Kristi squirmed to get down. “Becka. Cannace.”
Heather gave her a quick kiss before setting her on the ground. The toddler’s pony tail bounced as she ran to the other girls. Heather turned to share the moment with Matt.
He smiled without speaking, yet something in the depths of his eyes touched her heart in a way that confused her. Yes, she had a goal she would reach—if a poor man and his sweet children didn’t prove too distracting.
Heather and Becka combined their food supplies for a delicious hobo dinner. The boys helped Matt build a fire in one of the fire pits near the picnic table before they played a game of catch.
As the other kids played, Becka sliced the last potato into a heaping bowl. “Come on, you guys. You have to make your own supper tonight.”
Ricky ran over and stared at the row of sliced potatoes, carrots, and onions. He poked a finger toward the onions. “Aw, Heather, do I really have to? I don’t know how to cook.”
Heather grabbed his arm before he could touch any food. “Whoa there, buddy.” She lifted his dirt-streaked hand. “I think daycare rules had better apply here, too.”
“You mean I gotta wash my hands?”
“Yep, you catch on fast.” Heather smiled as the stricken look on his face changed to acceptance.
“Oh, all right. Come on, Gary. Your mom says we gotta wash our hands first, and I’m hungry.”
“Withholding food will do it every time.” Matt spoke close to Heather’s ear.
She turned and touched the streak of dirt that still clung to his jaw. “You’ve been carrying dirt on your face all afternoon. Maybe I should inspect your hands next.”
He grinned. “Maybe we should all wash up before supper.”
“Yes, I totally agree.” She laughed.
When they returned from the hydrant, Matt made the first Hobo Dinner—to show the others how. When the foil-wrapped hamburger patty and vegetables finished cooking in the glowing coals from the fire, both families gathered around the picnic table to enjoy their meal.
After Matt’s prayer, Becka picked up the schedule Heather had left on the table. “Is this what we’ll be doing?”
“Yes, tomorrow looks like a full day, although I only glanced at it.” Heather said.
“In the morning Brad and I go to the puppet seminar while you guys tour a museum and nature garden.” At Ricky and Gary’s groans, she grinned. “Then we meet at our choice of fast food restaurants for lunch.”
Everyone laughed when the two boys shouted their approval.
“We come back to camp and take naps—”
“Naps? That does not say naps.” Ricky challenged his sister.
She giggled. “Well then, smarty pants, what else would you call a short rest period?”
“I’d call it anything besides a nap.” He looked at Gary. “You aren’t taking any nap, are you?”
Gary’s nose wrinkled as if in distaste. “’Course not.”
“What else do we do, Becka?” Heather shared a smile with Matt.
“Well, after our nap—”
“Rest.”
Becka glared at her younger brother. “After our nap we go on a pontoon boat ride on the lake.”
“Awright!” Ricky and Gary jumped up smacking right palms together above their heads.
Matt chuckled and asked, “So, you two boys think a boat ride might be worth taking a nap?”
They shared a distressed look before Ricky shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Let’s finish eating now.” Heather placed a few chips on Candace’s paper plate. “Our first scheduled event is sharing s’mores and a short devotional with the other families from our church at Pastor Claude’s tent. We’re contributing graham crackers.”
Matt stiffened, his eyes widening. “S’mores? Becka, you did pack the marshmallows, didn’t you?”
Becka laughed. “Of course I did, Daddy. Sometimes I think you need a keeper.”
He grinned. “I have one. Her name is Becka.”
~*~
An hour later Heather sat in a folding chair with Candace on her lap while they listened to the minister talk of giving one’s talent to God. He read from Matthew’s account of the three servants who were given ten, five, and one talent to use and multiply for their master’s use.
“Although a talent as used here refers to money, most of us think of a talent as the ability to play a musical instrument or paint a beautiful picture.” The minister grinned at the teens. “Or make a puppet come alive for our audience.”
