Place Of Her Own (20 page)

Shelton chuckled.

Urias picked up a plank for the window frame. “If you two aren’t going to get married, why is it so important for us to get this cabin ready right now? Katherine seems to enjoy living with Grandma Mac.”

The cut end of the board fell to the floor. Shelton wiped the sweat from his brow. “While I was praying about our broken engagement, I felt like the Lord was impressing on me to give Katherine what she’s wanted for so long. I don’t believe she wants to be alone. She only thinks she does. But she won’t know that if she’s never given the chance.”

“I reckon you know what you’re doing. But why couldn’t we wait until spring?”

“I’m hoping she’ll come to her senses by then and marry me.”

Urias grinned.

They worked long and hard until noon. “I have to go,” Urias said. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Shelton extended his hand. “Thanks for the help.”

“You’re welcome. It should be ready by next week.”

“I hope so. I still want to bring in some wood or coal for heat.”

“We can help with that.” Urias pulled a small pouch from his pocket. “Pru and I set aside a small amount to help you with the expenses.”

Shelton didn’t want to take the money but knew it would come in handy. “Thank you.”

After a quick meal Shelton went back to work on the log cabin. He had filled all the joints with clay, the roof was on, and the only remaining things to be done were small.

Mac joined him for three hours in the afternoon. By dinnertime Shelton put away his tools and headed for home.

As he arrived at the old farmhouse, he couldn’t help but think of Katherine. She’d gone out of her way to work on the place and get it ready for him and his parents.
Lord, she has a wonderful heart. Please help her get past this overwhelming fear.

In the barn, he checked on Kate and the twins. His gut tightened another notch as he remembered the night Katherine helped with the delivery. He brushed the dust off his clothes before entering the house.

His mother stood by the kitchen stove. “Did you have a good day, son?”

“We got a lot accomplished.”

“Good. Your father’s in the den. He’d like to speak with you. We’ll be eating in thirty minutes. Be sure and clean up before you come to the table.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Shelton collected his thoughts as he walked to the den. His father sat in a high-backed stuffed chair that Katherine had refinished. “Mother said you wished to speak with me.”

“Yes. I must confess I’ve been rather displeased with your desire to marry Kate.”

“Katherine,” Shelton corrected.

Hiram Greene nodded and motioned for Shelton to take a seat. “And when you pushed me to apologize on Christmas, I admit I was doing it to please you, not because I agreed with it. But your mother and I have been doing a lot of talking lately. She’s a wise woman.”

Shelton could imagine his mother giving his father a piece of her mind. He’d been on the receiving end of her lectures many times. It seemed strange that she’d never spoken to her husband in the same way.

“I’m a proud man, Shelton, so this isn’t easy for me. But …” Hiram stopped.

“Father?”

“What I mean to say is, what can I do to make things right between you and Katherine?”

If only Katherine could hear this.
“I still think you should apologize to her. But as for our relationship—it’s in the Lord’s hands.”
And Katherine’s.

“Very well. But if there’s anything else I can do, let me know.”

“Thanks, Dad. Mother said dinner would be ready in thirty minutes. Guess I’d better wash up.” Shelton excused himself and went to his room. He poured water into the basin, then stripped off his soiled clothes and tossed them in a heap.

Washed and refreshed, he dressed in a clean set of white flannels, dark trousers, and a white shirt. With his hair semidry, he combed it back. After a quick examination in the mirror he decided he looked more like he was heading for Sunday morning vespers than for dinner with his family. Dressing up for the evening meal had been a regularity back in Hazel Greene, but since moving to Jamestown, the occasions had been few.

He went downstairs and was about to enter the dining room when a knock on the front door distracted him. He pulled the door open. His heart stopped.

Katherine didn’t know whether she was shaking more from fear or the cold, but seeing Shelton standing there all dressed up made her want to leap into his arms. “Katherine.”

She fought the desire to jump into his embrace. “Hi.” Shelton beamed. “Come on in.”

Katherine squeezed her eyes shut and braved the step over the threshold of Shelton’s home. Her legs wobbled but somehow managed to move forward.
Why does it have to be this hard?

“We’re about to eat dinner. Would you like to join us?” “No, no. I can come back.” Katherine spun around. Shelton grabbed her wrist. His light touch crumbled her resolve.

“I just came to say I’m sorry, Shelton. And I miss you.

But …”

“Honey, I told you I would wait.” He inched closer.

Katherine wanted to nuzzle into his embrace. But she hesitated. She’d felt guilty all day. She couldn’t change her feelings toward his father, or calm her fears. They came from a place where she had no control. They sprang up in her even when she didn’t want them to.

Shelton caressed the back of her neck with his fingers. “I love you.”

She collapsed in his arms. Tears ran down onto his shirt. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of his cologne. “I wish I could love you back,” she mumbled.

“You will. Give it time.” Shelton pulled back slightly. “Your log cabin will be ready by the end of the week. You’ll have your dream home, Katherine, a place all to yourself, just like you wanted.”

Katherine wept so hard she couldn’t speak.

“Mother,” Shelton called out, “you and Father go ahead and start the evening meal without me.”

Katherine sensed his parents watching from the next room. She should probably stand up straight and remove herself from his shoulder. But nothing mattered at this moment except being in the loving embrace of the man she loved.

