The Calling of Emily Evans (18 page)
As soon as Big John was satisfied that it was dark enough to properly show off his fireworks, he sent the first one whistling into the sky. Emily had never watched such a display before, and she thrilled at the burst of sparkling color.
She was clapping enthusiastically with the crowd when she heard, “Are you warm enough?”
Emily looked up to discover that Shad had returned. He sat down beside her, situating himself to shield her from the cool night wind.
“I’m fine,” whispered Emily, not sure why she whispered. Others were shouting or cheering with every new explosion of color and light.
All too soon the display ended and Emily found herself shivering. She wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or cold. She stood to her feet and pulled her coat more tightly about her small frame.
You’ll be sick,
her father’s voice played in her memory, and Emily prayed fervently that it might not be so.
“Can you come for dinner tomorrow?” Mrs. Reilly was asking as she folded up her blanket.
“I’d like that,” Emily admitted. She had eaten with the Reilly’s a number of times and always enjoyed it.
“Good. We’ll see you after church.”
And then Mrs. Reilly was gone, leaving Emily standing with Shad.
“Come on,” he said, taking her arm.“I’ll drive you home.”
Emily eased her elbow from his hand.
Aren’t you being a bit pre
-
sumptuous?
she could have asked.
Not “may I,” or “do you mind?” but
“I’ll drive you home.”
But Emily walked with Shad to his car and accepted the lift. The night was cool, her coat inadequate—and his company pleasing.
The attendance at the worship service the next morning was down. Emily was sure that many of the children, and perhaps some of the adults, had found it a little more difficult to get up after yesterday’s celebrations.
But George and Molly Reilly were there for Sunday school. Emily had let herself wonder if Shad would accompany them and worried about how it might affect her presentation of the lesson if he did.
“Shad volunteered to do the chores to give George the morning off,” Molly volunteered, and Emily felt both disappointed and relieved.
After the service Molly approached Emily as she re-stacked hymnbooks.“I’m going to scoot on home and see to dinner,” she said.“I’ll send Shad in for you in half an hour or so.”
Emily could only nod in agreement.
She finished tidying the small church and dumped the coins from the offering plate into the palm of her hand. She had been hoping for a bill or two—she was low on so many things she needed. And then she chided herself. She was not serving for the money. Times had been tough for everyone. The whole community was still feeling the effects of the recent drought. This was the first decent crop year for many of the area farmers, and Emily could well imagine that they had a lot of debts of their own.
I can’t look to them for what I need any more than
I can to my father,
she decided firmly.
“My God shall supply all your needs,” she quoted aloud as she returned to her quarters to freshen up before her dinner engagement.
Shad arrived in the half hour stated and Emily was ready and waiting.
“How about bringing along walking shoes?” he suggested.“We might feel like a visit to the creek this afternoon.”
Emily tried to keep the flush from her cheeks and went to get her other shoes.
“It’s a beautiful fall day,” Shad remarked as he reached for the shoes Emily carried.“It might be the last opportunity to take a walk before the winter snows come.”
Emily agreed with a nod, waiting while Shad held the door of his car for her.
Shad broke the silence.
“Have you been out to Wesson Creek lately?”
Emily was puzzled.“I
live
in Wesson Creek,” she reminded him, feeling a little silly but not knowing what else to say.
Shad smiled.“I mean the real Wesson Creek,” he responded, and Emily suddenly knew what he meant.
“Oh-h—the creek. Is that what it’s called?”
Shad nodded and Emily chuckled.“It makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? I just hadn’t heard it called by name before.”
“So?” he asked.“Have you been back?”
“Many times,” Emily admitted.“I go there as often as I can.”
She blushed, hoping Shad didn’t think her trips to the creek had anything to do with him.
“So do I,” Shad stated simply.“Ever since I was a kid.”
“It’s so—so peaceful there. Sort of—sort of like being in church,” Emily dared to say.
She saw a slight shadow pass over Shad’s face, but all he said was, “The most peaceful spot I know.”
Dinner with the Reillys was enjoyable for Emily, who often ate alone. Shad seemed to fit well in the family of George and Molly. Emily thought it was a shame Molly had not had children herself, but certainly Shad acted as if he belonged.
After Emily had helped Molly with the dishes, Shad suggested they take their walk and Emily nodded in agreement and changed her shoes.
From the Reilly farm it was not as far to the creek as it was from where Emily lived in town, and soon the two were approaching the special pond.
Shad tossed his jacket over a fallen log and motioned for Emily to sit there. He flopped down on the grass beside the small stream.
“It’s almost dry in some spots,” he said as if to himself.“When I was a boy, it often overflowed its banks. The drought has changed that, but it’s coming back now,” he added on a more hopeful note.
“Those years were hard on everyone—everything,” murmured Emily, watching the leaves floating on the surface.“I’m glad they’re over.”
“I’m not really sure they are,” Shad surprised her by saying.
But he quickly changed the subject.“So where did you grow up?” he questioned, and the rest of the afternoon was spent exchanging bits of information. Emily found herself telling him about her father, Ina and Annabelle. She talked of her school years and her home church and even shared some about her two years at the Bible school.
They walked slowly back to the Reilly farm, feet shuffling through the autumn leaves, laughter coming easily as they shared a joke. Emily had never experienced an afternoon quite like it before.
As they came to the rails that divided the farmyard from the pasture land, Shad spoke softly to Emily.“I owe you an apology for the smart-alecky way I acted on the day we met by the creek.”
Emily turned to look at him.“Oh, but—” she began, but he lifted a hand.
“But I do,” he continued.“I had no reason to tease you as I did. I’ve felt sorry about it ever since.”
“Really, I—I’ve thought nothing more of it,” Emily fumbled.
