by Connie Cook
"It's all right, Bo. You don't have to run off. Gabe's trying to tell you you've hurt his tender, little feelings."
"Well, I would never want to hurt anyone's tender feelings. My apologies, little man. C'mere then, you young bull. Look at the size of him! Are you feeding him fertilizer in his bottle?"
"Just good, wholesome, fake milk the way nature never intended it."
"Well, it seems to be doing the trick all right."
"He's not wasting away."
"Surely not. Young greedy guts! We'll have to get you out in the orchard pretty quick, make you work it off. That'll slim you down in a hurry." With his large, calloused hands engulfing the baby, he swung Gabriel till he laughed.
"Better wait till he's walking at least, I think."
"I suppose. But then the walking will probably slim him down some."
"Sure. Though I imagine he might turn out to be a husky one. He started off life as a pretty good size."
"Ah, you can't go by that. The tiniest babies can end up as the largest adults, and the biggest babies can turn into small adults."
"I had no idea you were such a baby expert."
"Oldest of six, remember. I should know a thing or two about babies. Why d'you think I'm so good with this one? But here. I'd better give him back to you, let you get on with ... what you were doing, and I'd better get on with what I came to do."
"Well, thanks for coming back to play with him. I'm afraid he is starting to think he's the centre of the universe. I can't imagine where he gets that idea!"
Bo laughed as he handed the baby back.
"Ruth ..." he said, apparently forgetting that he was leaving. His tone had turned serious.
"Yes?" she said, her voice barely louder than the thumping of her heart.
"We haven't seen much of each other lately."
"Not much," she said.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault. I made a promise to you once upon a time way back when. I promised you that I would always be your friend, that nothing would change my offer of friendship. I found that promise harder to keep than I thought it would be."
Ruth's heart thumped louder. Surely Bo would hear it.
"I want you to know I'm sorry. I admit that we haven't seen much of each other lately, and to be honest, I know that's my fault. I make excuses for it to myself, but nothing changes the fact that I offered you my friendship, and then, I withdrew it when you really needed it. I think I can do better in the future though. I plan to try."
The thumping stopped with a dull thud, and her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach.
She understood.
Bo was telling her that ... well, that he didn't feel anything for her anymore. He was over her. That was why he thought he'd be able to be a better friend from now on. His hurt was gone.
His voice held no trace of nervousness. He was relaxed around her in a way he hadn't been for quite some time. It meant only one thing.
And then her mind jumped from Conclusion A across a vast expanse of space to land squarely on Conclusion B.
Had he found someone else? Who was she? There was that new girl at church. The one whose family had just moved to Arrowhead. And she was a natural blonde, no doubt Bo's preferred type, very sweet and feminine. A little young for Bo, perhaps, but she'd age.
Ruth rested her head on Gabriel's. She couldn't look at Bo.
"Thanks, Bo. I appreciate it."
"Are you upset with me for deserting you when you needed a friend?"
"No! No, of course not! I'm not upset with you at all."
"Well, you'd have the right to be."
"I'd have no right at all! After everything you've done for us! You can't possibly think I'm that ungrateful."
"Friends, then?"
"Of course." She shook the hand he offered and made the effort to smile in the same natural and easy fashion he was smiling. But her heart wasn't in the smile. It was still somewhere in the vicinity of the bottom of her stomach.
* * *
A car had pulled in next to the curb by the sidewalk where she was strolling with the buggy. The car was following her at walking speed. If it had been after dark and somewhere other than Arrowhead, Ruth would have been frightened. As it was, she was merely annoyed. Whoever it was, she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of turning around. She could play deaf with the best of them.
But when a wolf whistle erupted from close behind her left ear, she whirled in a fury.
From the driver's seat of a metallic blue convertible, James Hardcastle laughed at her expression.
"I was sure hoping that was you. Lucky thing for me it was. If I'd whistled at some strange woman with a baby, I might have an angry husband to answer to."