Shelton drove her back to Grandma Mac’s home. They didn’t talk. She knew Shelton was a patient man. She’d watched him work with his horses, firm yet never getting cross. A quiet strength seemed to emanate from him.

She drew on that strength to help her gain the courage to leave the wagon and enter Grandma Mac’s home. He walked her to the door and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Good night, Katherine. I’ll see you soon.”

She entered the darkened house and went straight to her room. She couldn’t face Grandma Mac tonight. She couldn’t face herself. She’d gone to Shelton’s house to make things right between them. But how could she when fear wrapped its stringy threads around her heart?

Three days later Katherine moved into her own house. Every member of the family came to help her settle in. She found traces of everyone’s handiwork around the new log cabin. It had been a labor of love.

She had received the desire of her heart. But after her first night in the log cabin, she felt more alone than ever before.

A knock on the front door sent her running. She smiled excitedly, expecting Shelton. She opened the door to Hiram Greene. Her smile dropped. “May I come in?”

She held on to the doorknob. “What can I help you with, Mr. Greene?”

“I came to apologize.” “Pardon?”

“Please let me come inside, Katherine. There are some things you should know.”

Katherine took in a deep breath and stepped aside. “Can I get you some coffee? Tea?”

“No, thank you. I’ll get right to the point.”

Hiram admitted his guilt with regard to her position in society and asked her forgiveness for every inappropriate thing he’d ever said to her. “Please forgive me. I see now that you and Shelton have a special love. I hope it’s not too late.”

Katherine’s voice caught in her throat. “I forgive you.” What else could she do? God required it. She told Urias she had done it. So why did it seem so stiff and forced?

Hiram smiled and gave a curt nod of his head. “I’ll be on my way then. Thank you for your time, Miss O’Leary.”

Katherine followed her unexpected guest to the front door and watched as he climbed into the saddle and rode away. Her world seemed to spin. One moment she thought she was doing what was best. Then it all fell back in her lap. She had to decide if she could truly forgive Hiram Greene and trust Shelton and his love enough for them to build a marriage.

But she hadn’t seen Shelton much since Christmas morning. Had she gone too far? Would he still take her back?
Lord, I’ve made such a mess of my life. Please help me.

The next month was the hardest one Shelton had ever lived through. Every fiber of his being wanted to be with Katherine, but he still felt the Lord was asking him to wait. And he had, even after he knew that his father had spoken with her and apologized. Still, she didn’t come. For days he tried to conjure up ways they could “accidentally” meet, but he knew he shouldn’t.

Urias and the others checked on Katherine in her new home from time to time, and she visited with Grandma Mac nearly every day. Yet she still kept her distance from him.
Why?
It didn’t make sense, at least not to his way of thinking.

He spent a lot of time with his horses. The twin foals were growing every day. Mr. Crockett purchased the colt, although Shelton would continue to raise them for a time.

Shelton saddled Kehoe and rode to the spit of land overlooking the Cumberland River. “Forgive me, Lord, but I can’t wait any longer. I have to know what she’s thinking, what she’s feeling.” He turned Kehoe in the direction of Katherine’s log cabin. He saw her a little ways ahead, sitting on a large boulder overlooking the river.

“Katherine!” he hollered.

She smiled and waved.

Shelton jumped off Kehoe and hustled up to the side of the rock. “What are you doing here?”

“I come here to pray sometimes.” She looked at her folded hands in her lap. “Your father came to see me.”

“He spoke with me after he visited you.” He sat on the rock beside her.

“I’ve missed you,” she confessed.

Renewed hope surged through his heart. “I’ve missed you, too. How’s your new cottage?” “Horrible.”

“Horrible? What’s the matter? You should have told me sooner. I would have come and fixed whatever the problem is.”

She let out half a chuckle. “No, you can’t fix this, Shelton. It’s me. I’ve found that I don’t like living alone.”

Shelton raised his eyebrows. “Ah, Katherine, I can fix that. Just give the word and we’ll marry.”

She took his hand. “I know. That’s why I didn’t come to you. God gave me the desire of my heart to have my own home. I felt I should live there for a while and make peace with my mistakes.”

“Mistakes?”

She raised her fingers to his lips. “I wanted my own place for selfish reasons. I wasn’t appreciating everything the Lord had already given me. I was taking it all for granted, complaining, murmuring like the Jews on their way to the Promised Land from enslavement in Egypt. I’ve been trying to learn to be content with what I have and what’s been given to me. I can’t be a good wife to you if I’m not content with myself.”

“I respect that. But wouldn’t it be better if we spent time with each other, and with my family, in order for you to be comfortable with them and with me?”

“That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to get up the courage to ask you.”

Shelton pulled her to himself. “I love you, Katherine,” he whispered as his lips captured hers.

As the passion rose, she placed her hands on his chest and pushed back some. “I love you, too.”

“Then tell me you’ll marry me.”
Please don’t push me away again.

Slowly she raised her head and leveled those incredible green eyes with his. “I will.”

He pulled her closer and held her so tight he feared he’d break her ribs. He relaxed his grip. “When?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Today?”

“If you wish.”

“Really?” He jumped up. “Come, let’s tell the family.” He reached down to help her up.

She continued to sit. “I have something to ask you first.”