Redeeming Luke, page 13
part #1 of Days of Grace Series
Emma followed, setting the basket on a bale of hay. She opened it and took out the food and lemonade while he got the horse settled.
“Looks good.”
She startled at the sound of his voice so close, and spun around to find herself inches from him, staring at his chest. He smelled like trees and earth and fresh air. She lifted her gaze. The look in his brown eyes made her dizzy.
“Looks real good.” He winked.
Oh my.
Emma took a step back and turned her attention back to the basket, taking out a plate and fork.
He reached for her hand. “Your hands are shaking. Emma? What’s wrong?”
She drew in a deep breath. The back of her eyes plump with unshed tears. There was no sense in delaying it. The quicker she got it out, the quicker they could all begin to move on and help Ruth through this.
“I took Ruth to see Dr. Brighton after school yesterday.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Why? I thought she was feeling better. Did she get sick again?”
“No, she’s not sick. Not exactly.”
“I don’t understand. I talked to her on the telephone yesterday afternoon. She said she was going to Olivia’s and would probably spend the night. She didn’t say a word about going to the doctor.”
Emma’s fingers felt cold. Her stomach rolled. No doubt this was going to rip open the wounds left by the deaths of Sadie and his own baby. Emma didn’t want to be the one to do this to him. She wanted to kiss him and hold him and tell him everything was fine.
“Emma.” The tone of his voice said his patience was running thin. “What’s wrong with Ruth?”
The words emerged with rasp her voice. “She’s pregnant.”
Emma held her breath. Luke stared at her, unblinking.
She waited. Her chest grew heavy so that she fought to breathe. “Please say something.”
He finally blinked, turned and walked several steps away from her. She stared at his back, the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Please talk to me, Luke. What’s going through your mind? Please let me in.
He set his hands on his waist, his head lowered.
The gravel in his voice sent a chill rattling through her body. “Where is Grady?”
Emma’s anxiety. “I—I don’t know.” She took a step toward him. “Please, Luke. Getting angry isn’t going to help the situation.”
He turned to face her. For the first time since she had met him, fear of what he might truly be capable of struck her. Luke stalked closer, his eyes narrowed. “It may not ‘help the situation’ but it will sure make me feel a whole lot better to beat that boy to an inch of his life! And maybe further!”
“I understand you’re upset right now—”
“Oh you understand that, do you?” His voice boomed. Veins on the sides of his neck protruded. He thrust his forefinger in the direction of the open barn door. “Do you understand that I’m gonna find that boy and make him wish he never laid eyes on my niece? Do you understand that?”
“He’s a good boy, Luke—”
“A good boy!”
Emma startled and stepped back.
Luke punched his own chest with his fist. “I was a good boy too! Let me tell you something, Miss Darby, being a ‘good boy’ isn’t worth spit when a young, innocent girl ends up pregnant!” He stopped short and stared at her as if something new had occurred to him. “And who were you to take her to the doctor? Did it even occur to you to call me? Why was the good doctor examining my niece without my permission?” He spread his arms wide. “Why am I finding out about all this a full day later?”
Emma’s back stiffened. She planted her hands on her hips. “I suppose you think she would have preferred you to be with her?” She waved a hand at him. “Look at you! Look at the way you’re acting. She was frightened enough already without you there pounding your chest, bellowing at everyone and threatening Grady!”
Luke thrust his finger at her. “Everything was fine before you stuck your nose in around here! I had rules and she followed them. I didn’t have to worry about some punk kid ruining her life forever.”
Emma clamped her temper. Screaming at each other was not going to do any good. Someone had to keep their composure and obviously it wasn‘t going to be Luke. She lifted her chin.
“Grady Akins is not a punk kid. He is a kind, respectful young man, who is going to be scared out of his wits.”
“A kind, respectful young man, huh?” His dark eyes bore into her. “Your judgment in men certainly hasn‘t improved, has it? No wonder Jasper Loomis zeroed in on you.”
