The Write Place

Under the Fruiting Tree: Novella Table of Contents – The Write Place
Under the Fruiting Tree: Chapter 19 – The Write Place

“That. . . How could he?” said William, pacing furiously in the dark of the night.  “I mean, that stupid! ” William threw an arm up in the air, trying to find some outlet for the rage welling up within him.  His darkened figure paced feverishly in the night.

“Breathe William,” Ruth said, touching William gently on the shoulder.  “I’m upset too.  These things happen.  Our world isn’t perfect, people make mistakes.” Her ring glimmered in the moonlight as she pressed her fingers softly into his arm.  He slowed to a stop as she rubbed one hand gently across his shoulder.  She pressed lightly against his back, trying to calm him as she rested her head on his shoulder.  She could feel his heavy breathing through his leather jacket.  His chest rose fast, then slow, then fast once again.

“I mean, how do you, how can you not just keep it in your pants!  It’s simple, just don’t do it,” William said as he blinked deeply while letting out a heavy sigh.  William took his hat off his head.  With his free hand he rubbed his brown sweaty hair.  “That doesn’t make it all right Ruth!  Or somehow excusable!”  A touch of anger welled up again with tears overwhelming his eyes.  “My sister, and my best friend.  But especially my sister.  My baby sister.”

“You have a right to be upset,” Ruth said, placing both her hands on his shoulder.  She moved from his side, positioning herself to look into William’s face.  He could see her standing in her light blue dress. Her form melded with the moonlight.  Her hair swayed mournfully in the midst of a sorrowful night.  His body betrayed the flurry of conflicting emotions he felt tearing him open from inside.  It felt like the darkest night, more than any night they’d known.

“He’s always been a troublemaker.  I’ll kill him,” William said, trying to hold back the tears and his anger. William broke off her embrace to punch the tree before pulling hand back in pain upon contact with it. It seemed like a better idea when he wasn’t thinking about it. “Dagnabbit!” he said as he began pacing back and forth again muttering underneath his breath.

Ruth quickly walked over to William.   “William, this is my brother we’re talking about!”  she said with a look of indignation upon her face.  “You may have done nothing like this, but you weren’t an angel either.  William.  Has he stopped being my brother?  Has he stopped being your friend?  He’s still Daniel.  William,” she said, softly placing both hands to William’s face.  They could both feel the other feeding the sea of emotions into each other.   His pained face elicited a sorrowful expression on her own.  Tears began to form in her eyes, creating a glistening quality upon them both in the moonlit night.

“I’m angry too, William.  My brother did wrong.  To you and your family.  To my future husband, my friend, and your family.  He means to make it right; he’s not running like you’re afraid of.  He understands the wrong in what he did,” Ruth said, shaking her head gently, pleadingly in the midst of deep anguish.  William looked her in the eyes.  Seeing her tears, his face took on a concerned look.  Both wondered at the pain inside each other, the pain they shared together from what had been done.  Ruth removed her hands as William put his hat back upon his head.  William began to stammer as he tried to speak, but no words came.  “He didn’t force her into this stupid mistake.  Be mad at him but let’s not forget that,” Ruth added.

“I’m sorry Ruth.  I. . . I don’t know what to do here.  I am letting my emotions get the best of me right as some of them may be.  I’ve spent my whole life protecting my sister and I didn’t.  I failed.  I feel betrayed.  I trusted Daniel.”  William sat down on the bench taking Ruth’s hands.  With gentle prodding he seated her next to himself.  William began with a heavy sigh “This isn’t easy for you either.  Or anybody.  Good grief, what will my parents think?” William added, shaking his head. “I’m mad enough just imagine how my Pa will be.  Or my brothers.”  As she sat down, he fit her hand into his own.  William felt the ring in her hand.  A mix of simple joy of greater things fought the deep hurt of the moment. “That makes things complicated, doesn’t it?”  William added with exhaustion.

Ruth looked intently at the ring on her hand. “Sure does,” she muttered.

