Within the Candle's Glow (26 page)

Jim wiped his hands on the front of his shirt. “So?” He turned to watch the next set of dancers square off and face their partners. “How about if I look this way?”

“Sarcasm will get you nowhere. I’d say you prefer fall colors to blue.” A faint, sad smile touched her pale lips. She tucked her cool hand in the bend of his elbow.

“Depends if you’re talking about eyes or
dresses
.” He patted her hand and noticed how paper thin her skin had grown. Gray threads interlaced her dark hair, turning it whiter. His chest tightened around his heart. Life couldn’t be slowed. He had gotten older, and his mother appeared more delicate and vulnerable.

“
Dresses
, my son.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Samuel loves her.”

“Mother, I know it.”
Don’t my feelings matter?

“I wonder what’s in Ella Dessa’s heart?” Her fingers almost pinched his arm. “I watch her eyes. They twinkle and light up when Samuel’s teasing her or talking to her. They understand each other. They fight and make up, equally fast. But—”

“But what?” Jim got hold of her hand and drew her aside, away from others. “Mother, give me some hope.”

“And break your brother’s heart?” Her eyes darkened with a touch of overwhelming misery. “This must play out with one or two hearts broken. Sophie seems like a nice girl. I can tell she cares for you. Lately, you’ve given her hope by calling on her. People in the cove are whispering about a spring wedding. I hear them. They expect an announcement of sorts from her family.”

Jim ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve no intentions of asking her to marry me—not now, maybe never. Mother, she’s pretty. Her family treats me like a king. But even the sound of Ella’s voice draws my eyes away from Sophie. So, it’s
not
love I feel for Sophie. If it weren’t for Samuel—”

His mother nudged him in the ribs and pointed at the barn door. “Step outside.”

“Mother, you’ll freeze.” He wrapped an arm about her shoulders and noted her thinness.

“I won’t freeze,” she said, leaning against his side, accepting his warmth. “I noticed Ella Dessa didn’t freeze when she and Samuel stepped out.”

“Thanks, Mother.” He gritted his teeth, imagining Ella wrapped in his brother’s arms, her full lips pressed against Samuel’s. “They returned holding hands.”

His mother nodded. “I bet Samuel and Ella Dessa hold hands when they’re walking and talking, but that doesn’t mean much in the design of things. They’re still like two childhood friends—at least on Ella Dessa’s part. Though, I do believe my younger son has other intentions and other reasons to grasp her hand and take her outside.”

“You make my heart hurt,” Jim whispered.

They stood a short distance from the outdoor fire. The light from the jumping flames lit his mother’s narrow face and added a faint blush to her skin. A smile trembled on her lips.

“I loved your father so much, I would’ve died for him.” She lifted her shawl to cover her hair and ears. “But we were as different as night and
day. Ella Dessa is strong but gentle. You are sometimes hotheaded but kind. Ella Dessa has God planted firmly in her heart. You drift, Jim. You resist God’s call for your whole awareness.”

“I’m working on it, Mother. I’ve talked with Ella about my willfulness. She helped me. I know I’ve run from God’s desire to control all of me—mainly my temper. I’ve tried so hard to do it on my own. She pointed it out to me. So, I’ve talked to God the last few weeks and worked on my anger at Duncan and Samuel. I’m not saying it isn’t an uphill battle, but I’m gaining ground.”

“Yes, you are. Son, I’ve noticed.”

“Thank you, Mother. I needed to know that.”

“God loves you, Jim. You’ve struggled with a temper all your life. I guess He made you that way. I’ve seen a change. You now respond to Samuel and others with love. Duncan’s the remaining burr in your saddle.”

He could hear the smile in her voice, and he chuckled. “Mother, I could say the same of you.”

She laughed. “How
true
. Duncan, my poor wandering son, makes my heart twist and my hair grow white. I wonder where he is, where he sleeps, and if he’s still alive. I hear awful things about the Seminole Indians and the bloody battles down there.”

Someone stuck his head out the door. “Anyone wantin’ to bid on baskets best come in.”

