Leave a Candle Burning (26 page)

“Even as a child?” Conner looked shocked.

“Her face has always been beautiful, and then all those curves developed. On top of that, she couldn’t be sweeter.”

Conner looked even more concerned. “You make it sound like it’s all right.”

“I didn’t mean to,” Reese said. “Dannan might be tempted in a direction that makes sense to me, but I wouldn’t agree with his giving in to temptation.”

“What about Scottie? Do you think she would encourage such a thing?”

Reese nearly laughed before saying, “If I was forced to hazard a guess, I would say that the ways between men and women are a complete mystery to Scottie Peterson. Old Mrs. Peterson kept her very protected from the time she came to live with them, and right after she died, Scottie and Eli were married.

“I’m certainly not privy to everything that goes on in the house, but I know theirs is not a romantic union—one of love and caring I’m sure, but not romance.”

Conner didn’t comment, but Reese could see that the subject was still on his mind.

“Will you speak to Dannan?”

“I don’t know. If I’ve misunderstood, I don’t want to put thoughts into his head.”

“No, you’re only willing to put them into mine,” Reese said dryly.

“You’re right. I did do that. I know that everything I see from now on will be filtered through a bias.” Conner picked up her hand. “I’m sorry if it’s ruined anything in our friendship with Dannan. I’ve not decided he’s guilty, but I had to talk with you.”

“It’s all right. I don’t think anything is ruined, and I’ll certainly pray for him and for you. Maybe you’re supposed to speak to him.”

Conner nodded, unable to completely reject the idea but certainly not sure how to proceed.

“I got a letter from Paige Nunley this week,” Maddie told Cathy. The Nunleys lived in Boston, and Maddie had worked for their family before marrying Jace.

“What did she have to say?”

“She’s met someone.”

“At her age?”

“She’s 18,” Maddie explained, shifting the baby against her breast; the women were alone in the kitchen.

“What does her family think?”

“She doesn’t say. She wants me to come and visit with Val, but I told myself the last time I went that I wouldn’t return without Jace.”

“Maybe you can go right after planting in the fall,” Cathy suggested.

“Maybe,” Maddie agreed, still wondering whether she was expecting. Jace knew of her concerns, and he’d been as excited as she knew he would be, but she wasn’t willing to discuss it with anyone else.

“I did something last night,” Cathy suddenly said.

Maddie’s brows rose and she waited.

“I prayed,” Cathy said.

“In what way?” Maddie asked.

“I told God I believe in Him, but I’m not sure it’s the same as you and Doyle.”

“What happened that you did this last night?” Maddie’s heart had sped up a bit, but she worked to stay calm and ask the right questions.

Cathy shifted a bit in her seat before saying, “I don’t know if I can explain it.”

“Where were you?” Maddie tried another tack.

“In bed.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Mostly Doyle.”

“Were you scared?”

“No, just feeling left out.”

Maddie didn’t quite know how to respond to this. In a big way Cathy was left out, but that had been her choice.

“So what did you do?”

“I told God I wanted to believe in Him the way you and Doyle do, and suddenly I did. My heart just knew that He died for me, but I’m afraid that wasn’t enough.”

“Have you told Doyle?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I want to wait and see if it’s real.”

“How will you know?” Maddie had to ask.

“He’ll see a difference in me like I have in him.”

Maddie was so full of emotion she couldn’t speak. Cathy took this as a bad sign.

“Is that the wrong way to do it?”

Maddie laughed a little at her aunt’s worried face and startled her sleeping daughter.

“No, Cathy.” Maddie rocked the baby a little. “I’m just so emotional right now that I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t you start us crying,” Cathy commanded, sounding more like herself. “Doyle will want to know what’s going on, and I’ll have to explain.”

“I won’t say a word,” the younger woman agreed. “But you need to keep me informed.”

“I will.”

Silence fell in the kitchen. The men did not interrupt them, and the baby went back to sleep. Maddie tried to take in this news while Cathy continued to wonder if her newfound faith could be this real.

“How are you doing with Corina in the house?” Eli asked Scottie in the middle of the week.

“Fine.”

