The Rescue (15 page)

“Not as much as I do with Penny and Lizzy.” Emma’s reply was a fervent one and her eyes had grown large.

Anne smiled at her, and after Emma smiled back, she transferred her gaze back to the baby.

“He’s so sweet,” the eight-year-old said in a sweet voice of her own.

“Yes, he is,” Anne agreed, glancing over at Emma. “Isn’t it fun when babies finally arrive and you can meet them?”

“Yes, and Mama’s not so tired now.”

“I can see that,” Anne said after she looked over at the group of women visiting in the center aisle of the church, completely unaware that she was the topic of conversation.

“Anne’s birthday is next week,” Judith told Marianne and Lydia.

“Which day?” Marianne asked.

“Sunday.”

“Let’s have a party,” Lydia suggested.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“We can have it at the manse. Whom should we invite?”

The women grew a bit quiet. Lydia peeked around her sister-in-law to see the back of Anne’s head as she bent over to see the baby, and she was struck with one thought:
vulnerable
.

“Let’s keep it small.”

“I think that’s a good idea. How about our three families and the two new families—so we can get to know them?”

“The Allens and the Shepherds?”

“Yes.”

“Good idea.”

The matter settled, the women separated and went on their way. Marianne found Jennings outside talking with several other men. Palmer invited them to lunch and even offered to take their brood in the carriage. Because they were alone, Marianne told her husband of the birthday plans as soon as they were underway.

“Are we inviting Weston?” Jennings asked immediately.

Marianne turned to gawk at him.

“Why did you ask that?”

Jennings shrugged. “Surely it hasn’t escaped your notice, Mari, that Weston’s falling for Anne would be very convenient.”

Marianne’s hand came to her mouth. This was so unlike her spouse that she wanted to laugh, but she could see that he was sincere.

Jennings glanced over and caught her look, causing a smile to tug at the corners of his handsome mouth.

“You’re on the verge of laughter.”

“It’s out of shock, I assure you.”

Jennings didn’t comment; he only smiled and captured his wife’s hand in his larger one and held it in his lap.

Marianne did nothing to disturb the silence for the remainder of the trip, but she was still in shock when she arrived at Tipton. She was mulling on the exchange, or rather trying to, when her sister-in-law approached.

“Palmer thinks we should invite Mr Weston to Anne’s party. What do you think?”

Marianne’s mouth swung open.

“Jennings said the same thing.”

The women stared at each other, unsure of what to do.

“I think this might be something that Judith and Pastor need to decide,” Marianne said at last.

Lydia looked relieved. “You’re right. I’ll send a note to Judith, and then we’ll leave the decision with them.”

Glad to have the matter settled—at least for the moment—both women went in search of the family.

Chapter Eight

Anne heard the knock at the door on Monday morning, but her mind was far away as she walked through the house to see who might be calling. She was snapped back to her Saturday conversation with Mr Weston when she found a coachman on her step. He bowed, handed her a letter, and stood expectantly. She read:

Dear Miss Gadiner,

This is Bert. He has been commissioned by me to attend to your roof. I’m certain you will find his work most satisfactory, but if for any reason you are displeased, send word to me and I will rectify the situation.

I sincerely hope this finds you and your father well. Please let me know if I can be of further service.

R. Weston

Anne read the missive over twice before looking into the kind eyes of the servant before her.

“Shall I go to work, miss?”

“Yes, please,” Anne couldn’t help but respond to the cheerfulness in his voice.

“Very good, miss. If you’ll just show me the spot.”

“Of course.”

Anne led the way outdoors, stopping at the corner of the house and pointing to the spot on the roof, the one that seemed to be growing each day.

“I see it there,” Bert spoke with confidence. “Shouldn’t be any problem at all.”

With that he went to work, and Anne got out of his way. She went indoors but found she no longer wanted to linger over her cup of tea. She read the letter twice more, studying the neat, bold hand, and for just a moment allowed herself to think on the man himself.