Heather found the devotional interesting as he offered many practical ways a person could use simple abilities to help others. After a short prayer the group dismissed.
Brad reached for his sleeping sister. “Let me take her, Mom.”
“I’d be glad to.” Love welled in Heather’s heart for her strong, young son as he lifted Candace from her. Obviously he’d listened to the lesson on helping others. She stood and rubbed her numb arm from pillowing Candace’s head. If only Brad continued in the direction he’d started since they returned to church.
They walked the short distance to their tents with Brad and Matt carrying the two little girls. Brad went first into the girls’ tent and lay Candace on her sleeping bag. He backed out. “There you go, Mom.” He nodded toward Gary and Ricky. “I’ll take those two to the bathhouse. They think they’re going to stay up all night, but I’ve got news for them.”
Heather laughed. “I do believe you’re growing up, Brad. Thanks for your help. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“He’s turning into a remarkable young man.” Matt said as he lowered Kristi to her sleeping bag. “These two went out like a light. Shall we let them sleep in their clothes? Take their shoes off?”
“Why not? We’re camping, aren’t we?” Heather knelt beside him and slipped shoes from the two sleeping toddlers. “Does Kristi wet the bed?”
He shook his head. “Never has and Becka took both girls to the bathroom before devotions.” He covered first one and then the other, giving each little girl a kiss on the forehead.
“Great. They should be good until morning.” Heather tucked the sleeping bag close around Candace and kissed her before repeating the process with Kristi.
Matt ducked through the tent door and turned with a grin as she followed him outside. “Maybe we should have separated Tom and Huck.”
Heather laughed. “Surely you aren’t comparing our sweet sons to Mark Twain’s rough and tumble characters?”
“No, never.” He chuckled.
Becka joined them. “Heather, would you walk to the bathhouse with me before we go to bed?”
“Sure, if your dad will keep an eye on the girls until we get back.”
“No problem.” Matt’s gaze fastened on hers with a smile that set her heart dancing.
As Heather walked up the path beside Becka, she felt Matt’s gaze like a physical brand. She resisted the impulse to look over her shoulder until right before going through the door marked, Women. She could just make out his tall form still standing by the tent. In the gathering twilight she couldn’t tell if he watched her or not, but in her heart she knew he did.
“Oh look, Heather.” Becka’s voice pulled her into the bathhouse. “There are dozens of little frogs in here.”
A shudder coursed down Heather’s back as she looked along the edge of the concrete floor where several small frogs hugged the wall. “They weren’t in here earlier.”
“Maybe they only come in at night when it’s cooler for some reason.”
“I guess.” A thought popped into Heather’s mind. “I hope the boy’s bathroom doesn’t have frogs, too.”
“Why…?” Becka’s eyes widened. “Oh, no! You mean Ricky and Gary. Maybe we’d better tell Dad.”
~*~*~*~
~Fourteen~
“Just so you know,” Matt greeted Heather and Becka when they returned from the bathhouse. “We disarmed the boys. You know, our Tom and Huck wannabes.”
“Frogs.” Heather closed her
eyes and shook her head. “Thank you.”
Matt chuckled. “How did you know?”
“They were in the lady’s room, too.”
“Ah. Well I’m heading for my tent. I don’t know how long Brad can keep those two down. I want to make sure they get some sleep.”
“Thanks, Matt.”
“Hey, no problem.” Matt waited until Heather and Becka disappeared inside their tent, then he turned away.
From the moment Heather and her kids arrived, the camping trip had become a family outing to him in a way he hadn’t expected. Sure, he enjoyed the time with his own kids, but the addition of Heather and her children completed his family.
From the start he’d fought his attraction to Heather. He understood the responsibility they faced if they joined their families into one. But recently he’d tried to stop worrying about it. After all, if God could take care of a single father with three kids, why couldn’t He take care of a married couple with six kids? The issue boiled down to a matter of faith. Did he or did he not believe in the omnipotence of his heavenly Father? He did. In his mind. Now if only he could convince his heart. And Heather.
