All this he surmised as he quieted the people he had brought to save his mill, reminding them that the police would guard the premises through the night. Racing in the back of his mind were questions that would not be quelled: Had she displayed her true feelings for him? Would she accept him as her husband now? Did she see clearly now the depths to which he would go to protect her?
He would go to her as soon as he had an opportunity.
While her son was gone and the drawing room was blessedly still once again, Hannah Thornton sat in the straight-backed chair atthe dining table, her Bible laid out before her. She turned to the Psalm she knew well already, having turned to it almost daily after her husband had hung himself.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,
He leadeth me beside the still waters…
The tremor of change had begun. She could feel the tension of fear coiling about her heart. It made her hands tremble.
After Miss Hale had gone—such a strong-willed girl!—Fanny had told her what had happened. How Miss Hale had been taken hostage and forced to the front to make John come out and save her.
And he had done so. It was not this that disturbed her. Although the risk to his life had been great, he proved himself to be brave in facing their foolish taunts with immediate action. What else could he do?
No, he was no coward. Not him. Her mother’s heart beat proudly because of him.
It was whatshehad done—wrapped her arms around her son—in front of so many pairs of eyes! This was the act that could not be undone—that would be all their undoing.
Nothing would be the same now. Miss Hale had thrust herself into their lives for good. He must offer his hand to her in some haste to save her reputation.
Miss Hale would become mistress of this home. Mrs. Thornton’s shoulders drooped to consider it. No longer would she decide how to order the house, what to hang on the walls, when to dine, and what economies to make. After all these many years, she would have no purpose but to stand aside and watch him build a new life.
She chided herself for such selfish thoughts, but they flowed into every crevice of her sorrowing heart at present. The time had come at last. She must give him up to another.
She heard his footsteps coming. She straightened her back and pretended to be reading the Scriptures.
John strode into the room. “Where is she?” he asked, seeing the empty sofa. It irritated him to find his mother placidly reading as if no kind of catastrophe had occurred.
“She’s gone home,” his mother replied calmly, repressing her own irritation at his abruptness.
“Home?” he repeated incredulously. “She was gravely injured—“
Mrs. Thornton gave a short huff. “She was taken care of as best we could. Dr. Donaldson examined her and took her home in a cab.”
She saw the glint of doubt in his eyes.
“Honestly, John. She’s such a headstrong girl! I insisted she stay here to recover herself, but she was bound and determined to go home. How do you expect such a girl to submit to your will?”
“Submit to my will?” he repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“As your wife, she must learn to—“
“My wife?” The word struck deep into his core as he voiced it. “Did she speak of marriage?” he asked, a sudden flood of hope coursing through him. He had asked her once. Was she ready now to reply?
“Certainly not. But she must know what such a public scene must come to,” she said with a tight voice. “I am merely speaking of what must now take place.”
What must now take place.Was it a certainty then? Stubborn rational thought battled the rush of emotions that swept in. He did not wish her to marry him because society told her to. Heneeded to know if she would marry him because she cared for him.
“You know what happened then,” he said, his voice low.
“Martha saw it all from the attic window and told Fanny.”
“Did Miss Hale speak? Did she say how she came to be taken up by the strikers?” he asked, his breath quickening.
“She was coming to borrow the water bed for her mother,” she answered. “I don’t know any details beyond that.”
