Was that how God felt when she rejected Him?
But God hasn’t been important to you.You’ve ignored Him. Blamed Him. Refused Him.
Eleanor lowered her head. Was her rejection of Him unchangeable? Was it too late to alter her course?
She didn’t even hear the rest of the sermon. She couldn’t pull her thoughts out of the abyss into which they’d settled. If it was too late, then she truly was hopeless.
After the services concluded, Eleanor felt no better than when she’d started out that morning. Was this the way it would always be?
“Marvella. Ellie.”
Eleanor looked up and found Sarah Brunswick. She smiled, but it was Marvella who responded.
“Why, Sarah, how good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, Marvella. I wanted to come and extend an invitation to you and the Judge, as well as Ellie, to come to the farm for lunch today.”
Just then Carter came to join his mother. Eleanor couldn’t even look him in the eye. Instead, she toyed with the cuff of her blouse.
“Oh, my dear, we can’t come. The Judge and I are committed elsewhere after lunch. Plans for the Fourth of July, don’t you know. But I’m sure Ellie would love to join you. She was impressed with the farm, weren’t you, my dear?”
She had no choice but to glance up and smile. “I was. Your farm is very peaceful.”
“See there, I knew she would be happy to go.”
“We came in our two-seat buggy.” Sarah glanced around.“But Carter is joining us, and I’m sure he’d be happy to rent a conveyance to bring Ellie out. Especially since he’ll be returning to town later after lunch.”
Eleanor swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She wasn’t sure she could bear a carriage ride alone ... with Carter.
To her surprise, red rushed into Carter’s face! Was he actually ... embarrassed? She hadn’t known that was possible.
“Mother, that would hardly be appropriate. I wouldn’t want to risk Ellie’s reputation.”
Eleanor stiffened. He didn’t want her to come to the farm. She lowered her head.
“You are good to think of such things, Carter.” Marvella bestowed a gleaming smile on him. “I tell you what. Come to our house and use our surrey and take Nora with you two. She’s one of our new maids. I won’t need her this afternoon. She’s older and can act as chaperone. If that will be all right with you, Sarah.”
“Of course. She’s welcome to join us. Carter, does that meet with your approval?”
His shoulders relaxed, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Absolutely. It solves all our problems.”
If only Carter was right. But for her, the problems were just beginning.
“Wonderful, we’ll see you at home.” Mrs. Brunswick smiled, and Mr. Brunswick tipped his hat before slapping the reins and moving their wagon out of the church yard.
“Ellie, you might want to change your dress.”
“Yes, dear, you should.” As usual, Marvella made it more of an edict than a suggestion. “We’ll head home, then. Carter, did you walk to church?”
“I did.”
Marvella nodded. “Then come with us. We have plenty of room. And it’s the very surrey you’ll be using.”
Eleanor shifted in her seat to look at her hostess. “Won’t you need it to go to your meetings?” There had to be a way out of the ordeal without coming right out and asking to be excused.
“No, my dear. Our meetings are close to home. We had planned to walk. Now come. Let’s get you home so you can change clothes.”
Eleanor sat with Marvella in the second seat of the surrey. The Judge liked to drive the carriage himself and so sat in the front seat. However, later, when Carter took the reins, Eleanor knew she’d be expected to sit with him up front while Nora would sit behind them.
