Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot Page A

amazement at the way Harriet had controlled what had become an angry crowd. Somehow she had chosen the exact words that had quieted them and changed their anger into chagrin.
    Lawrence faced the congregation. “Pastor Sempert is still alive,” he announced. “Dr. Canfield is doing everything he can. In the meantime, I suggest we follow Miss Kirk’s advice.” He nodded at Sterling.
    The young pastor straightened his shoulders and gazed out at his flock. “Let us pray.”

7
    “I could never have done that.” Ruth’s eyes filled with tears, and she blinked to keep them from falling.
    Harriet wasn’t certain which surprised her more: her sister’s words or the tears. If Ruth had been chopping onions, Harriet would have blamed watery eyes on the aromatic vegetable, but she was peeling carrots. “Done what?” she asked.
    “What you and Pastor Russell did—stand up in front of everyone when they were angry.”
    Though Harriet was still appalled at the congregation’s reaction to Pastor Sempert’s apoplexy, her heartbeat had returned to normal well before she had arrived home. What remained was dismay that the citizens of Ladreville could have been so cruel, blaming the new minister for something that was clearly not his fault. She had hoped that Ladreville would be different from Fortune, but it appeared it was not. Harriet pushed her spectacles back on her nose as she said, “For me it wasn’t much different than standing in front of a classroom.”
    Her hand clutching the paring knife as if it were a lifeline, Ruth shook her head. “There were more people in the church, and they were bigger than your pupils.”
    “That’s true.” Some of the parishioners were almost as tall as Lawrence and burlier, their arms and shoulders bearing witness to years of hard work. “But bullies are the same regardless of their size.” Harriet had learned that the day Thomas had berated her for refusing his proposal of marriage. “You can’t let them see that you’re afraid. That’s what they want.” She looked down at the potato she was peeling and began to dig out its eyes. “I felt sorry for Pastor Russell. This wasn’t a very pleasant welcome.” Her frown faded as she recalled her own welcome. Though businesslike, Lawrence had been cordial that first day.
    “I wonder if he’ll leave now.” Ruth cut the carrot into chunks and arranged them around the pot roast.
    “I doubt it. His contract is until January.”
    The furrows that appeared between Ruth’s eyes spoke of her puzzlement. “I didn’t realize ministers had contracts.” She reached for another carrot.
    “Oh!” Harriet felt blood rush to her face as she recognized her mistake. “You’re right; they don’t.” Why, oh why, had her mind been wandering? Why had she been thinking of Lawrence? It must be because she’d been recalling the way he had greeted her when they’d arrived. That must be the reason she had made such a silly response. What a ninny she was!
    Two hours later when they gathered around the long table in the dining room, the boys were still talking about what had occurred in the German church. Though the younger ones had heard of apoplexy, it was the first time they had seen someone stricken, and they were both curious and a bit alarmed.
    “Chet was right,” Jake declared.
    Harriet doubted that. “In what way was he right?”
    Jake shoveled food onto his plate. It was only when he’d taken more than his share that he looked up. “He said there was no God. What happened this morning is proof. If there really was a God, he wouldn’t have let the minister suffer like that.” Grabbing a biscuit and slathering it with butter, he said, “The way I see it, either there is no God, or he’s a mean one.”
    Before Harriet could respond, Mary’s face contorted with anger. “You’re wrong, Jake. Eva told me that God is good. She prayed for a new mother, and God gave her one.” Refusing to look at her oldest brother, Mary turned to