Hope Rekindled
Page 26
“Don’t be,” he said. “We’re going to make it through this.” He grinned and placed a kiss on her nose. “I kind of like being here with you. It’s not the wedding trip I would have planned for us, but I’m content. I think I will always be content, so long as you’re at my side.”
The storm inside Deborah began to abate, even as the one raging around them lessened. Nestling down in her husband’s arms, she listened as the storm began to slowly move off. Little by little the rain diminished to a gentle rhythm as the storm played out. In the distance, she heard someone singing and smiled.
It was Lizzie. The tune was more than a little familiar, the words so very appropriate for the moment.
“ ‘The raging storms may round us beat,’ ” Lizzie sang, “ ‘a shelter in the time of storm. We’ll never leave our safe retreat, a shelter in the time of storm.’ ” Deborah couldn’t help but smile. It was a fairly new hymn that her mother had found for the sacred-harp singing. Deborah felt peace wash over her as Lizzie’s voice lingered in the air.
“ ‘O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, a shelter in the time of storm. Be thou our helper ever near, a shelter in the time of storm.’ ”
The storm dissipated and the warmth of summer returned. The sun steamed the air, making everything feel heavy and sticky. Since it was later than usual, Deborah decided to do what she could to hurry breakfast. Taking dry wood from the tent, she worked quickly to get the fire going. Despite having been sheltered, the wood was still rather damp and the fire didn’t want to catch. Coaxing it with dried bits of pine straw, Deborah finally established a tiny, but growing, flame. She soon had the fire built up and burning nicely.
Lizzie brought two coffeepots to hang over the fire. “I’ll get some water on to boil.”
“Thanks. I’ll start slicing the ham.”
The others emerged from their tents, rather like she imagined Noah and his family had from the ark. They looked hopeful, but hesitant.
“Breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes,” Deborah told them as Lizzie put a large kettle of water on beside the coffee and threw more logs onto the fire.
G.W. pulled up his suspenders as he walked toward the women. “Lizzie and I talked about it last night and plan to go home after the Sunday service. We’re missin’ the little ones, and I reckon Ma could use the rest. Woulda headed there last night, ’cept for that storm.”
“I’m sure Mama didn’t mind. She loves those babies,” Deborah replied, focusing her attention back on cutting the ham. She figured there would be at least twenty of them for breakfast. When they’d finished working near eleven-thirty the night before, many of the men had decided to ride to Lufkin with what little pay Arjan could amass. Those who remained were mostly young men who had come west looking to make their fortune, only to find that life on the frontier didn’t come easy. Arjan had promised each a bonus if he would willingly work for no pay until the twentieth. Most had originally agreed, but after a week of battling the weather, over half of the men had decided to head to where they could get a hot bath and a comfortable bed. Deborah could only wonder if they’d made it home ahead of the storm.
“I figure with the deadline loomin’ over us tomorrow, Lizzie and you might as well stay home anyway. Either we’ll make the number or we won’t. No need to keep you gals workin’ here,” G.W. said. “The train will be haulin’ in logs all day and there’s nothin’ you can do to help with that.”
“We can still cook and clean,” Deborah replied. “Lizzie can stay home and maybe Mama would like to join us here.”
Lizzie returned to put two more coffeepots over the fire before checking the water in the pot. “It won’t be long before it’s boiling.”
“It would do us all some good to go home,” Arjan declared, joining them. “We could enjoy a nice restful Sabbath there just as well as here.”
“That would be fine by me,” Deborah agreed. “But I plan to return in the morning. If Christopher’s going to work here, then I am, too.”
“I think that’s just fine, but you’d both better be willin’ to take your pay, just like the others.” Arjan grinned and gave Deborah a wink.
Deborah heard movement behind her and saw that her husband had finally moved to join them. “What do you think?” she asked Christopher, who sort of duck walked out of the tent.
“About what?” He straightened and grimaced. “I think the ground is getting harder.”
She laughed. “Arjan was just suggesting we all head home for the day after breakfast. So many of the men left last night for their homes in Lufkin. Those that remain can come to the house and enjoy some time in out of the rain.” With the water finally boiling, Deborah stirred in grits and covered the pot with a heavy iron lid.
“I’d be happy to sleep in my own bed, even for a few winks.” Christopher suppressed a yawn and stretched. “Coffee ready yet?”
“Not quite. Soon.” Deborah collected the plates. She motioned everyone to the tables. Thunder rumbled from far away.
Deborah glanced at the skies overhead. The clouds churned and thickened once again. “Hopefully we can eat before the next storm moves in.”
“We haven’t had a run of weather like this for years,” Arjan declared.
“It’s actin’ like spring instead of summer,” G.W. threw in.
Lizzie brought out two jugs and plopped them down on the table. The men were notorious for eating their grits with equal amounts of the thick molasses sweetness. Hopefully two jugs would be enough. It wasn’t long before Deborah was ladling the food into large serving bowls. Jimmy took the first one to the table, and Lizzie took the second. Tommy and Arjan took the next bowls, and G.W. and Christopher helped by taking the platters of ham and leftover corn bread. Lizzie and Deborah brought the coffee at long last, and Arjan offered the blessing.