~*~
Early the next morning Matt woke with a weight on his left leg. He lifted his head to take a look.
Gary’s sleeping bag lay perpendicular to Matt’s feet exactly where they had placed it the night before. However, Gary now lay sprawled face down with the lower part of his body on the bag, his chest rested half on Matt’s bag and half on the tent floor. The young boy cradled his head on his bent right arm while his left arm held Matt’s leg down.
Matt grinned with affection at the tousle-haired boy who’d planned to stay awake all night. All three boys had slept through the night, although Gary seemed to have moved about a fair share during his sleep.
By lifting Gary’s arm, Matt was able to scoot out until he could stand. He grabbed shoes and socks, then, picking his way over arms and legs, moved to the door.
Matt stepped outside into a fresh, bright October day. The cool fall air brought him to full awareness quicker than coffee ever did. He took a deep breath and sat on the picnic bench to put on his shoes. As he tied the second shoestring, Heather stepped through her tent door carrying a small bag. She stopped to zip the door closed.
Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Hi, I didn’t know anyone else was up. What time is it, anyway?”
Matt glanced at his watch. “We’re getting pretty close to six.”
“Six?” Heather went around the table and sat down. “Here I have the perfect opportunity to sleep in and I’m up as early as ever.”
“It’s the great outdoors.” Matt glanced around at other campers who were stirring about the area.
Heather stood. “I think I’ll go check on the frogs.”
“The frogs?” As soon as Matt saw the laughter in her eyes, he remembered. “Oh yeah. If you don’t mind my company, I’ll walk along with you.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
Matt knew Heather was likely being polite, but he hoped she really meant she enjoyed being with him. He fell into step beside her. “You didn’t tell me Gary snores.”
Heather laughed. “I’m sorry. Did he keep you awake?”
“No, I slept better than usual except for a rock that kept poking me.” Matt grinned. “That’s when I heard Gary snoring.”
Heather’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “He moves around a lot, too.”
“Tell me about it.” Matt laughed. “I dreamed a Sumo wrestler had nailed me to the floor. Then I woke up and found Gary turned crosswise with his arm over my legs.”
Matt could listen to Heather’s laughter all day. “Be thankful you only have to put up with him one weekend.” She tossed the words over her shoulder as she pushed open the door to the women’s restroom.
When Matt returned to camp, Heather wasn’t in sight, so he stuck his head in the boys’ tent. “Hey, guys, wake up. We’ve got a big day ahead of us.”
Brad sat up and stared at Matt with a blank expression. “Brad, can I count on you to rouse those other two? I’m going to get started on breakfast.”
“Sure.”
Matt grinned. Assuming the teenager was awake, he backed out of the tent. He stepped close to the girls’ tent. “Becka, time to rise and shine.”
“I’m already awake, Dad. Do you want me to get Kristi and Candace up now?”
“You might start waking them. Heather went up to check on some frogs, but she’ll be back pretty quick.”
He heard Becka giggle and smiled when she said, “I need to go visit the frogs, too, but I’ll wait until she gets here.”
The three boys stumbled past on their way to the bathhouse. Matt had a good blaze going in the grill by the time Heather returned. She went back to the bathhouse with the three girls. He watched them walk four abreast, a little girl on either side of Heather with Becka holding Kristi’s hand. They called greetings to others, including the younger boys who raced past on their way back to camp. Brad walked at a slower pace, so Ricky and Gary tore into camp first.
Hey, Dad, is breakfast ready?”
“Don’t tell me you’re hungry already.”
“Starved.” This came from Gary as he plopped down at the table. “What are we having? Mom said fried potatoes. Do you know how to do that?”
Matt grinned. “I could probably manage, but I thought I’d let your mom handle the hard stuff. She’s a better cook than I am.”
“How come we’re eating together, anyhow? I figured Brad and me and Mom and Candace would have to eat all by ourselves all the time.”