"I'm not so sure you're lucky it was me. What makes you think you'll get off any easier with me?"
"My good looks and unfailing charm. Good to see you, Ruth. Just wait till I get this beast properly parked, and I'll step out for a minute and walk with you."
James parked and shut off the ignition, then hopped over the side without bothering to open the door.
"Say, he's a good size," he said, admiring the sleeping Gabriel in the buggy. "No need to throw that one back in. He's a keeper if I ever saw one. How old?"
"Four months."
"What'd you name 'im?"
"Gabriel."
"Well, congratulations!"
"Thanks," Ruth said, not bothering to put James in possession of the full set of facts regarding Gabriel. "What are you doing in Arrowhead? Are you still living in Camille?"
"Still in Camille. Not boarding at Mrs. Goodhope's fine establishment any longer, though."
"Are you finished your engineering course already? I thought this would be your last year."
"It is, and I'm not quite finished. I'll be done by summer. Just on spring break right now. But I've had a job offer already. Or rather, an interview I'm on my way to. Just passing through Arrowhead on my way to Alberta. My interview's not for a few days, but I was going to go early and spend my week of spring break in the town where I have the interview, get to know the lay of the land a little. So I'm not in any rush. I was thinking it would be fun to look you up while I was going through Arrowhead, but I didn't have to. Here you are. I'll have to tell you everything that's been happening with me. But we shouldn't be standing out here shooting the breeze in the middle of the sidewalk. Is this diner any good? I'll tell you all about it over a milkshake."
The pair were standing outside of Judy's Diner.
"I hear the milkshakes are all right. Not sure about the food. I haven't actually eaten here if you can believe it," Ruth said.
"Well, I'm not worried about the food. I'm not hungry. Just parched from driving. I'm only offering a milkshake. Or a pop, if you'd prefer. I wouldn't want to buy you a meal even if it is only a hamburger and french fries. Your husband might object to that. Too much like a date."
"I'm widowed," Ruth said simply, thinking it was best to get the information out of the way at the beginning.
"Oh!" James flushed and stammered. "I didn't ... I hadn't heard that. I'm sorry. How long?"
"Not long. Just since last September."
"Oh." There was an awkward silence.
"Well, in that case, have a burger and fries. Order anything you like," James said suddenly.
They laughed and pushed open the door to Judy's. Ruth was enormously grateful for James' utter lack of curiosity. She wasn't eager to explain the entire situation.
* * *
"I've got to go. I was supposed to meet my mother-in-law outside the Co-op five minutes ago," Ruth said, just then remembering to look at her watch.
"Your shake's only half-finished."
"Can't help it. It's been great seeing you, but I've got to run."
She stood up to leave but got no farther than the door. Mom, coming in, met her going out.
"There you are! I thought I'd start walking to meet you when I didn't find you at the Co-op. I saw Doris Steiner, and she told me you'd popped into Judy's. She
must've been watching out the post office window. She doesn't miss a trick, that one."
"I'm sorry I'm late. I ran into an old friend I knew from my days in Camille, and we got chatting, and I forgot to watch the time."
"No harm done. I was a little early is all. That's why I started out walking. This must be your friend. How d'you do?"
"Mom, this is James Hardcastle. James, my mother-in-law."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. MacKellum. Sorry to inconvenience you. It was my fault. I cajoled Ruth into going for a milkshake and then dazzled her with my scintillating conversation so that she forgot to watch the time."
Mom smiled graciously. She was in the process of being charmed; Ruth could see it.
"Don't worry. I only picked up a few things at the Co-op, and they weren't heavy, and it's a gorgeous day to walk, so I didn't mind a bit. Where are you from, Mr. Hardcastle?"
"James, please. Right now I'm living in Camille, finishing up my last year of civil engineering, but I'm on my way to Alberta to see about a job, and I had some time to burn, so I thought I'd stop and look up Ruth as I was going through Arrowhead. Oddly enough, I spotted her as I was driving main street. Guess it was meant to be."
