Hoping For Treasure by Bettie Boswell

Author:Bettie Boswell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: contemporary romance, sweet romance, historical romance, miscarriage, adoption, fostering
Publisher: Mt. Zion Ridge Press
Published: 2023-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Dale

1946

Dale shook his head as he fled out the back door. He grew up in a home of mostly men. Ma provided the only feminine influence in their lives. She'd concentrated on teaching her boys morals and manners, but his mother was as hardy as the rest of the family. She had often donned overalls and joined her husband and sons when they farmed the land.

Living in the boarding house with June's flirtations, Margie's dislike, and his confusion about Betsy was new territory. The last few years serving in the military with other men hadn't helped either. He'd avoided the coarse talk in the barracks after having heard things causing his mother's admonitions about morals to beat their way into his conscience. He didn't miss the coarser parts of his years in the service. As he reached the two sheds, he spotted the garden straight ahead. Working the ground again would be a pleasure.

He opened the door to the shed on the right and found several hoes to choose from. One looked freshly sharpened so he grabbed the tool and headed for the vegetable patch. The plot looked well-cared for. As he walked around the edge, he wondered who did most of the work. A few minutes later he located several rows with weeds. He worked quickly and soon had them cleared. The chore brought fond memories of the familiar. Ma and Papa Herbert often sang hymns when they'd all been at home. Without giving his mind a chance to disagree, he began singing "Amazing Grace." He needed some grace for his times of neglecting God during the last few years.

The military had given him a pocket New Testament during his service. There were a few tales about the little book saving someone from a fatal bullet. His faith hadn't been strong enough to believe all the stories were true. He'd stepped back from his once strong belief after news of Joseph's death reached him. There had been no denial of God, only a stepping away.

Dale knew who parted ways. It wasn't the Lord. Sorrow for his brother and survivor's guilt overwhelmed him. Worship became a struggle. He'd avoided it until now. Miss Woodson and his fellow boarders came back from church refreshed each Sunday. The temptation to join them felt as real as the smell of freshly turned soil and the rustle of the corn stalks in the row he had just finished. More than the wind rustled those plants.

Betsy worked on the far side of the corn. He watched as she took her time selecting and pulling ears. The attractive young woman shucked them like a regular farm gal and placed each piece in the pot at her feet. He started whistling an off-tune version of “Beautiful Dreamer” as he approached. There was no need to set her on edge again.

"Hey, Miss Betsy, are we having corn for supper tonight?" He watched her cheeks flame and couldn't stop the grin from forming on his lips.

Her voice was stiff when she answered.

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