Threads of Love (6 page)

“The going was slow and rough, and I became more and more frightened as I continued my search. I stopped at the Aplingtons’ homestead, but they hadn’t seen anything of Jake and Sarah. After having a quick cup of coffee, I continued on toward the creek bed…or at least what had been a creek bed. It had turned into a virtual torrent of rushing water, limbs, and debris. As I looked down into that flood of water, I saw what I thought was one of the baskets Sarah used to carry the twins. I just stood there staring at the rushing water, completely out of its banks and roaring like a train engine, whipping that tiny basket back and forth.

“When I finally got my wits about me,” he continued, “I knew I had to go farther upstream in hopes of finding the family. I tried to holler for them, but the roar of the water drowned out my voice. I stayed as close to the creek as I could, hoping I’d see something to give me a clue about where they might be; I wasn’t giving in to the fact that anything could have happened to any of them. Finally, after hours of searching, I stopped to pray, and, as I finished my prayer, I looked up and spotted Tessie, waving a piece of Josh’s shirt high in the air to get my attention. They were inside a small natural cave that had formed above the creek bed. I had no doubt the Lord had placed me in that spot so that when I looked up, the first thing I would see was those children.

“I made my way up to them. They were in sad condition, all of them…not just being without food and water but sick with worry and fear knowing their ma and pa were gone. That was a rough time I’d not like to go through again.”

Delphinia stared fixedly at Jonathan as he related the story. It seemed he was almost in a trance as he recited the events. She reached over and placed her hand on his, but he didn’t even seem to realize she was there. “What happened after you found them?”

“Even in the midst of all the sadness, the Lord provided. I had just managed to get two of the children down when Mr. Aplington and his older son arrived with a spring wagon. They worked with me until we had everyone down and loaded into the wagon.

“Tessie managed to tell us that Jake and Sarah were dead, but it was much later before she was able to tell us what had happened. It seems that when the thunder and lightning started, the horses began to get excited. Jake decided to locate shelter and couldn’t find any place to put them, except in that small cave. He went back down to try and get the horses and wagon to higher ground when a bolt of lightning hit, causing the horses to rear up and go out of control. They knocked him over, and the wagon turned, landing on top of him. Sarah climbed back down, determined to get that wagon off of him, even though I’m sure he was already dead. Tessie said she screamed and screamed for her ma to come back up to them, but she stayed there pushing and pushing, trying to get the wagon off Jake. When the water started rising, she tried to hold his head up, determined he was going to live.

“I imagine by the time she realized the futility of her efforts, the current was so strong there was no way she could make her way back. We found both of their bodies a few days later.” His shoulders sagged as he finished relating the event.

“Oh, how awful for all of you. How those poor children ever managed to make it is truly a miracle,” she said, having difficulty holding back the hot tears that threatened to spill over at any minute.

“You’re right. It was God guiding my steps that caused me to find the children. I must admit, though, that the whole incident left some pretty deep scars on Tessie. The younger ones seem to have done better. Those poor little twins were so bedraggled and hungry by the time we got them back to the Aplingtons’, I didn’t ever expect them to pull through. The Lord provided for them, too, though. Mrs. Aplington had a goat she sent home with us, and those twins took to that goat milk just like it was their mama’s. Granny had me take the goat back just before I left to come for you. The twins seem to get along pretty well now with milk from old Josie, one of our cows, and food from the table, even if they are awful messy.” He chuckled.

“I guess it’s about time we get back to the wagon if we’re going to get home before dark. Give me your hand, and I’ll help you back up the hill.”

Several hours later, Delphinia spotted two cabins and looked questioningly at Jonathan, who merely nodded his affirmation that they were home. Drawing closer, Delphinia could make out several children standing on the porch waving. Jonathan grinned widely at the sight of those familiar faces, and Delphinia felt a knot rise up in her stomach.