"Were you planning on staying in Arrowhead tonight?"
"Oh, no. I just drove from Camille today. I've barely started my trip. I should be pushing on, really."
"Well, if you're not in a rush to get to where you're going, why don't you take room and board with us tonight? Then you and Ruth can have a good catching-up session."
"Well ..." he hesitated and looked at Ruth. She gave no sign one way or the other.
"I could I suppose. I don't have to be in Alberta till Wednesday."
"Good. It's settled. You can follow us out to the farm. Ruth has the car parked just down the street. Well, hello, little man. Look who's awake! Were you a good boy? Did you miss me? Did you miss your grandma? Come here, then, young man. Come and say hello to your old grandma."
And Mrs. MacKellum was lost to any further adult conversation.
* * *
Once in the car away from James Hardcastle's listening ears, Ruth said to her mother-in-law, "Do you think that was wise?"
"What do you mean? Asking your friend James to stay over? Why on earth not? He's a friend of yours, isn't he? He seems very nice. I thought it would be nice for you two to have a little more time together." She smiled to herself like the proverbial cat in possession of the proverbial canary.
"Why don't I like the gleam in your eye?"
"Yes, why don't you? Why shouldn't I have a gleam in my eye every now and again?"
"I would almost think it was a matchmaking gleam if I didn't know better."
"I'm not sure you do know better."
"You can't be serious! You've only just met the fellow. You know less than nothing about him. Are you so eager to get rid of me?"
"Ha! You're barking up the wrong tree there."
"What on earth are you talking about then? You're speaking in riddles."
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
But Ruth didn't find out until James' return from Alberta a week later.
* * *
"Are we having company for supper?" Ruth asked, spying the third plate on the table.
"Oh, I told that young James Hardcastle he had to stop by for supper on his way back to Camille from Alberta and let us know how the interview went," Mom answered.
"What're you up to?"
"Camille's not all that far away from Arrowhead. I thought it would be nice for the two of you to renew your acquaintance while he's still there. I know it would only take the slightest amount of encouragement for him to hop in that car of his and come down for a visit now and again. He seems like a very presentable young man. Very likeable, really. But probably not terribly serious."
"Yes," Ruth said slowly, "he's likeable. But ..."
"But what?"
"But ... I don't know. But he's ... but he's a friend. He'll ever only be a nice young man I knew once. I'm not sure it's worth renewing our acquaintance."
"You're sure he could ever only be a friend? That's what you thought about Bo at one time, too."
Ruth blushed as violently as she was as capable of doing and said nothing.
"A-ha! I knew it. I knew I'd discovered your little secret," Mom crowed.
Ruth didn't answer her for a moment.
"Then what is all this about James if you've discovered my secret?" she said at length. "You don't think I'd be fickle enough to ... I mean ... Having to eat one helping of all those words I ever said about a fellow who could never be more than a friend is more than enough for me, thanks."
"I know."
"Then what are you up to?"
Mom smiled a secretive smile.
"Don't you ever read romance novels?"
"I tried one once. I got as far as the second chapter, but it made me nauseous, so I had to quit."
Mom was a little affronted.
"You should read a good romance once in awhile. You could use a little romance in your soul. Might turn you into a normal human being," she said testily.
Living with Ruth, she'd learned a thing or two about giving as well as taking. She'd learned to deal with Ruth on her own terms of brutal frankness.
Ruth laughed delightedly. She enjoyed playfully riling her mother-in-law.
"But I don't want to be a normal human being. They're not all they're cracked up to be. If such a creature even exists. And if it takes reading that romance slop to turn me normal, I guess I'll just have to do without."
"Oh, well, then," Mom said, shrugging her shoulders.
"But will you please tell me what romance books have to do with the reason James and I should renew our acquaintance? And where ... that other person ... comes into it all?"
"Jealousy is a powerful emotion, Ruth. Especially for men."
"So I've discovered," Ruth said drily. "It's a powerful emotion for women, too."
