Page 67 of Unforgiven

Holding an indigo-hued square basket in her hands, she said, “I’ve never seen a basket like this. Not only are the sides a little longer than usual, the colors are amazing.” She touched one of the slats. “Look how the light and dark shades alternate. It makes the piece seem almost alive.” She smiled at her. “These would be perfect gifts.”

Tabitha’s brown eyes warmed. “I’ve thought that too.”

“Where did you get them?”

“I made them.”

“Truly?” Melonie looked at them more closely. Such skilled craftsmanship.

Tabitha nodded, looking a little bashful. “I purchase the wood from a supplier near Hart County and then dye the slats and finally weave them into baskets.”

“That’s a lot of work.” Flipping over the basket, she noticed a handful of carefully crafted details. Nothing about the basket had been done hurriedly. “You should sell them, Tabitha.”

“I do. It’s how I make my living.”

“I had no idea. I haven’t seen these in any shops in Marion.”

“Oh, I don’t sell them in Marion. My sister comes over to pick up baskets once a month and in turn gives them to a broker. He then sells them in St. Louis and Louisville.”

“How come you send them so far away?”

Tabitha peered down at the basket Melonie held. “Well, they aren’t all that special. A lot of folks around here dye fabric and stain wood and turn them into handicrafts.”

“A lot of women are talented at crafts, but these are special. I’ve never seen anything like these.”

“You’re sweet to say so.”

“I’m being honest.”

Tabitha shrugged, seeming a bit embarrassed. “Anyway, we get pretty gut prices in the big cities. It helps me since I have to pay the broker a percentage of the selling price.”

“Do you ever take orders from around here?” It was all Melonie could do to not ask her about prices.

Tabitha’s eyes widened before her expression turned blank again. “I . . . nee.”

“Why not?”

“I never thought about doing that.”

“I think you should.” When Tabitha shrugged, Melonie knew that she wasn’t telling her the truth. Was it because she now lived apart from the rest of their church community?

Or maybe it was something else?

She knew right then and there that it was time to talk to her about Seth. “May I sit down?”

“Of course.” Tabitha perched on the edge of the couch and waited expectantly.

After she returned the basket, Melonie sat down on the edge of a chair. “I saw Seth this morning. He told me about what happened.”

Wariness entered her eyes. “What did he tell you?”

“That he tried to spend the night here and you asked him to leave.”

Tabitha averted her eyes. “That is true, though I’m surprised he told you.”

“I’m not. Seth was pretty upset.”

“I’m sure you understand my reasons,” she said. “A single woman canna be having a man over for sleepovers, no matter how innocent or well-intentioned they might be.”

---