J
onathan reached up in his familiar stance to help Delphinia down from the wagon, and as she lowered herself into his arms, three sets of eyes peered at her from the porch. They were such handsome children!

Tessie was all Jonathan had described and more. She had beautiful red hair and eyes of pale blue that seemed to flash with anger and then go dull. Josh and Joey were towheads with big blue eyes, like Jonathan. “Uncle Jon, Uncle Jon,” called Joey. “Is this our new mama?”

“She’s not our ma, Joey. Our ma is dead. No one can take Ma’s place, and don’t you ever forget that,” Tessie seethed back at the child.

“Mind your manners, young lady,” Jonathan said, reaching down to lift Joey and swing him high in the air. “Joey, this is Phiney, and she’s come to help Granny and Tessie take care of you,” he said, trying to soothe Tessie’s outburst.

“And this is Joshua, the man of the house when I’m not around. You’ve already figured out who Tessie is,” he said, giving an admonishing look to the redhead.

“Where are Granny and the twins?” he questioned the pouting girl.

“In the house. The twins are having supper early so we can enjoy the meal,” Tessie remarked.

Jonathan laughed and grabbed Phiney’s hand, pulling her through the doorway. “Granny, we’ve finally made it, let me introduce you to—”

“Delphinia Elizabeth Hughes,” she interrupted.

Delphinia was met by a radiant smile, wisps of gray-white hair, and a sparkling set of eyes amid creases and lines on a well-weathered face. “Delphinia, my dear, I am so pleased to have you with us. I have prayed daily for you and Jonathan, that your journey would be safe. You can’t imagine how pleased I am that the Lord has sent you to be part of our family.” She beamed.

“Jonathan, we’ll get dinner on the table soon. Hopefully the twins will have finished their mess before we’re ready. Delphinia, let me show you where your room will be, and, Jon, bring her trunk in so she can get comfortable. Better get the horses put up, too, and might as well have Josh help you unload the wagon before we sit down to eat,” she continued.

“Granny, I don’t know how we made it back home without you telling us what to do and when to do it,” Jonathan laughingly chided.

“Oh posh, just get going and do as I say. By tomorrow I’ll probably be bedfast again, and you can enjoy the peace and quiet.”

Granny led Delphinia into a bedroom off the kitchen, and she immediately knew it had belonged to Sarah and Jake. Judging from Tessie’s critical looks, she surmised the room was regarded as sacred ground by the eldest child. Hoping to defuse the situation, Delphinia requested a bed in the loft with the smaller children.

“The room is to be yours, and I’ll hear no more about it,” the older woman insisted.

Delphinia placed her clothes in the drawers of the ornately carved chest and hung her dresses in the matching wardrobe, which had been brought from Ohio when Sarah and Jake had moved West. The room had been cleaned until it nearly shone; there was nothing left as a reminder that it had ever belonged to anyone else. Delphinia spread her quilt on the bed in coverlet fashion and placed her brush, mirror, and a picture of her parents on the chest in an attempt to make the room feel more like home. She had just about completed her unpacking when she saw Tessie standing in the doorway, peering into the room.

“Why don’t you come in and join me while I finish?” Delphinia offered.

“I like your quilt,” Tessie ventured, slowly entering the room.

“Why, thank you. It’s a precious treasure to me. My mama and I made this quilt before she died. I don’t think my mother ever thought I’d get it finished. She spent lots of hours teaching me how to make the different stitches until they met her inspection. I wasn’t much older than you when I started making the quilt. Mama told me quilts were sewn with threads of love. I thought it must have been threads of patience because they took so long to make. Especially the ones Mama supervised! She was a real stickler for perfect stitches.” She laughed.

“I’ve found great comfort having it since my mother died; and through the journey here, it was like I was bringing a part of her with me, more than a picture or piece of jewelry, because her hands helped sew those threads that run through the quilt. I’m not near as good as she was, but if you’d like to make a quilt, perhaps we could find some old pieces of cloth, and I could help you,” she offered.

