A Time to Love

by Al Lacy

  “Where is Stockton, darling?”

  “Fifty miles straight south of here.”

  “Mm-hmm. And you’re thinking that we should also sell the house in Cheyenne City and the bank, and establish a new bank in Stockton.”

  “That’s it. I know there’s a good church in Stockton. Pastor Clarke and the pastor there are good friends. His name is Brandon North. Excellent preacher. I’ve heard him several times when he and Pastor have exchanged pulpits. So the church question is already settled.”

  “That’s the most important thing.”

  “Right. I just think that with all we’ve been through, we should start our new life together where there are no unpleasant memories to haunt us.”

  “I agree, darling. Let’s make it a matter of prayer and let the Lord guide us.”

  Two days later, with peace in their hearts, the newlyweds started early and drove to Stockton. They found a quaint hotel to stay in while they took care of three main items of business.

  The first thing was to locate a choice piece of property in the business district where they would have the bank building erected. They found the perfect lot, right on a corner where businesses were springing up.

  Blake’s money at the Pacific Bank and Trust Company was still intact, for which he was thankful. With checkbook in hand, he struck a deal by early afternoon. Thrilled at the way God was working, they went to work on the second item, which was to hire a contractor to build the new bank. Because Stockton was booming, three San Francisco contractors were busy erecting buildings in the business section, and by noon the next day, Blake was able to hire one to start work on the new bank building within three weeks.

  The third item was to find property where they could have a house built. They drove through town for a while, with Linda making notes of some of the vacant lots marked for sale.

  Blake was commenting that he would hire the same contractor to build their house when Linda looked longingly toward the hills east of town.

  Blake followed her line of sight and said, “See something out there you like?”

  “Mm-hmm. Country property.”

  “Country property?”

  “Yes. I’ve lived in town all my life. How about a piece of property with some open space around it?”

  “I’m game,” he said, turning the buggy east and putting the horse to a trot.

  They drove down several country lanes, spotting farms and vineyards, as they looked for land marked for sale. Linda noted a few acreages, pointing out the ones she liked best, and Blake liked them all.

  The sun was dropping beneath the western horizon when they took a different road and started back in the direction of town. A cool breeze wafted over them.

  They were about two miles from Stockton when Linda made a small noise, and Blake looked at her to see what the problem was.

  She was smiling from one ear to the other and looking southward off the road toward a lovely two-story, pale yellow frame house. A tree-lined lane ran from the road to the house in a sweeping curve. A wide porch stretched across the front of the house, and the property was surrounded by a white picket fence.

  “That house down there,” said Blake, “is that what you’re gasping about?”

  “Yes! Isn’t it beautiful?”

  Dusk was gathering, but there was enough light for Blake to see that she was right. “Yes, it sure is.”

  “Oh, Blake, turn down the lane and drive up to it. I want to see it up close.”

  “Honey, the people who live there will think we’re awfully nosy if we do that.”

  “They won’t mind, I’m sure.”

  “Okay. Whatever pleases the queen of my heart.”

  As they drew near, Linda said, “We’ll just tell the people we’re going to buy property and have a house built, and we like the style of theirs. So we’d like to look at it.”

  Blake chuckled. “Mrs. Barrett, you’re a case, you are!”

  “Well, it certainly isn’t going to hurt if we—“Linda’s hand went to her mouth. “Blake, look!”

  Blake saw the For Sale sign affixed to a corner post where the lane met the road.

  “Well, whattaya know!” he said. “It’s for sale!”

  “Yes, and the Lord’s going to let us buy it!”

  “How do you know if you want it, Linda? You haven’t really seen it up close, and you haven’t even looked inside.”

  “I just know this is our house, Blake!”

  He guided the buggy down the lane toward the house. Soft lamplight glowed in many of the windows, and more light glowed onto the front porch through the front door, which stood open as if to welcome them in.

  Glistening white shutters adorned the windows upstairs and down, and Linda took note of the beautiful drapes of muted colors.

  As Blake drew the buggy to a halt near the porch, Linda squeezed his arm. “This is it, darling! I’m sure of it! I know it in my heart!”

  Blake grinned, then pointed with his chin at the elderly woman who stood at the door, smiling at them.

  When the newlyweds returned to their hotel room, Linda said, “What a dear, sweet lady. Too bad she had to lose her husband to consumption.”

  “Well, one good thing,” said Blake, “at least her children and grand-children in San Diego will be glad to have her living with them.”

  “I’m sure they will.”

  “Let’s talk to the Lord right now and ask Him to direct us about the house. If we have peace about it in the morning, we’ll go back and make a deal.”

  “I already have peace about it, darling,” said Linda, “but let’s pray.”

  When the sun broke the eastern sky the next morning, Blake felt as positive about purchasing the house as Linda did. After breakfast, the excited couple climbed into the buggy and headed for their new home.

  By the end of March, the Barretts were in their home and the bank building was under construction.

  Sadie Brown had been hired as housekeeper by the people who bought the house in Cheyenne City. She and Linda had a difficult and tearful good-bye.

