A Blessed Song for Their Love by Olivia Haywood
Chapter Thirteen
Thomas hammered nails into the tin of the stable roof. In the past week, he had managed to sell some of the cattle and raise the money for the repairs that needed to be done on the ranch. It was going to be a tough time until the next calving season.
Selling more of the herd was out of the question. They had reached the absolute minimum and were down to their prized breeders. The late afternoon sun was beating down on his neck as his thoughts wandered to Rosaline and the night before.
Just two nights ago it had seemed like they had made so much progress in their friendship, but last night after her trip into town she had looked worried and fidgety, excusing herself straight after dinner and disappearing into her room.
Buena insisted that nothing had happened, and that Rosaline was simply tired from all her chores. Was it because Buena was leaving and she couldn’t see a way to cope? He hoped she wasn’t about to leave.
His own thoughts startled him and he hit his thumb with his hammer. Cursing under his breath he sat back and examined the thumb, there was no blood, but it was going to be swollen for a week. Why would it bother him if she did want to leave? It was a marriage of convenience after all.
Thomas watched the sun go down in the distance. He’d done all that he could do for the day. He was making progress as far as the repairs were concerned. The past couldn’t be changed, but he could try as hard as possible to repair the damage, no matter how long it took.
It was bothering him that Rosaline had not come to his study after dinner. It had only happened once, but he had been hoping that she would repeat the gesture. He’d even left the study door open to show her that she was welcome.
It was probably for the best. He needed a carer for his son, not a companion for himself.
He sighed. Gathering up his tools he made his way down the ladder. Tomorrow was another day, and he was nearly done with all the repairs. Just one more day.
***
Thomas ran towards the house as it crumbled before his eyes. The faster he ran, the faster the house crumbled. He stopped running and looked back to see the pieces of his broken guitar being picked up by a woman wearing a white dress. Her back was turned to him and nothing came out of his mouth when he tried to call out to her.
Lightning struck outside the window, and Thomas woke up with a start. Gasping for breath he looked around the dark room. There was a storm raging outside.
He lay back on the pillows and covered his face with his hands. It was the same dream, night after night. He’d thought it would stop if he married Rosaline, yet the woman still had her back turned towards him and his voice was still gone.
She was here looking after his son, so why was he still having the same nightmare. Could it be possible that he’d made a mistake and Rosaline was not the one who was supposed to care for Robbie?
He sat up and lit the lamp beside his bed. He retrieved the leatherbound book he’d been writing in before he fell asleep and began to scribble across the page.
***
Thomas opened his eyes. The storm that had been raging outside had long since ceased and the sun was almost up. He got out of bed, washed his face and dressed for the day ahead.
There were just a few more repairs that still needed to be done, he reassured himself. After today he could focus all of his energy on ways to repay the gambling debts he had accumulated.
He quietly made his way down the hall, not wanting to disturb the others if they weren't already up. He knew that Rosaline had taken to sleeping in the nursery now that Buena had gone back home, so he walked as quietly as he could past the closed door.
Making his way out the back door, he stepped out into the yard. The ground was muddy and full of puddles from the storm. Looking up he paused and took a step back. The earliest rays of the sun were more than enough to show him what was there.
Thomas could not believe the carnage that he saw laying before him. The wash house had more windows broken than the ones he had intended to repair. A tree had blown over and knocked down the fencing around one of the nearby corrals, and cattle were grazing in the yard where they shouldn’t have been.
Hurrying around the house he cursed under his breath when he reached the chicken coop. The wooden structure that housed the hens was blown onto its side and broken eggs were scattered about. He did a quick count to see that all the hens and roosters were accounted for. Thankfully it looked like none of them had been harmed.
His relief was short-lived as his anger grew and took its place. The coop had been the only thing on the ranch that hadn’t needed repairs. He would never financially recover from any of this, he thought angrily as he walked back to the house. When would God be done punishing him?
Entering the kitchen he found Rosaline carrying Robbie on her hip. “Good morning. I hope you slept well through the storm?” she asked pleasantly.
“No I did not, thank you very much,” Thomas snapped.
Rosaline took a step back from him and frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry won’t repair any of the damages. You’re late, the breakfast isn’t cooked yet I see,” He looked around the kitchen.
“I thought I would read to Robbie while I got things on the go. It’s not that late Thomas. I wasn’t expecting you to be up earlier than usual,” she defended herself.
He saw her Bible on the table and picked it up. “Is this what you’re reading to my son?” he asked angrily.
“Yes, I’m telling him about Noah and the ark,” Rosaline said drawing further away from him.
“Fairy stories!” Thomas erupted and waved the book in her face. “Take a look outside at what this God of yours has done!” He threw the book onto the kitchen table. “Instead of reading my son stories about a giant boat, why don’t you tell him that God took his mother and that’s why he’s stuck with a replacement!”
Robbie began to cry at his father’s angry outburst as Rosaline drew him closer and began to soothe him.
“I thought my father made it clear that God was not welcome in my house! I don’t want to see that book around here again. What you do in your own time is your own affair, but don’t poison my son with this nonsense!”
She lifted her head in defiance and shifted Robbie higher on her hip. “The Bible tells us that opposition and difficult circumstances are a test of our faith.” She looked down at her Bible. She walked over and hastily began leafing through the pages. “In fact, there’s a passage in here that refers to you by name.”
He frowned, taken aback by her outburst. He was coming to find that there was a defiant side to Rosaline.
(John 20:24-29) But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” She read aloud and looked up at him. “How long are you going to wait, Thomas? Until Jesus forces you to place your fingers in the nail marks?” Rosaline said more gently. “Don’t be a doubting Thomas.”
He clenched his jaw and glared at her, not saying another word.
“This is supposed to be a partnership. Thomas. I’m holding up my end of the bargain.” She hugged Robbie closer to her in an attempt to stop him from crying. “I haven’t had any support from you.”
Thomas saw the hurt look in her eyes and stormed from the room. He stomped down the hall and angrily slammed the door shut behind him. Leaning against the door he closed his eyes and drew in a ragged breath as his temper eased.
He knew he’d gone too far. The hurt in Rosaline’s eyes made him angry at himself. His son was still crying in the kitchen. Why did he keep taking his anger out on everyone around him?
If Rosaline was indeed planning to leave, he would have nobody to blame but himself.