NOTE: This is more closely related to the book, not the movie although I do derive my depiction of Malachi and Isaac from the movie.

Ruth is not my OC, she is in the book.

Do not hate me for the corniness of this story (pun not intended).

I got this idea out of the blue, late at night, but I intend to finish it.

END NOTE

LOVE IN THE CORNFIELD

Chapter one: Sweet Sacrifice

"Malachi!"

"Yes, Isaac?"

"Cut no more than seven stalks of corn from the field and bring them to the kitchen!" The small boy commanded, pushing his hat up with his index finger. "The girls need to grind corn for future suppers."

"It will be done," the older boy nodded and removed a short-handled scythe from his belt. He rapidly walked over to the massive field of golden stalks and started slicing at the closest stem.

"Have them there before noon Malachi or you will not partake in supper tonight," Isaac warned, before heading off to the clearing to meditate with He Who Walks Behind The Rows.

Malachi scowled slightly as he dragged the first stalk of corn a short distance away. The seventeen year old knew he shouldn't have be daydreaming and that Isaac was right to punish him. But he believed the lord should have some sympathy for those who were woken before dawn. Malachi had been roused by a crow cawing just outside his room. The laws of Gatlin commanded that any crow detected must be destroyed, so he had had no choice but to drag himself out of bed and slaughter the winged Satan. It had been no easy task and by the time the bird had been sliced into bits and burned, breakfast was no longer being served. So no one could blame him for nodding off; he was as tired and hungry as an infant.

Luckily, Malachi had one thing on his side. He had one of the most efficient and skilled pairs of hands in the town. He could slaughter a calf with a single flick of the wrist and clear an acre of corn in less than half a day. So he rapidly had the seven stalks in a bundle on his shoulder.

In his sleep-deprived state, it took Malachi longer than it normally would to would to reach the community kitchen. Although nobody was visible, noises could be heard in the small building's heart. Malachi yawned deeply as he laid the bundle by the open door. In his state, the young man couldn't help but notice the shade cast by the building.

"I'll just rest for a moment, then return to work," he thought, slumping down with his back against the wall. Malachi folded his arms across his chest and let his eyelids droop.

"Malachi!"

He started and drew his scythe from his belt, but stopped when he saw who it was. A girl of fifteen with light brow hair set in loose curls and pale green eyes. Her arms were crossed and, although she looked angry, she also appeared to be glad to see him.

"Ruth," Malachi smiled, returning his scythe to his belt, "Good morning."

"Good morning Malachi," Ruth smiled back slightly. "Rise, you must not let anyone catch you dozing."

"I know you will not tell Isaac," he smirked, knowingly, running his fingers through his long red hair.

"I will not," the girl admitted, "if you will help me prepare the corn for the mill."

"Why won't the others help you?"

"Many of the little ones have fallen ill," Ruth sighed, kneeling in front of the pile of stalks and removing a cob of corn. "A terrible flu, so many of the girls are caring for them. We have so few in the kitchen, Malachi . . ."

"I will help you," he reassured her, taking a cob to shuck. They worked in silence, hearing nothing but the rustling of the corn. Malachi looked up from his work to find Ruth's eyes staring back at him. She quickly looked back down at her work, but Malachi had seen the sparkle in her eyes.

He smiled even more now as he worked. Malachi was grateful for the chance to work beside Ruth. She had been a close friend, both before and after the cleansing of Gatlin. However, after the cleansing boys and girls rarely worked together, only interacting at meals, worship and ceremonies. Malachi secretly disliked this custom, for he was very close to Ruth and knew she could be as tough as any boy.

"Malachi, it is high noon," coaxed Ruth. Realizing he had been daydreaming again, Malachi began rapidly shucking off the silky hair of the corn.

"Peace," chuckled Ruth, rising to her feet. "I merely meant that I need to get food for the young ones now."

"Oh," a blush crept into Malachi's cheeks. "Very well, I shall finish preparing the corn for you."

"You are too kind Malachi." Ruth entered the kitchen, leaving all alone. He now felt truly miserable. Though the drowsiness had all but vanished, his hunger now tore at his insides. Malachi would have given anything now to be a young child and receive lunch.

To ration supplies, it was commanded that only those under twelve would receive three meals a day. Those older were excepted to only have two meals, breakfast and supper. But even Malachi, one of the strongest in Gatlin, had difficulty functioning on an empty stomach.

