It seems we had the same idea. I was planning to come and wait here by the oak tree for you, but you beat me to it.” Nathan pulled her around to face him. “Is the meeting over?”
“Almost; I had to step out and take a break. It’s been a long night.”
Nathan released Faith from his hold and moved to lean against the tree next to her. “Did something happen?”
“Mr. Hammond came here and fought with Hope.”
Nathan’s eyebrows drew up in surprise. “Do I need to do something about it?”
“No, Davis took care of it, and I thought everything would calm down. Then something else happened.”
“You weren’t kidding it was an eventful night. What occurred next?”
“Bonnie.” Faith didn’t need to say anything more. Everyone in town knew Bonnie could make just about anyone desire a break.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with her this evening. Did she do something specific this time, or just the typical bothersome behavior?”
“She thinks we won’t get married.”
His eyes grew wide with disbelief as he slumped against the tree in anger. “What would give her that impression?”
Faith let out a heavy sigh as she shook her head. “Nathan, I’ve been trying to protect you from the truth, but you should know, everyone sees how you’ve been conducting yourself since you’ve returned.”
“What does that mean?”
“You came home, but you’re not here,” she stated bluntly. “What happened to you was so damaging, no one thinks we’re going to make it to the altar because of it.”
Faith braced herself for Nathan to argue the point. He wasn’t one to accept defeat. Instead he stated, “It’s true.”
Her heart dropped to her stomach as her body started to quiver. “It’s really over then. You don’t want to be with me anymore,” Faith squeaked out in despair.
Nathan pushed off the tree and reached out to grab her. He pulled her towards him, holding her in his embrace. “No, that’s not what I mean. I will never leave you, Faith. I’m talking about the second part. You’re right about me not being here. I haven’t been because I was still stuck in that prison. I might have escaped physically, but the rest of me is still trapped in a cage.”
It was the first time he had admitted there was a problem out loud. His confession took her by surprise; she could hardly believe it.
“All of that will change now. I realized I can’t handle this on my own. I require support, which is why I agreed to continue meeting with Pastor Howell twice a week to talk about what took place. We prayed tonight, and I felt a small piece of my burden lift away. I know God can help me.”
Faith leaned back and gazed up into Nathan’s eyes. A small smile formed on her face as she whispered, “I’m so glad to hear that Nathan. All I want is for you to be okay.”
“There is one more thing I need for that to happen.”
“And what might that be?” Faith implored.
“You. I need you by my side, always and forever.” He placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head up as his lips descended to meet her own.
It was the first time he had kissed her with passion since returning home from the war. The intensity of the kiss took her breath away. She felt her knees go weak as his arms wrapped around her waist. Faith melted into his loving embrace as the distance between them faded away.
Chapter 16
Two weeks passed as Nathan and Faith mended their relationship. Nathan returned to his old routine from before he left for the war. He labored on the plantation with Faith’s father and brothers during the first part of the day, and worked on finishing their home in the late afternoons.
After nailing the final wall into place, Nathan looked at his accomplishment with pride. It felt good to work with his hands and to see his efforts manifest a home for his future family. He imagined their little children running around in the yard while he and Faith watched from the porch.
The thought spurred the next project on his list. He still needed to stucco the house and then build the porch. Once he finished the two tasks, Faith could paint the inside and their home would be ready just in time for their wedding in early October.
Faith’s father came up and patted Nathan on the back. “It’s looking good. I envision a happy couple living in this place and the many, many, grandchildren you’ll make me.”
Nathan’s head lurched to the side as his eyes grew round with worry. “How many children are you planning on us having?”
“At least as many as Tabitha and I have,” he stated with a serious expression. A few seconds passed before he chuckled. “I’m just kidding. You two need to decide how many children you want. Although, I know Faith has said on more than one occasion she wants three at minimum.”
Three children? Nathan could handle three children, couldn’t he? Faith was a determined woman and did an expert job of convincing Nathan that what she wanted was what he desired. He saw a future with little hands pulling on his pant legs with chocolate-covered faces smiling up at him.
“I’ll guarantee you one thing; I plan to make your daughter happy. Besides, I love kids, so I guess I can assure you we'll do our best to make you a grandfather multiple times.”
“Glad we agree. I hear being a grandfather is one of the greatest joys this world has to offer. I find it hard to believe any experience touches the joys of being a father, but I hope I'm proven wrong.”
