Love's abiding joy (Love Comes Softly #4) (9 page)

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wouldn't ask. I keep tryin' to pretend thet she ain't old enough yet--but I guess I know better, deep down. She's old enough. She's pretty enough, too. I guess thet she jest hasn't encouraged them much to this point. Ma Graham remarked 'bout her soon marryin' an' leavin' me. She's right. I've seen the boys tryin' to git her attention in a dozen ways. I always jest thought of it as schoolboy stuff. Not really. One of these days she'll notice 'em too."

"Wish I could see her. S'pose there would be any chance thet she could come out for a while?"

Marty felt a moment of panic.
Ellie come out
here?
The West is full of young men. Why, if she came to see her older sister, she might marry and never return home ag'in!
She fought back her uncomfortable thoughts and responded in an even voice, "Maybe she could come on out on her honeymoon."

"But you said she didn't even have a beau--"

"She don't yet. But, my, thet can happen fast enough. I'm half scared thet she'll have her mind all made up 'bout some young fella by the time thet I git back home."

Missie laughed at her mother's fears. "Now I hardly think that's possible. Not for the short time you'll be away. Are you sure you can stay only for two weeks? Seems like it's hardly worth coming all that way for such a short time."

"We couldn't possibly stay longer. Takes a week to come out an' a week to go home. By the time we git back, we'll have been gone a whole month. It's a busy time of the year, as well. Pa left his boys completely on their own fer the summer hayin' an' all, an' Clare has to git his house ready. Luke is studyin' hard for his college exams an'--"

"Dear little Luke." Missie's voice was gentle. "How is he?" A softness filled Marty's eyes. "He's not changed. Growed a little, I guess, but he's still got his same ways. Remember how he liked to cuddle up close in your lap when he was a young'un? Well, I git the feelin' sometimes thet he'd still like to do thet--iffen society wouldn't condemn it. He finds other ways to show love now. 'Member how you always used to pick me birthday strawberries? Well, yer pa broke up the pasture

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where the strawberries grew so well, so the last couple a' years the kids have jest forgot the strawberries. This year Luke decided thet I needed my birthday berries, so he went out real early an' went a-lookin' fer 'em. Had to really work hard, but he came back with a cupful. They was little and a mite on the green side, but I never tasted any better berries--ever."

"An' he's still doing well in school?"

"He's a good student, but he's through at school now. The teacher says thet she's given him everythin' thet she can give. He's read everythin' in sight an' still can't git enough."

"What will he do? He can't just quit."

"He plans to go on. Wants to go to the city fer college. I'm glad--an' scared--an' sad, all at one time. I hate to see him go off alone like thet. Seems so young. He's only fifteen."

"Is he plannin' to be a teacher?"

"A doctor."

"A doctor?" Missie's tone was both surprised and admiring.

"He's had his heart set on it for a number of years now. He's talked to Doc Watkins 'bout it, too. Doc is pleased as a pappy. He doesn't have any children of his own an' he's takin' great pleasure in nursin' Luke's ambitions."

"That would be nice to have a doctor in the family."

"Luke says thet he wants to help people. He's always wanted to help people, an' with so many towns not havin' a doctor--"

"What I wouldn't give to have a doctor here." Missie was wistful. "Young boy of our neighbor's broke his arm last year. There was no one to set it proper-like. He'll always have a twisted, almost useless arm, just because . . ." Missie's words trailed off. "I keep thinkin',
What if it had been Nathan?"

Marty looked up with troubled eyes. She knew a mother's heart and the panic that one felt when a doctor was nowhere around when one was sorely needed. She too breathed a prayer that somehow this frontier settlement might soon have a doctor, but she also prayed with some reservation.
Not Lukey. Please, not Luke.

Missie interrupted her thoughts and her silent prayers. "Tell me about the neighbors. Do we still have the same

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people livin' round about?"

