The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [17]
John pulled the team of horses to a stop.
Run now while you have the chance. But she remembered his finger pressed under her chin and his promise to come after her if she took off.
“There’s Mr. Oberlander,” Miss Leah said. “He doesn’t miss a Sunday.”
The big man rode their way on the mare Bert had tried to return. She swallowed hard.
“Mornin', Mr. Oberlander,” John said.
Oberlander smiled and removed his hat, a spotless one that looked new. “Mornin', Miss Leah. You too, Miss. Don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Oh, we have.” Bert took a deep breath.
John cleared his throat.
“Are we courtin', John?” Mr. Oberlander grinned.
His face turned the color of the tomatoes from Miss Leah’s garden. “Not exactly.”
Mr. Oberlander craned his neck and greeted the boys in the back of the wagon, his large frame lifting from the saddle. “Did the little horse thief run off?”
Davis stood. “No sir. That’s her sittin’ between Mama and John.”
Mr. Oberlander gaped at Bert for about two seconds and then laughed until he had to wipe his eyes. His weathered face spread full, and folks turned to see what he found so funny. The boys in the back of the wagon joined him, but not John Timmons seated beside her. She felt him stiffen.
“John, you got trouble on your hands now. Better you than me.”
Seemed like a lot of folks were laughin’ at John’s expense. Bert sighed and realized how sorry she felt for him. He’d done a good deed, and too many people were making fun of him.
John lifted his mama down from the buckboard, then reached for Bert. When his arms grabbed her waist, she sensed the heat rising in her neck and face. She must look like a tomato now too.
“I’m sorry about the teasin',” she whispered.
He frowned. But at least he didn’t hit her. He drew in a long breath. “No need to be shakin'.” He noticed? “Church isn’t a place where folks will hurt you.” He said it so softly that only she could hear. “People here love God and want to show it by singing about Him and listening to what the Bible says about how we should live.”
She blinked and nodded. “Thanks. New things bother me.”
“This is the one place you can feel safe. Preacher Waller is a good man.”
She realized he’d spent too much time talking to her quietlike, and he’d invited his brothers and anyone else to begin the teasing again.
Running was so much easier. Being hungry hurt her stomach, but it didn’t make her heart ache for a life she’d never have.
“We have a few minutes,” John said. “Let’s take a little walk until you stop shaking.”
“Your brothers and Mr. Oberlander will tease you.”
His slight smile eased her. “I can handle it.” He turned to Leah. “Save us a place. Bert’s not doing well.”
Leah tilted her head, and a curious look passed over her face. “Don’t be long.”
Bert walked with John across the road to a pasture where a couple of horses grazed. She appreciated that he didn’t touch her, and his stride matched hers and not his. They stopped at the fence while she willed her insides to stop whirling like a twister.
“New experiences sometimes get me flustered.” He stared out over the thick green pasture, just as she was doing. “But the important thing to remember is God wants us in His house, and He doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him. The folks who come are good too.”
She nodded, basking in his gentle tone. John Timmons didn’t resemble her brothers, and she was grateful for his kindness.
“Are you going to be all right?”
“Yes sir. I won’t faint.”
He chuckled, and she liked the sound of it.
Inside the church, Bert sat between Leah and John on wooden benches that were carved on the ends. A large wooden cross mounted on the back wall caught her attention. Questions about what it meant and why it must be important settled on her mind.
With Miss Leah’s presence, she attempted to calm herself. Her left foot tapped against the floor. Leah reached over and placed her hand on Bert’s knee. She needed to simply sit quietly