The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [10]
Five days had gone by since John had saved her from the hanging, and he still couldn’t look at her without scowling. Oh, he had his gentle moments, but most of the time she attempted to stay clear of him. At least he hadn’t blackened her other eye. She shouldn’t mind he thought ill of her. Couldn’t blame him either. Despite his constant frown when he came near her, she liked him … in an odd sort of way. She admired how he cared for his family, but he needed to laugh more. So did she.
His brothers teased her about being skinny and slow, except Davis. He was a sweet boy. And Evan really didn’t pick on her as much as Aaron and Mark. So far she’d hidden her identity and had slept on a pallet in the room Davis, Mark, and Aaron shared, being careful to wait until they were in bed before she stepped in. Even then, she slept fitfully, and what if the nightmares returned? How long would she be able to conceal her identity?
What would she do when her womanly time arrived? Sometimes she skipped her monthly visitor, especially if she hadn’t eaten much. One anxious thought after another made her think about running again. If she believed in the God the Timmonses spoke about at mealtimes and evening Bible readings, she’d ask Him to help her out.
A breeze swirled around her bringing the odor of what she shoveled up inside her nostrils. She smelled just as bad.
Late afternoon, Bert stood back and surveyed her work. Warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with summer’s temperatures but everything to do with satisfaction of a job nearly completed. She could live like this forever.
Footsteps swished through the grass behind her. Instinctively, she panicked and swung around, certain it was Simon. Evan stood in the afternoon shadows. He must look like his pa, because he didn’t share the same traits as Leah or John.
He eyed her curiously. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Wanted to let you know we take a bath on Saturday night. After supper, we fill up the watering trough or head to the creek.”
Apprehension raced up her spine. How could she manage a bath without one of the Timmonses learning the truth? “I don’t need a bath.”
Evan laughed, and his light blue eyes held a sparkle of mischief. “Take a long sniff at yourself. It’s bad, just like the rest of us. No point refusing. It’ll only get you tossed in with your clothes on.” He anchored his thumbs on his jeans. “You’re doing a fine job, Bert. We all tease you ‘cause we like you. That’s the way it is with the Timmons boys.”
She nodded as he walked away. Bullfrogs and black crows. She’d gotten herself into a fine mess. She’d learned from Leah that Evan was seventeen too. This was not good. Not good at all. She turned her attention back to the job at hand while misery swirled inside her. They’d all find out this evening if she didn’t come up with a plan before then. She figured John would thrash her for sure and take her back to Oberlander for Leon to teach her another lesson.
Bert ached more in her heart than in her body. Lies and more lies. She’d become as low and ugly as her brothers. One shovel after another filled the wheelbarrow until she headed out again to the manure pile. Rowdy came bounding across the pasture, his tail wagging, and a happy greeting in his step. Aaron had told her the dog was an Australian shepherd, a big help with the cattle. She patted his head and then leaned on the shovel.
“Rowdy, do you have any idea what kind of trouble I’m in?” With a sigh, she emptied the wheelbarrow onto the huge mound. “You’re pretty lucky. You don’t have to explain anything to folks or conjure up lies.”
She massaged her back and peered up at the mountains. So beautiful, like a promise no one broke. She stared at the varying shades of silver gray rock mixed