“No more memories?”

Scottie thought about this. “I guess I expected to see myself in Corina, but it hasn’t happened. She’s so secure in her relationship with Dannan, and she’s already so comfortable in this house and at the meetinghouse. I wonder if she cries for her mother at night or when she’s alone with Dannan, but it doesn’t happen much here.”

“Did you ever cry for your mother?”

Scottie shook her head. “Few of us did. We knew from the moment we understood anything that there was no mother or father to cry for. Those words weren’t even used. If a girl grew attached to one of the workers, she might ask for her, but they were too busy to be kind so that wasn’t likely.”

“Were all the girls born there? I can’t remember if you’ve said.”

“Most were, but my memory right before I left was that older girls seemed to be arriving. No one older than ten or so, but certainly not babies.”

“But Corina doesn’t make you think of those times? It’s not worse for you?”

“No. These days when I look at her, the girls’ home doesn’t even come to mind.”

“I’m glad,” Eli said sincerely, knowing how torn he’d be if Scottie couldn’t deal with Corina’s presence in the house. “Now—” Eli made a swift topic change. “I think we need to discuss the Fourth of July.”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” Scottie said, coming to her feet and moving around the room. Straightening the blanket and some books that didn’t need straightening, Scottie resolutely avoided her husband’s eyes.

“I want you to go,” Eli started again.

“Why? I’ve never gone before.”

“But you could have. You should have, even. You don’t have to stay all day—just go for the speeches and the food and then come back and tell me all about it.”

Before Scottie could frame a reply, Iris came to the door.

“Scottie, Corina is looking for you. She said something about flowers.”

“Tell her I’ll be right down,” she told the cook and then turned to Eli. “I have to go.”

“Isn’t that convenient,” Eli teased, his eyes sparkling with suppressed mirth.

Glad to be released from this topic, Scottie exited without further comment.

Scottie and Corina didn’t start out until Thursday morning that week, but both were ready for some serious gardening. Eli did not want Scottie carrying all the flowers herself, so when she and Corina had thinned many blooms and a bush and placed them in baskets and pails, Ollie Heber loaded them into a wagon and dropped them off at Dannan’s.

Scottie and Corina walked there, and just as Dannan had said, Corina seemed to know exactly where she wanted them. The little girl had a special fondness for flowers at the front door, so they spent a long time in that spot, Corina getting muddier with each moment. Corina was so excited that Scottie didn’t know when she’d had so much fun.

“Well, now,” Dannan suddenly spoke from behind them about midmorning. Corina ran to him with a squeal of delight.

“Wait, Corina,” Scottie called. “Don’t touch Dannan.”

Dannan caught her muddy hands before they could wrap around his pant leg. He bent low and kissed her forehead.

“Why don’t we hug after you’ve washed your hands?” Dannan suggested.

“We plan flowers,” Corina’s words tumbled out. “A rush and a tree.”

Dannan looked to Scottie for clarification.

“She thinks the goldenrod looks like a small tree, and we did bring one bush.”

“Well, things look nice,” Dannan complimented, liking this scene way too much and having to fight his emotions.

“Thank you,” Scottie spoke sincerely. “We’ll be done shortly.”

“Okay.” Dannan inched toward the door. “I’ll get out of your way.”

“Bye, Danna.” Corina waved him off, looking completely delighted with the day.

Dannan slipped inside the house and sat in the first chair he came to. Being around Scottie Peterson was not getting easier. He needed to get over to the Pazan house, but he took a moment to pray, asking God to remind him of verses that promised He would be with him every step of the way.

The Fourth of July in 1840 was on a Saturday, and the celebration on the green was the talk in every corner of town. The Reverend Mr. Sullins had been asked by the committee to read the Declaration of Independence. There had been much debate among the committee members as to when this reading should occur, but those who believed the reading should be before dinner and not after won the day.

Food tables were lined up end to end, all shapes and sizes, and food arrived in an abundance for the feast. Folks who lived on the green left their hot dishes in the kitchen until the ceremonies were over, but folks on the outskirts, such as Jace and Maddie, brought breads and salads that didn’t need to be kept warm.