“Well, I have—with embarrassment. Do you suppose we could sort of—start over?”
Emily laughed then, a merry, good-humored sound.“Well, I guess we have,” she stated.
Shad smiled.“You’ll forgive me?”
Emily’s eyes sparkled as she turned to the young man and reached out a small hand to his.“Forgiven,” she said simply, and Shad accepted the proffered hand and held it after the shake until he had helped her through the rail fence.
Back at the farmhouse, Molly had coffee ready. Emily didn’t think she was hungry, but when she tasted the sandwiches, they were so good that she ate two of them.
The talk around the table was cheerful and lively and Emily wished it could go on forever.
“As much as I hate to,” Shad finally said, “I’ve got to head back to Calgary. It’ll be late by the time I get there.”
Emily had not thought of him driving back that night.
George nodded his agreement.“Don’t want you fallin’ asleep on the way,” he said, and Molly looked toward him with concern.
“I won’t,” Shad quickly assured her.“But I do need to get going.” Then he turned to Emily.“If you’re ready,” he offered, “I’ll drive you home.”
Emily hurried to get her purse and her extra pair of shoes.
“I could walk,” she told him as they started for his car.“It’s not far and it would do me good.”
“And deny me the privilege?” he teased.
“Well, it would save you some time,” she continued.
“I’m not
that
pressed for time. It’ll only take a few minutes to drive into town,” he said as he helped her into the car.
After a moment or two of peaceful quiet, Shad said, “I’m not sure when I will get out again. Maybe not until Christmas.”
“I’m hoping to go home at Christmastime,” Emily said, thinking wistfully of her family.
Shad was silent, and Emily could sense that something was wrong.
“Yes!” Shad finally said softly.“I hope you can. Your family must really miss you.”
Emily realized then that he had been wondering about seeing her again, and she had unthinkingly slammed the door on the possibility. She did not know what to say next.
“Of course, I will need to be here for Christmas Sunday,” she said slowly.
He was quick to pick up the slightest invitation.“Maybe I could drive you home,” he suggested almost shyly.
Emily felt her pulse quicken. It sounded almost like a date. What would her father think about her bringing a man home who did not share their faith? No, she could not do that. To take Shad home with her would be like acknowledging that he was her beau. And even beyond her father’s concerns were her own.
I cannot think of him in
that way—ever,
she told herself. There was no way she could accept the company of a non-Christian man except as a friend.
“I—I will need to do a great deal of praying about that,” responded Emily.
Silence hung heavy about them.
“I take that as a no,” Shad said softly.
“I guess it is,” spoke Emily, nervously clasping her hands on her lap.“It isn’t that I wouldn’t like to say yes.”
“I understand.”
Emily wondered if he really did. She was near to tears and hoped fervently that he wouldn’t notice.
When they arrived at the little church, Shad held Emily’s car door for her. She gathered her purse and her shoes and climbed out slowly. She hated for things to end this way, but there seemed nothing else she could do.
“I enjoyed the day,” Shad was saying close to her ear.
“I did, too,” Emily echoed. She felt near to tears again.
“Goodbye, Emily.”
But Emily choked on her answer. She hated to say goodbye, for she knew how final this goodbye would be. She didn’t say, “Can’t we just be friends?” for she knew instinctively that they both wished for more than friendship.
She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, managed a wobbly smile and said a soft “Thank you” before leaving.
Emily was nearly blinded by tears as she stumbled down the walk leading to her door. She had heard the car reverse and then leave the front of the church. Shad was on his way back to the city. That was as it should be. That was as it
had
to be, but Emily couldn’t deny the ache in her heart. She had never felt this way about a man before.
She was about to reach for her doorknob when she stumbled over something. Her eyes looked through the darkness for the cause and a gasp escaped her lips. It was Mr. Travis, collapsed on her doorstep!
Maybe he had been coming to me for help while I was out spending a
frivolous day mooning over a man I can not have.
Frantic thoughts raced through her mind.
Emily dropped her shoes and purse and leaned over the man. He smelled of vomit. Emily felt both revolted and frightened.
He must be
very ill. I have to get help right away.
It was too far to Dr. Andrew’s. She ran to the closest person.
“Mr. John! Mr. John!” she cried, beating loudly with her fist on the mercantile door.“Please. Please! Let me in.”
When the door opened, Big John stood there, a slice of unfinished bread and butter in his hand, his jaws still working on the last bite he had taken.
“What is it?” he asked, concern in his voice. But Emily was shaking so hard she could not speak.
He tossed the unfinished bread onto a nearby counter and grasped Emily by the shoulders.
“What is it?” he asked again.
Emily found her voice then.“It’s—it’s Mr. Travis.”
Big John’s eyes flew wide. He steadied Emily with one huge hand and studied her trembling lips.“What did he do to ya?” he asked sternly.
“No—no, not to me. He—he’s sick. He collapsed—on my doorstep. Quickly—he needs help.”
Big John strode toward the door. He still had not released Emily’s arm, and she scrambled to keep up.
Mr. Travis was lying right where she had left him.
Emily pointed one shaky finger.“He’s—he’s fainted or collapsed or something.”
Big John pushed her back and stepped deliberately in front of her as he moved forward, stopping by the fallen man.
“He’s stinkin’ drunk,” he hissed as he bent over him.“He’s stinkin’ drunk like he always is.”
Emily gasped. She had never encountered a man in Mr. Travis’s condition.
“The scum,” hissed Big John again, raising to his feet and pushing the inert man’s arm to his side with a booted foot.“If he weren’t on yer doorstep, I’d leave him right where he is.” And Big John spat in the grass.
“Is—is he often like—like this?” faltered Emily.