Chapter Ten
Hannah gasped as she watched the woman Garrett was talking to suddenly slap him across the face from the window. Amanda, who had Rebecca on her lap and Maria by her side, both talking excitedly to her, looked up from them and asked, “What’s wrong, honey?”
Hannah looked from Amanda to the window again, just in time to see the woman drive the buggy away in a cloud of dust. She turned back to Amanda, her lips pressed tight together as her shoulders drew taut.
She wasn’t sure what was wrong, but something was surely amiss; and whatever it was, she couldn’t talk about it in front of the children.
As if Amanda understood, she smiled down at Rebecca and Maria kindly.
“Girls, why don’t you go out to the barn and ask Garrett for some corn husks, hmm? I’ll teach you how to make them into dolls,” she suggested.
Both girls excitedly agreed, and a few seconds later, Hannah was left alone with Amanda in the kitchen.
“What happened, honey?” Amanda gently asked as she came over to Hannah, “What did you see?”
Hannah glanced out of the window again. Garrett was still standing there in front of the barn, stock still as he watched the buggy drive away.
“That other woman,” Hannah began, feeling her insecurities thrash against her heart, “She just struck Garrett. And he let her.”
By her side, Amanda sighed.
“Ah. Well. First, Garrett would let any woman strike him. He’s not like these other roughnecks around here, he’d never hurt a woman even if she hurt him first.”
Though Hannah took comfort in that, Amanda’s words did nothing to ease the tinge of jealousy rising in her chest. In all their letters, Garrett had never mentioned another woman, but after what she just saw, it was clear that he had some sort of past with the woman that had struck him.
“Who is she?” Hannah asked, “Why would she hit him like that?”
“Come on, honey, sit. I’ll make you tea. I brought some mint from my garden,” Amanda urged.
Though she wanted to stay at the window and keep watch on Garrett, Hannah allowed Amanda to bring her to a chair, and after she sat, Amanda began to speak again as she prepared the tea.
“That was Grace Walker out there,” Amanda explained, “Dean Walker’s little sister. I heard he caused quite the fuss at your wedding.”
Hannah flinched at the still-fresh memory of Dean’s harsh words, but nodded.
“Our poor Garrett has a… a complicated past with the Walkers,” Amanda went on, “You see Dean and Garrett became close friends pretty much the moment they met. Dean and Grace’s Daddy, Henry, didn’t mind their friendship at first, but once Garrett was left the deed to Diamond W Ranch, he got real ugly with Garrett pretty quick.
Said awful things about Garrett not being good enough to have a ranch of his own.
“To make matters even more complicated, Grace decided to set her sights on Garrett. I mean, sure, she had a little crush on him since he was about fifteen or so, but in the last couple of years I think it turned into something stronger. Maybe it was because she really likes him. Maybe it was because she wanted to rebel against her Daddy. I don’t really know, but when Grace decided to talk to Garrett about them getting married, Garrett sat her down real gentle like and told her that he didn’t love her like that.
Nothing to do with her Daddy’s disapproval or nothin’, just that he loved her like a sister, same as he loves me. ”
Unable to help but feel relieved upon hearing that, Hannah looked up in time to see Amanda frown and shake her head.
“I had thought Grace had taken his answer pretty well. She even told Garrett that she wanted to remain friends. That she didn’t want anything to change,” Amanda went on.
“But then a few days ago when our brothers told us about Garrett getting married to you, she got real upset about it. I think… I think she was holding on, you know? Thinking Garrett was one day gonna change his mind.”
“Do you think he will?” Hannah asked, her nerves starting to fray. “Change his mind, I mean?”
Amanda stopped what she was doing and gave Hannah a comforting smile.
“No, honey,” she said softly, “No, I do not. He chose you. He wanted to marry you. Garrett’s not the kind to make such decisions rashly.”
Hannah willed Amanda’s words to comfort her the way they were supposed to, yet even though she was sure her new friend was telling the truth, doubt continued to seep into her heart.
“Grace, I admit, did not give a good first impression,” Amanda went on, then with a dry chuckle added, “I suppose her brother didn’t either.
But they are good people, Hannah. They just worry about Garrett.
But you’ll see. Grace will calm down from her disappointment, and Dean will see that you’re not trying to take advantage of his friend.