He may as well have slapped her. His words sliced like a razor. She bit back tears, waiting for him to realize the cruelty of those words and apologize.
He didn’t.
Her hands trembled. Her body went cold. She spoke through clenched teeth.
“You’re right. My judgment in men seems to be permanently flawed.”
Luke didn’t flinch at her insinuation. She turned to leave, but looked back at him once more.
“Just remember, Mr. Morgan, that I’m the one who actually noticed something was wrong with your niece.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
Ruth squeezed Olivia’s hand. She held back a sob at the thought of giving Grady this news alone. But Olivia had said very little all afternoon. Ruth suspected her best friend was dealing with her own issues regarding the—she still couldn’t even finish the thought.
“No.” Ruth looked down the driveway toward Grady‘s house. “I have to do this alone.”
“Okay.”
Olivia dropped Ruth’s hand. Ruth swallowed the pain of rejection and forced a smile.
“Thank you for walking with me, Liv.”
Olivia offered a half smile, glanced at the house, and turned to walk back down the road the way they had come.
Ruth stared at the house where Grady lived. It seemed so quiet and welcoming. Grady’s family had money and though they didn’t flaunt it, their refinement let everyone know they were different from most of the farmers around here. The ranch home sat on five acres of land. Two stately oak trees stood guard in the front yard, and a mustard field waved its yellow flowers in the evening breeze just beyond the home. Sunset cast a breathtaking coral hue on the white house. Somewhere a dog barked, jolting Ruth from the peaceful moment.
Grace Akins, Grady’s mother, walked out onto the porch with a watering can and started to water potted plants on the porch. She spotted Ruth and waved her over. Ruth couldn‘t move. Once she took that first step, it would all become too real. Maybe she could turn around and catch up with Olivia. At Mrs. Akins questioning gaze though, Ruth forced her body forward.
Mrs. Akins knelt in front of a patch of peonies growing in front of the porch. Her laughter sounded like crystals dancing in a breeze. “Mr. Akins warned me that the heat would be no help for my flowers out here, but I’m too stubborn to give up on them.” She stood and brushed a brunette curl behind her ear.
I wonder if my daughter will be as pretty as her…
Gasping at the unbidden thought, earned Ruth a concerned glance from Mrs. Akin’s.
“Are you not feeling well, Ruth? Grady told us how this heat has made you ill. Can I get you something cold to drink?” She stood and fluffed a pillow on the porch swing. “Maybe you should sit and rest.”
“No, no thank you.” Ruth’s stomach began to tumble. How could she be considering what this child would look like when she couldn’t even believe it existed? And why would she assume it would be a girl? Ruth prayed she would not get sick in front of Mrs. Akins. She also prayed that the woman would not be able to detect Ruth’s condition. Maybe married women had a kind of sixth sense about these things.
“Alright then. I assume you’re here to see Grady?” Mrs. Akins winked.
Ruth nodded.
Mrs. Akins walked to the front door, opened it and called out to her son. “Grady, Ruth is here to visit you.”
While they waited for Grady, Mrs. Akins motioned Ruth to the porch swing. “Please. I would feel much better if you would rest.”
Ruth acquiesced to the woman’s request.
Mrs. Akins sat with her. “I’m so sorry your uncle wasn’t able to come to dinner last week.”
“Oh, yeah. Well … he’s been real busy with the horses. Folks come in the summer to ride and he has to have everything ready to go.”
Mrs. Akins nodded. “He’s a hard worker.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Ruth? Are you sure you’re feeling well? You look a little pale.”
Ruth’s heart felt as if it leaped into her throat and lodged itself there. She stared at Mrs. Akin’s questioning eyes, trying to swallow, unable to speak. The screen door opened and then slammed shut, drawing Mrs. Akins attention.
“Grady Theodore Akins. How many times do I have to tell you about that door?”
Grady smiled his crooked smile and planted a kiss on his mother’s cheek. “Sorry.” He looked to Ruth. “You wanna come in and have some lemonade?”