"From what you've told me, Bo has promised you he'll never 'bother' you again by talking to you about his feelings for you."
Back when he had feelings for me, Ruth said to herself.
Mom continued, "I know Bo. He's a man of his word. It will take some powerful reason to make him break that promise."
"Why should he break that promise?" Ruth said slowly. "We're fine as we are."
Her mother-in-law snorted. "With both of you pining away for each other? Don't deny it. I have eyes in my head. And with little Gabe needing a father?"
"Shouldn't we leave these things in God's hands?" Ruth said piously.
Mom snorted again. "You don't fool me. That's fear talking. God works in mysterious ways, Ruth. And He often does His work through people."
"So, you're telling me that you're doing God's work by cooking up some kind of a scheme that you got out of a romance book? Have you prayed about this, Mom?"
"Mysterious ways, Ruth. Guy and I never would have made a match if it hadn't been for a good friend of Guy's who happened to notice me right before Guy did – and Guy happened to notice me because his friend had, I think. I'd been quite taken with Guy for months, and I'm afraid it was pretty obvious to everyone. Even to Guy. But he was quite happy to go on taking me for granted. Until his friend's attentiveness to me lit a fire under him."
"My situation's a little different though, don't you think? In your situation, no one had to plot to make things work out the way they did. And doesn't it seem a little like using James? It doesn't seem completely honest, somehow."
"Are you afraid that James might have more serious intentions toward you than I'm giving him credit for?"
"No, not at all. I'm not worried about that. I just ... I don't know."
"Well, then, if you and James start to renew your old acquaintance and Bo happens to find out about it and gets the wrong idea but that wrong idea helps get some wheels in motion and no one, namely James, gets hurt in the process and two people who were obviously meant for each other end up together,
where's the harm in it?"
Ruth didn't have a ready answer, but she felt sure there was some harm in it somewhere. One part of her wished her mother-in-law would leave well enough alone. The other part of her thought that her mother-in-law might be right and that things weren't, at present, quite well enough to be left alone. But surely it wasn't up to either her or her mother-in-law to do anything about it?
The discussion was curtailed by the sight of James' car raising a cloud of dust down the driveway and Ruth and Mom rushing to get the final touches put on the meal.
* * *
"Delicious dinner, Mrs. MacKellum. Thanks for the invitation. I don't get cooking like that where I'm rooming and boarding. And it was nice to break up the trip a little and see the two of you again. Guess I'd better get back on the road if I hope to make it back to Camille before dark, though." James pushed back from the table, dropping his serviette in his plate.
"If you have any free time next weekend, why don't you pop down and see us again?" Mom invited casually, ignoring Ruth's fierce looks in her direction.
"I'd like that. I should probably stick around my rooming house and start studying for finals though. Although ... all work and no play, right?"
Mom beamed. "Absolutely right! And you don't want to become a dull boy. Finals are over a month away, aren't they? You could probably put off the studying for one more weekend. Are you a church-going man, James?"
"Sometimes."
"Well, I was going to suggest that you come for Sunday, and go to church with us. I'm asking you especially for this Sunday because – Ruth would never tell you this herself – but she's singing a solo as a special number this Sunday."
Ruth's looks grew fiercer, but she restrained herself from any violent kicking of her mother-in-law under the table.
"You're welcome to come Saturday and stay over till Sunday if you'd care to. Always nice to get away from school for the weekend, isn't it?" Mom went on.
"Well, when you hold out an inducement like hearing Ruth sing on top of your cooking and the excellent company, I guess I'll have to try and get away for sure. I know she can sure sing. Remember all those sing-songs around the 'old pianer' with good, ol' Willy Spanner tickling the ivories, Ruth? Those were some good memories. Still, I had no idea she could be convinced to sing publicly. A solo yet! I'll definitely try to make it down for that. All right if I sail in on Saturday evening? I could get some studying in during the day, at any rate, and still be here by nightfall."