"Pretty much. The Coffins moved on back to the area thet they came from. Mrs. Coffin never did really take to our community. Some said thet she jest couldn't stand being' away from her twin sister. After they lost their little girl--remember the sickly little one?--well, after they lost her, Mrs. Coffin insisted that they go on back to their home. Some new people on their land now. Called the Kentworths. Not friendly folk at all. All the neighbors have tried to git acquainted an' have been told not to bother. People say thet he's a lawbreaker an' jest doesn't want folks snoopin' round. Thet's what he calls it when anyone comes a-visitin'--snoopin' round. She's most as bitter and disagreeable as he is, so fer the time we jest have to sit tight an' pray fer 'em and watch fer a chance to show our carin'. Must be awful to live with such inner bitterness."

Missie nodded her head in agreement.

Marty went on, "Most of the other neighbors are the same as before, I guess. The Grahams are as dear friends as ever. Sally Anne has three girls, 'most growed up now.

"Tommie's Fran jest had a baby boy. He's six years younger than Tom, Jr., the boy who had been the baby fer a good while. Tom is thrilled with the new little fella."

"An' the Marshalls? How are they doin'?"

"It's sad," Marty answered, "sad to see the Marshalls an' their son, but it's beautiful, too. There is so much love there. Rett is a very loving child. He's a young man really, but he is still a child. Wanda and Cam really love 'im. He is so good with animals thet it's 'most uncanny. Wild or tame--they all seem to understand Rett."

"An' Wanda's happy?"

"Happy? Yah, she's happy. She needs to rely on her God daily, though. She has her hard times, but I'm sure thet she wouldn't be tradin' her boy fer all the boys in town."

Missie shook her head as she thought of the grief that Wanda had carried. "She has suffered so much," she said softly.

"Yah," acknowledged Marty, "she has suffered--suffered and growed. Sometimes it seems to take the one to bring the other."

"When one does suffer, it is good to see that it hasn't been

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wasted--that the sufferer allows God to make it a blessin' rather than a bitterness," Missie expressed.

Marty nodded and then went on. "Wanda and Ma Graham both sent their love. They sent some small gifts to ya, too. We have some packages from them in the trunk. Pa and I decided thet the things we brought with us would jest wait until tomarra. No sense rushin' into everythin' tonight."

"Now that you've mentioned gifts, I'm not sure I can wait 'til mornin'," Missie laughed. "Sorta like teasin' a body--"

"They'll keep. We didn't want to come a-rushin' in here handin' out goodies right an' left. You might have understood, but Nathan and Josiah might be a-thinkin' thet's all grandparents are fer."

Missie laughed. "I'm a-thinkin' my sons have you all sorted out already. They seem to know right off that you're here just to spoil 'em."

"We'll have to be careful, but it sure'd be easy to spoil a bit, all right. Clae's girl, Esther Sue, and Nandry's four shore think thet we are there jest to humor them. 'Course they like attention from their uncles as well. Arnie does most of the fussin'. Arnie really loves young'uns. The others all love the little ones, too, but it is Arnie who never seems to tire of 'em, though he pretends he does."

"An' Joe still hasn't gone off to seminary? Has he changed his mind?"

"Oh, no. He's as set on it as ever. I'm hopin' thet he'll be able to go next year."

"Oh, it's so good to catch up a bit! Makes me feel closer to them somehow. I've missed them all so much."

Marty's eyes filled with tears. "An' we've missed you. Missie, you'll never know how many--" She shook her head and stopped short. "No, I won't say it. I'm here now with you. I see ya have a lovely home, two beautiful boys, thet you're happy. I've told the Lord so many times thet if He'd jest give me this special treat, I'd thank Him with great thankfulness. Now I'm here an' I'm gonna keep my promise. I
am
thankful, Missieso very thankful." Tears finally spilled down Marty's face, and Missie went to kneel before her and put her arms around her.

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"Oh, Mama," she said, "I've longed for you so often. I promised the Lord that I'd be content with seem' you, too. An' here I've been upset because you can't stay longer. I'm ashamed of myself. We'll just make every minute that we have together count. We'll fill our time with so much happiness that we'll have barrels of memories to keep us when the time comes that we need to part again."

Marty smoothed Missie's hair. "Thet sounds like a grand idea," she said. "I've tucked away a few of these precious memories already."