  Linda wrote to her parents, telling them all that had happened, making sure they knew that she and Blake were very much in love, living in the center of God’s will, and superbly happy. She told them they were in a good Bible-believing church, and that they had told their story over and over again, giving God the glory for the way He made Romans 8:28 work out perfectly in their lives—even when there were very dark hours for both of them.

  She wrote the same news to Joline, who responded with a long letter, saying how happy she was for both Linda and Blake.

  During the first week of July, the bank opened, and by the end of the summer, it was showing excellent profits.

  During this time, Linda and her parents were writing back and forth frequently, and by invitation of both Blake and Linda, the Forrests traveled to Stockton, arriving on Thursday, September 12.

  When they got off the train in early afternoon, Linda and Blake were there to greet them. Nolan and Adrienne took to their son-in-law immediately.

  They wanted to see the Stockton Bank and Trust Company, and were taken directly to the bank, where Blake introduced them to his employees and gave them a tour of the place.

  That evening after supper, the Barretts and the Forrests were sitting on the wide front porch, enjoying the warm evening and the soft breeze.

  Nolan asked Blake about prison life, and Adrienne wanted to know about the moment Linda and Blake first met that day at the prison. When the Forrests had been told enough detail to feel satisfied, Linda asked them about Pastor and Doris Stanford, and all Linda’s old friends at church.

  When the conversation slowed some, Adrienne looked at her daughter by the light of the lamps glowing from the parlor windows and said cautiously, “I have something to tell you about your sister.”

  “What about Janet, Mom?”

  Nolan Forrest sat quietly and watched, hoping the subject would not upset Linda. He and Adrienne had agreed that it p
robably wouldn’t, since Linda was so happily married to Blake.

  “Your sister was in Boston a few weeks ago and showed up one evening on our doorstep. She said she was visiting some friends and just couldn’t leave without seeing us.”

  Linda’s features were noncommittal. “So how is it going for her and Lewis?”

  “Well … Janet said they’re fighting a lot, but they’re still together. Your daddy and I thought you should at least know that we saw her.”

  “I’m glad to know she’s still alive,” Linda said. “And I hope she and Lewis get over their fighting, stay together, and go on to be happy.”

  Nolan released an inward sigh of relief. “Janet asked about you, honey,” he said.

  “Oh?”

  “We told her you were in Stockton, California, married to a very successful banker.”

  “What did she say to that?”

  “Nothing. She went on to another subject.”

  Linda nodded. “If she should come by again, tell her I wish her the best.”

  Both parents smiled.

  “And tell her the same from me,” said Blake.

  “I appreciate your attitude,” Nolan said. “Both of you.”

  “And so do I,” put in Adrienne. “The Lord has done a real work in your hearts, and we’re thrilled with the way He has blessed you.”

  20

  ONE MORNING IN MID-FEBRUARY 1880, Linda Barrett awakened at first light. She turned quietly and watched the sleeping man beside her. Admiring his rugged masculine features, she whispered, “Thank You for my wonderful husband, Lord. He’s everything I thought he would be, and more. And thank You for blessing him in his business.”

  She was so grateful that God, in His wisdom, had let Lewis run away with Janet. If she had married Lewis, she’d have missed being married to the most wonderful man in all the world.

  Linda smiled to herself as she remembered the time, right after being jilted, when she thought she could never love a man the way she’d loved Lewis. How wrong she had been!

  “Lord,” she said in a low whisper, “You never take something from Your children without giving them something better in its place.”

  She loved every minute of being married to Blake and enjoyed making their home comfortable and happy for him. There was only one thing to mar her happiness. With all her heart she wanted to give Blake a child. She lowered her hand to her midsection and wondered if a new little life was forming in her womb. She’d thought she was pregnant three months ago.

  Maybe this time …

  Blake Barrett whistled a lively tune as he left the small barn. Business at the bank was thriving, and he’d put in a long, satisfying day of work.

  Both of the family buggies stood side by side next to the corral, and the bay mares were inside the barn, munching hay Blake had just pitched into the feed trough from the hayloft.

  He moved across the porch and opened the door to the kitchen to find Linda sobbing at the kitchen table, her head down, resting on her arms.

  “Sweetheart, what’s the matter? What are you crying about?”

  Linda shoved back her chair and ran to Blake, clinging to him as he folded her in his embrace.

  “I went to Dr. Martin today … I thought I was pregnant. I was so excited! I wanted to come home and tell you that we were going to have a baby. Why can’t I conceive?”

  Blake held her close and stroked her shiny auburn hair. “Linda, darlin’, I don’t know why. Did Dr. Martin say anything about it?”

  “Yes. He said he would have to examine me, and if he doesn’t find anything obvious, he would have to do some tests. He said it might be something to do with either one of us.”

  “Well, then, we’ll go to his office tomorrow and find out if there’s a problem. It’s time you were having a little girl who looks just like you!”

  She worked up a smile, and said, “How about a little boy who looks like you?”

  Blake held her tighter. “Either way would be all right with me, darlin’. But Linda …”

  “Yes?”

