Mattie took her arm and led her to the terrace. “Now, tell me what ye feel about him.”
“That’s just the problem. My head is warning me, reminding me of who he’s been. Grandpa always told me, ‘Ye’ve got to pull the bark away to see the grain.’ If I go by everything he’s done in the past—the answer is easy. No. But then he smiles at me, and my stomach does a flip.”
Mattie grinned. “Surely that means something.”
“Of course it does—but Mattie. What of children? He’s already shown he is capable of the same violence as his father. I mean, everyone behaves when they’re courting. It’s the old-man nature that I’m worried about.”
“Jacob said his friend underwent a profound change recently. Said he hardly recognized the character of Reed, so altered was he. And Ruby says Reed is more like his mother than his father.”
“Reed did tell me that he’d had a conversion experience.”
“If ye cannot trust Reed, can ye not trust that God has worked a change?”
“I know I should.”
“What will it take?”
“I don’t know, but when it happens I’ll know.”
“It’s a bit vague.”
“I know, but it’s the best I have. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Perhaps it will take longer than this Christmastide.”
“It’s all the time I ‘ve got.”
Jacob stepped up to them, Griff in his wake.
7
Reed pushed down annoyance at the sight of Ann twirling under Griff’s arm.
“Bored yet?” Hugh whispered at his elbow.
“I thought ye found the company of ladies riveting?”
Hugh crossed his arms. “The current offerings have lost my interest. They speak of God and the weather and nothing else.”
“Would ye have them speak of tobacco futures?”
“Of course not. Women haven’t the brains for business.”
Reed wasn’t so sure. His mother had been shuttered by his father, but Reed wanted Ann in every aspect of his life. She may not be interested in tobacco rates, but what did she think of wheat? Of his hemp fields? Of day-to-day things, he found her knowledgeable. She cared about the people who worked here. The farms he owned were not just properties, they were spaces filled with people, his people, his tenants, and she showed deference for his guests. No, he was not sure women needed to know about the financial aspects of his business, but without his people, there was no business.
“I’m getting the group of us together for New Year’s Eve.”
Reed cast a puzzled look to Hugh.
“For old time’s sake. What do ye say?”
A pause entered his spirit. “What are ye up to?”
“Nothing dangerous.” The same old mischievous grin that would have taken in Reed five years ago illuminated Hugh’s face. “Just cards and a few laughs. Thought we’d hop over to Emerson’s at Tappahannock.”
Another quiet prod. He had to go if only to stop trouble.
“Honestly, Reed. I’m not sixteen any longer.”
Reed wasn’t sure if that made his old friend more or less dangerous.
~*~
A warm breeze arrived the last day of December that melted the snow into mud. Ann slid the basket containing her latest creation and a new project onto her arm and knocked on Mother Gibson’s door.
“Whatever are ye doing here, Miss Wright?”
Ann stiffened.
“I’ve come to see Mother Gibson.”
“Wait here. I will see if she is up to receiving ye today.” Catherine spun away letting the door slap closed in Ann’s face.
Ann swallowed her anger. This woman wasn’t her problem. She was here for Mother Gibson. Something wasn’t right about this situation. Ann was going to find out what it was, and she would not be intimidated by a closed door.
Warmth wooshed toward her as the door opened once more. “I’m quite sure it is not good for her, but Mother Gibson insists she will see ye.”
Once again, Ann squelched her reaction. Catherine waved her in. Ann removed her own cloak and handed it to Catherine. Ann kept her focus on Mother Gibson who was massaging her wrists in a chair by the fire.
