A Bend in the Road Chapter Five

 Chapter Five

Better Left in the Past

    A country corn husking is simply a delight. Katherine learned that quickly. The Sloanes' huge old red barn was filled to bursting both with piles of corn and an unbelievable amount of people. As large as the barn was, Katherine was amazed that it could still be so full.

    They sat on the floor in groups of threes and fours, all clustered round the golden heaps of corn, talking and laughing as they worked. Coming to Avonlea had been just one first after another for Katherine and this was simply another on her long list. A gathering of this sort she had never even dreamed of.

    With David's help, she was indeed a "natural in five minutes flat". There was really nothing to it… just pull the shucks off the cob and fling the shucks in one direction and the cob in another, although taking care to land in the correct piles. She also learned it wasn't a good idea to fling either too far… a husking bee could turn to chaos instantly if a cob chanced to fly across the room.

    Sandy ambled in late that evening and instantly made his way, tripping and fumbling over the heaps of corn and shucks, across the room to where Katherine sat with David, Ruby, and Herb. He was invited to work with them and duly accepted, although he didn't exactly work well. He shucked about one cob to the others' three.

    "It's just too bad," he sighed mournfully, staring regretfully at the cob in his hand.

    "What is?" Katherine asked, curiously.

    "One simply cannot eat field corn. If only they would get the refreshments out! I'm simply ravenous… haven't eaten a single thing since tea time."

    "Tea time was three hours ago," David was trying to stifle his laughter.

    "Actually, it was two hours ago," Sandy returned, reaching for another cob. "I have tea at five instead of four… since I usually have a snack at two. Well, even if I can't eat it, I hope I'll get a red cob."

    "A red cob?" Katherine frowned, confused. "I thought corn was always yellow."

    "Red cobs are rare," Ruby answered, flushing daintily. "It's a time-honored tradition that whoever finds a red cob must give a kiss to the one they like the best," and here she glanced sideways at Herb with a little smile.

    "Gracious… I don't know what I'd do with a red cob," Katherine answered, shaking her head.

    "Why… look at David!" Ruby cried suddenly, with a laugh. "Speaking of red cobs, indeed!"

    Katherine looked accordingly. David was sitting motionless, staring at the red cob in his hands. Catching wind of Ruby's words, the entire room fell silent and all eyes turned toward the corner where David sat. It was as if all held their breaths… waiting to see what he would do. He looked up suddenly and his eyes met Katherine's. She dropped hers immediately… her heart beating more quickly than she had thought it possible for a human heart to beat. He leaned toward her suddenly and kissed her cheek. She was stunned. Never in all her life had someone kissed her… not ever that she could remember… and she had thought that no one ever would. She felt like she could laugh… burst into tears… she didn't know. But a whole new world suddenly folded open… like a beautiful red rose bursting into bloom… just at that moment.

    Perhaps… she thought wildly… perhaps this is what being in love feels like.

    "Why, David McAllister!" a shrill voice broke the silence with a laugh. "I'm surprised at you! Why… after all I've heard about you and Emily, I never thought you'd find another to whom you could give your heart!"

    "Josie Pye!" Ruby whirled round indignantly. "You learn to hold your tongue!"

    Josie narrowed her eyes at Ruby and flounced back to her circle. After the first few stunned seconds of silence, the room was busy again and filled with laughter. But Katherine felt certain now that she would cry… and David was shucking corn twice as fast as before, his head down, his face white.

    "Emily…" Katherine faltered, looking at Ruby in frightened confusion. Ruby looked down.

    "We in Avonlea don't speak of Emily any more. Josie has no tact… and no heart. I'm sorry, David."

    "It doesn't matter," he murmured. "That was years ago."

    The incident somewhat dampened the spirits of the little group but it was quickly forgotten by all, perhaps, except Katherine and David. Katherine was worried to such an extent that she somehow found the courage to bring it up to David during the drive home.