William pulled her close.  “But doesn’t change a thing really,” William said, knowing it was true and not true. Regardless he didn’t feel it would be but knew it could. He turned to look ahead at the town in the valley. “Well, something positive though,” he said.  Marie returned a smile.  They knew good things still existed in their world.  Soon it would be theirs.  “What to do now.  Or how we got here. I don’t know how long they’ve been doing this.”

“Wonder if that’s where he’s been going at night,” Ruth finished, her face sinking a little as she furrowed her brow.  “It has to be,” she said resting her head on his shoulders. She opened her eyes, her countenance dropped. She considered her current company only after she spoke.  “I don’t know that I should have said that.”

William’s face turned red.  “Good grief.  A troublemaker like that.  He’s been asking for real trouble.  He needs to settle himself down especially if he’s to take care of my sister; be responsible,” William said, shaking his head.  Ruth lifted her head to look towards William.  “He says he loves her – now’s the time to show it,” William said, turning to meet her gaze.

“I know he has problems, William.  I know his character though.  It was a mistake.” Ruth said matter of factly.

“You don’t make a mistake like that, not over and over.  I know I had my moments but I never did this,” William said, tilting his head in defeat.  His eyes bore his pained expression.  Ruth’s face withered in recognition of the truth of William’s words.  “And I settled down,” William scrunched his face in concerned thought.  “Can he even support himself yet?” he asked, rubbing his forehead.

“He’s keeping the store going after father’s stroke.  Making money doing it,” Ruth said, putting her right arm around William to reach his shoulder.  “Pa knows about it all.  Not happy, trust me but he knows his son.  Daniel is willing to  work and rise up to take responsibility.  I’m sure of it.  He really cares about your sister,” she said sweetly with a small smile on her face at the coming of a happy thought.  Trying to reassure William, and herself, she gently squeezed his hand. “Won’t shut up about her.  Good things, nothing else. It’s a tad annoying frankly.”

“That’s encouraging, if he’s serious.  He still needs to do the honorable thing and take responsibility. Show it.  Take responsibility for it and then I can forgive him.  Eventually,” William said as he turned to face the stars, deep in thought. “When does he plan on telling my dad?”

“Sometime tonight.  Not without us though,” Ruth said, joining him.  “I told him that much.  Which is why I told you tonight.  He plans on meeting us at the bottom of your driveway if you’re on board.  Probably there now, pacing enough to dig a ditch.”

William let out a sigh and a grunt of agreement shook his body.  “He should, he already dug himself into a hole.  This won’t be easy,” William breathed out heavily, then shook his head.  “I’m on board.  He’ll need me there.  Waiting for us would be the wisest thing.  If I felt like killing your brother, my father may be liable to do it.  I still don’t know how I’ll respond when I see him.  This anger isn’t going away overnight.  But they both need us.  Can’t change that. . . .  You can’t change who needs you” William concluded by looking down at his boots.  Kicking the dust he said, “This’ll make their wedding awkward, though.  Assuming my Pa doesn’t try to stop it altogether.” 

Ruth looked at her fiancé.  She felt her love for him in the concern that showed on her face.  “Don’t worry, I won’t let him,” William replied to her look with reassurance.

“That’s bold of you William.  What will you do if he says no?  Workwise, you’re on the farm. He may kick you off the farm for this,” Ruth asked. William looked Ruth in the eyes. 

“I’ll find something.  I know you.  I trust this with Daniel, it’s just for a moment.  He’s better than this.  At least I’m trusting he is,” William said.  His face betrayed his uncertainty.  “I think my father will support their marriage if he hears Daniel taking responsibility.  He’s known him since he was a child too.  God willing, it’ll work out.”  William took out his pocket watch to look at the time.  He clicked it open, angling it in the dim light.  “Getting late.  If Daniel wants to tell my father tonight, we need to get to him now.”

“Right,” said Ruth, disengaging from William with anxiety sinking her shoulders. William stood up and offered an arm to Ruth. 

“Shall we go into the fray my dear?” William asked.  Ruth smiled while wiping away the last of her tears.  With a small sniffle she took his hands.  “Sure thing William.”  He helped her up and they began to walk down the hill towards whatever was waiting.