She turned around, inspecting him like a man would check out a cow he wanted to buy. When she squinted and exhaled, he walked to the dresser and grabbed the alcohol.
She shook her head. Stubborn woman.
“You took care of me when I was hurt. Now sit.”
Her gaze narrowed.
He ground his jaw.
Her lips thinned as she sat on the bed, head held high.
He poured alcohol on the cloth. The liquid soaked through and cooled his hand, its pungent odor filling his nostrils. He placed the bottle on the floor, then knelt before her, lifted her left hand, and looked into her eyes. “This is gonna hurt.”
She nodded, grabbing the folds of her skirt with her right hand.
He exhaled and laid the cloth on her hand.
****
Lily cried out, wrenched her left hand away, and walloped him with her right.
He fell backward, jaw slack and eyes bulging.
She jumped up and covered her mouth, palms aflame and knuckles throbbing. Alcohol pooled on the floor beneath him.
He gawked at her, sprawled on the floor where he lay, propped on his elbows.
Great Jehoshaphat! She rushed forward, knelt, and touched his face with trembling hands. How could she have done such a thing?
“It’s OK.” He rubbed his cheek.
Poor James. She abhorred violence!
“I said it’s fine.” He brushed at her shaking hands. “It was reflex.”
She grabbed his jaw and craned his neck to the right.
He flinched under her scrutiny. “Would ya quit?” An angry welt formed on his cheek.
The girls gasped in the hallway. Elsa’s eyes were the size of silver dollars, and a smile lit Ava’s freckled face. “M-Miss Lily, don’t feel bad. Just k-kiss it better.”
Lily straightened and released him, but he held fast, his scowl replaced by a grin.
“Well, now. It’d be a shame to disappoint the girls, wouldn’t it, Mrs. Bloom?”
The rapscallion.
Elsa clapped her hands.
Ava giggled.
She inhaled, leaned forward, and pecked his bruised cheek. Her lips tingled at the contact, his unshaven face warm and prickly.
“Hurray!” Ava’s approval merged with her sister’s lively applause.
Elsa ran into the room and picked up the overturned alcohol bottle. She tilted her head, squinted, and peeked into the opening.
James hopped up and extended his hand.
Lily gripped it, air hissing past her teeth.
He released her palm, and then lifted her at the waist instead.
She stood, her hands resting on his forearms.
“We still have to…”
His eyes were the color of Miss Edna’s apple butter. Back home, there was nothing finer. In Pauls Valley, it suddenly took second place. Sculpted cheekbones and a strong jaw enhanced his full, curved lips. Lush eyelashes blinked at her.
“You OK?” His brow wrinkled.
She closed her mouth, nodding. What was wrong with her?
“So whaddya think?”
Oh dear. What had he said? She nibbled her lower lip.
“Elsa thinks we should try again.” He turned to the little darling, took the alcohol bottle from her hands, and mussed her hair. Then he faced Lily. “How ‘bout it, Slugger?”
Ava shook her head. “D-don’t do it, Mr. Bloom!”
“Don’t worry, girls.” He gripped the alcohol bottle, planted his feet, and blocked his face with his free hand. “This time, I’m prepared.”
Ava dissolved into laughter.
Elsa bounced on her tiptoes.
Lily sat again and took deep breaths.
Apparently, James had enough alcohol left in the bottle to burn the flesh off of her other hand. He circled, as though sizing up his opponent. “I can’t get too close, girls. She might clock me again.”
Lily’s cheeks warmed. The beast.
“Yay!” Ava cheered.
“Are you gonna hit him again, Miss Lily?”
Elsa. The imp’s face shone with glee, her silence broken.
Ava’s lips formed a perfect O.
James beamed as he turned to Lily. He placed his right hand on his stomach, his left hand behind his back, and bowed.
Not bad. For a man.
Lily raised her fists and scowled at him. He feigned fright and jumped back. The girls howled.
What a ragtag bunch we are.
She’d never been happier.
****
After supper, James read to his family from his father’s Bible.
Lily held the Bloom family Bible, which he’d updated with their names and marriage date.
Ava sat on Lily’s left and Elsa on her right.
He read the account of Joseph in Egypt, pausing to watch Lily point at each word, Ava’s brow furrowing as she studied the print. Elsa rested her head on Lily’s arm. The girls listened intently, but before long, Elsa rubbed her eyes and Ava stifled a yawn. He marked his page and closed the book.
“Ready for bed?”
Lily straightened.
Ava stood and led Elsa to wash her face. When they finished, they walked to their room.
He followed Lily down the hall, entered the girls’ room, and lit the lamp. “Did you like the story?”
“Poor Joseph,” Elsa sniffled. “His brothers are mean.”
“They sure were.” He folded his arms as Lily tucked in the girls and kissed them on their heads. “Even though somethin’ bad happened to Joseph, God took care of him. Tomorrow we’ll find out if Joseph’s dreams came true.”
“I-I know, I-I know!”
“Don’t go spoilin’ the endin’ for your sister. We’ll read about it tomorrow.”
Ava’s eye’s twinkled. “O-OK.”
“I mean it. No squealin’.”
