Father saw her and got to his feet, as did the other men. The courtesy touched her.
“Ellie, I need to put off our walk for a little while. Mr. Hill wants to show me something at the depot. We won’t be long.” He surprised her with a kiss on her cheek. “Please be patient with me.”
So much for them standing out of courtesy. “Of course.” She hid her disappointment as Hill and her father headed off and the mayor moved out in the opposite direction.
Mrs. Ashbury was nowhere to be found. Neither was the Judge. Eleanor put Mrs. Ashbury’s dishes down with the others just as Nora approached.
“Don’t worry about these things, miss.” Nora gathered the dishes. “I’ll take care of everything.”
And just like that, Eleanor was not needed.
Anywhere.
She walked away. What should she do with herself? Oh, wait. There was Carter. She gave him a wave and he was quickly at her side.
“It seems Father is busy for a time, so if you’d like to take that walk now, I’m free.”
“I’d be delighted.” He offered her his arm, but she refused.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” There was really no need for him to support her, and she didn’t want people to talk.
They walked past where the band was assembling. They were going to play a tribute to John Philip Sousa and his marches, according to Marvella. Eleanor looked forward to the music. She enjoyed concerts and bands and so seldom heard them.
“Looks like the band is getting ready.” Carter nodded toward the gathering of men and instruments.”
“Yes. I was just thinking about how much I enjoy hearing bands and orchestras play. We so seldom ever go to concerts. Father is always exhausted at the end of the day. He’s never been one to enjoy a lot of society gatherings.”
“This town always loves to celebrate Independence Day. It’s important to our country, don’t you think?”
“I do. I was raised to be patriotic.”
Carter hummed, a noncommittal noise if Eleanor had ever heard one. Still, letting silence settle between them wasn’t all bad. For the first time in Carter’s presence, Eleanor didn’t feel stressed out. Or defensive. There was peace between them.
Imagine! Peace!
Of course, it was because there was peace within her now. A wide grin spread across her face. So this was what Mama was talking about when she mentioned “peace that surpassed understanding.”
“Now just what is that pretty smile for, Ellie?” Carter’s warm voice brought her out of her thoughts.
She blushed and tucked her hands behind her back. Where to begin? Though she had wanted to share her news with Father first, she wanted Carter to know what happened to her, too.
“I read a lot of the Bible last night. I read stories of Jesushealing and of Him raising Lazarus. I read about His kindness to women who sought Him or were brought to Him. Some knew what He could do for them, while others didn’t have a clue.” She dropped her hands to her sides, her fingers slipping into the folds of her skirt. “My mother knew what Jesus could do for her. She knew that this world was not the end of her life, but that something glorious and wonderful awaited. She told me that.”
Eleanor met Carter’s gaze. “It was hard for me as a child to understand how she could believe when things were so bad, but now I realize that her belief was all that got her through the pain and suffering. Her faith was so strong that she wasn’t afraid of where that pain was leading. I want that kind of faith for myself.”
The words slid out and she held her breath.
Carter might have done a flip had he known how! Her words were a balm to his heart. “I’m mighty glad to hear you say that, Ellie.”
The rosy color in her cheeks deepened. “Thank you.” The words came out low and sweet.
He had a million questions. He could tell something was different. That agitated restlessness was absent. And she didn’t seem like she was waiting for a fight to break out between them over ... something.
Still, he didn’t want to rush her. His mother had made it clear that Ellie would need time to figure things out, time for God to impress upon her what she lacked and what He could do for her.
“Letthe Spirit speak to her heart. Let her see thetruth ofJesus and accept it for herself before you barrel in and impose your charm on her.”
Carter smiled. His mother knew him so well.
