Chapter Twenty-One
Several days had passed since the moment by the river—since Edith had kissed Daniel, swept up in a rush of unexpected emotion that had been impossible to resist. But after the kiss, Daniel had pulled away, disappearing into the wilderness to trap, leaving her with only her thoughts.
Now, as she rode into town to visit Mary, confusion weighed heavily on Edith.
She missed Daniel in ways she hadn’t foreseen, but it wasn’t just his absence that bothered her.
It was his reaction to the kiss. It had felt right, like something between them had finally shifted.
But when he pulled back, she was left questioning everything.
Did he not feel the same way? Or was there something deeper holding him back?
She bit her lip, unease rising within her. Daniel had always been kind, even gentle, but now it seemed as if he were slipping away. And she didn’t understand why.
As the cart rattled into the outskirts of town, Edith’s thoughts grew darker. She needed to talk to someone—someone who might understand what was happening between her and Daniel, someone who could help her figure out what she had done wrong.
Edith pulled the horse to a stop in front of Samuel and Mary’s place and took a steadying breath.
Each time she neared the saloon, a familiar dread crawled up her spine.
Her eyes darted toward the shadows, half-expecting to see her father’s familiar, looming figure.
She hurried into the Greenes’ apartment above, her heart racing as if he might emerge at any moment.
Knocking on their door, Edith hoped that Mary could make sense of the tangled feelings in her heart. Mary opened the door and greeted her with a warm smile, wiping her hands on her apron as she stepped outside.
“Edith! So good to see you, dear,” Mary said, opening the door and ushering her inside. “Come on in. I was just finishing up with some baking.”
Edith smiled, but it was small and uncertain. She followed Mary into the cozy warmth of the house. The familiar scent of fresh bread filled the air, and though Edith’s stomach grumbled, her mind was too preoccupied to focus on the food.
After they sat at the table, Mary poured tea for them both, her sharp eyes noticing Edith’s troubled expression right away. “You look a little out of sorts today, Edith,” she said gently. “What’s on your mind?”
Edith glanced down at her cup, her fingers tracing the rim nervously. “It’s Daniel,” she admitted after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mary tilted her head, her brow furrowing in concern. “Daniel? What happened?”
Edith swallowed, feeling foolish as she tried to find the right words.
“We were by the river a few days ago, and I… I kissed him.” Her face flushed with heat.
“He kissed me back, but then... he just pulled away. After that, he went quiet, and now he’s been gone for days, out trapping.
” She bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t understand what I did wrong.”
Mary’s expression softened with understanding, but Edith couldn’t help but feel a small sting of humiliation as she waited for Mary’s response.
“You kissed him?” Mary asked, a knowing smile touching her lips.
Edith nodded, her confusion deepening. “But then he pulled away. Why would he do that?”
Mary set her cup down gently. “It’s not about you, Edith. Daniel’s got scars—ones you can’t see. He’s probably scared.”
“Scared?” Edith echoed, bewildered. “Scared of what?”
Mary smiled warmly. “Of opening his heart again. Of feeling something.”
Edith frowned, her confusion growing. “But why would that make him pull back? Don’t people want to be closer when they care about each other?”
Mary chuckled, shaking her head gently. “It’s never that simple, dear. Daniel’s been hurt. Sometimes, the fear of losing someone can cause a man to pull away.”
Edith furrowed her brow, her fingers tightening around her teacup. “But why would he be afraid of me? I’m nothing special, and I haven’t done anything to hurt him.”
“It’s not about what you’ve done,” Mary said softly. “It’s about what he’s been through. Sometimes, it’s hard for a man to let go of the past, even if he wants to.”
Edith chewed on her lip, feeling more lost than ever. She had never imagined love could be so complicated. She hadn’t even thought she would ever fall in love, let alone with someone like Daniel. But now that it had happened, she didn’t know how to make sense of it.
“Do you think he…” Edith trailed off, her voice barely a whisper. “Do you think he could ever feel something for me?”
Mary smiled softly, leaning back in her chair as she studied Edith’s troubled face. “Do you know the story of Ruth, Edith?” she asked gently.
Edith shook her head, her brow still furrowed in confusion. “I’ve heard of her, but I don’t know much about her story.”
“Well,” Mary began, her voice warm and comforting, “Ruth was a woman who had to endure so much pain in her life. She lost her husband, her home, and everything familiar. But she didn’t give up.
She stayed with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and went to a foreign land, not knowing what the future would hold.
She didn’t let the heartbreak and uncertainty drive her away from her faith. ”
Edith listened quietly, her hands folded in her lap as Mary continued.
“Ruth was patient,” Mary said, her eyes thoughtful. “She trusted God, even when things were hard. And because of that patience, God blessed her. She found love again with a man named Boaz. And through that love, she was able to start a new life—one filled with hope and happiness.”