  “If we learn we can’t have children, let’s look into adoption.” “Oh, Blake, I’m glad you feel the same as I do about having children in our home.”

  “I love children, honey,” he said with a chuckle. “I used to go to school with them!”

  Linda laughed outright.

  “Sweetheart, I’m so glad I married you,” Blake said, kissing the tip of her nose.

  “You didn’t marry me,” she said with a giggle. “I married you!”

  “Oh, you did, eh?”

  “Mm-hmm. When you came through that door into the conference room at the prison, I said to myself, ’That’s for me.’ From that moment on you didn’t have a chance. When we went before the preacher, I married you!”

  This time he kissed her soundly.

  The next day, Linda and Blake visited Dr. Martin. He examined them separately and did some tests, explaining that he would not be able to give a conclusive answer until he studied the test results, which he would have in a couple of days.

  Two days later the couple returned to Dr. Martin’s office and were escorted by his nurse to a small conference room adjacent to the waiting area.

  Less than a minute had passed when Dr. Martin entered, carrying a folder in his hand, and sat down facing them. “I wish I could tell you everything was all right, folks,” he said.

  Blake took Linda’s hand as the doctor’s dreadful words told of Linda’s inability to conceive. He explained that nothing could be done. She would never be able to bear children.

  Linda fought to hold back the tears but finally gave in. When Blake put his arms around her, she pressed her face to his shoulder and sobbed.

  Dr. Martin rose to his feet. “I’ll give you two some privacy,” he said.

  Blake silently prayed as he held Linda.

  After a few minutes, she gained control and took some deep, shuddering breaths before saying, “Darling, Romans 8:28 still applies. The Lord has His mighty hand on our lives as much now as He did when you were in prison and I was married to Haman Warner. It’s hard to accept that I can never give you children, but if we can look into adoption, it would help me a great deal. It … it won’t bother you that I can’t bear children?”

  “Of course not. I love you with all my heart, Linda. Nothing could ever change that. And for that matter, the problem could have been with me. Would it have bothered you if that was the case?”

  “Absolutely not! The most important thing is that I have you as my life’s mate. I love you more than words could ever express. You’re the very essence of my life, and nothing could ever change that.”

  Her face was shiny with tears as she looked into his eyes.

  “Well, then,” he said, wiping the tears from her face, “we’ll just go on loving each other and see about adoption.”

  Linda caressed his cheek and said, “With the Lord’s help and yours, I’ll be able to live with the fact that I can’t give you our own natural children.”

  Blake pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and tenderly blotted the rest of her tears.

  When he finished, Linda looked up at this man she loved so dearly and whispered, “God in His infinite wisdom has allowed this for a reason.

  There was a tap on the door. “Okay if I come back in?” asked Dr. Martin.

  As he sat down to face them, Martin said, “Sometimes my job isn’t so pleasant—like having to give you the bad news a little while ago.”

  “That can’t be an easy task, Doctor,” said Linda. “I don’t envy you.”

  “Dr. Martin,” Blake said, “we’d like you to tell us about adoption procedures.”

  “All right. Basically, I just keep a list of people who want to adopt a baby. When a baby comes available, I notify people in the order in which they are listed. Sometimes a couple will specify a boy or a girl, and often they’ll put a limit on how old a baby is.

  “I learn of babies in need of adoption in many different ways. As f
ar as older children—let’s say three and above—I keep no list. To adopt an older child, you simply have to hear of parents who have died, leaving orphans behind, or of some other situation where a child has no home.”

  “Well, put us on your list,” said Blake. “And we don’t care whether it’s a boy or a girl.”

  “And we’ll take any age on your list,” Linda said.

  “Fine—your name will go on the list today. I’d also suggest you contact doctors in towns all over this area to get on their lists, too. That will raise your chances of adopting a baby as soon as possible.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” said Blake as he rose from the settee.

  Blake and Linda paused in the outer office long enough to pay for the doctor’s services, then climbed in the buggy and headed home.

  As they drove along Stockton’s streets, Blake said, “We’ll make the rounds of the doctors in a twenty-mile radius on the next few Saturdays, honey. In the meantime, we’ll keep our eyes open in case an older child becomes available and pray earnestly that the Lord will give us the child He wants us to have.”

  “All right, darling,” Linda said, gripping his arm. “I just know that somewhere there’s a precious little boy or girl for us to love and care for. God will show us in His perfect time.”

  “That’s right, sweetheart. God’s Word says, ‘Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.’”

  “That’s one of my favorite Scriptures, Blake, and my experience has proven it to be true time and again.”

  Both were quiet for the rest of the way home. When they arrived, they worked in companionable silence to put away the horse and buggy, then went to the house. As they stepped inside, they surprised each other by simultaneously saying, “‘Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not—’”

  They broke off speaking, then finished in unison: “‘… unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.’”

  Blake and Linda laughed as they embraced and kissed. Then Blake said, “Let’s pray about it right now.”

  They went to the parlor and got down on their knees in front of the couch and gave their burden to their precious heavenly Father.