“Lord, we thank you for your many blessin’s. We ask that you would guide us on this, your Sabbath. Help us to remember that you gave us this day of rest to think on you and your goodness. Bless this food. Amen.”
“Amen,” the men murmured around the table.
Arjan stood and began to speak again as the food was passed. “You men are welcome to come back to our place for the day. Looks to me like it will rain and storm into the night. You can get in out of the weather, though you may be sleeping on the floor.”
There were some chuckles over this. “Hard floor, hard ground—take your choice.”
“One’s dry and the other’s wet,” Jimmy added.
Deborah watched her stepfather nod and smile. “He speaks the truth. Still, you’re welcome to it. We’ll leave just after breakfast and return tomorrow mornin’ to finish what we started.”
“We haven’t made the number yet, Mr. Vandermark,” one of the men declared. “Won’t make our goal for tomorrow iffen we don’t keep workin’ today.”
Arjan nodded. “Son, as I’ve said before, this is God’s day. I know we could work it, but I believe we’ll honor it instead. God multiplied the loaves and fishes for the crowds of hungry folks in the Bible. I reckon He can multiply logs if need be.”
In the end, about half the men decided to go home with the Vandermarks while the others decided to stay put. Arjan had led them all in prayer and Scripture reading before announcing that they could further their time with the Lord once they were safely inside with a roof overhead.
Sprinkles of rain had started to fall by the time they reached the house. It appeared, however, that the worst of the storm had passed them by. Deborah was certainly glad about this. The children and Mother came bounding out from the house as the wagons came to a stop near the barn.
“You boys help me turn the mules loose in the corral,” Arjan instructed. “Tommy and Jimmy, you throw them some feed.”
“We’ve got kittens!” Emma declared to the new arrivals.
“Truly?” Deborah smiled. “Who’s the proud mama?”
Her mother held Jonah back to keep him out of the way of the mules. “It was the long-haired gray.”
“Five. There are five kittens and five of us children. Mama Euphanel said that’s just like God to provide exactly what we need,” Emma announced.
Deborah laughed. “I believe she’s right.”
“She also said we can’t be pickin’ them up yet,” Jonah said. “Else their eyes won’t open.”
“That’s very wise. The mama cat knows best what they need right now,” Deborah told him. “Soon enough those kittens will be scampering all over the place. How are the puppies?”
“They’re getting big,” Darcy replied. She was dressed in her Sunday best and looked like quite the young lady.
“What are you all gussied up for, little gal?” Arjan asked. “You look right pretty.”
“Pastor’s coming for dinner,” she told him. “He was here yesterday, and Mama Euphanel invited him and Miss Mara.”
“I’m right glad she did. Maybe he’ll preach us a sermon,” Arjan said, taking Mother in his arms.
Deborah smiled as he gave her mother a big kiss. “I missed you, Wife.”
“Not half so much as I missed you.” Mother kissed him right back.
Deborah turned to Christopher. “I’m going to have a bath before the pastor arrives.”
“I could use one, too.”
Jonah pulled on his brother’s coat. “You can’t both take a bath at the same time. Mama Euphanel says it’s not fittin’ for girls and boys to take a bath at the same time, so I know she won’t let you grown-up folks do that.”
Deborah saw her mother’s eyes widen in alarm while Arjan coughed and sputtered as he did his best to keep from laughing. Pretending she hadn’t heard, Deborah left Christopher to handle the comment.
“I reckon I can wait until she takes her bath first,” Christopher replied. “I don’t want Mama Euphanel mad at me. I haven’t had her dessert in nearly two weeks.”
Jonah nodded. “That’d be good, ’cause today we’re having pie.”
Arjan regained control of his merriment and motioned to the family. “We’d best stop jawin’ out here in the rain.”
“It’s barely a sprinkle, but I agree,” Mother said. “Come along, little chickens, let’s get in the house.”
Deborah headed for the cabin, knowing that Christopher was right behind her. She didn’t say a word until they were inside with the door closed, then she burst out laughing.
“You . . . you nearly . . . caused a scene,” she sputtered.
“I thought your ma would have kittens,” he replied, grinning.
Tears came to her eyes as she fought to get her breath. She hadn’t laughed this hard in years. She fought to sober herself as she listened to the rain begin to fall in earnest. “I guess I’ll get a rainwater bath. The barrel is bound to be full.”
“Why don’t you light the stove, and I’ll drag out the tub.” He tossed his bag and coat onto a nearby chair. “Then I’ll bring the water in for you. It shouldn’t take too long to warm up.”
Deborah nodded. It was just good to be home. Good to be able to soak in a tub and rest in bed. She hurried to light the stove. Time was a-wasting.
After the evening meal, Pastor Shattuck stood to offer a reading from Psalm ninety-one. “ ‘He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.’ ”
“What’s a buckler?” Jonah asked, a little louder than intended.