Ruth stood on shaky legs. “Uh, no, actually I was wondering if we could go for a walk.”
“Oh. Well sure we can. We’ll see you later, Mom.” Grady took Ruth’s hand and led her down the porch steps.
“Be back in time for dinner,” his mother called out.
Grady turned and walked backward, rubbing his stomach. “Always!”
His mother laughed. Ruth heard the screen door open and close as Mrs. Akins went back inside. They had walked half-way down the driveway when Mr. Akins met them in his Cadillac. Ruth took a step back. He always seemed to have suspicious eyes when Ruth was around him. Grady told her it was because his father didn’t want girls flocking around him because of his family’s money.
Mr. Akins spoke to Grady, but eyed Ruth. She fixed her attention on two squirrels scampering up an oak tree.
“You going out so soon to dinnertime, son?”
“We’re going for a walk. Mom knows all about it.”
Ruth glanced back at Grady’s father. He offered a cold smile that didn’t reach his dark eyes. She returned her own nervous smile, wishing he would just leave them.
“Well, all right then. As long as your mother knows. Be sure you’re back in time for dinner.”
“Yes, sir. See ya later, Dad.”
Grady took Ruth’s hand and tugged her with him as he started jogging the rest of the way down the driveway. Ruth’s throat constricted as her stomach roiled. She jerked her hand away and stood still, eyes closed, willing the nausea to pass.
“What’s wrong? Did you twist your ankle or something?”
She could only shake her head as tears burned. If she opened her eyes, surely they would spill all over her face. She felt Grady’s hands on her shoulders. His tender voice reached her ears.
“What’s wrong? You can tell me.”
She managed to choke out the words, “Not here.”
“Okay. We’ll go to our place then.”
“No!” Ruth jerked away from him. She opened her eyes. Sure enough, tears coursed down her face. “I don’t ever want to go back to that place! Not ever again!”
Grady’s eyes widened. “Okay. We don’t have to. We can go wherever you want. But tell me what’s wrong. You’re making me nervous.”
Ruth walked ahead of him. She wrapped her arms around herself and clutched the fabric of her dress in her fists. She reached the trees and turned to slump against the strong trunk of an unmovable oak. Grady stood in front of her. He reached for her hand. She pulled it back.
“Ruth, you gotta tell me what’s eating you.” His Adam’s apple moved up and down. “What happened?”
“I don’t know how to start.” she held her hands to her face and cried into them. “I don’t know how to say it.”
“How to say what? What happened?”
Ruth closed her eyes, held her hand to her stomach. It wouldn’t stop its incessant tossing and turning. She sucked in fresh air. “Miss Darby took me to the doctor after school yesterday.”
“Are you sick or something?”
Ruth started at her shoes and whispered, “I’m pregnant.”
The words hung in the air between them for an eternity.
Grady turned his back and walked away a few steps. Stopped. Pushed his hand through his hair. Turned and walked back to her.
“You’re—you’re—what?”
She found his eyes, alight with disbelief, and fear. “Please don’t make me say it again.”
His face paled. Ruth held her breath. Time froze.
Back home she knew a girl who got pregnant, and the boy she thought loved her, left. Just disappeared. Would Grady do that? She already sensed his father’s disapproval. Surely he would tell Grady she was no good, and to get away from her as quickly as possible. She would be stuck here alone. How could she ever raise a baby all by herself? Where would they live? Surely Luke wouldn’t let her stay at his house. How would she make money to feed both of them?
As she started to drown in fears she knew would become her reality, Ruth felt Grady’s arms around her, pulling her close. She waited for him to tell her that he couldn’t do this. To say goodbye to her.
“I love you Ruth Morgan.” Grady’s voice trembled. “And I love our baby. We’ll make it. Somehow, we’ll make it. I won‘t let you go through this alone.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Luke sat on the hay bale, next to the food Emma brought the day before, right where he’d left it. He was surprised no animals had gotten to it.
