Chapter 3

"You... you can't just throw a big accusation like that at me!"

Frieda had gone white in the face. "Who sabotaged anyone's marriage?"

"I was only worried about you. I was afraid you weren't being treated right in this house, so I said a few kind words to Auntie out of goodwill."

"And this is how you repay me. You turn around and bite me!"

She clutched Caleb's sleeve, the picture of wounded innocence.

"Caleb, look at her. Look how she bullies. Where's even a shred of a proper wife in that?"

Caleb pushed her off without a flicker of expression. "Frieda, without proof, don't go running your mouth again."

"Edwina is my lawful wife now."

"When you drag her name through the mud, you're spitting in my face."

Frieda stared at him, disbelieving. "Caleb, you... you're snapping at me?"

She wept, tears streaking down her cheeks. "You never used to talk to me in that tone."

"Did she say something to poison you against me?"

Mildred forgot her own anger, took Frieda by the arm, and spoke up in complaint.

"Caleb, what do you think you're doing?"

"Frieda came all this way out of kindness to see us. How can you take an outsider's side?"

"Mom!" Caleb's voice went stern. "Edwina isn't an outsider. She's my wife."

The moment the words left him, the whole yard went silent.

I was a little surprised. I'd thought it would take Frieda a good long while to brainwash him.

I hadn't expected him to catch the holes in her story so fast.

Then again, it made sense. A man his age didn't rise to the post he held on luck alone.

Frieda's little tricks were only ever good enough to fool a woman like Mildred, a country woman with no schooling.

Realizing there was no salvaging her day, Frieda choked out, "Well, since none of you appreciate it, I won't stay here and be an eyesore."

At the gate she stopped short, turned back, and threw Caleb a snide, singsong parting shot. "Caleb, you'd better keep a tight watch on that fine wife of yours."

"And another thing, you've got a lot of flights coming up lately. You be careful out there. Wouldn't want anything to go wrong."

"After all, some people are just born under an unlucky star."

With that, she swung her hips and swept off.

Mildred trudged back toward the house, sighing and grumbling.

"This... what kind of business is this!"

Caleb's face softened. "What she said just now, don't take it to heart."

"I'm not."

I turned and picked up the broom. "If there's nothing else, Mr. Gilbert, I'll get back to work."

"Edwina."

He stopped me suddenly, his voice low with feeling and regret.

"Last night... I was rash. I saw the shirt you mended for me. The stitches were fine and neat."

"Thank you."

My tone stayed flat. "A torn shirt has to be mended."

"You don't owe me anything, Mr. Gilbert."

"We're married now. We're making a life together. This is just what I'm supposed to do."

Hearing that, Caleb walked over and took the broom out of my hands.

"Stop calling me Mr. Gilbert. Just call me Caleb."

Over the next few days, Caleb came home on time every day.

He still didn't say much, but he started pitching in on the heavy work, hauling water and splitting firewood without being asked.

Mildred still couldn't stand the sight of me.

But given Caleb's stance, she no longer dared to come at me out in the open.

That day, I was in the yard doing the laundry.

Ruby Lambert, the neighbor, sidled up to me all secretive. "Eddie, have you heard?"

"Your brother-in-law, Paul, broke his leg out in the countryside yesterday!"

My hands went still. "Broke his leg?"

"That's right!"

Ruby lowered her voice. "Word is, your sister flat-out forced him up the mountain to chop wood to sell for cash."

"Then the rain made the path slick, and down he went, man and logs and all, rolling right off the slope."

"He was already lame in one leg. Now the other one's broken too."

"The doctor says he'll likely never stand on his own two feet again as long as he lives!"