Threads of Love (14 page)

“You hadn’t told me about that. I can’t tell you how pleased it makes me that Tessie has finally accepted your friendship. I know Sarah and Granny would be mighty happy.” He smiled.

“I think they would be, too, Jonathan. She’s a sweet girl, and I hope completing the quilt with her will be good for both of us. Somehow, quilting with my mother gave me a feeling of closeness. We would visit and laugh together as we sewed the stitches, knowing each one helped hold the quilt together and made it more beautiful. It’s much like the threads of love that tie folks’ hearts together. There are the small, tightly sewn stitches, close together, like a family. Then there are the larger, scattered stitches, like the friends we make in our lifetime. I believe God weaves all those threads together in a beautiful pattern to join our hearts and make us who we are, don’t you think?”

He looked down at her, and a slow smile crossed his face. “You know, you never cease to amaze me with your ideas. That’s a beautiful thought, and I agree,” he answered, placing his hand on top of Delphinia’s.

She glanced toward him, and he was staring down at their two hands. She watched as he enveloped hers and gave a gentle squeeze. Slowly, he looked up and met her watchful eyes as Delphinia felt her cheeks flush and a quiver of emotions run through her entire being. The question in her eyes was evident.

“Yes,” he said, looking deep into the two, dark brown liquid pools.

“Yes, what?” she inquired. “I didn’t ask you anything.”

“Yes, you did, Phiney, and the answer is yes. I love you very much.”

Leaning over toward him, she said, “I can’t hear you above the children’s singing.”

“I said I love you, Delphinia Elizabeth Hughes,” he said and leaned down to gently place a kiss on her lips.

The children burst forth with hoots of laughter and loud clapping at the scene unfolding in front of them. Jonathan joined in their laughter and then lifted Delphinia’s hand to his lips for a kiss, just as they arrived at the general store.

“Jonathan, there’s some mail over here for ya,” called Mr. McVay from the rear of the store. “Think there’s one in there for Phiney, too.”

“For me?” she questioned, looking at Jonathan. “Who would be writing me?”

“Only one way to find out. Let’s take a look,” he answered as they headed toward the voice.

Jonathan quickly perused the mail and handed over the envelope bearing Delphinia’s name. He could see from the return address that it was from her father.

“It’s from my pa,” she commented. “From the looks of the envelope, he’s in Colorado. I think I’ll wait until I get home to read it,” she said, folding the letter in half and placing it in her skirt pocket.

“I’ll go give my order to Mrs. McVay, and as soon as she’s finished, Tessie and I can look at fabric. I better get back to the children. It looks like the twins are going to try to get into the cracker barrel headfirst,” she exclaimed, moving toward the front of the store at a quick pace.

Jonathan smiled after her but could not shake the feeling of foreboding that had come over him ever since he had seen the letter.

Why now?
he thought.
What does he want after all this time?
He did not know how long he had been wandering through the store, aimlessly looking at a variety of tools and dry goods when Tessie’s voice brought him to attention.

“Uncle Jon, come on, we’ve got the order filled except for the thread and fabric. It’s your turn to look after the twins.”

“Sure, be right there. You women go pick out your sewing things.” He smiled back at her.

He could hear them murmuring about the different thread and what color would look good with the quilt top while he helped the younger children pick out their candy.

“Oh, Jonathan, not so much,” he heard Delphinia exclaim. She was looking over her shoulder at the twins, who had their hands stuffed full of candy.

His attempts to extract the candy from their clenched fists resulted in wails that could be heard throughout the store. Grabbing one under each arm, Jonathan looked over at Delphinia and with a weak smile replied, “Guess I’m not doing my job very well. Think we’d better get out of here.”

“We’ll be along in just a few minutes,” she called after him.

“Tessie, I think we’d better make our choices soon. Otherwise, your uncle Jon may be forced to leave without us. I don’t think he’s feeling particularly patient today,” she said as the two women gave each other a knowing smile.

Shortly out of town Jonathan spotted a small grove of trees and pulled over so they could have their picnic. Dinner finished, the twins romped with Joey and Josh while the women discussed getting started on the quilt and the preparations they would need to make for the harvest crew. Jonathan seemed distracted and paid little attention to anyone or the activity surrounding him, appearing lost in his own thoughts, until quite suddenly he said, “Tessie, I’d like to visit with Phiney for a few minutes. Would you mind looking after the children?”

“No, of course not, Uncle Jon,” she answered, rising from the blanket where she had been sitting.

As soon as Tessie was out of earshot, Jonathan took Delphinia’s hands in his, looked directly in her eyes, and asked, “Have you read your pa’s letter yet?”

“No, I’d almost forgotten about it. I planned to read it when we got back home. I thought I had mentioned I was going to wait,” she answered with a questioning look as she patted the pocket where she had placed the letter.