Brad joined them at that moment and answered. “Because it’s more fun and easier on everyone. Taking care of a bunch of little kids is hard work. Especially when you’re camping. Right, Matt?”
Before Matt could respond, Ricky spoke up. “Hey, Dad, why don’t you marry their mom and then we could do this all the time?”
Ricky had already expressed his opinion on the subject. Matt looked from Brad to Gary and saw no animosity. All three boys watched him, waiting for his answer. Before he could form the right words in his mind, he heard Kristi’s voice. She broke away from Heather and ran to him.
He set the carton of eggs on the table and picked her up glad for the interruption.
“What is this?” Heather stood with Becka by the table looking from one guilty face to the other. “An all boys’ pow wow?”
“No, Ricky asked—”
“About breakfast.” Matt broke into Gary’s honest answer. “Gary says you planned to fix fried potatoes.”
Heather looked at the eggs on the table. “Why don’t you do eggs, and I’ll take care of the potatoes. Brad, there’s a toasting clamp in the back of the car. If you’ll get it, you can be in charge of toast over the hot coals. Becka, we’ll need something to drink. I brought a couple of different juices in my ice chest. You may have something else to add.”
She grabbed Gary as he started away and called to Ricky. “Ricky, stop right there. You two are in charge of the little girls. They were playing with a beach ball yesterday. Get it and take them over there.” She pointed to an open bit of land between the tents. “Play with them and make sure they stay in our sight.”
Matt watched in amazement as the kids scurried off to their jobs. Within two minutes she had handled six kids without a squabble. She’d even told him what to do. He grinned. Ricky was a good judge of women. Now if they could only convince Heather they were exactly right for her.
~*~
Several hours later, Heather lay in the tent between Candace and Kristi while they slept. They’d toured the museum depicting the growth of the area and the building of the nearby lake. After a walk through the nature gardens and lunch at McDonald’s, the girls had been ready for a nap. Gary and Ricky, at Matt’s insistence, were resting in the boys’ tent. Heather listened to the soft murmur of Becka’s voice interspersed with the lower tones of Brad and Matt. She had no idea what they were discussing, but she was glad Brad
liked Matt. Why it mattered, she didn’t know. Maybe just for the good influence a Christian man had on her son.
She closed her eyes and tried to imagine Howard sitting at a picnic table visiting with two teenagers and enjoying it as she knew Matt did. She heard Brad’s laughter and then Matt’s and she smiled.
Brad had changed so much recently. Their father’s death had hurt the boys in ways she didn’t even understand. Gary started flopping around in his sleep after his father died. And Brad had grown progressively distant. Of course, some of his behavior could be contributed to growing pains, but he acted lost and afraid just as she did. They all needed more stability than she could provide alone.
Hearing Matt’s deep voice outside gave her a sense of security. In the last couple of months, Brad had made a sharp turn around. Getting involved in the puppet ministry had been the major turning point, but if Matt and Becka hadn’t pushed Brad he’d have never joined, and she’d have never started back to church.
She closed her eyes again and spoke through her heart. Lord, I’m sorry I let my sorrow and hurt come between us. Forgive me for taking my pain out on You and for neglecting the needs of my children when they lost their father. I lift up my son to You. Please, keep Brad in the hollow of Your hand, and heal his hurts so he can come to You and be born into the family of God. Lord, whatever Your will is concerning our relationship with the Sanders family, I pray for Your guidance and wisdom so no one is hurt.
She opened her eyes and stared at the peak of the tent for a moment letting her thoughts run free before adding. Lord, if it is Your will for us to form one family, I could use an extra dose of faith and trust, because I don’t think I can support and raise six kids alone. Amen.
~*~
“Water gives an illusion of peace, doesn’t it?”
Heather turned from the railing as Matt joined her. They, along with a dozen others including their children, were taking a turn on the pontoon boat. She followed his gaze across the vast lake as they skimmed along. “Yes, it does, but water can be very destructive, too.”
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