by Janette Oke
When they pulled in to the churchyard, a crowd had already gathered. Impatient teams were tied up to the hitching rails, stomping and champing at the bits. A few were feeding, but most of them ignored the hay that had been dropped before them. They had been eating all winter. Now they simply wished to put an end to their confinement. Marty was sure she knew just how they felt.
Clark helped her carefully down from the high seat and steadied her on her feet before leaving to tie the horses.
Ellie was already on the ground, smoothing her hair and, for the first time, looking a little nervous.
“Ya look just fine,” Marty assured her. “Let’s go in so ya can get out of thet coat.”
They walked the few steps to the church door and stepped inside. The congregation was already seated. Heads turned. Marty could feel many eyes upon them and sensed many smiles. They all seemed to blur before her. She handed Belinda to Kate, who had also entered, and reached to help Ellie with her coat. The gown was not badly wrinkled from the weight of the coat, but Marty spent some time carefully smoothing out the skirt.
“Is my hair all right?” whispered Ellie.
“Just fine. Just fine,” answered Marty and brushed at it a bit just to assure the girl.
“I’m so nervous, Mama. I didn’t think I would be, but I am.”
“Everyone is,” Marty whispered back. “It’s just part of the ceremony.”
Ellie tried to smile at Marty’s little joke, but the smile was wobbly and a little crooked.
“Wish Pa would come,” she whispered again.
“He’ll be here,” Marty assured her.
For the moment, Marty had forgotten all about her small daughter, so absorbed was she in the one who stood before her, fearful yet anxious to become a bride. But when she did remember the baby, she turned to look at Kate holding her. Kate stood silently back a pace, holding the tiny Belinda and unwrapping her many blankets. She was rewarded with a fleeting smile, and she hugged the wee baby close.
“Oh, Ma, it’s the first time she has smiled for me,” she exulted in a whisper to Marty. For just a moment the two women looked at each other, and a lump caught in Marty’s throat. She knew Clare and Kate’s baby would have been smiling now. Smiling and recognizing her ma and pa. But Kate’s gaze with obvious love and care for the little one held no shadow, though her heart must have still been tender over their loss.
Clark and Clare entered, stamping the slush from their boots and brushing off their coats. They shrugged out of their coats and hung them on pegs by the door. Then Clark turned to Ellie. “Ready, little girl?” he asked softly. Ellie only nodded.
“We’ll let Kate an’ Clare find ’em a seat first; then I’ll sit yer mother.”
Kate and Clare moved forward to a pew near the front that had been saved for family. It was then that Marty noticed Kate still holding Belinda.
Clark drew Marty and Ellie close and, with an arm around each of them, led them in a quiet prayer. They lifted their heads, and Ellie dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief she carried. Marty wiped her eyes, as well, then leaned to give their next-to-last born, their Elvira Davis, one last kiss. In just a few minutes, she would become Elvira Howard, Mrs. Lane Howard. But, thought Marty thankfully, she will always be my daughter, no matter what her name.
Clark offered Marty his arm and led her to a seat beside Kate. Marty intended to take Belinda back, but when she saw the way Kate looked at the baby, she let Belinda stay where she was. She looked to the front instead and saw a nervous Lane, his eyes fixed on the back of the church as he waited for his bride. Arnie stood beside him, and the young preacher stood before them with an open book.
Maude Colby, Ellie’s friend from town, preceded the bride down the aisle. Ellie followed, walking sedately and purposefully on her father’s arm. Marty felt such a pride well up within her. Her girl would make a good wife. And Marty couldn’t think of anyone she would rather share Ellie with than Lane. Her eyes filled with tears momentarily, but she quickly wiped them away and flashed Kate a little smile.
After the ceremony and the hearty congratulations of family and friends, the wagons and buggies were loaded once again and the eager horses were allowed to run. Ellie, not in the Davis buggy now, had her proper place, tucked in closely beside Lane.
The dinner was a festive affair. In spite of the lack of room, family and neighbors laughed and chatted and ate until they could eat no more. Gifts were presented to the happy bride and groom, and Ellie exclaimed over everything with a great deal of enthusiasm. Lane gave a little speech.
