Chapter Five
An entire week had gone by and Hannah had kept a low profile. She didn’t want to run the risk of seeing Benjamin again. She’d hoped he would have packed up and was on his way back to his own village by now.
By Monday she was back to work again but the good news was that it was raining. She came inside the house from her morning rounds dripping wet. She didn’t know if there would be enough rain to save her crops but she was grateful for it nonetheless. She’d calculated her finances a million different ways, and looked at the bills a million different times but still the situation was no better. She managed to interview a field hand to help with the chores, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to hire him or not. He was new in town and didn’t have any references to speak of so she wasn’t sure if she should trust him with her property.
She remembered that she needed to get to the money lender in time to make a payment. Hannah didn’t want to go back out but it didn’t look like the rain was going to stop anytime soon so she had to take her chances. She ran out to her horse carriage, and made it down to the lender’s office in quick time.
On the way back from the lender, the carriage started to wobble. Hannah pulled over by the side of the road. She couldn’t believe the messes she got herself into. She got out into the rain and examined the carriage to see what had caused the problem. Apparently the reins had come loose. When she tried to connect the reins, she realized that the latch had broken, not allowing her to reconnect it properly. After a few minutes of trying, she realized there was nothing she could do. As she was about to start walking and signal for help, a wagon pulled up beside her and a man hopped out.
Before she knew it, she saw that it was Benjamin. “Hannah? What are you doing out in the rain?” He glanced at her carriage. “Looks like you need some help.”
Hannah had tried to avoid him, but his genuine concern melted away her anxieties. “Unfortunately, it does look that way. I was on my way home but it looks like my carriage has broken down. The latch came off.”
“Look, it’s pouring down hard. Why don’t I just drop you off home and we can take care of this later.”
“That sounds like a good idea under the circumstances.” She tried to fake a smile but it didn’t work and Benjamin wondered what was bothering her. He lent a hand and she hopped into the passenger seat with him.
“This is my cousin’s horse wagon; he let me borrow it to run a few errands.”
“I see,” she said, nervously. Hannah guided him to her house but she insisted that he leave her at the front entrance and not take her up to her house. Once she was at the front gate of her farm and standing in the rain, she looked up at him and said, “You were always a good man.”
“Seems like I’ve just been in the right places at the right time lately. That’s all.”
“Well, whatever it is, I thank you,” she said.
“Oh and I’ll need to see the broken carriage piece if you have it.”
She handed him the piece that was in her hand and their eyes met before she turned to walk down the long road to her house.
When Hannah got inside the house, she was confused. Why is he still here? And why do I keep running into him everywhere? She hadn’t even bothered to ask him what his plans were but she made up her mind that the next time she would. She stared out of the window at the rain as it splashed against her window. She’d prayed for rain and it was here. Now she prayed that it would be enough to save her.
While riding back to his aunt and uncle’s house, Benjamin wondered where Hannah’s husband was. Perhaps he was working out of town, he thought. A strange feeling came over him and he wondered if he was doing the right thing by helping her. He wrestled with his own conscience but he knew he couldn’t just leave any woman stranded in the rain.
Once Benjamin arrived at his aunt and uncle’s house, he sat down with his cousin. “How have things been going? Any leads on jobs?” John asked.
“Not really. I’m afraid I’m probably going to have to leave this paradise and go back to my real life soon.”
“I hope not. How can I help?”
Benjamin shook his head. “There’s really not much more any of you can do than you’ve already done. Now it’s up to God to open a door for me. If I’m supposed to stay, He will give me a sign. But I am worried about my daughter crying about her mother. Not to mention, with my money and time running out; it’s not looking so good.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” John said.
“Yes, me too. I will have to take a decision within a week whether to stay here and find a job, or go back. Time is slipping by.”
John snapped his fingers. “Well, do you believe in miracles?”
Benjamin shrugged. “Of course I do.”
“Then something can turn up by then.”
“You’re right.” Benjamin nodded.
“The rain looks like it may be clearing up. I’m sorry but can I borrow your wagon again to help a friend?”
“Sure but I’ll need to ride with you so I can take care of my business too.” John chuckled.
“No problem. That’s even better.” Benjamin grabbed a hammer and some nails before going out of the door.
The cousins loaded up in John’s wagon and headed down the road. He stopped at where Hannah’s horse carriage had broken down. He took out the hammer and nails and started to repair the broken carriage latch. He checked the horses’ bridle and reconnected the reins. Surprisingly, he was able to fix it almost as good as new within a few minutes.
Benjamin steered Hannah’s horse carriage back to her farm with John following close behind in his own carriage. This time, of course, he drove till the front door.
When Hannah heard a knock on the door, she was startled.
Benjamin stood in the doorway grinning. “I told you I’d be back but it happened sooner rather than later.”
