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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

He opened the envelope and pulled out two yellow baby booties, and he whooped. “I’m going to be a daddy!”

His buddies gathered around. “Congratulations,” . . . “Now you’re shackled for good,” . . . “Sure you’re the dad?”

Clay glared at Frank Lyons and his smirking dark eyes. “Sure, I’m sure.”

“Can’t believe you beat me.” Gene grinned at him. “When is she due?”

Clay skimmed the letter as if he didn’t know the agreed-upon due date. “Early May.”

“May, April, March . . .” Lyons ticked off the months on his fingers.

“It’s nine months, you numbskull,” Clay said. “We were married in August.”

The congratulations resumed, and the men turned to their letters.

Clay fingered a tiny yellow bootie. For the second time, a woman in his life was bearing a child he hadn’t fathered. With Ellen, he’d prayed everyone would realize he wasn’t the daddy. With Leah, he prayed everyone would believe he was the daddy.

He could still see Ellen in Mama’s rocking chair, knitting tiny garments for Timmy. Had she been scared and remorseful behind her phony cheer and her insistence that Adler would return for her?

She’d paid a steep price for her sin. Too steep.

True compassion for the woman he’d once loved filled his soul. Lord, I forgive her.

Thank goodness the Lord had let him redeem himself with Leah. She was a true innocent. She deserved nothing but happiness and security from now on.

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19

TULLAHOMA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1943

Leah scraped scrambled eggs into Mrs. Perry’s serving bowl. “These smell so good.”

Mrs. Perry grunted and slid pancakes onto a platter. “You certainly eat your fair share.”

Leah winced at her sharp tone. “I guess I’m gaining back my strength.”

“That’s not all you’re gaining.” She glanced at Leah’s stomach.

That stomach turned. Leah couldn’t delay her announcement any longer. Every day for the past week she’d tried to speak but had failed.

She brought the eggs out to the dining room and took her seat between Darlene and Thelma, across from Adelle, Faye, and Verena, all of whom worked at Camp Forrest—from the laundry to the bakery to the mess.

Leah scooped a portion of pancakes and eggs and courage. “I have an announcement.”

When everyone looked her way, she forced a smile. “I’m expecting a baby.”

Darlene gasped and grabbed Leah’s arm. “You are? My heavens! I’m so happy for you.”

Leah’s smile relaxed. Darlene had been distant lately, and Leah didn’t know why.

“I thought so,” Mrs. Perry said. “Skinny thing like you mushrooming like that.”

“When are you due?” Thelma’s sweet smile more than made up for the homely face the other girls mocked.

“The first of May.”

Mrs. Perry spread oleo on her pancakes. “Give me two weeks’ notice before you move out.”

Leah’s fingers tightened around her fork. “Is it possible to have a room—”