Dad stopped the motion of the chair and turned toward him. “I know you said you needed to let Eliza go. And if you truly need to do that, I’m behind you. I promise. But please...” His voice cracked, and he ducked his head for a moment and then lifted it again. “Please pray about it a bit more. Don’t give up on a love that may only come once in a lifetime. You still have a chance, son. Eliza is alive. I don’t want you to live with regrets.” Dad choked up again and stood. “What I wouldn’t give for one more day with your mother. I see that same love in your eyes for Eliza. Don’t throw it away.”
Dad walked into the house and left Devin sitting on the porch.
He’d questioned God a lot about Eliza over the years. About his promise to her grandfather and honoring his word. But no clear answers had come. So he’d taken matters into his own hands. Thinking that it must be the right thing to do...
Lord, did I jump ahead of You?
His gut clenched. Was it selfish to try to guard his own heart because it simply hurt too much to love Eliza knowing it would never be reciprocated? He started. Oh ... wasn’t that exactly what he’d accused Eliza of doing? Being afraid?
What a hypocrite he’d been! He buried his face in his hands,heat burning its way up his neck and cheeks.Lord, I told her the truth about her fears and lackof trust. But I couldn’t see the same thingsin me. Forgive me!
He sat back in the chair, his confession bringing no immediate relief. His chest was so tight it was difficult to draw a breath. But a bigger question hit him, the weight of it almost crushing. What if he’d made the wrong decision?
FRIDAY, JULY28, 1916•MEYERRANCH
The weight of the chisel in her palm was warm and familiar. She rolled the smooth wooden handle back and forth for a moment, joy welling within her. A smile broke out across her face. She had several hours of tedious, backbreaking work ahead of her.
But she didn’t care.
She was digging for bones again!
Eliza and Deborah had met out at the ranch every day for the last four days, working on the fossils closest to the surface of the rock. No one had bothered the two of them. Only a few hired hands remained on the ranch—those who believed in Mr. Meyer and didn’t believe in any haunting rubbish—and they kept the cattle far away from the dig location.
Deborah told her yesterday that the protestors had finally stopped at the quarry when the sheriff got onto them. Nobody was out there to hear them anyway. Several of the ladies fumed, but they left and hadn’t been back. And talk in town finally died down about the newspaper article.
Funny thing about it, Eliza never had to defend herself. Her new pastor, his wife, and Mary had come to visit her at her request. She told them the truth about all that happened and found understanding, forgiveness, and open arms waiting for her. It was a beautiful thing.
Mary even wrote a short and succinct article for their local paper clearing it all up.
The Lord’s lovingkindness was overwhelming after the mess Eliza had created. She tapped a chunk of rock and watched it break apart. Just like the burden she’d been carrying for so long. But when she relinquished control and sought Him? The results were amazing. Most important was the peace she felt.
She continued to work her chisel around a rounded bone. It seemed to be a vertebra, but it was so buried in the rock, it might take her weeks to get it out. That was fine. The exacting work kept her occupied and focused. And gave her plenty of time to think.
Devin’s confession sat on the edge of her memory, his words rushing through her mind every time she had a quiet moment.
It was becoming ridiculous. Still, his candor was refreshing. It always had been.
How she’d wanted to talk it out with him before he left, but there’d been no time. And now ... now she saw the wisdom in the time and distance between them.
If only that would stop the ache squeezing her heart.
She wiped her hands on her pants and sat back on her heels, glancing around. Where was her canteen? She spotted it next to the small picnic basket Louise had packed for them.
The gesture had been a surprise. Poor Louise was still mourning Devin’s departure and would barely speak to Eliza.
In some ways, she admired the young woman. There was a youthful freedom in wearing her heart on her sleeve. Eliza had never possessed that. And she’d started examining why she couldn’t or shouldn’t be so bold and unafraid in her own emotions.
Much of it had to do with Grandmama’s society training. A lady never let on what she was thinking or feeling. One never knew who might be offended.
Eliza leaned forward and grabbed the small aluminumbottle and unscrewed the cap. A bit of water softened the dirt around the bone. Using her fingers, she dug away the mud and rocks, a bit more bone emerging from the ground.
But why must she always have her guard up? How was she to ever truly know anyone if she was always fiercely protecting herself against what they might think? Even with Devin, who knew her better than anyone else in the world ... she was still afraid to let him in completely. It was ridiculous. She’d always been able to share anything and everything with him.
Why had she never allowed herself to think of him as a suitor? He was her favorite person on earth!
“Eliza, what do you think of this one over here?”
Eliza shook her head free of her thoughts and looked over at Deborah. Her friend had chiseled a good deal of rock around what appeared to be a large fossil. When they’d started digging, it had been impossible to decipher what type of bone they were looking at.
