The Widow In Her Cabin, Part V
Some people did gossip, but Amos played
the part of a shy, young man seeking pay,
desperate for work, and with nowhere to go,
some laughed at this, and he let them do so,
knowing what waited at home every day.
Beyond that he dealt with Preacher John’s sneers,
learned his routine, so he would not be near,
not have to deal with his glowers askance,
John got his rent, so he kept his distance,
and rarely at the farm did he appear.
But time has a way of undoing things,
six months later, in the first weeks of spring,
a worried Joanne sat up in their bed,
the motion jostling her lover’s head,
until he sat up, saw her just staring.
“What is it?”he asked, still then half-asleep,
noticing the lines furrowed her brow deep,
she said, “I have tried to be quite careful,
but what I have feared has come full circle,
I have not bled, and it’s going on month three.”
He blinked in confusion, then eyes went wide,
“Are…are you saying…”he hurriedly cried.
She could only nod, brush tears from her cheeks,
struggle for breath, and then started to speak,
“Your child is in me, growing inside.”
Then, to her shock, he was nothing but grins,
she said, “John will expel us for our sin.
We will have no home, no money, no life…
we can’t even say that I am your wife.
You smile and yet, our future seems grim.”
Amos just squeezed her, and said, “Realize
the preacher still thinks his son is alive…”
He laughed and explained his thoughts to Joanne,
who found herself more and more liking his plan.
“If it works then you can remain at my side!”
But she stopped right there, and looked to Amos,
said, “I’ll do it, but it’s not quite enough.
I may be a sinner, but this child
will not be called bastard, scorned, reviled.
You must find someone who can marry us.”
Amos laughed and said, “Not two towns over
there is a preacher called Henry Drover,
He gave me shelter when I was drifting,
and more than a bit of his preacher,
If he won’t do it, we’ll find another.”
But such a search they did not undertake,
Henry bound them with bonds they could not break,
and though they told none of her new last name,
people soon realized that something had changed,
they saw her stomach, there could be no mistake.
The rumors did fly, a scandal it seemed!
When John stormed over, with anger he steamed,
scowled at Amos out plowing the fields,
pounded at the door, his outrage quite real,
upon seeing Joanne he madly screamed:
CONTINUE IN PART VI.
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