Cora's Deception (9781476398280) (27 page)

A weight sat on Cora’s heart. Going to
church would be no fun at all without Aaron. “So you might not get
to come?”

He gently squeezed her hand. “Sure, I’ll
come. Can’t do much after dark, anyhow. I won’t come by to get you,
is all. We can still sit together, can’t we?”

Cora’s frown relaxed into a wide smile as
she nodded. “You’d better sit by me.”

He chuckled, looking as pleased as she felt.
Going to revival meetings might be fun after all. At least the
preacher didn’t appear to be long winded.

Cora held that thought until the next
evening sitting at the vanity in the room she shared with her
sister. She brushed her hair and spoke over her shoulder. “Can you
believe we have to go to church every night for a week just because
Ben is getting married?”

“Oh, Cora, what’s the matter with you?”
Eliza slipped into her dress. “I think it’ll be lots of fun.
Everyone will be there.”

“I suppose.” Cora parted her hair down the
middle. She’d make two braids and coil them on the sides.

“Why don’t you and Aaron get married when
Ben and Esther do?” Eliza’s head popped through the neck of her
dress.

“I don’t think I could live in the same
house with Ivy.” Cora sighed. “It’ll be hard enough with Esther.
Besides, I think Aaron’s concerned about Ivy.”

“Why? What’s wrong with her?” Eliza turned
her back toward Cora. “Can you button this?”

Cora secured her second braid and let it
drop before buttoning the back of Eliza’s dress. “I think he feels
responsible for her now both their parents are gone.”

Eliza shrugged and stepped away. “Maybe
she’ll get married.”

Cora laughed. “That would be nice, but who’s
she supposed to marry? She can’t have Ben now.”

“What about Axel Hanson? He lives on the
other side of them.”

A shudder passed through Cora at Eliza’s
suggestion. “I suppose, if she wants him.” She stuck a hairpin in
one coiled braid. “Let’s let Ivy worry about it.”

Eliza stared at Cora’s refection in the
mirror. “Don’t you want to get married right away?”

“Yes, of course.” Cora concentrated on
getting her second braid to match the first.

A long, drawn-out sigh came from her sister
as she sat on the bed. “Oh, Cora, I think it’s all so wonderful.
You’re going to marry Aaron, and now all I have to do is get Ralph
to ask me. Then we’ll be sisters-in-law just like I want.”

Cora turned from the mirror and laughed at
Eliza. “Sometimes, I think that’s all you see in Ralph. It’s only a
romantic notion, but if you and Ralph do fall in love I think it’d
be wonderful too.”

A romantic notion for sure. Eliza would
outgrow this infatuation she had for Ralph. He wasn’t worthy of
being a doormat for Eliza’s feet, but the woman he married would
likely become his servant. She’d have to if she wanted to eat,
because he seldom did any work Aaron didn’t make him do.

Cora stood. “It’s time to go. We might as
well get this over with.”

Eliza’s laughter trailed behind her as she
hurried past Cora. “You can sulk about going if you want, but I
plan to enjoy myself. It isn’t often we have a chance to see
everyone all together. I think this place needs a church and a
regular preacher.”

She stopped at the door. “In fact, I heard
Father and Mother talking about that very thing. I wouldn’t be
surprised if these meetings aren’t just the beginning.”

A church? Seeing everyone on Sundays and
catching up on their news. All right, that might be fun. But
sitting through a long, drawn out, boring sermon every week? Eliza
could have it. Cora followed her sister and joined the others
outside at the wagon.

Father brought the horses to a stop in an
open pasture where other wagons stood not far from the Newkirk’s
house. A large framework of poles had been covered with a canopy of
green branches creating shade from the west slanting sun. Slab
benches in two rows filled the space under the roof. This looked
nothing like the church they’d attended in St. Louis. Maybe the
service would be different too.

Other wagons rolled onto the Newkirks’
pasture and stopped. Many were new people Cora didn’t know. Then
the Hansons arrived. Cora stood beside her father’s wagon and
watched Axel Hanson jump from the back. He walked past with a smirk
on his face. She scarcely noticed as Aaron’s dark head of soft
curls caught her attention. He swung easily over the side of the
wagon, landing on the ground. A wide grin lit his face, and he
strode toward her.