Jim hugged his mother. “I’m going to try bidding,” he muttered. “I can pretend I thought it was Sophie’s. Then Ella’s basket will be mine. It means eating together and talking.”

“Oh, dear.
Poor Sophie
. And my sons will bid against each other?”

“Afraid so.” He walked her back inside. “Wish me luck?” He bent and kissed her cool cheek.

“No.”

Jim grinned. “Then sit and watch, but don’t help Samuel cheat.” He wove his way through the men and tried to slip close to the stage, where Walter held up the first basket. It had a quilted cover hiding the food inside.

“What’s the bid for this heavy basket?” Walter weighed it in his hands and sniffed at it. “Why, I do believe I smell a blueberry cobbler and … sure ‘nough … roasted turkey!”

Everyone laughed and the bidding began. Jim circled the men collected in front of Walter. Ella had retreated to stand beside Grace
and Konrad. She smiled at something his sister said and raised her blue eyes in time to meet his. Surprise registered on her lovely face, but she smiled sweetly at him.

He couldn’t resist being in her presence. He hastily strode to her side and reached to shake Konrad’s hand. “I wanted to congratulate you on your choice of relatives.”

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Konrad beamed. “I recognized something special about her, right from the first.”

“We all know she’s special.” Jim turned to Ella. “Need to ask you something.” He imprisoned her warm hand and pulled her away from the rest. “
Quick
, give me a hint about your basket.”

A rosy glow graced her cheeks, but a gleam of delight lit her blue eyes. “Jim, it surely wouldn’t be fair. Would it?” Her voice held a teasing note. Her fingers squeezed his and didn’t pull away. “Let’s just say, I love the color of my dress.”

“There you are!” Sophie approached and jealously tucked her hand in the bend of Jim’s elbow. Her grip tightened and pulled.

“Sophie, I—” He felt Ella jerk her hand away.

“Come with me.” There was a cute pout on Sophie’s full lips. “Jim, they’re
bidding
. Come on.” She smiled at the others standing nearby and then faced Ella. She placed her free hand on the curve of her hip. “We were all dazed to hear the
news
, but life does go on, in spite of
sin
, doesn’t it? When do you move in with your new father and his …
wife
?”

Ella’s whole body stiffened. Her face went dead white. Jim heard her quick intake of breath. Instantly his jaw clenched. With disdain, he peeled Sophie’s possessive fingers from his arm and shirtsleeve. He faced her.

“You should go make sure
someone wants
to bid on your basket.”

“Why—Jim, what do you mean?”

Her deep-brown eyes flashed with hidden fury, but he said, “You don’t want to eat alone. Do you?”

“I won’t! Mine’s not a basket. It’s a box, a
store-bought
one.” Sophie stepped to one side and faced Ella with an undisguised look of dislike. “How
nice
—the color of your dress matches your freckles!” With a flounce of her skirt, she whirled and stomped away.

Ella’s blue eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Oh, Jim, she—she’s upset. You should—”

“I shouldn’t do anything except go see if I can pick out
your
basket.”

He hurried away, fuming at what Sophie had said. It boiled in his
veins, but he found a spot among the other men. He clenched his jaw in determination.

Samuel appeared and nudged his elbow. “I saw the box Sophie’s brother brought in. Ethan didn’t try to hide it. Want to know where it is?”

“
No
.”

“No? Well, it’s the one with the huge blue bow. Who could miss it?” Samuel grinned good-naturedly. “I hear her mother’s a great cook. Sophie
hates
to cook. You should be able to enjoy the meal with her. I bet her mother cooked—”

“Will you be quiet and pay attention to the bidding?”

Walter grasped a grapevine basket in his large hands. A riot of flaming color, formed by dried autumn leaves, decorated the handle. “Now, this one.” The older man paused to peek under the unbleached muslin cover. “Oh, my! This one has fried chicken, buttermilk pie, baked squash, and—I won’t tell you!” He lifted it high above his head. “What’s the startin’ bid?”

Just as Walter swung the basket to his right, Jim caught a glimpse of a thin rust-colored ribbon woven among the leaves.
Ella’s new dress.
He started to call out a bid, but a movement and a shouted bid to his left caused heads to jerk in that direction.