“I will ever bless the day when my boss had the good sense to order me back east to care fer a farm,” Lane said amid laughter. “Tell the truth, I wasn’t lookin’ forward much to bein’ a farmer—never havin’ been one. Iffen it hadn’t been thet I had met Mr. an’ Mrs. Davis …” Lane stopped and corrected himself, “Ma an’ Pa here …” More laughter. “Well, iffen I hadn’t met ’em an’ looked forward to seein’ ’em again, I don’t s’pose even the boss coulda made a farmer outta me. Boy, what I woulda missed!” exclaimed Lane, his eyes fastened on a blushing Ellie.
Lane became more serious then. “I’ve got lots to learn yet in life. Lots to learn in the Christian walk, but I’ve already learned this. Iffen I let God control things, He sure can do a heap better job of it than I ever could. I just have no way of sayin’ how thankful I am fer a girl like Ellie … how lucky I am to have her fer a wife. I can’t express it nohow … but I hope to spend my lifetime a tryin’ to show her how I feel.”
Marty hoped no one saw her slip from the room. She needed a little time to herself. She was happy for Ellie. She wouldn’t change things for the world. She just needed a little time to get used to it, that was all.
TWENTY - SIX
Family Dinner
Marty was having a hard time of it trying to convince daughter Ellie that her mother could truly manage without her.
“I might need ya, dear, I might,” Marty assured her. “But it ain’t to wash the dishes or to git the meals. I can care fer my own house. I haven’t felt better fer months. The baby is no problem, an’ yer pa fusses over me more’n ever. So it’s not yer hands I’m missin’, helpful as they are. It’s you. Just you. Yer being here and yer company an’ all.”
“I miss you, too, Mama,” Ellie responded, “though I must admit I’m awfully happy where I am.”
Marty touched the girl’s hair in silent acknowledgment that she understood and accepted the truth of her daughter’s words.
“We’ll come whenever ya want us to,” Ellie promised.
“Then come join the family fer Sunday dinner.”
“I’d like thet. I’ll come early and help ya git ready.”
Marty laughed. “Haven’t ya been listenin’ to a thing I’ve been sayin’?” she said, giving Ellie a playful pat on the bottom. “I’m fine. I can fix a dinner fer my family. Honest!”
“All right,” said Ellie. “You fix it, an’ we girls will do the cleanin’ up. Fair?”
Marty laughed again. “Fair,” she said and let it go.
“An’ while yer a fixin’,” said Ellie as she was about to leave, “how ’bout some lemon pie? Seems I haven’t had a good one fer ages. I never did git the hang of makin’ lemon pie.”
“Okay,” Marty cheerfully agreed, “lemon pie it is. An’, Ellie …”
Ellie hesitated, her hand on the door.
“Thanks fer stoppin’ by,” Marty went on. “I needed a little chat. I’ve been missin’ ya.”
“I’ve missed ya, too,” said Ellie, “an’ Kate an’ Pa an’ even Belinda. She’s growin’ already, Ma. Just look at her.”
Marty turned to look at the baby lying contentedly in the crib in the corner of the kitchen. She was playing with her hands and crooning to herself.
“She is, isn’t she? She’s already got her pa all twisted round those little fingers, I’m a thinkin’.”
“Thet weren’t a big job,” answered Ellie. “He was a pushover the day she
arrived.”
Marty smiled.
“See ya both on Sunday, then.”
Ellie nodded and left the kitchen.
Marty crossed to the window and watched Ellie walk out to the barn, where Clark would hitch up the team to her wagon. Marty went back to the baby, who was dropping off to sleep. “Little girl,” she whispered, stroking the soft cheek with one finger, “ya have no idea what a big achin’ void yer helpin’ to fill.”
Sunday came and with it the family. They all followed Clark and Marty’s team home from church, making quite a procession. Marty smiled to herself as she thought of the sight they must be making.
The women and children were let off at the house, and the men went on down to the barn to unhitch the animals.
