Rebecca is not much of a conversationalist—except for one-sided talks she has with the farm animals and the wild creatures of their land. How does her reluctance to speak up about Jed cause trouble? And later, with Eulalie? Discuss some of the complicating factors in her romantic relationship. What finally pushes her to risk giving voice to her own wants and desires?
I loved Rebecca and Eulalie and knew they couldn’t be together in the city. At that time, two women would never have been accepted, especially interracial. I think Rebecca was scared what her family would think of her, how they would judge her. When she saw that John and her sisters welcomed Eulalie without question, she realized they could have a life together on their homestead.
I was so glad the author allowed Rebecca to find herself and not force a life on her.
What pushed Rebecca to seek what she desires was the change that she ultimately recognized in herself after she arrived back home. For her entire up until this point, her contentment with life was centered around her relationships with her sisters. Rebecca experienced love and intimacy with Eulalie during their time together in Hot Springs, and she came to realize her happiness could include sharing her life with Eulalie. I felt so happy for Rebecca!
The problem that arose with Rebecca not revealing what she knew about Jed having earlier discovered their still location, later caused Shine to harbor a particular hatred for Jed when she realized that he was the primary cause of her father’s death. Then after he caused the loss of their moonshine profits and almost killed Rebecca she further hated him until she laid a plan to cause his demise. Rebecca had never realized that she had romantic feelings until she met Eulalia. Her love had been experienced through devotion to her family and the natural environment around the farm. Even then she was able to leave Eulalie and return home. Fortunately with the arrival of Eulalie at the farm she realized that she was free to return the love she felt for Eulalie without consequences.
if Rebecca had told the other’s of Jed’s involvement in her father’s death he would not have been forced to become part of the Strong family and life may have been much simpler for the women. I understand Rebecca’s discomfort in speaking of her needs, she was always the steady one that did the daily work that provided for the family. I was glad that she found her happy ending in the end.
Rebecca knew things about Jed that Else should have known. Would Else have listened and changed course in this relationship, I don’t think so. The phrase “love in blind” fits the situation here. Rebecca’s relationship with Eulalie was probably not easily accepted culturally at the time. When Eulalie came to the farm with Wren, both Rebecca and Eulalie felt at ease with their relationship within the Strong household.
I was happy that Rebecca found her self and could have a life with Eulalie. I was surprised this was accepted by her family, especially because it was interracial. But sometimes, I am just happy that a family recognizes love is love.
I am not sure that if Rebecca had spoken about Jed others would have listened.