It’ll all work out. You just have to give it time and have a little faith. ”
Hannah worried her bottom lip. Faith. An issue she’d struggled with for so very long. Did she have any to spare? Could she trust in God like that?
She looked out the window as Amanda went back to preparing their tea.
Hannah once more looked out the window. Rebecca and Maria were standing beside Garrett now, who was reaching down to give them a small bundle of corn husks.
She kept watching, and a moment later, Isaac approached him.
Though she couldn’t hear what the two were talking about, she watched as, after a moment of conversation, Garrett led him into the barn as the girls came running back to the house.
Just as they reached the porch, Hannah watched as Garrett and Isaac came out of the barn, a stick with a chicken hanging from each side balanced on their shoulders.
They sat down on the large tree stumps outside the barn doors, and began to pluck out feathers.
All of it should have warmed Hannah’s heart. It was proof that Garrett was accepting her family, and that at least most of her family accepted him. Yet as she watched, she grew more wary. Their father had been attentive at one time too, until he grew bored and abandoned them.
Hannah’s fingers tightened around the handle of the tea cup, her thumb worrying the top of it back and forth.
Would Garrett one day abandon them too?
“We got them!” Rebecca shouted, excited and out of breath as she and Maria came back into the house. “We got the corn husks!”
“Excellent, girls!” Amanda replied with equal excitement. “Go take them to your bedroom. I’ll be right there.”
Hannah jerked out of her insecure thoughts as she felt Amanda’s gentle hand touch her back while the other sat down a cup of mint tea.
“Oh, right, the dolls,” she said, starting to get out of her seat, “Um, would you mind if I went outside and took care of some chores while they’re busy with you? I really need to—”
“What you need to do is take a moment to relax,” Amanda gently insisted as she pressed Hannah back into her seat.
“But I-” Hannah started to say.
“I bet you haven’t had a single moment to yourself since you got here, have you?
” Amanda asked, shaking her head. “I can’t imagine how overwhelmed you must feel.
So please. Sit. Enjoy your tea. And when you’re done come get me and the girls, and we’ll help you with whatever you’re taking care of outside. ”
Hannah shook her head.
“I can’t ask you to do that,” she countered, and Amanda laughed.
“Well, what else am I going to do?” She asked, her tone playful, “Grace was my ride home, and I’m not about to interrupt Garrett’s busy day by asking him to take me back. We’ll go later, after we take care of those chores and get a decent supper together.”
Hannah shifted uncomfortably in her chair as Amanda nudged the cup of tea closer to her.
“I’m… I’m not used to this,” she confessed.
“Used to what?” Amanda asked.
Hannah worried the corner of her lip.
“Any of it I suppose… but mostly, I’m not used to having a friend,” she explained.
Amanda’s smile was instant and bright. She leaned down, and squeezed Hannah’s shoulders.
“Well, you’re going to have to get used to it, honey, because we’re friends now, and just like Garrett, I’m going to watch out for you,” Amanda replied. “Now relax. Drink your tea, and seriously, do not worry about Grace or Dean. They’ll come around like I said. They just need time.”
As Amanda headed toward the girls’ bedroom, Hannah did her best to take her new friend’s words to heart and not worry about Grace.
Yet as she was left alone with her thoughts for the first time in a long time, she found herself more worried than ever.
What if Garrett did change his mind? He had every right to do so.
Even if they were married now, having five children on the ranch instead of two would be more than enough to give a man second thoughts.
What if Grace was what he truly wanted? What if the children were going to be too much, and what if, despite her efforts, she couldn’t provide enough support or effort to Garrett’s ranch to make him think their marriage was worth it?
Hannah took a hesitant sip of the mint tea, grateful that one of the gifts in Amanda’s large basket had been a jar of honey. She savored the sweetness of it as it mixed with the sharpness of the fresh mint, wishing that, just like the honey, she could smooth out the sharpness of everyone else.
“Am I supposed to be here?” She whispered aloud, her eyes slowly drifting toward the ceiling.
It had been so long since she prayed; since she’d leaned on God’s guidance.
Now, though, after spending so much time trying to figure out how to rely on just herself, she suddenly felt the urge to speak to Him.
“Show me. Please,” she quietly implored. “Show me if I’m where I’m supposed to be… or if by being here, I’m taking away someone else’s intended husband.”