Both girls giggled.
“Let’s pray.” He offered his hand to Lily.
Lily searched his eyes and lifted her hand, palm up, displaying her blisters.
“I’ll be gentle.”
She bit her lower lip, and then accepted his hand.
That’s my girl. He held her fingertips, careful to avoid the inside of her hand. “Father, thank You for another day. Thank You for givin’ us Joseph’s testimony. Thank You for dreams, and for bringin’ ‘em to pass. I thank You for Lily, Ava, and Elsa. Grant us a good night’s rest. Aid us to love You more tomorrow than we did today. In Jesus’s Name, amen.” He lifted Lily’s fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
The faint glimmer of the lamplight couldn’t hide the glow on her cheeks, nor the way her lips parted.
He released her fingers.
She blinked and placed her hand at her side.
“Sleep well, girls.” He extinguished the lamp.
“Yes, sir.”
The floorboards creaked as Lily walked into the hallway.
“Hold on.” He passed her, walked into his bedroom, and lit the lamp. “Can’t have ya fallin’. Might damage those prize-fightin’ hands.”
She pressed her lips together and looked at the floor.
He leaned forward, cocking his head to the right. “Is that…do I see a smile?”
She looked up, lips pursed, and shook her head.
He grinned, rubbing the shiner under his eye. “It’s good to have a fightin’ spirit.” He walked toward her. “I asked the Lord for a wife who had one.”
Her eyes were liquid pools of gold as he approached.
“Can we talk a minute?”
She raised an eyebrow.
He closed his eyes, rubbing his hand over his hair. “I mean—”
She nodded, then pointed in sequence to his chest, his mouth, her chest, and her ear.
“Thank you.” He walked to the bed and sat down, and then patted the spot beside him.
Her eyes widened. She shook her head.
He looked heavenward. Sighed. Pointed to his bruised cheekbone. “We both know you can keep me in line.”
“Lily…” His mouth dried up. “I’m so glad you’re my wife.”
She folded her hands, nodded, and looked at the lamp light.
“I prayed five years for you.”
She snapped her head back to him, eyes wide.
“I did. I asked the Lord to bring me a wife. He answered my prayer yesterday.”
She fidgeted with the folds of her skirt.
“I wish I could say that I’d been trustin’ the Lord to answer. That I’d been expectin’ Him to bring my dream to pass. But I didn’t. I was discouraged. I’d been askin’ for so long, I thought His answer was, ‘No’.” It was difficult to swallow past the knot in his throat. “He answered in a way I didn’t expect. In a way that neither of us expected. That shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did.”
Her head bobbed.
“It’s all I can do to sit here and not reach out to you.”
She stilled, her pulse pounding in her neck.
“But I won’t put my needs above yours. I’ve waited too long for you.” He sank to the floor and knelt at her feet, placing his hands on top of hers.
Her eyes filled with apprehension.
“Don’t be afraid. I just wanna ask if we can be friends.”
The lamplight flickered across her face, touching planes and shadows he wanted to caress. Her hair blazed, eyes shimmering with tears.
Did he use the right words? Would she understand? He’d given all that was in his heart, laid himself before her. “Please say yes. We can move at your pace. Can we try?”
Eyes that had glimmered gold moments earlier now flashed green. She pulled her hands away.
His chest hurt. He closed his eyes and looked down. “I’m sorry. I’d hoped—”
His face tingled as her trembling fingers caressed his cheeks.
7
Lily woke to giggles and whispers. She opened her eyes, blinking at the brightness that saturated the room. Raising an arm to shield her eyes, she spied two golden-heads at the foot of her bed.
“Good mornin’, Miss Lily,” Elsa tittered.
Heavenly days! What time was it? Lily sat up. The girls dove onto her bed. She hugged them and mussed their cow-licked hair.
“M-Mr. Bloom said we had to l-let you sleep.”
There was more hope of returning all the sand from whence it came.
“What’s s-so funny?”
Lily hopped out of bed and the girls squealed. Mercy, she should’ve prepared breakfast by now. She combed her hair, wincing at the tangles she’d acquired overnight. No matter. Today was new, and she and James would work on becoming friends. She raced to the sink and washed her face and teeth. The front door opened as she dried her hands. She turned just as the girls ran out and James entered.
Ava carried a bag.
“Be careful,” he yelled after them. “Mind your eyes.”
Lily ran to the door, squinting. Why were the girls walking toward town? She closed the door as the wind gusted.
“Mornin’.”
She looked up at James. His smile was brighter than the sun’s rays.
She nodded, feeling mischievous, and bowed her head regally.
“Well, well. The queen is receivin’ visitors.” His eyes twinkled as he bent at the waist.
Lily pointed in the direction of the girls.
“They’re running an errand.” His face shuttered.
Indeed. She’d seen that look on Papa’s face before. James had a secret. She raised her hand to signal her discernment when he stepped closer.
His teasing eyes warmed as he interlocked their fingers.
Her heart flip-flopped beneath her ribcage. She had the strangest urge to lean forward and kiss him. Whatever for?
“I’d like to show you somethin’ shockin’, Mrs. Bloom.”
