“My father was always well pleased.” She took a seat at the table beside her sister’s chair. Carrie had already devoured the jam and toast, so Marybeth prepared her another small piece.
“Might we sit?” the judge asked.
“Yes, of course. I don’t mean to be a bad hostess. I simply have a lot on my mind,” Marybeth told the stranger. “We only buried my father just yesterday.”
“Yes, Pastor Orton relayed that information to me.” The man took a chair, and the pastor did likewise. “My condolences.”
“Thank you.” Marybeth didn’t bother to look up.
“Marybeth, I brought along Judge Perkins so that we might discuss the situation regarding your sister. I thought if you had questions about how things might proceed, the judge could give you answers.”
“I thought I made it clear that I wasn’t interested in deserting my sister.” Marybeth handed the toast to Carrie, who squealed in delight.
“Tanks you,” Carrie told Marybeth.
“You’re welcome, little one,” Marybeth said, smoothing back Carrie’s baby-fine blond hair.
“I know this is a hard thing for you to consider, Marybeth, but you must be reasonable.” The pastor glanced at Judge Perkins. “You are a single woman with no means of your own. Your father wasn’t a wealthy man to leave you a large inheritance.”
“We did all right, and my father did set aside some money for me. I have enough.”
“Perhaps for the time being, but the almanac says it will be a hard winter. That money will be eaten up in fuel and food. And what will you do if you come down sick? Who will care for your sister then?”
“I don’t intend to come down sick, but I’m sure if I did, we would work it all out.” Marybeth watched Carrie rather than look at the men.
“Young lady, I am not of a mind to impose my will upon you, given that you’ve just lost your father,” the judge began. “I’m sure that your heart is quite overcome with sadness and the desire to stifle further change, but I must keep in mind the welfare of your little sister. She’s much too young for you to care for alone. You will have need of working to support her, and where will she stay while you seek that employment, much less when you take it on?”
Marybeth drew a deep breath and pushed down her anger. How dare they come here the day after the funeral and try to force her to give up Carrie? Pastor Orton would never see her grace his congregation again.
“I know that the situation looks rather worrisome to you both, however, I believe that we will be just fine. Several of our friends have promised to help with providing wood andcoal if we need. And Papa had already laid in a large supply, so we might not have to bother anyone. There is also a nice nest egg that Papa saved. Our needs are quite small, and I can take in mending or laundry to earn extra money. I’ve given it a lot of consideration and know that God will provide for our every need.”
“It’s remarkable that your faith is so strong,” Pastor Orton said, smiling. “But don’t you see it would be so much better if you had only yourself to worry about?”
“And given that there is a childless husband and wife who would be happy to provide for your sister, don’t you think it would be best for her?” The judge gave her a look that suggested maybe Marybeth hadn’t even considered the possibility.
“Carrie is my responsibility, and not only that, but I’m the only mother she has ever known. Have either of you thought of that? She’s quite attached to me and I to her. Would you rip a child out of my arms to put her with strangers who know nothing of her likes and dislikes? To me that sounds quite cruel.”
“Marybeth, those things can be learned,” Pastor Orton said. “Carrie has never had another set of parents, that is true. But because she is so young, she will learn and soon forget this life.”
“But I don’t want her to forget,” Marybeth said a little louder than she’d intended. “I don’t want her to forget our father nor her mother. I don’t want her to forget how much I love her. Please understand that the matter is closed. I do not intend to throw away my sister or push her off on someone else. I have prayed about this and know what my role is in her life. I made my father and stepmother a promise, and I intend to keep it.”
Marybeth got to her feet, and at first neither man moved. Finally, they stood.
The judge frowned and shook his head. “It would seem that the matter may well have to be taken out of your hands. The welfare of the child is much more important than your feelings.”
Looking to Pastor Orton, Marybeth kept her temper in check. “I am thankful for your concern, but until you can honestly see that there is a problem, why not allow the Lord to move as He will in this matter? You have, after all, preached on many occasions that God is in control and will have His way.”
The pastor stood silently for a moment, then looked at the judge. “Let us go and discuss this elsewhere. In time, I’m sure we can convince Miss Kruger of how severe this situation is.”
They headed for the door, and Marybeth forced herself to follow them rather than scoop up Carrie and run in the opposite direction. She nodded at their good-byes and quickly closed the door and locked it behind them. Leaning against the jamb, she felt tears come to her eyes and let go the hold she’d maintained on her emotions.
“Oh, Father, please protect us from these men. Don’t let them take Carrie from me. Haven’t I lost enough?”
A knock sounded on the door behind her, and Marybeth jumped. Surely, they hadn’t come back to cause her grief. She turned and reached for the key, then paused. She could leave the door locked and refuse to open it. Maybe she could tell them that Carrie needed her for something.
She opened her mouth to speak, and the knock sounded again. Marybeth bit her lower lip and prayed for strength.
“Marybeth, it’s me. Edward.”
