The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund Page B

won’t like it.” Mary’s thin body tensed. “He’ll miss us.”
    “Tisk. Tisk.” Sister Spencer frowned; the deep folds of her face added severity to her countenance. “Even if he doesn’t like it, he’ll be better off. He’ll get the milk of a godly woman.”
    Mary’s arm trembled against Elizabeth’s. She squeezed the girl’s hand. “Before we can agree to such an arrangement, we must ask Brother Costin for permission—”
    “It’s already done,” Sister Spencer said. “Mrs. Grew herself approached Brother Costin after the funeral and made all of the arrangements.”
    Mrs. Grew? The name slugged Elizabeth and threw her off guard. As one of the wealthiest and most prominent women of their congregation, no one would challenge Mrs. Grew’s efforts to assist Brother Costin in the care of his children. Elizabeth had already defied the woman once. She didn’t dare do it again.
    “Mrs. Grew needed only to confirm Sister Bird’s willingness to help today, and now that she has agreed, there is naught else to be done but take her the baby. That’s why we’re here.”
    “You’re taking him today?” Elizabeth struggled to catch her balance.
    “It’s not fair.” Mary’s voice rose in pitch. “Then we’re not allowed a say in the matter?”
    “Ah, I am afraid not, my dears.” Sister Norton shook her head. “It’s already been decided.”
    “You can’t take him.”
    “Ah, ah, poor child.” Sister Norton clucked softly. “Think about the good it will do for thy brother. It may save his life.”
    “It won’t save him to be away from the ones that love him!”
    “Let’s be on our way.” Sister Spencer gave the girl a disapproving look—one that may have put the girl in order had she been able to see it.
    Sister Spencer grasped the babe in such a way that Elizabeth knew she meant to take him and wouldn’t accept no as an answer.
    Elizabeth bent her head to the baby’s soft brow. She nuzzled a final kiss. Then she extracted her finger from his mouth and let the older woman take him from her arms.
    “No!” Mary’s sobs filled the air.
    Tears stung Elizabeth’s eyes. She reached for Mary.
    Betsy and Johnny dropped their sticks and watched the unfolding drama.
    The baby, having lost his sucking comfort, began to cry.
    The wails wrenched Elizabeth’s heart.
    Sister Spencer hefted him in her arms. “Come along, Sister Norton. There’s no sense wasting any more time,” she said as she strode back the way they’d arrived.
    Sister Norton ducked out from the shade of the apple tree into the bright afternoon sunshine. “Try to remember, even though this is difficult for you, it will be good for the baby. Perhaps he’ll have a chance to live.”
    * * *
    “Now I see what goes on when I’m away.”
    A whisper startled Elizabeth. Her eyes flew open.
    Brother Costin towered over her. The branches snagged at his coppery hair, overlong and wind-tossed, which added to the roguishness he couldn’t shed no matter how conservative he tried to appear.
    She blinked. Had she dozed?
    He wore a lopsided grin. “Methinks a housekeeping job would suit me just fine—if I could nap the afternoon away too.”
    Heat rose from her neck into her cheeks. “ ’Tis not what it appears.”
    “Certainly not. It only appears you are napping, when really you’re very hard at work thinking or pursuing some other intellectual activity.” His eyes crinkled at the corners with humor. The bright blueness was dyed the same color as the sky.
    “We’ve had a difficult afternoon.” She carressed Mary’s tear-splotched cheek. The girl had cried herself to sleep on her lap, and Johnny and Betsy had fallen asleep next to her in the grass.
    “I have just the thing to make life easier. I’ve brought home a cow.” He nodded in the direction of the forge.
    She glanced to the shed, to the dilapidated overhang. There stood a petite white cow with burgundy splotches concentrated at its head and rump. Its udder hung low and