“Twenty pennyweight!” a deep, familiar voice yelled.

“
Josh
.” Samuel groaned in disbelief.

The lanky, longhaired man stepped toward Walter and lifted a dirty leather pouch. “Twenty pennyweight an’ this here pebble.” In his hand lay a rounded piece of gold—slightly smaller than a peppercorn.

Samuel punched Jim’s shoulder. “Where’d he come from? He wasn’t here earlier. Jim, I know that’s Ella Dessa’s! Look at the piece of material. I can’t beat that bid.”

Walter faltered and lowered the basket to his side. “That’s
quite
an offer. I believe you bought it, unless there’s another gentleman willin’ to bid against you.”

People hesitated and then started clapping.

Walter’s face paled to match the white of his beard. He handed over the basket and accepted the pouch and tiny ball of polished gold. “Miles? Will you come take this?” He acted like he wanted rid of it.

Jim clenched his fists and came close to swearing, but he understood he couldn’t match Josh’s astonishing bid. He scowled at Samuel and hissed through clenched teeth, “Where’d he come from?”

Samuel shook his head—a woebegone look on his face.

Walter lifted the next basket and called for a bid.

Jim turned to search for Ella. Her white face told him what he already surmised. The basket was hers, and she saw it placed in Josh’s eager hands.

Josh clutched the basket in front of him and circled around the assembly of men. The piece of rust-colored ribbon fluttered in the chilly breeze drifting in through the open barn doors. A slanted grin stretched the width of his narrow face, and his coal-colored eyes locked themselves on the girl’s figure.

“We got to do somethin’.” Samuel pivoted on boot heels. “Jim, look at her face. She’s sick to her stomach.”

“I know.” He headed for Josh, and Samuel stuck close to his side. Then he stopped and shook his head.

Behind them, the bidding went on. Walter’s voice rang with the escalating bids for a larger basket.

“What?” Samuel said.

“We
can’t.
I’ll kill him with my bare hands. Just stand by and watch him like an eagle. One wrong move and
together
, we’ll take him down. I won’t have him even touching her.”

“I’m with you, brother. I say let’s go visit with Konrad.” Side by side, they walked to where Grace stood next to Konrad.

Josh had handed the basket to Ella. White-faced, she nodded. She held it away from her body as if the homemade basket had transformed into something loathsome.

Miles and Leona moved to stand near her. Jim saw his mother leave a gathering of women and pull Velma with her. Carrie forgot about her own basket and joined them. He grinned at the determined, stern masks on the female faces. Josh wouldn’t be near Ella without a crowd around him.

Peggy grabbed two more friends and joined the mix. Laura Stuart’s irritating voice clamored about how they all wanted to see what delicious things Ella had baked. Laura’s daughter, Katy, gave Samuel a sad and questioning look but joined her mother.

With a trembling smile of thanks, Ella gazed at the female support group. She indicated an empty bench alongside the barn wall. “Josh, we could sit over there. It’s much too cold outside, even by the fire. I might take a chill.”

Samuel shook Konrad’s hand but raised his voice and blurted out,
“Looks like Josh wanted good fried chicken. Too bad he overbid for it.”

Josh’s jaw muscles tightened. His thick eyebrows drew together, but he meekly followed Ella to the indicated bench.

Jim snickered at his brother’s sarcastic remark but worried Josh might get even. Elbowing Samuel, he said, “Little brother, why don’t you go find me a cup of cider?”

“Cross my palm with
gold
, and I might.” Samuel winked at Grace. “Hey, don’t you think big brother’s becoming too bossy?”

Grace lifted a finger to her lips and shushed him. “It’s better to serve.”

“Oh,
right
.” Samuel rolled his green eyes.

Jim watched him walk away and took notice of his glances at Josh and Ella. Even Miles’s vexed frown wasn’t lost on him. The man spoke loud enough for those close by to hear.

“Leona and I have asked Ella Dessa to spend the night with us at Konrad’s—as a family. Velma, I hope it’s all right with you.”