“Oh thank you.” Hannah peeked outside to see her carriage parked out front. “That was so fast; you’re a wonder with a horse carriage I see.”
“No, I can’t take any credit; it was even easier than I thought. I tightened everything for you and reconnected the reins and the bridle. Everything seems to be just fine and your horses sure look happy.” Benjamin motioned with his hands.
Hannah remembered how he liked to talk with his hands. She remembered the long afternoons they spent talking. Her attention snapped back to the present. “I really appreciate this. Would you like some coffee?”
Benjamin wanted to say yes with all his heart but he remembered the time and place they were in. They were no longer teenagers and no longer in love. “No, thanks. I’d like to but… I’ve got to go.” Benjamin looked into her eyes dreamily before turning to leave.
“Okay, but thanks for your help.” But he was already gone, running down the walkway.
Hannah stepped outside and saw Benjamin climbing into John’s carriage. She waved to John. John waved back at her.
John tugged the reins on his horses, and pulled away from the house. “Oh, that was Hannah’s carriage? I should’ve known. It looked familiar.”
“You know Hannah?” Benjamin didn’t know why he was surprised. Living in the same village, John and Hannah would be acquaintances if not friends.
John drove down the road slowly. “Yes, I have known her for a long time. In fact, I am surprised you knew her.”
“Oh, we were childhood friends,” Benjamin explained.
“You were?”
“I’ve never told anyone this but she’s the reason I left.” Benjamin swallowed hard. After all these years, it was still hard for him to talk about. “I loved her but her father made her marry someone else.”
“Oh, I didn’t know.” John took one hand off the reins and placed it on his cousin’s shoulder.
Benjamin threw up his hands. “Yes, but it’s all water under the bridge now.”
John looked at Benjamin just as he was approaching the front gate. “Why can’t you two start again? I mean she’s a widow and you’re
a widow…”
Benjamin could hardly believe what he was hearing. “Wait a minute. What did you say?”
John stopped driving. “I said she’s a widow and you’re-”
“I didn’t know she was a widow,” Benjamin said.
“Yes, her husband passed away last year. Did I miss something?”
“Yes, I may still have feelings for her.”
“Oh.” John didn’t know what else to say.
“All this time I thought she was married.” Benjamin was still in shock.
John pulled on the horses’ reins again, but turned the wagon around to go back to the house. “Well, she’s not. Why don’t you go back inside and talk to her. I don’t know; tell her how you feel.”
“Maybe I’ll try.” Benjamin took a deep breath as he tried to absorb everything he’d been told. “Give me a minute.”
“No problem.” John chuckled as he drove.
As soon as John stopped the wagon, Benjamin jumped out, ran back to the front door and knocked.
Hannah peeked out from the curtains, and then opened the door. “You’re back? Did you forget something?”
“Yes…you,” he said, searching her face to see her reaction.
“I beg your pardon”, Hannah said, totally confused.
Benjamin stepped inside but leaned against the wall. “I never knew you were a widow.”
“Yes, my husband passed away a year ago. I’ve been alone ever since,” Hannah said.
“And my wife passed away a little over two months ago…”
Hannah didn’t know quite what to say. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. I thought that you were-”
Benjamin smiled. “Married?”
Hannah covered her mouth as she smiled, foolishly. “Yes.”
“No, that’s why I came back here, to start over. I’ve just had problems finding a job so I could stay.”
“Well I’ve got a part-time job I’m hiring for. I’m just looking for some help around the farm.”
Benjamin snapped his fingers. “That would be perfect. That would be my miracle.”
“Then you could stay?”
“Yes, I will be able to,” he confirmed.
“Well, that would be my miracle.” Hannah looked into his eyes and was drawn to him. “What about your daughter?”
Benjamin gestured with his hands as usual. “She’s with her grandmother but once I find a place to live, then I’ll be able to bring her out here.”
Hannah nodded as she tried to process all of this information. “That sounds great.” She truly could not believe her ears. God was so merciful.
Benjamin went over to the window and began to dream. “Why, with all this land, we could get everything in tip top shape around here, the vegetables and fruits, the pigs and chickens, with your making of the jellies and jams, and with my selling know how, this will be the most profitable farm in the village in no time.”
Hannah couldn’t stop smiling, so much so that her cheeks hurt. “And how would I ever repay you?”
“A full time job for starters, as soon as sales pick up that is…”
“Done,” she said, smiling.
“And I’m sure we can work out the rest of the details later.” Benjamin smiled back.
“Fair enough.” Hannah walked into her kitchen. “Now, would you like to have that cup of coffee?”
“I sure would.” Benjamin went to the door and signaled to John that he could leave. “I’m so glad that I found you again.” Benjamin looked at her, admiring the rare jewel he had let get away from him once.
“I’m glad that we found each other,” Hannah said with all the potential love in her heart swelling and overflowing.
Benjamin’s eyes shone back at her. God had given them a second chance.
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