“That’s a very good question,” Pastor Shattuck declared before Mother could hush the boy. “In the old days, when men fought with swords instead of guns, a buckler was used as a small shield. But it was decidedly more than that.”
Lightning lit the room, seeming to come out of nowhere. Thunder cracked shortly thereafter, but Pastor Shattuck continued without concern.
“A buckler had five main uses. The warrior would hold it in the hand opposite his sword. It was often round and made of strong metal. It wasn’t all that big, but it didn’t need to be for what it was intended. You see, a buckler was a weapon of close combat. The kind of fight you would have face-to-face with your enemy.”
Deborah could see that Jonah was completely captivated. So, too, were most of the young men who’d come home from the logging camp to share the Vandermark hospitality.
“A buckler’s first job was to act as protection for the hand,” Pastor Shattuck told them. “The grip that allowed the warrior to deflect the blows of his attacker. Thus, the second job—deflecting. Because it was lightweight and small, it was easier to use than a large shield.
“Third, a warrior could use his buckler as a blinder. He could hide his sword momentarily from view and strike his opponent unexpectedly. He could also reflect the sun into his opponent’s eyes.”
The pastor’s words fascinated Deborah. She had always enjoyed learning the deeper meaning of scriptural details. Knowledge of God’s word was precious to her, and this explanation made a most beloved psalm all the more meaningful.
“The buckler could also be used as a metal fist to the face or body of the enemy,” Pastor Shattuck continued. “Soldiers punched at their opponents and drove them off balance while wielding their sword to strike.
“And lastly, the buckler was used as a binder. A soldier could trap a man’s sword arm against him, binding him from further attack. It offered a means of controlling one’s enemy.” He smiled at Jonah. “Now, I can tell you something else about this. I once had a very learned friend who knew the language of the Old Testament—Hebrew. I learned that the word used here for ‘shield’ was tsinnah. This was a shield so large it covered a man’s entire body. Only his head would be exposed. The word for ‘buckler’ in the Hebrew was cocherah. I’m told that this verse is the only place in the entire Bible where this word appears. Of course, I couldn’t tell you for sure that this was true, but I’ve tried to explore that for myself and haven’t yet seen it elsewhere.
“Cocherah actually means something that wraps up a person. So perhaps God desired to show us in this verse that His truth is a shield that surrounds us completely. A protection, as well as a weapon. You see, God has given you weapons to fight the devil, your enemy. The truth of God is your shield and buckler. You are not to fight without a means of defense and offense. God has provided for all our needs.” Jonah nodded with great enthusiasm.
Pastor Shattuck picked up his Bible once again. As he spoke, the winds outside seemed to calm. “ ‘Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.’ ”
He paused and smiled. “It doesn’t mean we won’t face the enemy or that adversity won’t threaten, but God has assured us that we will be delivered. We rest in His protection. He will completely surround us.”
“Like a sucker-raw!” Jonah exclaimed.
Pastor Shattuck laughed and nodded. “Exactly right, young Jonah. And well pronounced.”
Deborah heard the train approaching in the distance and frowned. If Jack had found it necessary to put the old engine in motion today, it could only mean some problem. Perhaps someone needed the doctor. She glanced toward the door and decided to see for herself. She slipped out of the room and pushed back the screen door.
The air suffocated her with moisture and warmth. Arjan joined Deborah on the porch as the sound of th
e train grew louder.
“I wonder why Jack’s coming,” she said looking toward the track. “You don’t suppose there’s been another attack by the White Hand?”
Arjan’s eyes suddenly widened as the wind once again began to pick up. “It’s not Jack or the train. It’s a twister. Get inside—we have to take cover!”
I never seen a storm the likes of this,” Essie told Jael. “Turned day to night and threw down hail like stones.”
Jael was still battling her rattled nerves. The wind had blown so hard that she’d feared the walls would come down. “Do you suppose there has been a lot of damage?”
“I figure there is, iffen a tornado dropped out of them clouds.”
“We had a few bad storms in Philadelphia, but nothing like that.” Jael walked to the porch to survey the surroundings. Tree limbs littered the tracks, making it look as though the workers had never gathered up the White Hand’s debris. Where were Stuart and her father? When the clouds rolled in, thick and black, they had headed over to get Zed Perkins and help secure the mill supplies. They hadn’t returned.
The skies overhead cleared, making it appear as if nothing had happened. An eerie calm settled over the world. Only a short while ago, Jael had feared they could lose their lives; now, everything seemed again at peace.
She saw her father coming down the street and hurried to meet him. “Where is Stuart?”
“He and Mr. Perkins are checking out the mill. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”
Jael hugged her father close. “It was terrifying.”
“I know. I’m so sorry you were here alone.”
“Essie was with me,” Jael said, pulling back. “She knew exactly what to do. We hid in the hall at the very back when we heard the hail.”
“We did the same at the commissary. We never even made it over to Zed’s place until after the storm.”