He turned to Marybeth. “I’ll be right back.”
He moved toward Inga, leaving Marybeth feeling deserted. How was she to fight for her sister without his support? Pastor Orton had always intimidated her, and she was sure he knew it. She glanced back at him and squared her shoulders. She would just have to be strong.
Pastor Orton shook his head. “You must think of poor Carrie. She has now lost her mother and father. The Wandless couple could provide her with that and give her a life of ease. They have plenty of money, and Carrie would live a life without want.”
Marybeth finally found her voice. “I’m her sister and the only mother she’s ever known. I could never give her away as if she were a doll I’d grown bored with. I pledged to my stepmother and my father that I would always care for her.”
“Marybeth, you need to see reason. You have no way to provide for Carrie. I’m sure you wouldn’t want the law to be involved.”
“What are you saying?” Marybeth fixed the older man with narrowed eyes.
“I’m saying that those who know better might become involved and take matters out of your hands legally. After all, we just want what’s best for your sister. She’s only a babe.”
“I’m what’s best for her, and she’s what’s best for me. We belong together. We’ve lost everything else. How could you be so cruel?”
“It’s not meant to be cruel, Marybeth. If you were to calm a moment, you would see that for yourself.” He reached out to take hold of her arm, but Marybeth pulled back. “Please, I’m only trying to help. Soon you’ll have to find a job, and you won’t be able to do that and care for your sister. There’s a family with the will and means to provide for Carrie. They can give her what you cannot, Marybeth. I’m sure they’d allow you to visit.”
Edward returned just then. “We need to be going.” He took hold of Marybeth and turned her from the pastor’s intense face. “Afternoon, Pastor.”
He led Marybeth to where the wagon stood, horses stomping in the snow and blowing out great clouds of breath.
“Are you all right?”
“He wants to take my sister from me. After everyone else I’ve lost. He wants to take her as well.” A sob broke from her throat, and Marybeth pulled her woolen scarf to her face. “Why did God allow this to happen?”
“I’ve asked myself that over and over about a lot of things.” He helped Marybeth up onto the wagon and then followed her. “He still hasn’t answered me.”
“It’s not my fault or Carrie’s that Mrs. Wandless is barren. I’ve long felt sorry for her, knowing that she wanted children. I’ve even prayed for her. People have suggested they adopt before now, but she’s always put that off, hoping to have her own baby. I don’t know why she suddenly feels the need to rob me of a sister.”
Edward picked up the lines and released the brake. “Busybodies. That’s what they are. Pastor Orton has always stuck his nose in where it wasn’t wanted. He thinks just because he pastors a church that he has the right to be in all the details of his flock’s life.”
“I know what he’s saying makes sense to him.” Marybeth let the tears run down her cheeks. The cold air stung, but she didn’t care. “He’s right that I don’t have any way to provide. Once the money Papa saved is gone, I honestly don’t know what we’ll do. At least he owned the house outright.”
“Then that will come to you and Carrie. I’ll talk to my brother-in-law, if you like. He can handle legal stuff for you since he’s a lawyer. I don’t know if your pa had debts, but I doubt it. He was pretty firm on paying cash.”
“Yes, he was, and I know of nothing that he owed. He wouldn’t even let me run a tab at the grocers’.” Marybeth wiped her face with her scarf. “Oh, Edward, I know you’re hurting too. Pa always said you were like the son he never had.”
“He was always good to me. My pa said he was the best man in Independence.”
“They were good friends. Right to the end,” Marybeth admitted. “I appreciated that you and your pa were pallbearers. I appreciate even more the way you helped Pa when he was alive.”
“He was easy to work with and good to teach me aboutthings I didn’t know.” Edward shook his head. “He always understood my desire to work as an officer of the law. He encouraged me when my pa started nagging me about quitting that work and coming back to help him with the horse farm.”
“Pa had a talent for seeing what a man was cut out to do. He often spoke of what a great deputy you made.”
“I wish my pa could understand like yours did. Raising horses is just not my calling. Inga loves it. Her boys love it too, so there will be someone to continue the family business. But I intend to go on working in law enforcement. I like being a part of the police department in Evansville.”
“That’s because you’re good at it.” Marybeth sighed and huddled down in her woolen coat. “I was sure hoping it wouldn’t turn so cold so soon.”
“Me too. People get mean when it gets cold. You’d think they’d go find a place to stay warm and keep inside, but instead it seems to make them seek attention out of boredom. We arrested three different groups of folks yesterday for fighting.”
They turned down the street where Marybeth’s father had purchased the family house over twenty-two years ago. Back then, the town of Lamasco, as it was called, was only about eight years old. Situated on the west side of Pigeon Creek across from Evansville, Indiana, this community had attracted a vast number of German immigrants, including Marybeth’s mother and father. Marybeth had been the first of their family to be born in America. Her first six years of school had been given in English and German, so she spoke both fluently.
In 1857, the parts of Lamasco that had overflowed to the east side of Pigeon Creek had been incorporated into Evansville, but on the west side of the creek, folks had decided toremain independent of Evansville and changed their name to Independence. Some of the older folks still called it Lamasco, but no one seemed to mind much.
Marybeth remembered when their house had been only one of a handful. Now houses were built side by side, block after block. It had been a wonderful place to grow up, and she’d hoped to give that life to Carrie, but now she wondered if that could still happen.
She looked over at Edward. Their talk of the horse farm seemed to have brought him even lower. “I’m sure your father will understand in time. He loves you.”
