Chapter 9 #2
“My father always said it’s best not to go looking for trouble. It’ll come to you in time, so be on your guard.”
“I’ve got no plans for seeking it out. For now, I’m just getting the lay of the land. Your father is keeping me on the good side of town to break me in.”
“Well, I’d better get on my way. Bible study with the men is at eight. Sorry you couldn’t be there today. We meet at the Deckers’ school, and Mrs. Decker makes the most delicious breakfast for us.”
“I’ll be there next week. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.
Never been involved in a men’s Bible study.
Should be quite interesting.” Spencer gave him a nod, then parted company, heading to the left when Robert went right.
He seemed to be a likable fellow. Carrie spoke of him as a reasonable, smart, and loving brother.
In fact, the entire family could be described that way.
Spencer couldn’t say that any of them gave him a sense of foreboding or trouble.
Not that he’d expected they would. That made it all the harder to imagine how they might react once they learned the real reason he was here and found out he and Carrie weren’t intending to stay married after he caught Astor.
Carrie came down to breakfast only to find everyone gone with exception to her mother. Mama sat reading the newspaper and sipping a cup of coffee that had been heavily creamed.
“Good morning. Where is everyone?”
“Well, Spencer had street duty, as you probably know. Your father and Robert are at the men’s Bible study. Greta has a cold, and I told her to stay in bed and sweat it out. I told Rosie to stay home since we have sickness here. No sense in her coming down with the cold as well.”
“She’s already been in close contact with Greta, so if it’s something contagious, she’s already been exposed.
” Carrie reached for a biscuit, then noted her mother had also made sausage gravy.
“I haven’t had biscuits and gravy since I left home.
What a treat. I remember how much I looked forward to this on cold mornings.
” She broke up the biscuit on her plate as her mother put the paper aside.
“We have it at least once a week, during the winter especially. Sometimes more often than that.”
“I remember Papa was always quite fond of it.” Carrie ladled gravy onto her biscuit and smiled at the memory. She bowed her head for a brief, silent prayer, then went to work on the treat.
From the first mouthful, Carrie couldn’t help sending her thoughts back in time.
She remembered Mama teaching her how to make the gravy with sausage drippings.
After a little salt and flour, she would pour cream into the pan, and once it thickened up, they would put the cut-up sausage back into the pan and add pepper. It was always so rich and delicious.
“With everyone else gone, I thought you might explain to me what’s really going on with you,” Mama said, wasting no time. “This is the first chance we’ve had to be alone, so you have no reason to remain silent.”
Carrie paused and looked at her mother. “I haven’t been silent. I told you about Oswald’s duplicity.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t explain the rush to marriage with a man you never even mentioned in your few letters home.”
“I never wrote you about much of anyone in Chicago. Not even Oswald. I didn’t see the need. You met Rebecca and her mother and aunt when you visited last year.”
“And spent time with Oswald rather than Spencer. You can’t fool me. This marriage to Spencer is much more sudden than you want to let on. Was there a need for it?”
Carrie stiffened. “Are you asking if I’m with child? The answer is no, so stop worrying that your reputation will be ruined.”
“I’m not worried about my reputation, Carrie. What a thing to say. I just want to know the truth of why you married so quickly without even giving yourself time to recover from your engagement to Oswald Nelson.”
Carrie felt bad for her response. She hadn’t meant to be abrasive. Her mother and father had probably already discussed the matter at length, and while Carrie couldn’t give away all that was going on, she needed to say something to put her mother’s mind at ease.
She smiled. “Spencer has been in my life for over a year. I didn’t pay him much attention because I was already committed to Oswald.
However, upon reflection, Spencer was the one I was always talking to.
At least about things other than those pertaining to my research and work.
Spencer and I had such an easy friendship.
We worked together at the theater and often went out with others after rehearsals.
Inevitably, we ended up being together.”
“But you were engaged to Oswald. Didn’t he object to you keeping time with another man?”
“Oswald never paid much attention to anything but my medical findings. His focus was the work we were doing. He would take me out to dinner from time to time and occasionally to the opera or a wealthy donor’s party, but for the most part our relationship revolved solely around our work.
You even noted that when you came to visit.
It did give me pause to consider whether we were suited to each other in a married capacity, rather than just a working relationship. ”
“I didn’t think you paid me much mind on what I said back then.”
“Just because I didn’t react about something doesn’t mean I didn’t hear you and take the matter under advisement.”
Mama studied her for a moment, and Carrie quickly took another bite of the biscuits and gravy. She knew her mother sensed she was leaving something out, but Carrie could hardly tell her about Spencer’s job. Not until he was ready to reveal the details himself.
“Still, it hasn’t been that long, and you up and marry another.”
“You married Papa without much consideration.”
“To save you, in part.”
“Yes, but also because you knew it was the right thing to do. You told me you felt certain God had led you to do so. I feel certain God has led me to do the same. If you can’t have any faith in me, at least have it in God.”
“Carrie! I never said I didn’t have faith in you.” Her mother looked hurt. “I have always believed in your abilities to use good sense and reason. You’re probably the most logical of all my children.”
“Maybe because I’m not really your child.”
“Meaning what?”
“You’re very reasonable and logical, and I am as well.
Maybe we got it from the father we shared.
” Carrie shrugged. “There are studies that such things are transferred to the children from their parents. They’re just starting to really explore this, so there’s nothing fixed on the research.
Of course, environment also plays a strong role in the way children think and act. ”
“You and your studies.” Mama shook her head. “Sometimes things come about because of the heart as well as the head.”
Carrie smiled. Her mother would never really understand her research, but she did understand love.
“I just don’t want you to worry, Mama. God has brought me to this place, and I don’t believe He’ll abandon me now.
I don’t know if I can continue in the research I love and remain in Cheyenne, but for now, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Spencer believes this as well. He’s very solid in his faith, whereas Oswald had none at all.
The man revealed to me not long ago that he truly believed there was no Divine Creator.
That alone caused a cavernous separation between us.
I know I could never have overcome that, although I kept praying God would prove Himself to Oswald. ”
“What a strange train of thought. That God should have to prove Himself to anyone is absurd.”
“I agree, Mama, but Oswald was one of those people who thought the world owed him. Had he believed in God, he would no doubt have thought He owed him as well. I’m quite glad to be rid of him.
His disbelief in God should have caused me to end the relationship first thing.
Instead, it took Oswald betraying me. God forgive me. ”
“He does. Given all that you’ve related, I’m glad you put an end to your engagement as well as your working relationship. A husband should be someone you can trust with your heart.”
“And your soul,” Carrie added. “A husband should be someone who strengthens your faith and encourages its growth in the Lord. You taught me that. And as I’ve matured in my faith, I’ve come to believe that it’s imperative that a husband and wife be in complete agreement regarding who God is and what it means to serve Him. ”
“I could not have said it better.” Mama gave her a look of approval and a nod. “You’d better eat, your food will get cold.”
Carrie was relieved that she had successfully steered the conversation away from why she’d married Spencer so quickly. At least for now, Mama was satisfied with thoughts of Carrie and Spencer’s shared spiritual beliefs.
Of course, there was still Papa to deal with.