He worked his jaw muscle and tried to massage away the tension in his legs. He had fought every fiber of his body that wanted to bolt after her following their heated conversation yesterday.
He held his head in his hands, reeling. How had this happened? He did everything he could to prevent history from repeating itself. Well, not everything. He let Emma and Ruth talk him into letting Ruth run with Grady when his instincts told him not to. And now Ruth was—he pressed his fists to his eyes.
Emma’s words assaulted him again as they had throughout a long sleepless night.
I suppose you think you’re the one she would have preferred to be with her? Look at you! Look at the way you’re acting … Just remember, Mr. Morgan, that I’m the one who actually noticed something was wrong with your niece … My judgment in men seems to be permanently flawed. . .
The harder he tried to block Emma’s words, the louder they screamed in his ears. He groaned out loud at his memory of the wounded look of betrayal in her beautiful blue eyes when he threw her relationship with Jasper Loomis in her face.
What kind of man had he become?
He wondered how many people knew about this. The doctor did, obviously. And Emma and Olivia.
Sadie‘s face quietly eased into his mind … the devastation in her voice when she told him she was going to have his baby. In spite of his own fears, his every instinct had been to protect her and their baby.
An unwanted thought that Grady might feel the same for Ruth struck him like ice water in his face. He forced it out, refusing to accept any similarity between him and the boy who did this to his niece.
If ever there was a time he wished he could pray for wisdom, and believe God would give it to him, this was it. Ruckus walked over and lay down at his feet, looking up at him with soulful, trusting eyes.
They stared at one another for a long time until a familiar voice spoke from the open barn door.
“Leave it to a dog to teach a cowboy his rightful place with his Master.”
Luke looked up at J.D. How did the man always seem to know right when to show up?
J.D. walked into the barn, thumbs hooked on his suspenders. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his brow, pushed a hay bale closer to Luke and sat down.
“Barbara said you might need some company this evening.”
Add Barbara to the list of people who knew. “Emma came over yesterday.”
“Mmm hmm. And how did that go?”
Luke couldn’t look at the man. In J.D.’s presence, he was even more ashamed of his behavior, the things he’d said to Emma.
J.D. sighed heavily. “I figured as much.”
“I don’t know which way is up, J.D.” Luke swallowed hard. “I want to go after Grady and beat the living tar out of him. I want to find Ruth, but I have no idea what to say when I do.” He stared out the barn door. “And I hurt Emma.”
“How so?”
Luke finally met J.D.’s gaze. “She trusted me with something very personal. Something no one else around here knows. I used it against her.”
J.D. grimaced and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Do you know what it took for that sweet woman to come here and tell you this news? Did she tell you it wasn’t her idea? That Ruth asked her to do it? She took Ruth‘s place, to protect her and try to make this whole thing a little bit easier on you both.”
Ruth was hiding from him. She’d been afraid to come to him herself.
Luke took his hat off, shoved his hand through his sweat soaked hair and replaced the hat. Emma’s words struck again.
I suppose you think you’re the one she would have preferred to be there? Look at you! Look at the way you’re acting …
“No. She didn’t tell me that.” His chest felt hallow. “I didn‘t give her much of a chance.”
J.D. let the admission hang in the air for a long moment. “Did you have a chance to look at the book of Ruth like I suggested?”
Frowning at the change of subject, Luke answered, “Yes. Just a couple nights ago actually. First time I open the Bible in nineteen years, and look what happens.”
“Oh, come now,” J.D. growled. “If you’re gonna play the ‘poor me’s’, I may as well go home. I came here to help you, boy. Not listen to you whine.”
Luke jerked his attention back to the man. His steel blue eyes did not waver.
“What did you see when you read it?” J.D. asked.
“Look, J.D., I’m not really in the mood for a Bible story right now.”
“Well I don’t much care what you’re in the mood for, son. You’re gonna listen. Now, tell me. What did you see when you read it?”
