Curious about what was holding Emma’s attention, Susan moved to stand behind the rocker and glanced out the window. Across the yard, she saw a young man working in the greenhouse, dressed in denim overalls and a white button down shirt. While they watched, he lifted the handles of a wheelbarrow filled with clippings and walked out of their line of sight.

Susan’s attention returned to Emma when she began talking. “Well, little one,” she sighed, resting a hand on her abdomen, “today is the day; I can’t wait any longer. Today I tell Jebediah about you.” She began knitting again and waited for her lover to return.

Back in the greenhouse, Jebediah lowered the now empty wheelbarrow and took a red bandanna out of his pocket. Wiping the sweat from around his neck, he turned and facing the window, smiled at Emma. Then he shoved the cloth into his pocket and moved to begin working again, but Emma gestured for him to come over to the window. Always fearful of her safety, he looked around to insure Archibald was not near by before walking to the window. As he crossed to the house, she moved to the window and opening it a few inches whispered to him, “I need to talk to you. There is something of importance we must discuss privately.”

Placing his hand over hers on the windowsill, Jebediah rubbed his thumb caressingly across her knuckles. “Archibald mentioned he was going into town this afternoon for supplies. Meet me in the greenhouse when he leaves.”

“Jebediah! Jebediah! Damn it boy, where are you at?” Archibald’s gravely voice roared through the air, his anger evident in every syllable. “Boy, where are you at?”

Jebediah squeezed Emma’s hand quickly, to give her reassurance before rushing away from the window and she returned to the rocking chair. “I’m here sir, I was just dumping a load of plant clippings.” When Archibald glared at the empty wheelbarrow next to the greenhouse, the younger man quickly added, “Then I had to take a quick trip into the woods for some privacy.”

“Be sure you’re not taking trips into the woods just to get out of doing your work. I’m leaving for town now. Complete your work before you leave for the night,” instructed the older man, before he walked toward the waiting wagon and horses. As he climbed onto the wagon’s seat he called over his shoulder, “Don’t bother Mrs. Brackleburn this afternoon. She is feeling ill today and does not need to be pestered with your nonsense.”

“Yes, sir,” Jebediah answered, as the horses pulled the buckboard away from the house. He glanced over his shoulder to the window Emma had been sitting at and finding it empty, walked toward the greenhouse. He stopped at the water pump between the house and greenhouse and was washing his face and hands in the splash of cold water when he heard the backdoor scrape open.

“Is he gone?” she asked quietly, timidly peeking through the gap between the door and its frame. Shaking water out of his hair with his hands, Jebediah nodded to Emma before offering his hand to her. Emma stepped from the oppressive gloom of the house into the sunshine and took his hand. Together, they walked into the greenhouse, then followed the crushed shell pathway to a wrought iron bench and sat. Susan almost felt that she was invading the couple’s privacy as the tender moment continued right before her eyes. She was unable to restrain her desire to witness this scene, however, hoping to obtain some of the answers that were still tucked away in the shadows of this story, always hidden just out of her reach.