Mrs. Bloom…wasn’t that shocking enough?
He led her to the window.
The horse!
She gasped and threw her arms around James. He spun her around, his laughter echoing in her ears. She pushed against his shoulders, blinked, and motioned to the horse. How did that animal survive the storm?
“I don’t know.” Little lines appeared beside the corners of his eyes. “But Fitz found his way home.”
Home. She looked at the majestic beast standing atop the desert of sand. He swished his tail and shook his head. He looked...happy.
“He prob’ly remembered there was this pretty filly hangin’ around—”
She swatted his hand. James chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. His masculine scent filled her lungs, making her giddy. A lock of his unruly hair had settled on his forehead. She gripped his arms to keep from smoothing it back. He was so handsome. Kind and good.
“If you keep starin’ at me like that—”
She peeled herself out of his grip and walked to the kitchen. Work. She needed to work.
He chuckled. “There’s no cow to milk, no eggs to gather, and no crops to harvest.”
She bit her bottom lip and rubbed the goose bumps that rose on her arms.
“We’ll be fine.” He walked over to her and stroked her cheek. “The Lord didn’t bless me with a wife and two children so we would starve. Whatever lies ahead, He’ll provide what we need.”
How could he believe that, when evidence to the contrary was just outside the door?
If only she had that kind of faith…
****
Lily sat on the straight-backed pew for the Easter Sunday service, the girls on her left and James on her right.
Back home, no doubt, Papa sat on his pew as well, watching stained glass windows filter every color of the rainbow, the fragrance of Easter lilies inundating the air.
Here, there was no such extravagance. Only the faint aroma of eucalyptus oil tickled her nose.
Reverend Cox delivered the message of the Resurrection.
Radiant sunlight beamed through clear-paned windows into the whitewashed building, as if revealing the Almighty’s brightness.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
Was it only last night that James had read the account of Lazarus to them?
The words of Jesus were singed into her memory. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
It wasn’t the ‘believeth’ that was so troublesome, but the ‘liveth’. Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of God, but she’d not loved Him, nor trusted Him. She’d trusted herself.
“The hope we have in Christ exceeds natural hope,” Reverend Cox said. “It surpasses the hope a farmer has when he plants his wheat. The hope of Christ transcends the hope that God will send rain to shower the fields. This certainty is for those who place their trust in the resurrected Christ. All who trust Him by faith and turn from their sins will be saved. This is a miraculous act which no man can accomplish.”
She trembled.
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.”
How she needed the Lord. The sunlight beamed through the windows, exposing her, piercing her selfish, unforgiving heart. If she trusted Christ and turned from her sins, would she be like Him, loving the Father and her neighbor rightly?
“As none know which way the wind blows, so it is with the Spirit of God. If He breathes across your life today, do not harden your heart, but open the door, and the King of Glory will come in. Let us pray.”
****
William Driggers cursed his flat tires. He wiped his brow with his handkerchief as hot, dusty air enveloped him. Six days. He’d driven six days in this filth and still hadn’t reached Ned’s. God Himself rested on the seventh day. Maybe he’d be as fortunate. He placed the tire pump behind the seat, then retrieved the crank handle.
Neutral. Half-throttle. Retard the spark. Key on.
He walked to the front of the vehicle with the crank handle, inserted it into the opening, and heaved it clockwise. The engine sputtered to life, belching its pungent exhaust. He withdrew the handle, tossed it behind his seat, and drove off.
What a preposterous way to spend Easter. He should be dining on Miss Washington’s ham and biscuits and Edna’s apple butter, not ingesting copious amounts of dirt. He kept his handkerchief over his mouth and nose. What he wouldn’t do for a cup of buttermilk.
The train was out of service. And no wonder, with this devastation. Newspapers revealed the truth of it. The land was as barren as reported. First the Depression and now this. Americans starved and endured disastrous weather. The religious believed it to be the judgment of God.
Poppycock.
The austere landscape brought a desolation of soul. There’d been nothing but dirt for miles. With any luck, he’d arrive in Pauls Valley soon.
Congress should heed Hugh Bennett’s soil conservation techniques. He’d take it to Representative Peterson if he must. The entire country smothered under the menace of dust. If these were the conditions under which his brother labored, how did he eat? How did he support his wife? Why would he stay in such a forsaken place?
Not to mention Lily. The child was unaccustomed to such circumstances. Did she hunger? Was she ill?
After the storm, the severity of her situation became clear. Ned had telephoned, explaining the debacle in its entirety. Which was more humiliating, his unmarried daughter being trapped overnight in some farmer’s home, or his married daughter starving in the middle of nowhere? What would people say?
He would never allow his daughter to endure such disgrace! He must intercede.
That was the end of it.
****
Lily embraced Aunt Charity and Uncle Ned as they entered her home.
Home. With James and the children. Only a week ago, home was a Regency-style dwelling surrounded by gnarled oaks draped with Spanish moss. Home was with Papa. Her heart sank. Did he miss her today? This was the first Easter they’d spent apart. She clasped her hands together. No lamenting. She had a new family now, dear ones who surrounded her with joy and kindness.
Waiting For Lily Bloom Page 6