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Back The Land Beneath Us Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Sarah Sundin
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Presidential Radio Broadcast
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. Discussion Questions
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

Clay leaned against the railing. Down on the pier, men muscled thick lines into place to secure the mighty ship.

He’d been so miserable for so long, the dream had come as a relief, assuring him the misery would come to an end.

That dream had served good purposes, leading him to join the Rangers and to marry Leah. But if those were the only purposes, why hadn’t the dream stopped after the wedding?

It had also made him fearless in training and in combat, but was that enough of a reason? Was he such a coward that he couldn’t charge a casemate without that dream? He hoped not.

Clay gazed over the land he thought he’d never see again. All he knew was the dream had stopped, and his new life was about to begin.

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48

TULLAHOMA
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1944

Leah checked the clock hanging under the eaves at the railroad depot. It was 6:32, only three minutes until Clay’s train was expected. Her stomach wriggled more than Helen did in her baby carriage.

If only she’d had more time to prepare for his arrival. He’d sent a telegram when he arrived in Boston, saying he’d be in Tullahoma as soon as the trains allowed.

Then this afternoon he’d called the Bellamy home while Leah was on her way to the orphanage. Rita Sue had called her there, and Leah had said her hellos, apologies, and good-byes, and she’d hurried home as quickly as she could push the baby carriage.

She’d rushed to make phone calls, prepare dinner, feed and change the baby, and get dressed.

“Time to meet your daddy, sweetie.” Leah picked up the four-month-old and smoothed her yellow dotted swiss dress, made from remnants after Rita Sue made dresses for Luella and Sally. The girls were thrilled that Helen had a matching dress.

Leah had taken extra care with her own grooming—her hair rolled in a fashionable style under her summer hat, her lips red and her nose powdered, her grassy green suit pressed, and her cream pumps shiny. She had to look capable of caring for herself and her daughter on her own.

Bouncing Helen on her shoulder, Leah paced on the short platform and avoided glancing up the tracks toward Nashville too often.

Her heart did a little trill at the thought of seeing Clay, but she had to be careful. Everything she did and said tonight had to be just right.

She needed to—wanted to—greet him warmly as the dear friend he was. But it was vital that she conceal her love so he’d feel no guilt or concern when he went his way in the world.

A chugging sound rose to the north, and Leah spun that direction. He was coming.

Lord, help me. Clay deserved to find a woman he adored as much as Leah adored him.