Laughter filled the afternoon air as the rest of the Abernathy family arrived. Tabitha was holding a picnic basket while Ida carried two blankets. Faith’s grandparents were walking beside them as Jack and Nancy were running around chasing each other. Davis and Faith brought up the rear.
“We thought everyone deserved time to enjoy the wonderful autumn weather as a reward for being diligent in their work,” Thomas stated as the family came to join them.
“You’re doing an
impressive job, Nathan,” Mortimer declared as he looked at the freshly plastered house.
“Thank you. I hope your granddaughter thinks so.”
Faith placed her hand on Nathan’s arm. “I do. I can’t wait until we get married and move into it.”
"It will be ready for you to paint by the end of the week."
“I suppose that means I need to go into town and pick out colors. Do you mind taking me in tomorrow?"
“I'll be happy to take you,” Nathan agreed with a grin. Taking her hands in his own, he asked, “Where have you decided we will picnic?”
“We were thinking in the meadow behind the house.”
“Okay, lead the way,” Nathan said, placing her hand in the crook of his arm.
As the group walked over to the grassland, the meadow was fragrant from the blooming wildflowers which laced the field in an array of colors. The family weaved through the meadow following a small path, and towards the center found a spot to lay their blankets.
Nancy and Jack continued to play in the meadow as the women took out the food and napkins from the picnic basket. The men sat on the edge of the blanket and watched as the spread of appealing cuisine appeared; potted cheese and crackers, chicken sandwiches, fruit salad and peach cake. The women unwrapped and placed the food on the blankets. There also were several containers of sun-tea along with wooden cups.
“Nancy and Jack, come over here and sit down,” Tabitha called to her children. Obediently, they joined the rest of the family on the blanket.
“Let us say grace before we eat.” Everyone bowed their heads before Thomas prayed. “Dear Lord, thank You for this wonderful day You have given us. We pray for safety for the soldiers still fighting in the war, and for us to continue to do our part here. We pray for Your sustained blessing on our family. We thank You for bringing Nathan home to us. In the Lord’s name, Amen.”
As soon as Faith handed Nathan his food, he dove into the delectable fare. He’d worked up a large appetite working on finishing the house. His taste buds exploded with flavor as he took each bite.
The picnic passed with ease as they talked about the day, the plantation, and church. After they finished, Nathan stretched out as he declared, “The meal was delicious. You ladies did a wonderful job of preparing this picnic.”
“Thank you, Nathan,” the women’s voices rang out in unison. They looked at each other in shock for several seconds before everyone laughed.
Nathan stood up and reached out to take Faith’s hand as he requested, “Would you care to go for a stroll?”
Before Faith could respond, Nancy whined, “I thought you were going to play tag with me, Nathan?”
“How about when I get back? I promise I’ll play with you for a few minutes before we go home.”
The pout instantly turned into a giant grin. “Yippee, I can’t wait!”
“Can I play too?” Jack chimed in.
“Of course; it’s more fun with extra people. Maybe we can talk the whole family into playing.”
“My days of playing tag are far behind me,” Mortimer brusquely stated.
“Okay, so maybe just the Abernathy children,” Nathan amended, realizing that none of the senior members would find the act appealing.
“Don’t count me out just because my husband is being a stick in the mud,” Pearl jested.
Everyone began to laugh and the dulcet sound echoed through the meadow. Nathan patted Nancy on the head and then drew Faith up beside him, folding her hand into his own as they started down the path. Thomas called out from behind them, “Don’t wander too far.”
Nathan knew Thomas wasn’t worried for their safety but more for his daughter’s virtue. Even though they were getting married soon, her father still didn’t allow them to spend any length of time alone together. Nathan didn’t mind. He would be just as protective with his own future daughters.
Faith broke the silence. “How have your meetings with Pastor Howell been going?”
“Beneficial. I understand why I behaved the way I did, and through Pastor Howell’s guidance, I’ve given my guilt and past over to God. I'm free for the first time in my life.”
Faith squeezed Nathan’s hand in excitement. “I’m pleased to hear it, Nathan. You deserve to be happy.”
“No one deserves to be happy, but I hope God will bless our life together, and give us what we need.”
Faith nodded. “You’re right; God gives us what we need, not always what we want. Your time with Pastor Howell has given you insight.”
Nathan stopped and turned to face Faith. “I’ve been wanting to share something with you for a while now. Something I haven’t told anyone else.”
A worried look crossed her face. “What is it?”
“Something profound happened to me when I escaped Union captivity. I told you it wasn’t the military who found me.”