Ralph lifted Anna Hanson down with his hands
around her waist. He didn’t move away, but stood grinning at her.
Anna faced him. She laughed and let her hands slide down his arms,
then gave him a gentle shove.

A cold hard knot formed in Cora’s stomach.
Eliza would be heartbroken if she saw them together, acting as if
they were spoken for. She looked for her sister, but didn’t see
her. She’d said something about going to find Rebekah. Maybe she
had.

“Somethin’ wrong?” Aaron took her hand.

Cora turned to focus on him. Her heart
tripped. He was so good looking and so kind. The concern in his
expression said he cared for her. She shook her head. “I hope not.
It’s just Ralph. He’s flirting with Anna Hanson.”

“Ralph?” Aaron glanced toward his brother.
Ralph was walking toward them without Anna. “Why do you care what
Ralph’s doin’.”

“Not for myself.” Cora laughed at his
lowered brows. “I was thinking about Eliza.”

Aaron nodded, his expression relaxing. “You
know if Eliza’s smart, she’ll look elsewhere. You gotta realize the
mold got throwed away when Ralph was made. Leastways, I hope it
was.”

Cora laughed.

“Everbody loves him even when they know full
well he ain’t deservin’ of it.” Aaron shrugged. “I ain’t sure he’ll
ever grow up.”

“Poor Eliza.” Cora sighed. Anna caught up
with Ralph and grabbed his arm. He took her hand and grinned at
her. “She’s smitten with him. If she sees this, her heart will
break.”

Aaron slipped his fingers through Cora’s,
and they walked around the wagon toward the brush arbor church.
“Aw, don’t worry about Ralph and Eliza. If their likin’ each
other’s for real, they’ll work things out. Ralph don’t mean nothin’
by what he does. He’s just real friendly with folks.”

“Maybe that’s all it is.” But did Ralph have
to be friendly with both Anna and Eliza at the same time? Ralph
veered off from Anna and headed toward the group gathered around
Ben and Esther. He stopped beside Eliza, and she squealed. He
laughed and slipped a hand around her waist. Together they walked
under the canopy and took a seat near the back. So he planned to
sit with Eliza after flirting with Anna? Cora’s stomach knotted,
and she shook her head. Maybe later she’d tell her sister what
she’d seen.

Esther stepped away from the others as Cora
and Aaron approached. “Please, Cora. Could I talk to you before the
service begins?”

What could Esther possibly have to say to
her without the others? She didn’t even want to know.

Ben caught her attention.
His eyes pleaded with her. He smiled and mouthed one word.
Please.

All right, for Ben she’d listen to Esther.
Cora turned to Aaron. “Don’t get lost. I’ll be right back.”

He grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll be waitin’
right here for you.” He squeezed her hand before releasing it.

Cora walked with Esther a short distance
away. An uncomfortable silence vibrated between them until Esther
spoke. “I want to apologize for that day when I said those things
and hurt your feelings.”

Esther was apologizing? What could Cora say?
That Esther hadn’t hurt her and she shouldn’t worry about it? No,
because that would be a lie. She’d been terribly hurt. All because
Esther thought she was better than everyone else.

“I was so worried about you I didn’t stop to
think.” Moisture glistened in Esther’s eyes. “I blundered in trying
to fix everything myself when I should’ve stayed home and
prayed.”

“I don’t know what you needed to pray about,
but yes, you should have stayed home that day.” Cora couldn’t keep
the venom from her voice. After all this time, she shouldn’t still
be hurt, but she was. Esther had been the best friend she’d ever
had.

A tear slid down Esther’s cheek, and she
brushed it away. “I’m so sorry, Cora. I was wrong. I love you as my
sister. When I marry Ben, we’ll be sisters. Please forgive me for
anything I’ve said or done to offend you. Please understand how
sorry I am. I never want to hurt you.”

Cora’s anger and resentment began a slow
melt under the warm rays of Esther’s love. Her eyes burned with
unshed tears. Honestly, she was tired of all the ugliness. She
sighed. “I forgive you, Esther. I’ve held a grudge against you for
way too long. I shouldn’t have been so easily offended.”

The low, sweet notes coming from Bill Reid’s
violin reached out to them. Esther glanced at the brush arbor. “I
need to hurry. The service is about to start.”