    "Emily." he said softly. "Emily Blythe. We went to school together… she was just a couple of grades behind me. She was the prettiest girl in Avonlea in those days… curly dark hair and big hazel eyes. We were engaged at one point…" his voice trailed off and he lapsed into silence.

    "And?" Katherine prompted gently. He shook his head.

    "Some things are better left in the past. But don't worry about it, Katherine. That happened too long ago. It doesn't bother me anymore, really."

    Katherine didn't have to wonder long about the mysterious Emily. When she arrived back at Green Gables that night, as she was pressed into telling every detail of the evening… although she didn't mention the red cob… she rather evasively brought up the incident with Josie, asking who Emily Blythe was.

    "Emily Blythe! Gracious, it's been years since I've heard her name, poor child." Mrs. Lynde sighed. "It was a terrible disgrace, that's what."

    "What happened?" Katherine could no longer contain her curiosity.

    "She was the older sister of Gilbert Blythe," Marilla interposed quietly. "Her father's favorite, so I've heard.

    "Land sakes, he loved the girl to death. Spoiled her, if you ask me. Gave her too much freedom, that's what."

    "But she was a sweet girl. Loved by all who knew her." Marilla was charitable still.

    "And a great beauty." Mrs. Lynde added. "The kind that makes a man stop and look twice. David McAllister was head over heels in love with her… ten years ago. I never saw a man so smitten by a girl."

    "And?" Katherine urged, for both women had stopped to shake their heads mournfully at each other.

    "They were engaged when he was twenty and she just seventeen." Marilla continued slowly. "I still remember the day they were announced in church… he beaming with pride and she smiling so happily."

    "And then one day a stranger showed up in town," Mrs. Lynde sniffed with an air that told Katherine she had little regard for said stranger. "One of them dreadful foreigners from the states. He was terribly rich… just scads of money. And terribly handsome too. Emily took one look at him and most likely forgot David even existed. Though I can hardly imagine why… David was much more handsome… and much more respectable too. Her family still wanted her to marry him of course but I declare that stranger must have bewitched her! She told David straight to his face that she was tired of a provincial life… that she hated the very sight of his farm and didn't want to waste away her life as a farmer's wife."

    "I'm surprised she really had it in her to say that." Marilla frowned. "But that is how the story got around."

    "I believe it." Mrs. Lynde stated with firm conviction. "No telling what nonsense that stranger put in her head. But when her father stepped in and forbid her to see him anymore, she up and ran away with him. Poor David just ate his heart out with grief."

    "She took consumption and died shortly after leaving Avonlea." Marilla put in quietly. "Her father was so upset over the whole situation that he became dangerously ill and the entire family left Avonlea. They stayed in Alberta for three years."

    "And when he was better, they came home and continued on with life just as if nothing had ever happened. No one has hardly mentioned poor Emily since then except perhaps in a whisper. But the Pyes were always too meddlesome for their own good." She turned to Marilla. "I suppose if none of that had never happened and they hadn't been gone for so long that Gilbert never would have gotten so behind in school. Wouldn't that have been a change! Without all that rivalry between him and Anne, I suppose your life would have been rather dull indeed, Marilla, that's what."

    Katherine had fallen silent, not certain how to take in the news. She almost wished she hadn't asked... but at the same time was glad she knew. She found herself wondering if it was truly possible for one to fall in love more than once. Or was she entirely fooling herself? Perhaps David just wanted a friend. She wasn't entirely certain what she wanted herself. It was just part of that Green Gables magic...

    "Don't you worry, Katherine," Mrs. Lynde was saying, complaisantly. "It's been ten years and David would be a fool indeed to turn down a good match for old time's sake. Pure sentimental hogwash, that's what."

    "It's late," Katherine murmured, without answering Mrs. Lynde. "I should be getting to bed."

    No sooner had the door closed behind her than Mrs. Lynde added knowingly, "Mark my words, Marilla, something is in the air, and that you may tie to. I have more than a feeling that David and Katherine will make a match of it after all."

    "If Providence wills it," Marilla smiled tolerantly.