Missie stood up. "Well," she said, "let's just get on with another one. Willie has developed a real liking for popcorn before bed, so let's go pop us some. He says that there just isn't anything better than to have a close family chat over popcorn. It's warm, an' homey, an' fillin'." Missie laughed and led the way to the big kitchen. "I always feel like a little girl sneakin' in where her mama doesn't want her when I do this. Wong is so fussy. But I always clean up real careful-like."

The popcorn was soon ready, and Clark and Willie were called to join them in the living room. The visiting continued, as Willie and Missie asked all about the neighbors, the school, the church. With deep emotion, Willie wanted to know how his pa, Zeke LaHaye, was
really
doing.

"I think thet a trip on out here would do him a world of good," Clark commented. "He needs to get a fresh outlook on things. Oh, he still loves his farm, but yer brother has most taken over now. Zeke loves his grandkids too, but he still misses yer ma somethin' awful. He sent a little parcel with

US.

If--"

Missie could stand it no longer. "All of this talk of parcels an' presents from back home--an' they plan to make us wait until mornin'! How can a body sleep tonight not knowin' what's in thet there trunk?"

After some laughter and teasing, it was decided that the trunk and its contents would be brought in and enjoyed before retiring, even though the hour was late.

After the trunk was placed in the room and the straps removed, Missie dove in with a will, laying to one side those things intended for the children. She squealed and cried by

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turn, enjoying every item that had come with love from those "back home."

"We'll have Nandry's raspberry preserves for breakfast," she declared, holding up a sparkling jar.

The hour was late when they finally cleared up the clutter and said good-night.

Marty went to bed with an overflowing heart. Her prayers had been answered--and now she finally felt that she could sleep for a solid week.

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Chapter Ten

Busy Days

The next day even Marty was coaxed on horseback in order that she might be given a tour of the ranch. She enjoyed the tiny flowers that nobly bloomed beside the trail; she thrilled to the sight of Willie's herds of cattle feeding on the hillsides; she loved the placid mountains lined up against the sky in the distance. But she did
not
enjoy the wind sweeping across the prairie, pulling at her hair and skirt, nor the miles and miles of seeming emptiness. Missie scarcely could remember the feeling, so she did not notice her mother's silence as her eyes swept the horizon. All Missie saw now was Willie's land as she had grown to love it.

Sunday arrived and with it some visitors to the LaHaye spread. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the opening hymn of their regular Sunday service was led by Henry. Clark and Marty had been happy to renew their acquaintance with the wagon driver. Henry had changed much in those few short years. No longer a bashful, hesitant boy, instead he was a sincere and confident man, presenting an attractive wife and a

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two-year-old son, Caldwell. Henry's pride shone in his eyes.

As they sang the hymn, Marty glanced around her. Some of the cowhands were there. She couldn't remember all the names, though she had been introduced. There was Cookie-- she had no problem remembering Cookie--and Rusty and Lane. The other two she could not remember. Another neighborhood family had joined them for the service. Marty saw the small boy with the twisted arm, and her heart went out to him. These were the Newtons, a young couple with four young sons. Juan and Maria and their baby girl and young son were not in attendance this time. Missie kept an eye on the road that twisted down the hill, hoping that they would arrive, but when the service had ended they still hadn't come. Missie was worried. It was the second Sunday in a row that the De la Rosas had not showed up. They were not away from home; Scottie had seen them Friday. No one was ill, for they had all been in town together. Missie could not think of a reason for their absence. They had been so regular in attendance. She must call on them and see if there was some problem.

After the singing, Willie led the service and Clark was asked, as honored guest, to give the Bible lesson. The people were attentive, and Marty even heard an occasional quiet "Amen."

After the service had ended, Missie served coffee and some of Wong's delicious doughnuts. They sat and visited, sharing their daily experiences and joys. Marty and Clark were glad for the opportunity to get to know some of Missie and Willie's neighbors. They all seemed to feel that the service was a special time in their week.

The cowboys were the first to take their reluctant leave. It was time for their shift; Scottie would be watching for them.

Next the Newtons also left. Mr. Newton as yet did not employ many hands on his spread and needed to get back in the saddle himself. He stated that they hadn't been bothered much with rustlers lately, but one could never tell when they might decide to strike. The small, defenseless ranches were easy picking. The Newtons promised to be back again the next Sunday.