She took Cora’s hand. “Please, Cora, will
you stand up with me Sunday? Rebekah will be next to me because
she’s my sister, but your friendship means so much to me.”

Cora looked across the way to Ben and Aaron,
still waiting where they’d left them. The others had already taken
seats inside. Could she swallow her pride? Yes, for Ben she would.
Already the resentment she’d harbored so long had lessened. Maybe
in time she’d be able to open her heart to her sister-in-law, and
they’d become friends again.

She nodded. “Yes, I will. I need to go now.
Aaron’s waiting.”

Aaron led her to a seat just as a young man,
new to the area, stood in front. He lifted his hand and the
congregation grew silent. “Howdy, folks. I’ve been asked to lead
some songs. My name’s Timothy Donovan, and I’m really glad to be
here tonight. How about you?”

Several shouted out. “Amen!”

Timothy turned to Mr. Reid. “Brother, can
you start us out on ‘Amazing Grace’?”

With Bill Reid’s violin playing in the
background, and Timothy’s voice guiding the melody, many voices
lifted in song. They sang several songs before Timothy introduced
the minister.

Reverend Arthur Copley took over the service
then. When he started talking, Cora sensed this would be different
from the funeral service he’d preached. Surely tonight his voice
could be heard by the cows in the Newkirk’s far pasture. It took
all her concentration to keep from squirming as he pointed a finger
that swept the gathering, yet still seemed to single her out.

“‘
All’—did you hear that?
God’s Word says ‘all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God.’” He looked from one to another, his eyes piercing.

Cora sat beside Aaron on the rough wooden
bench, her hands folded in her lap while she struggled with an
unsettling feeling all was not right with her soul. As the sermon
continued, Cora longed to jump up and run as far away as she
could.

The preacher left the front and walked down
the center aisle, beckoning from one side to the other for those
who felt the need to come to the altar for prayer.

Many across the congregation wept and prayed
aloud. Some stepped out and went forward. Cora sat with her hands
clasped in her lap. A tremble started deep inside and spread to her
fingers. She felt as if something was missing in her life. If only
she could get away.

The man sitting on the end of their bench
stood and went forward. Aaron started to rise. Cora sprang up and
grabbed his hand. She pulled him behind her down the side aisle
until they cleared the shelter.

Cora took a deep breath of the evening air.
With her hand snug in Aaron’s, she felt safe again.

“What’s the matter, darlin’?” The flickering
torches picked up the concern in Aaron’s eyes.

She shook her head not wanting to talk about
her feelings. “Nothing. I just felt stuffy in there.”

They continued away from the voices raised
in prayer, the lanterns and burning pine knots, until darkness
swallowed them again.

A sigh rose, and Cora released it.

“Feelin’ better now?”

She nodded, and Aaron pulled her close, his
arms feeling warm and secure around her. She lifted her face to his
and accepted his kiss with thanksgiving. Aaron was everything she’d
ever wanted. He was enough. She didn’t like the ugliness of sin the
way Reverend Copley had described it. He’d made her life seem wrong
and dirty in God’s sight. Never before had she seen herself as a
sinner. Never again did she want to.

Cora could think of no real reason to miss
the meetings, and night after night, she lived through the same
experience. Each time, when the weight of her wrong-doing became
the heaviest, she managed to slip away into the darkness to walk
among the wagons while the preacher gave the altar call. Aaron went
with her, although she caught him looking back at the brightly lit
arbor more than once as if he’d rather be there.

On Saturday night, the night before Ben’s
wedding, Esther’s uncle again walked the center aisle, urging all
who felt a need to come forward for prayer.

All week, Cora watched her neighbors go, and
she fought the fear his words brought. She was shaken in a way she
hadn’t been since her brush with death. She couldn’t take much more
of this. Thankfully, the week would soon be no more than a
memory.

“Come.” The minister called out. “That nudge
you feel deep inside is the Holy Spirit calling you to Him. Come
forward and let’s pray.”

Cora reached for Aaron’s hand, but he pulled
away.

“No, Cora.” His voice was low and firm. “I’m
goin’ up there. Are you comin’ with me?”

Resolve in his expression convinced her she
couldn’t sway him. She loved him so much, but she wouldn’t go to
the altar. Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head. “No, but
I’ll wait outside for you.”