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.It’s me.I have to surrender my dreams and wishes, don’t I? You’re asking me to roll away the stone in my heart and accept that Ivy is my wife.Slowly, he unclenched his fingers and let the egg tumble into his other hand.The congregation sang, “Angels, Roll the Stone Away” as the benediction.As people left the church, Ishmael took Dale by the hand and didn’t budge.He frowned at Galen.Galen raised his brows in silent inquiry.“What ’bout the hitchin’ post?”“Hitching post?” Galen couldn’t imagine what he meant.Ishmael pointed to the altar.“That thar hitchin’ post.Ain’t that whar he hitches brides to grooms?”“Yes.But no one’s getting married.”“But that’s whar he hitches folks to God, too, ain’t it? Only the parson didn’t stand up thar and give the invite.”“The altar is always open, Ishmael.Did you want to dedicate your heart to Christ?”“Yup.Dale here tole me he’d holp me when’er I decided I wanted to do it.” He looked over Galen’s shoulder.“I’d ’preciate it if ’n you’d take Sis on outta here.We’ve always done ever’thang together, but I reckon this is sommat a man does on his lonesome.”The pale yellow egg in Galen’s left hand took on a new significance.Galen had relinquished his wishes and now witnessed the unfolding of God’s plan.In dying to the dream of Laney being his mate here on earth, Galen now gained a brother for eternity.“Ishmael, take Dale on up to Pastor Dawes.They’ll be happy to hitch you to Jesus.”Laney sat out on the front porch early in the afternoon on Monday, reading a dime novel.Amanda and Ruth had both read it and agreed it was among the best they’d ever read.Turning the page, Laney had to agree.“Miss Laney …”She jumped.“Oh! My.Mr.Lufe! You surprised me.”He stood on the step and looked a little sheepish.“Sorry.I get like that when I read, too.Must be a good book.”“It is.If you like something with adventure and a little mystery in it, you’ll have to check it out of Ruth’s library once it opens.” Laney closed the book and handed it to him.Eddie read the title and nodded.“I’ll remember.Best I hand it back now, though.I’m always tempted to read the last page, just to be sure things work out.Nothing like reading a whole book only to have them leave me hanging until the next one.I can be patient about a lot of things, but …” He shrugged.Laney laughed.“It’s cheating to read the last part, but I did that recently myself.It was for the same reason.”“Did it ruin the book or did you still enjoy reading it?”She thought for a minute.“I can’t truly say.The book wasn’t very good, so I’m not sure if reading the ending first really spoiled it.” As he handed back the book, Laney remembered her manners.“Would you care to have something to drink?”“No, thanks.I just dropped by to let you know I haven’t forgotten about bringing you grapes.I checked the vines myself the day before Easter.They look healthy, so I’m counting on a bumper crop.”“That’s kind of you, Mr.Lufe.”“We’re neighbors.Have been for years.I’d take it as a favor if you’d call me by my given name.”For being such a massive bear of a man, he had a gentle side.Hope and warmth shone in his hazel eyes.I don’t love him.I don’t know if I ever could.But I have to let go of my dreams.It would be wrong for me to mislead him, though.“We are neighbors, and you’ve become a friend of my family.I suppose it would be okay, Eddie.”A big smile lit his face.Before he could say anything, Hilda tromped out of the house.“Laney, who are you talking—Well, as I live and breathe! Eddie! Nice to have you come by.Isn’t it nice, Laney?”She nodded.It was nice.Sort of.Not romantic, but friendly.“The eggs at church yesterday—they were such a good idea,” Eddie told Hilda.“I chose one that you colored with beets.I think Laney must have drawn the cross on it.It was very fancy.Beautiful.”“We ought to do it again next year,” Hilda declared.“Traditions are important.They feel good in here.” Eddie tapped his chest.“I’ve already decided to have a tree in my house for Christmas this year.Knowing you’ve been doing that made me think how sometimes the old ways are best.Of course, just about the time I think that, I ride the train and decide the new things are better.”After he left, Laney remained on the porch and stared at the cover of her novel.Lord, I don’t know anymore.I don’t know what to think or where you are leading me.The old dreams, of being Galen’s wife—I don’t think they’ll ever go away.I know you are blessing his marriage with Ivy, and it makes me happy and sad all at the same time.Is Eddie right? Do I need to just decide the new things are better and deny what my heart still says?Can my mind truly change my heart?“Cain you b’lieve all these here clothes?” Ivy asked her brother as she plucked off a wooden pin and folded the shirt it had held to the line.“Mondays, I wanna pinch myself to be shore I’m not dreamin’ thangs up.Woulda niver ’magined us havin’ more’n the rags on our backs [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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