Overhearing their conversation, Granny commented, “Why, Sarah had started a quilt top last winter, and I’ll bet it’s around here somewhere, Tessie. We’ll see if we can find it, and you and Delphinia can finish it. Once winter sets in, it’ll be a good project for the two of you.”

“No, I’m not making any quilt, not this winter, not ever, and I don’t want her touching Mama’s quilt either,” Tessie hastened to add, her voice full of anger.

Not wanting to upset the girl, Delphinia smiled and moved into the kitchen to assist with dinner. Shortly after, they were all around a table laden with wonderful food and conversation. Granny told them she had been sure they would arrive home that very day, which was why she and Tessie had prepared a special dinner of chicken and dumplings. Delphinia was quick to tell both women the meal was as good as anything she had ever tasted. The children tried to talk all at once, telling Jonathan of the happenings since his departure. All but Tessie. She remained sullen and aloof, speaking only when necessary.

After dinner while they sat visiting, Delphinia watched as Nettie crawled toward her with a big grin. Attempting to pull herself up, she looked at Delphinia and babbled, “Mama.” No sooner had she uttered the word than Tessie became hysterical, screaming to the infant that her mama was dead. Startled, Nettie lost her balance and toppled backward, her head hitting the chair as she fell. Reaching down, Delphinia lifted the crying child into her arms, cooing and rocking in an attempt to soothe her.

“Give her to me! She’s my sister,” Tessie fumed.

“Leave her be. You march yourself outside right now,” Jonathan instructed, his voice cold and hard.

Delphinia did not miss the expressions of hatred and enmity that crossed Tessie’s face as she walked toward the door. They were embedded in her memory. When Jonathan and Tessie returned a short time later, she apologized, but Delphinia and Tessie both knew it came only from her lips, not her heart. The child’s pain was obvious to everyone, including Delphinia, for she, too, knew the pain of losing her parents.

Lying in bed that night and comparing her loss to Tessie’s, she realized the Lord had answered her prayers. She no longer was harboring the resentment for her pa and feeling sorry for herself. It had happened so subtly she hadn’t even discerned it, and the realization amazed her. She slipped out of bed and knelt down beside her bed, thanking God for an answer to her prayers and then petitioning Him to help Tessie as He had helped her.

Please, Lord
, she prayed,
give me the knowledge to help this girl find some peace
. She crawled back into bed, and the next thing she heard were noises in the kitchen and the sound of the twins’ babbling voices.

Jumping out of bed she quickly dressed, pulled her hair back, and tied it with a ribbon at the nape of her neck.
I’ll put it up later when there’s more time
, she decided. Rushing to the kitchen, she was met by Granny’s smiling face and the twins’ almost toothless grins.

“I’m so sorry. I must have overslept. I’m usually up quite early. You can ask Mr. Wilshire. Even on the wagon train, I was almost always up before the others,” she blurted without pausing for breath.

“You needn’t get so excited, child. Jonathan said to let you sleep late. He knew you were tired, as did I. There’s no need to be upset. When I’m feeling well enough, I always get up with the twins and fix Jonathan’s breakfast. I usually let the others sleep until after he’s gone to do his chores. That way we get to visit with a little peace and quiet. Jonathan and I both enjoy having a short devotion time in the morning before we start the day, and I hope you’ll join us for that,” she continued. “One other thing, Delphinia,
please
quit calling Jonathan
Mr. Wilshire
. Either call him Jonathan or Jon, I don’t care which, but not Mr. Wilshire. We don’t stand on formality around here, and you’re a part of this family now. I want you to call me Granny just like every other member of this family and I’ll call you Delphinia. Jonathan tells me your name is very important to you. Now then, let’s wake up the rest of the family and get this day going,” she said. “I’ll let you have the honor of climbing to the loft and rousing the children,” she said, moving to set the table.