Edith blinked, trying to process the story. “So… she just waited? And things got better?”
Mary nodded. “It wasn’t just about waiting.
It was about trusting God through the hardships.
Ruth kept her eyes on Him, even when everything around her felt like it was falling apart.
She didn’t rush into anything or try to force things to happen.
She let God guide her, and in the end, He brought her to Boaz, a man who loved her deeply and gave her a new life. ”
Edith looked down, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “But what if… what if Daniel doesn’t feel the same way? What if I’m just waiting for something that won’t happen?”
Mary reached across the table, placing her hand gently on Edith’s.
“You don’t know what God has planned for you, Edith.
Sometimes, the detours and mishaps in our lives lead us to our breakthrough.
Just like Ruth, you’ve been through pain, loss, and hardship, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find happiness again.
It just means you have to be patient and trust that God is guiding your path. ”
Edith swallowed, her heart heavy with uncertainty. “I’ve never really thought much about God’s plan for me,” she admitted. “I just… I don’t know what to do. I love him, Mary. I never thought I’d love someone, but I do. And it scares me because I don’t know if he’ll ever let me in.”
Mary squeezed Edith’s hand gently, her eyes filled with understanding. “Love can be scary, Edith. But you’ve already taken a big step by opening your heart. Just remember that, like Ruth, you don’t have to figure it all out at once. Be patient, and let God guide you.”
Edith nodded slowly, her thoughts still spinning, but there was a small comfort in Mary’s words. Perhaps she didn’t have to have all the answers right now. Maybe, just maybe, trusting God and being patient—like Ruth—could lead her where she needed to be.
“Thank you, Mary,” Edith whispered, her voice soft. “I’ll try.”
Mary smiled warmly, patting Edith’s hand. “Good girl. Now, let’s have some tea and see what other blessings might come your way.”
As they sat together, sipping their tea, Edith couldn’t help but think about the story of Ruth, and for the first time in days, a small spark of hope flickered in her chest.
As Edith walked down the steps from the Greenes’ apartment, the fresh air hit her face, a welcome relief after the warmth inside.
She was lost in her thoughts, Mary’s kind words swirling around in her head, giving her some much-needed clarity.
But as soon as her foot hit the street, she collided hard with someone coming around the corner.
Stumbling back, she gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as she looked up—and froze.
Her father stood before her, his eyes bloodshot, his breath reeking of alcohol. The stench hit her like a wave, and her body stiffened immediately. He swayed slightly on his feet, a cruel grin spreading across his face when he recognized her.
“Well, well, look what we have here,” he slurred, his voice sharp with mockery. His eyes roamed over her, cold and calculating. “Where’s that trapper you’ve run off with? Hiding, is he? Too good for the likes of us?” He leaned closer, the stench of alcohol rolling off him in waves.
Edith’s throat tightened, and she couldn’t find her voice.
Her mind raced, trying to come up with something to say, but the words wouldn’t come.
The weight of his gaze, the cruel smirk tugging at his lips—it all sent her spiraling back to the days when she lived under his roof, constantly walking on eggshells, fearing his every outburst.
Her father’s grin faltered, and his bloodshot eyes widened as he leaned in closer, his breath hot and sour against her face. “Wait a minute,” he growled. “You’re not married, are you? You ain’t got no husband. You’re just lying, aren’t you?”
Edith’s heart raced. Her palms began to sweat, and her legs itched to run.
But she couldn’t move, her feet glued to the ground as panic threatened to overtake her.
She had spent her entire life avoiding his wrath, bending to his will, but now—now things were different. She wasn’t his to control anymore.
“I-I need to go,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but the fear was clear in her trembling words.
Her father stepped toward her, his grip tightening around her arm before she could pull away. “What did you say?” he snarled, his voice thick with accusation. “You think you can run away from me? Think you’re too good for your own family now?”
Edith yanked her arm free with all her strength, her heart thundering in her chest. She didn’t say anything, didn’t dare look back as she hurried down the street, her legs shaking as she tried to escape his sneering gaze. She didn’t stop until she turned the corner, the saloon fading from sight.
Her chest heaved as she leaned against the wall of a nearby shop, struggling to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst, her mind reeling from the encounter.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she swallowed them back, refusing to let them fall. She had come so far, built a life away from him, yet even now, he had the power to make her feel like that scared little girl again.
With trembling hands, Edith smoothed the front of her dress and forced herself to breathe deeply. She had to keep moving. She had to get back to Daniel. He was the only thing that made her feel safe now.
With one last glance over her shoulder, she hurried toward the cart, her heart heavy and her thoughts racing. What if her father came after her? What if he found out where she was living? The thought made her shiver.