Soon everyone was inside, joshing and joking good-naturedly as they flocked through the kitchen. Marty shooed anyone who wasn’t fixing the meal out to other places in the house. The menfolk settled themselves around the fire in the family living room. The children gathered in the upstairs hall with toys Marty and Clark had fashioned and acquired over the years. All except Tina. She insisted she was now one of the ladies and asked to help set the table. And of course Baby Belinda was too little for the children’s play and lay contentedly in her pa’s lap in the big, muchused rocker, obviously enjoying the motion of the chair and the solid arms around her.
Arnie cocked an eyebrow at his pa. “Been noticin’ yer not as good ’bout sharin’ as ya used to be,” he remarked.
“Meanin’?” said Clark, frowning slightly.
“Ever’time I see ya, yer a hoggin’ thet girl. She belongs to all of us, ya know.”
There was laughter around the circle, and Clark reluctantly passed the small baby to Arnie.
He didn’t get to keep her for long. From there she went to Josh and then to Clare, and finally Lane even got a chance to hold her. She turned on the charm for each one of them.
“I can see it all now,” said Arnie. “Pa’s gonna be awful busy guardin’ the gate when this one grows up. Boy, ain’t she somethin’?”
They all agreed, and Clark looked as if he would pop some buttons.
“Look at thet smile,” said Clare. “Ever see so much sweetness in such a little mite?”
The group of men had turned their full attention on the baby, admiring and commenting on every little thing she did. Belinda cooed and squirmed and smiled at all her admirers.
It was not long until they were called to the table. They all took their places rather noisily, but complete silence reigned as Clark led them in a fervent prayer of gratitude to God. In the midst of the prayer, Marty heard a contented gurgle, and when she raised her head she saw that Clark was still holding the baby.
“My goodness,” she said to him after the chorus of amens, “how ya plannin’ on eatin’ with the young’un in yer arms?”
“It’s a leg I’m missin’—I got me two hands,” Clark noted with a grin.
“Well, ya need ’em both fer eatin’.” Marty laughed. “My lands, she’s gonna be so spoilt she won’t be fittin’ to live with.” Marty got up from her place and took the baby girl.
“I’ll hold her,” volunteered Arnie quickly.
“She don’t need to be held. She’ll be perfectly content here in her bed.” And Marty bent to lay the baby down.
“Don’t seem fair somehow,” put in Clare. “All the rest of the family is round the table.”
“An’ she will be, too—give her time.”
“Aw, Grandma,” coaxed Tina. “She’ll miss what’s goin’ on.”
“I don’t think she’s gonna miss it thet much,” said Marty. “None of the rest of ya ever got so much holdin’.”
“That’s different,” Arnie continued. “There was more babies than big folk then. Now it’s been turned round. Lots of people here to hold a young’un now.”
Marty looked around the table. “Yeah, lots of big folks, and lookin’ round this table, I s’pect thet it could very soon be turned the other way again.”
They must have caught her meaning, and Marty noticed a couple at the table exchanging glances and looking a bit sheepish.
“Anybody got anythin’ to tell us?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye.
Arnie swallowed hard and looked at Anne. “Well,” he said, “we hadn’t planned on an announcement just yet, but yeah … I reckon we do.”
There was laughter and congratulations for the blushing newlyweds. Marty could feel their joy, but then she thought of poor Kate and a pain went through her. Kate was slowly pushing back her chair and rising to her feet. Marty felt her throat constrict. Poor Kate. It was just too much for her. Too soon. First Belinda and now this. But Kate was not rushing from the room. Instead, she was standing with a hand on Clare’s shoulder and a smile on her face. “I’m glad ’bout Arnie and Anne’s announcement,” she said in a clear, soft voice, “glad fer them and glad because … well, I just think it’s important fer every child to have a little cousin ’bout his own age.”
“Are ya sayin’—?” began Ellie, but Kate stopped her with, “Sure am! Just ’bout the same time as Anne. Doctor just told me fer sure yesterday.”
Marty couldn’t help the happy tears. She was going to be a grandma again—twice over.