Her body relaxed as the concern melted from her face. “Yes, I remember. You never explained in detail what happened, and I didn’t want to press you.”
Nathan wanted to blurt it out, but something was keeping him from saying the words out loud. Part of him worried Faith wouldn’t believe what he told her. Another part of him worried she might think him crazy. If someone told him what he was about to tell her, he would.
She placed her hand on the side of his arm as she whispered, “You know you can tell me anything.”
As he stared into her forest green eyes, he felt confident he could finally tell her what happened. He took a deep breath, then revealed the truth of how he escaped. “God sent an angel to rescue me. The angel guided me out of the place where they were keeping me and lead me to where Peter was waiting.”
Faith was silent for several moments before she spoke, as if contemplating the magnitude of what he just confessed. Every moment she remained silent, he wondered if she were going to think he had lost his mind. He wouldn’t blame her. He could hardly believe it himself, and it had happened to him.
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, Faith finally spoke. “God went to great lengths not only to save you but to give you such a powerful experience. When you’re ready, God will open the door for you to use it for His glory.”
Nathan’s heart swelled at the love and acceptance Faith constantly offered him. “You don’t know how glad I am to finally tell you that and have you react in such a positive way. God knows I need you, Faith, and I’m so glad He brought you into my life. Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“I hope by now you know I never will. You’re my life. I’ll always stand by you no matter what,” Faith vowed.
Nathan leaned down and pressed his lips against Faith’s. It was gentle at first, manifested from gratitude, but as he pulled her close and enfolded her in his embrace, the kiss deepened as the passion surfaced between them. Faith wrapped her arms around Nathan’s neck as the kiss continued. He felt the rapid beating of her heart as her body leaned against his own. His body wanted him to allow the kiss to continue but his head told him it was time to stop.
Nathan forced himself to end the kiss. “We should make our way back. We will have plenty of time for this in two weeks.”
Faith averted her eyes as she blushed. “Agreed. I’m sure my parents are expecting our arrival at any moment.”
With a chuckle, he joked, “I want to get you back before your dad has my hide.”
Nathan grabbed Faith's hand for the return trip to the picnic area. As he looked out over the meadow, he saw their future home in the distance with the sun setting behind it. The sky was lit with golden hues of pink, lavender, and burnt orange. The sunset was magnificent, but as Nathan turned to look at Faith, he realized nothing could be more breathtaking than the woman he was going to marry.
Chapter 17
Myrtle Grove Church was bustling with commotion when Faith walked inside with her family and Nathan. Faith noticed the surrounding faces appeared troubled. Several of the women’s eyes were red and puffy, testaments to the fact they had been crying.
&nb
sp; “What’s going on?” Faith inclined her head towards her mother.
“I'm uncertain, but I want to find out. I know just who can help fill us in.” Faith’s mother made her way over to Bonnie, Joanna, Sarah, and Wendy who were standing together in a hushed huddle. Faith followed her mother, wanting to find out for herself what had the church parishioners upset.
“Good morning, ladies.” Faith’s mother greeted the other women as she took her place amongst their circle.
Bonnie shared the unfortunate news. “There's an outbreak of Influenza in Chapmin. Several people came down with the sickness, and Mrs. Potter passed away yesterday morning.”
Sarah shook her head. “She had six children. What are they going to do without their mother?”
“I don’t know. The delivery man from Chapmin told me Mr. Potter was beside himself, the poor man,” Wendy stated.
“We should do something for the family; perhaps take over food, and wash laundry for them,” Tabitha suggested.
“Even though Lilly, their oldest, is thirteen, it will be too much for her to handle on her own,” added Joanna in agreement.
“Should we wait to make sure everyone is healthy before going?” Bonnie questioned with concern.
Anxious expressions crossed the other women’s faces before Tabitha scolded, “What would Jesus have us do? He’d want us to help the Potter family now and not worry about such things. He’ll keep us safe while we’re doing His work.”
The women nodded as Pastor Howell asked for everyone to sit for the service.
As Faith took her seat in her family’s pew, she wondered if the sickness would make its way to Myrtle Grove. Even though she knew she shouldn’t fear it happening, it was hard to give her trepidation to God with the palpable fear in the room.
Pastor Howell must have sensed the mood because he started the service with a prayer.
“Dear Lord, we come together as a church and ask for You to please be with our brothers and sisters in Chapmin. Pour mercy on the families affected by the sickness and heal those who are still battling with it. Keep our town safe and free from the illness. We ask You to stop it from spreading. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”