“You don’t have to spurn all the menfolk. Mellie and I have boyfriends.”
“No, I need to. I dated for the wrong reasons and I need to stop.”
Mellie chuckled. “First you date half the men in the MTO, then you break up with them all at once. You don’t do anything in half measure, do you?”
“No, I don’t.” Kay gazed, light-headed, at the raw wooden walls and makeshift pulpit and rickety piano. She hadn’tbeen in church since she was fifteen. The last time, she’d sat at the back of the tent counting the offering, her usual job since she wasn’t good enough to be onstage with the rest of the family.
That night she’d pocketed the entire offering so she could escape. Every penny. On top of the cash she’d been skimming for months. Why not? She was irredeemably bad.
Kay bolted to her feet. “I have to go.”
Mellie touched her arm. “Laundry, Kay.”
She looked down at her friend’s benign smile. For heaven’s sake, why had she made a deal? “Fine.” She plunked down on the crate.
“That’s better. Good girl.” Georgie spoke in the same cooing voice she used on her horse.
It was oddly comforting.
Kay worked her finger between the pages of the Bible and felt the fine paper dimpled by Roger Cooper’s handwriting. What would he think to see her in church?
Mail took forever. Had he even received her letters? After she turned her life over to God, she’d told him about everything, including the incident with Hal. What would he think of her?
A warm wave swept through her. She’d read enough of his notes to know his heart. He wouldn’t look down on her, and he’d be glad she’d made her decision.
Giggles erupted across the aisle from nurses in one of the other flights. Frannie Teague smirked at Kay and spoke to Mary Newlin. “Looks like she found someplace new to find men.”
Kay slammed her eyes shut. Mellie said Kay was changed, a whole new person, but no one else believed it.
Shame slunk into her heart and bowed her head. She fought it the only way she knew how. God, you said I’m a new person. You said it yourself. Mellie showed me the verse. Help me believe it. And if you wouldn’t mind, make those girls believe it too.
That new feeling oozed through her, slowed her respirations, and relaxed her muscles. Peace. It felt even better than watching a man fall in love.
Was it her imagination, or did it even still the voices around her?
Mellie nudged her.
Kay looked up. No, the voices stilled because the chaplain approached the pulpit. Would he recognize her? Use her as an example of how not to behave? Banish her from the building?
She leaned slightly to her right, centering her head behind the man in front of her.
The chaplain greeted everyone and announced a prayer. Kay even remembered to bow her head and close her eyes.
After he prayed for the troops of the US Fifth Army and British Eighth Army surging forward in their spring offensive in the Cassino area, the chaplain lifted his head. “Please open your hymnals to number 229, ‘Amazing Love.’ ”
Kay gritted her teeth. She knew this moment was coming. Her friends promised her she didn’t have to sing, but silence could draw as much attention as off-key singing.
Everyone stood, and Georgie held the hymnal so that Kay was supposed to take the other side. She did, but with as few fingers as possible.
Dizziness rolled in her head and brought out an overwhelming urge to run. When had she turned into such a coward? Danger didn’t faze her, but a hymn did? No, she could handle this.
The chaplain sat at the piano and waved his hand to get them started. Kay drilled her gaze into the hymnal. She’d just focus on the words.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a
“No, I need to. I dated for the wrong reasons and I need to stop.”
Mellie chuckled. “First you date half the men in the MTO, then you break up with them all at once. You don’t do anything in half measure, do you?”
“No, I don’t.” Kay gazed, light-headed, at the raw wooden walls and makeshift pulpit and rickety piano. She hadn’tbeen in church since she was fifteen. The last time, she’d sat at the back of the tent counting the offering, her usual job since she wasn’t good enough to be onstage with the rest of the family.
That night she’d pocketed the entire offering so she could escape. Every penny. On top of the cash she’d been skimming for months. Why not? She was irredeemably bad.
Kay bolted to her feet. “I have to go.”
Mellie touched her arm. “Laundry, Kay.”
She looked down at her friend’s benign smile. For heaven’s sake, why had she made a deal? “Fine.” She plunked down on the crate.
“That’s better. Good girl.” Georgie spoke in the same cooing voice she used on her horse.
It was oddly comforting.
Kay worked her finger between the pages of the Bible and felt the fine paper dimpled by Roger Cooper’s handwriting. What would he think to see her in church?
Mail took forever. Had he even received her letters? After she turned her life over to God, she’d told him about everything, including the incident with Hal. What would he think of her?
A warm wave swept through her. She’d read enough of his notes to know his heart. He wouldn’t look down on her, and he’d be glad she’d made her decision.
Giggles erupted across the aisle from nurses in one of the other flights. Frannie Teague smirked at Kay and spoke to Mary Newlin. “Looks like she found someplace new to find men.”
Kay slammed her eyes shut. Mellie said Kay was changed, a whole new person, but no one else believed it.
Shame slunk into her heart and bowed her head. She fought it the only way she knew how. God, you said I’m a new person. You said it yourself. Mellie showed me the verse. Help me believe it. And if you wouldn’t mind, make those girls believe it too.
That new feeling oozed through her, slowed her respirations, and relaxed her muscles. Peace. It felt even better than watching a man fall in love.
Was it her imagination, or did it even still the voices around her?
Mellie nudged her.
Kay looked up. No, the voices stilled because the chaplain approached the pulpit. Would he recognize her? Use her as an example of how not to behave? Banish her from the building?
She leaned slightly to her right, centering her head behind the man in front of her.
The chaplain greeted everyone and announced a prayer. Kay even remembered to bow her head and close her eyes.
After he prayed for the troops of the US Fifth Army and British Eighth Army surging forward in their spring offensive in the Cassino area, the chaplain lifted his head. “Please open your hymnals to number 229, ‘Amazing Love.’ ”
Kay gritted her teeth. She knew this moment was coming. Her friends promised her she didn’t have to sing, but silence could draw as much attention as off-key singing.
Everyone stood, and Georgie held the hymnal so that Kay was supposed to take the other side. She did, but with as few fingers as possible.
Dizziness rolled in her head and brought out an overwhelming urge to run. When had she turned into such a coward? Danger didn’t faze her, but a hymn did? No, she could handle this.
The chaplain sat at the piano and waved his hand to get them started. Kay drilled her gaze into the hymnal. She’d just focus on the words.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a
Similar Books