TWENTY - SEVEN
Surprise
Ellie knew Lane really didn’t have a whole lot that needed to be done around the farm. The animals had all been either sold or shipped off to the new ranch in the West. There were no fences to fix, no wood to cut, no harness to mend. At first he had enjoyed it since it meant he had lots of time to spend with her, but after a few days of drinking coffee and watching her work around the kitchen, she could tell he was beginning to grow restless. She didn’t blame him at all. She was used to being busier herself, and now and then she, too, felt time hanging a bit heavy on her hands. At least she had baking to do, clothes to wash, a house to keep clean, and many little tasks about the home. She tried to think of some ideas for Lane to fill his hours, but nothing presented itself. It was hard for him to just sit around waiting for the farm to sell, she could tell.
“Lane,” she ventured one day, “I been thinkin’. We’re only a couple of miles outta town. Ya think it would matter any to the LaHayes iffen ya were to take a town job?”
Lane’s expression indicated he wondered why he hadn’t thought of it. “Don’t rightly know what I’m fittin’ to do in a town,” he said reflectively, “but it sure is worth a try. Would ya mind?”
Ellie smiled to assure him. “I know thet it’s hard fer ya not to be busy. An’ I don’t blame ya one bit. Fact is, I don’t think I’d care much to be married to a lazy man. Why don’t ya go on in an’ make a few inquiries? Ain’t a thing more in the world fer ya to do round here.”
Lane saddled his horse, kissed his wife good-bye, and rode from the yard.
At first it appeared there would be no work for Lane in the small town. The bank needed another man and the town’s one tailor said he could sure use some help, but Lane did not have the required experience for either job. He was about to give up and head for home again when the man from the general store waved him down.
“Hear tell yer lookin’ fer work.”
“Sure am. Willin’ to try most anythin’. Ya need a man?”
“Not me, no. I got all the help I need, but I hear thet Matt over to the livery is down sick an’ poor ol’ Tom is ’bout wearin’ hisself out tryin’ to keep up with things. Ya might wander on over there an’ see iffen he’s found somebody yet.”
Lane thanked him and turned his horse to the livery stable. Funny that he hadn’t thought to try it first off, since he sure knew about horses.
The man was right. Old Tom did want another man, and Lane started in right away on his town job.
The chance to work not only helped put Lane in a much better frame of mind concerning himself, but it enabled him and Ellie to begin to tuck away a little money week by week, as well. They both felt good about it, and when Lane would ride in at night,
tired from lifting feed sacks and grooming horses, Ellie was there waiting for him with a warm fire and fresh-baked bread. Their marriage prospered under such an arrangement.
One day as Ellie matched socks from the day’s washing and waited for Lane to return for supper, she heard Rex barking. The sound of his bark told Ellie that someone had arrived. It wasn’t Lane, she knew, and it wasn’t one of her family. Rex barked as though the visitor was a stranger.
She hurried to the window and saw a tall man in a long, dark coat tying his horse to the hitching rail. Ellie had never seen the man before. “Maybe it’s a buyer fer the farm,” she mused and hoped with all her heart that it might be so.
She answered the knock and greeted the man cordially.
“I understand Lane Howard lives here.”
“Thet’s right,” said Ellie. “I’m Mrs. Howard.”
“Is Mr. Howard in?”
“Not at the moment. He works in town, but I’m expectin’ ’im home ’fore long.”
“Mind if I wait for him?” the man asked, and Ellie wasn’t sure for a moment if she minded or not.
“I’ll just wait out here if it’s all right.”
“Ya needn’t do thet!” exclaimed Ellie, chiding herself for hesitating. “Ya can come on in an’ have a cup of coffee while ya wait.”
The man did not refuse and followed Ellie into the small kitchen. Ellie pushed the coffeepot she had in readiness for Lane’s supper onto the heat and nodded at a chair.
“Just sit ya down,” she offered. “He should be home most any minute.”
She looked at the man. His clothes were different from what the farmers round about wore, she noticed. And he didn’t really dress like the men from town, either. He must be from the city, she concluded. If he came about the farm, he must be coming on behalf of someone else. He didn’t look like a farmer.
She decided to ask, but before she could speak, the man spoke to her.
“Nice farm here,” he commented. “Well kept.”
“First-rate,” agreed Ellie, ready to give an honest sales pitch. “There’s been lots of time an’ money put in on it. It’s in real good shape.”