A Groom for Ruby by Laura Ashwood

Author:Laura Ashwood [Ashwood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-24T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Pastor Collins didn’t show up mid-week, like he said he would. Even a week later, every time Ruby heard a strange noise outside, she’d pull open the door and peer down the road, expecting to see his buggy. She’d allowed her egg basket to nearly overfill, but she’d avoided taking them to town for fear of running into him. She wasn’t sure what delayed his visit, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he came calling. Only a matter of time before Cullen would be on his way. Oh, Ruby knew he would leave eventually, but somewhere in the deepest, most private part of her soul, she hoped he would stay.

Cullen had kept himself busy working outside and in the barn. He’d been back and forth from Henzel’s several times. Ruby suspected he’d been using the sawmill to cut some of the boards he repaired the paddock fence with, as well as the hole she’d blown in the side of the barn the day he’d arrived. She’d thanked God several times since then for her poor aim. There was an easiness about Cullen that Ruby admired. It was like he accepted the day, no matter what fell in his path. They hadn’t talked about that night she’d broken down, but she felt like things between them had changed, if only just a little. She felt more comfortable around him.

Everett was starting to open up more too. After supper was cleaned up, Ruby would read him stories from the Bible. Cullen usually stayed to listen too, and seemed to enjoy hearing them. Everett particularly liked the story about Noah and the animals. He’d also started following Cullen around when he came home from school. Cullen didn’t seem to mind, but Ruby wondered if it was a good idea to let the child become too attached to him. She was mulling that over she heard the distinct sound of an approaching buggy. Her fingers went numb and her heart pounded in her chest. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled the door open.

When she opened her eyes, Ruby was surprised to see that it wasn’t Pastor Collins’s buggy after all. She squinted her eyes and released a breath she hadn’t even been aware she was holding. It was Lotty Gruby, Isaac and Eliza’s mother. She couldn’t imagine why Mrs. Gruby would come to see her. Her stomach clenched. What if something had happened to Everett?

Cullen came out of the barn and also looked to see who was coming. He strode toward the house and stood next to Ruby. She wasn’t sure if he was being protective or curious, but either way, she didn’t mind.

“You expecting company?” he asked.

“No, that’s Isaac and Eliza’s ma, I don’t know why she’s here,” she glanced up at him, trying to gauge his expression. “You don’t think something happened to Everett, do you?”

Their eyes met for a moment before he turned back to the approaching buggy. “I don’t think so, she doesn’t look upset.

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