Silent Light, Silent Love by Bobby Hutchinson

Author:Bobby Hutchinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bobby Hutchinson

Despite her reservations, during the following day and the day after that Betsy found herself waiting for James. She developed the photos she’d taken, marvelling at how handsome he was. She had frames she’d made, and she mounted and framed several. She also kept one for herself, guiltily tucking it under her pantaloons in the dresser drawer.

On Thursday afternoon, from her bedroom window, she caught a glimpse of a red tunic coming down the garden walk toward the house, and her heart started to hammer. She tucked stubborn curls back into her bun, checked her face in the mirror and then frantically brushed pieces of thread off of her dark work skirt before hurrying downstairs.

Miss Harriet was just closing the door. She held an envelope which she extended to Betsy. “A policeman brought this for ye just this wee minute, darlin’. Said it was from yer James Macleod.”

Betsy took the envelope, her hands trembling. She knew he was writing to say he’d changed his mind. He wasn’t even courageous enough to come and tell her in person. She thanked her landlady and went hurrying up the stairs, closing the door of her room and sinking on the bed before she could bring herself to rip the envelope open and unfold the single sheet.

Her heart hammered as if it would pound its way out of her chest, and bitter disappointment made her stomach feel sick. A sob bubbled up. She drew in a breath and held it, and then forced herself to unfold the sheet and read it.

My dear Betsy,

Urgent police matters prevent me from keeping my assignation with you this week, but I’m hopeful to be back in a week or two. Unfortunately, I’m unable to judge the length of my absence with any accuracy and beg for your patience. I shall think of you fondly and constantly, and hope so very much that you have reconsidered your position on courtship. If I could give up my hearing to win you, dear Betsy, I would do so without a single regret.

Yours,

James R. Macleod.

She blew out her breath and read it through twice and then again, scarcely able to take in the full meaning. She could hardly believe he would write such a forthright, affectionate letter to her. His honesty and concern that she know why he couldn’t keep his word touched her heart. The final sentence, about giving up his hearing, brought another sob to her throat.

She threw herself back on her bed, holding the note to her heart. She couldn’t deny the powerful feelings James aroused in her, despite her resolution not to be courted by him. A tightly coiled skein of stubbornness and doubt began to unravel in her.

Perhaps she needed to pay attention to what Annie and Rose kept saying, that she was foolish to exclude hearing men when it came to romance. Maybe it was time to trust again, to get to know James better, to find out whether or not their relationship might work despite their differences.

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