It was simply too bad that she had met Mr Weston under such trying circumstances and that her own situation was so unenviable because he was one of the most amiable men she’d encountered in a long while.

Anne caught sight of a jagged nail on her left hand just then, her heart sinking low at the sight of it. She was a gentleman’s daughter, but that was a well-hidden fact these days.

Before she could start to inspect her dress or fuss over her rough skin, Anne began to wash the breakfast dishes. There was no point in crying for things that could not be.

Not to mention,
Anne said to herself,
you’re not getting any younger, and eyes made puffy from crying will only add to that point.

“Did you get my note?” Pastor asked Weston the moment he saw him on Sunday.

“I did, thank you.”

“Are you going to be able to join us?”

“Certainly, I wouldn’t miss it. I did pick up a small gift, but I wasn’t sure what you had planned.”

“Let me check with Judith to be certain, but I believe we have a gift for Anne as well.”

Weston nodded and Pastor went on his way, the service scheduled to begin in less then ten minutes.

Weston took a seat and tried to read his Bible to prepare his heart for the morning, but he was distracted. His eyes strayed around the room several times and often to the door. He wasn’t certain, but it didn’t appear as though Anne were present. He wondered if Pastor knew that. A small frisson of fear spiraled through him when he thought about Anne at home. He knew her father was often about, but that man did tend to wander. What if Anne needed something and no one was there…

Only by the greatest force of will did Weston remain in his seat. At the very least he wanted to find Pastor Hurst and ask him where Anne could be. Working to remember that Anne had gotten along well enough before he had entered the scene and praying for calmness, Weston readied himself to listen to the service when it began. Nevertheless, it did his heart a world of good to see Anne slip into church about halfway through the service.

“Happy birthday, Anne.” Judith greeted her friend and gave her a warm hug the moment the sermon ended and she found her near a back pew.

“Thank you, Judith.”

“I didn’t see you at first and worried that something would keep you away from lunch at the manse.”

Anne smiled. “Father remembered my birthday and wanted to talk, so I was late.”

Judith’s mouth opened and Anne laughed.

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“Yes! Did you invite him to lunch?”

“I did, but he didn’t answer.”

“What a nice birthday surprise, Anne,” Judith went on warmly. “I’m so pleased for you.”

“It was very nice, and the most exciting part about it was that I’ve been reading in 2 Kings where the widow’s oil fills all the jars. I was so struck by Elisha’s words to the widow when he told her to gather the jars. He said, ‘borrow not a few.’”

“Why were you struck by that?” Judith said, momentarily forgetting it was her job to get Anne to the manse.

“It just reminded me of expectations. I often come to God expecting only a thimbleful of blessing. The widow didn’t really know what Elisha was about, so his telling her she needed many jars was appropriate. On the other hand, I know what a big God I have, but I wouldn’t expect to need many jars. I would assume God had very little for me when He might have much.

“And then this morning when Father gave me birthday greetings, I realized I haven’t been trusting in the big God I have. I don’t ask God for much. I don’t believe the way I should.”

Judith put her hand on the younger woman’s arm. “How blessed you are, Anne, to see this. How wonderful God is to show us where we lack. I’m so pleased for you. I’ll be praying that this is only the beginning. I’ll be praying that you keep seeing how big our God is and recognizing all the ways He demonstrates it.”

It was a sweet moment, one between special friends that certainly would have ended in another hug, but Anne’s stomach rumbled just then. She giggled when Judith laughed.

“I just realized that Father and I talked right past breakfast.”

“In that case,” Judith stood with a mission, “I think it’s time to get you some lunch.”

Anne stood to join her. She was not going to argue with that.

“They’re coming!” Pastor Hurst said in excitement as he shot back into the dining room.

“Which direction?” Margaret Hurst asked.

“The kitchen.”

The group moved as one to the side of the room that would keep them out of sight the longest. Just two minutes later, their voices coming ahead of them, Judith and Anne appeared in the doorway and the group shouted birthday greetings.