He tried to keep his mind off it by attempting to finish shucking the corn. But he could not go as fast as he normally could. Malachi reached into his pocket and squeezed his crucifix, praying for strength to keep going.

"Malachi." Ruth had returned, holding her apron in front of her. Sitting back down, she offered him what she had hidden in her apron. It was some dried beef.

"Ruth!" He was astonished by her blatant sinning.

"Take it and eat," she insisted, putting it in his hand, "you were not at breakfast, I recall. You must be famished."

"But . . . but . . ." Malachi stammered. Normally an obedient follower of God, the temptation of the stolen meat was truly testing him. Hunger won out and he savagely sunk his teeth into beef, his stomach singing praises.

"Thank you Ruth," he said when the mouthful was swallowed.

"No need for thanks," was the response, as she returned to preparing the corn.

"But you sinned for me," Malachi reminded her.

"Well . . ." Ruth hesitated, then shrugged. "The alternative was to see you perish from starvation."

"I was not going to perish," Malachi scowled as he took another bite, his pride dented.

"You were as white as a sheet when I found you," she laughed. "If not for me, you would be with He Who Walks Behind The Rows."

"I would not."

"Yes, you would."

"I would not."

"Yes, you would."

"There you are Malachi!"

Both Malachi and Ruth jumped. They turned to see Isaac, glaring at them with disproval.

"I am sorry to tell you Malachi," the prophet told him, "that while you were here, doing girl's work, a male deer got into the field and ate a vast amount of corn. With your skilled hands, it would have been simple to bring it down. But instead, Simon now lies at his home with a severe cut across his face. He is lucky to still have his eyes. Malachi, what is that in your hand?"

Malachi's heart sank. Standing up, he held out the half-eaten piece of dried beef. Isaac's eyes widened.

"I never would have thought that you would be such a blatant sinner!" He was enraged. "No supper tonight for you Malachi and you should consider yourself lucky I don't make the punishment more severe! Before today, I was going to christen you second in command, but now I believe that title shall go to Joseph."

Malachi bowed his head, guilt and anger filling his body. Today was the first day he had ever sinned and now Joseph, the lazy lay about, was going to take the job he had always wanted.

"Please Isaac!" Ruth had gotten on her knees directly in front of him. "It was I who made Malachi sin. I made him help me, he did not wish to. I stole the food, he did not wish to eat it."

"Is this true?" Isaac asked Malachi, suspicion etched on his face.

"N-"

Ruth glanced at him and shook her head ever so slightly.

"Yes Isaac, it is true," Malachi nodded, looking at the ground.

Isaac rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing at the girl kneeling at his feet to the older boy kicking the dirt with his shoe.

"Ruth," he said at last, "you have confessed to committing a great sin. No supper tonight and you shall be banned from church tonight as well."

"Forgive me," Ruth murmured.

"Ask for God's forgiveness child, not mine," Isaac reminded her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Ruth removed her own crucifix from her apron pocket and held it in front of her. She recited some verses and Isaac repeated them with her

"Well done Ruth," he smiled at the last amen. "Now rise."

She got to her feet.

"Carry on with your work." Isaac gave Malachi a long hard stare, then said, "Consider yourself extremely fortunate. You shall eat tonight Malachi and I shall reconsider appointing you second in command." With that, the most revered person in Gatlin turned and walked off.

Malachi turned to Ruth as she returned her crucifix to her pocket.

"You did not have to do that."

"Yes, I did," Ruth smiled, shucking the last piece of corn. "Everybody knows you are the only one for the position of second in command. I couldn't let Isaac take that away from you because of my actions."

"But you won't eat tonight," he pressed on.

"I'm strong Malachi, I can go one night without food," Ruth reassured him, collecting the corn in her apron. However her face fell when she remarked, "I would have liked to attended church, however."

"I am truly sorry Ruth," Malachi sighed, touching her shoulder lightly.

"Think nothing of it," she insisted. "If I were you, I would go and apologize to Simon."

"All right, I shall," he promised her, "Good day."

"Good day," Ruth waved as she placed the corn in the hand-operated mill.

Malachi couldn't help but look back at Ruth as he walked off, thinking for the thousandth time how wonderful she was.

NOTE: Every chapter title in this story will be a song title. Possible request to the first to tell me the artist/band