“You did. I just thought perhaps you had glanced through it and had an idea of what he wanted. I’m concerned why he’s writing after all this time,” Jonathan remarked.

“Do you want me to read it now? In case it’s bad news, I didn’t want to spoil our trip, but I’ll open it if you prefer,” she responded.

“No, you wait like you planned. I suppose we really ought to be getting packed up before it gets much later,” he answered, starting to gather their belongings and placing them in the wagon.

“You’re right,” she said, forcing a smile. “Tessie, would you get the children together while I finish packing the food and dishes? We need to be getting started,” Delphinia called to the younger woman.

Noting Jonathan’s solemn disposition, Delphinia made every attempt to pull him out of his mood. She sang, made jokes with the children, and even tried to get him to join in their word games, but her attempts were fruitless, and finally, she ceased trying.

As they neared home, a light breeze began to blow across the fields of wheat, causing the grain to bend and rise in gentle waves. “Isn’t it beautiful, Jonathan? I’ve never seen the ocean, but my guess would be it looks a lot like that field of wheat, moving in a contented motion to greet the shore.” She smiled.

A smile crossed his face as he looked at her. “I never heard anybody get quite so poetic about it, but you’re right. It’s downright pretty. Almost as pretty as you!”

“Why, Jonathan Wilshire! You keep up that kind of talk, and you’ll have me blushing.”

“Looks to me like you already are.” Tessie laughed from the wagon bed as they pulled up in front of the house.

“Tessie, Josh, let’s get this wagon unloaded while Phiney gets Joey and the twins ready for bed,” Jonathan instructed as he lifted Delphinia down.

With one of the twins on either side and Joey in the lead, they made their way into the house, and without any difficulty, the younger children were in bed and fast asleep.

“I’ve got to get a few chores done, so I’ll be back in shortly,” Jonathan advised Delphinia from the doorway.

“Fine.” She smiled. “I’ll just put a pot of coffee on, and it should be ready by the time you’re finished.”

After Tessie and Josh had gone to bed, Delphinia sat down in the kitchen. She slid her hand into the pocket of her skirt, pulled out the letter, and slowly opened the envelope.

D
earest daughter,

I have asked an acquaintance to pen my letter. I hope this finds you well and happy in Kansas. First, I must say I am sorry for not writing you sooner. I know it was thoughtless of me, and in these almost two years, I should have acted more fatherly. However, I can’t change what’s in the past, and I’m hopeful you don’t hold my unkind actions against me
.

I wanted you to know I am in Denver City, Colorado, which is not so very far by train. As you know, I had planned on going to California in search of gold, but I stopped in Colorado and never got farther. I don’t expect I will either
.

Delphinia, I am dying. The doctor tells me there is no cure for this disease of consumption, but…

Reading that dreaded word caused Delphinia’s hand to begin shaking, and the sound of Jonathan coming through the door captured her attention.

“What is it?” he asked, seeing the look of horror written on her face.

“It’s Pa. He’s got consumption,” she quietly answered.

“How bad is he?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t finished the letter yet. Here, let me get you some coffee,” she said, starting to rise from her chair.

Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, he said, “No, you finish the letter. I’ll get us coffee.”

Nodding her assent, she lifted the letter back into sight and read aloud.

They stared silently at each other, the lack of noise deafening in their ears. Finally, Delphinia gave a forced smile and commented, “I wonder who penned that letter for Pa. It certainly was eloquent.”

“Somebody else may have thought up the proper words for him, but it’s his command. He wants you there. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. It’s just so…so sudden. I don’t know what to think or what to do. How could I leave now? We’ve got the harvest crew due here in a week, and if I went I don’t know how long I’d need to be gone. Who would do all the cooking during the harvest? Who would take care of the children? Who would look after everything. It’s too much of a burden for Tessie, and yet…”

“And yet you’re going, isn’t that right?” Jonathan queried, knowing his voice sounded harsh.

“He’s my father, Jonathan. My only living relative.”

“Right. So where was your only living relative when you wanted to stay in Illinois? He was selling you off so he could go live his own dreams. He didn’t care about you,” he rebutted.

But as soon as the words had been spoken, Jonathan wished he could pull them back into his mouth, for he saw the pain they had caused her.

“Oh, Phiney, I’m so very sorry,” he said, pulling her into his arms as she burst forth into sobs that racked her body. “I’m criticizing your pa for being selfish and unfeeling, and here I am doing the same thing to you.”

She buried her head in his shoulder, his shirt turning damp from the deluge of tears. “Please don’t cry any more. You must go to your father. I know that as well as you. I’m just full of regret for waiting so long to declare my love and afraid of losing you just when I felt our lives were beginning.”

“You’re not losing me. I would be gone for only a short time, and then I’d return,” she replied.