Love's abiding joy (Love Comes Softly #4)

by Janette Oke

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  lightly. "But He did a bigger an' more important miracle. He worked over the inner me--the soul of me. Thet's where I needed the miracle the most, so thet's where He applied His amazin' power. In here," said Clark, pointing to his broad chest, "in here, I don't hurt anymore."

  Cookie's eyes hinted ever so slightly of unshed tears, and Clark wondered how many years Cookie had been in pain both inwardly and outwardly. He reached out a hand and gently squeezed the cowpoke's shoulder.

  "We needn't fear," his voice was almost a whisper. "He's still doin' miracles."

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  Chapter Twenty-one

  Growing

  Willie returned to the range and the business of a ranch in the fall. Cattle needed to be rounded up and a few stray doggies branded. The steers for market needed to be cut and sorted from the herd and driven to the train station for shipping. Fences needed fixing and pastures had to be checked before the coming winter, besides the water holes to watch and rustlers to keep an eye out for. The warm fall days were busy from dawn till dark.

  Missie still insisted on spending most of her time with her father. At times her own work suffered because of the attention she was giving Clark. The two little boys did not seem to fare too badly because they also were usually hovering closely around their grandfather. It was Willie who concerned Marty. Often when he would come in at night, tired from another busy day in the saddle, Missie was still so busy fussing over Clark that she scarcely had time to notice. Marty hoped that she was exaggerating things and tried to tuck her anxiety into the back of her mind. She tried to take care of Clark so completely

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  that Missie would not feel this responsibility, but this did not ease the situation. Missie still hovered close by.

  Marty then turned some of her attention to Willie, hoping to at least make him aware that he was still loved and appreciated. She of course knew instinctively that Willie wished for the attention of his wife--not his mother-in-law. Even the boys did not run to meet Willie with the same exuberance at the end of the day, for they had spent the day with a grandfather who carved them tops and fashioned whistles.

  In spite of her determination to put the matter aside, Marty felt her concern grow daily. To her surprise, Clark, who was normally so sensitive to the feelings of others, did not seem to notice it. Perhaps he was just too close to the situation.

  Henry came to see Clark. After a simple greeting, Henry did not sit and idly chat but came directly to the point.

  "Been doin' a great deal of thinkin' lately," he said. "We really need us a church."

  Clark nodded his head in agreement and looked up from the crude crutch that he was carving, having determined that it was time he did something to aid in walking.

  "Good idea," said Clark.

  "Seems like now would be as good a time as any to be plannin' fer it," Henry went on. "I know thet now ain't a good time at all fer ranchers. Real busy time of the year, but things will be slowin' down 'fore too long again. But we shouldn't wait fer things to slow down 'fore we git started. Thet's sorta like puttin' God last. Been thinkin' thet we really are in need of some preachin'. We read the Bible together, an' thet's good, but some of these folks need someone to explain what it's meanin'. Ya take thet there new family thet's been comin'--the Crofts--they need someone to tell them what the Word means, to show them how to accept this here truth fer themselves."

  "I was thinkin' thet when ya said 'church' ya was a-meanin' a buildin'," said Clark.

  "Well, I was, an' I wasn't," answered Henry. "Shore, we need a buildin', an' I think thet we could be workin' on thet

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  real soon too. But I was also thinkin' of people an' of those who are needin' to know the truth. I think thet it's time to be givin' 'em more than we been doin'."

  "Sounds good to me," responded Clark. "Ya got any plans?"

  "Yah," said Henry, "been thinkin' on you."

  "Me?" Clark showed surprise.

  Henry did not waver. "Shore. You."

  "But I don't have no Bible trainin'."

  "Ya been studyin' it fer years, haven't ya?"

  "Yah, but--"

  "An' you've heard lots of preachin'?"

  "Shore."

  "An ya believe the Holy Spirit can teach the truth?" " 'Course I do."

  Henry grinned. "An' ya ain't overly busy these days, are ya?"

  Clark began to chuckle. "No," he said, "I shore ain't over busy. Been makin' a few tops an' whistles, an' tying a few knots, an' eatin', an' complainin', an' makin' folks run around waitin' on me. Come to think on it," he said, scratching his head with the blunt end of his knife, "seems I been powerful busy after all."

  They laughed together.

  "Well?" spoke Henry, when they had stopped their laughing.

  "Well," responded Clark, "I need to do some thinkin' an' prayin"bout thet one."

  "You do thet," encouraged Henry and straightened up, feeling quite confident where Clark's thinking and praying would lead him.

  "Gotta git," said Henry. "The fellas will be wonderin' where their boss has disappeared to. See ya come Sunday." And he swung up into the saddle and left the yard at a canter.

  Clark continued his work on his crutch but his eyes were thoughtful. In fact, he paused occasionally to wipe away a tear or two. Maybe God could turn this whole tragic accident into something good.

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  The group which gathered on Sunday in the large living room of the LaHaye household had again increased. With the Crofts were two other women and their children. One was the mother of Andy, the boy that Clark had rescued from the mine. The other woman, young and frightened looking, had just buried an infant son.

  Four of the LaHaye cowboys sauntered in and took inconspicuous seats toward the back of the room, clearing their throats and fingering their wide-brimmed hats self- consciously as they waited for the singing to begin. The simple service was just starting when Cookie hobbled in with a rather reluctant Wong in tow. Cookie had assured Wong that this was a good place to add some new English words to his vocabulary.

  Henry and his guitar led the singing, and Willie read the Scripture. After a time for prayer and another song, Willie made opportunity for anyone from the congregation to share a scripture or a thought. Henry rose to his feet. Clearing his throat, he began slowly with what he seemed to feel was a very important matter.

  "Ya all know as how we been feelin' the need to git together like this Sunday by Sunday to hear the Word an' pray. Maybe ya been appreciatin' it as much as I have been, but ya still feel thet somethin' is missin' like. So much of the Word thet we read we need to learn more 'bout. Thet's why churches have 'em preachers--to explain the meanin' of the Word. Well, we ain't had us a preacher. 'Course we do have the Spirit of God as our teacher, an' I thank God fer thet.

  "This here summer Missie an' Willie had the fortune of havin' Mr. and Mrs. Davis come fer a visit. It was jest to be a short visit of a couple of weeks. We all know of the tragic circumstances thet led 'em to still be here. I say 'tragic' 'cause thet's the way it seems to all of us. But I been a-thinkin'. Maybe God can make good outa even this tragedy. The Word says thet all things can work together fer our good, iffen we love God. Lately I've been seem' some good thet might come from this as well. I spoke to Mr. Davis 'bout it, an' he promised

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  to pray 'bout it. I've asked Mr. Davis iffen he won't be our preacher-like an' explain the Word to us Sunday by Sunday. Now, he ain't a preacher, really. He's a farmer. But he knows the Word of God an' he's heard lots of preachin', an' I think thet he'd have lots of good Bible teachin' to share with us."

  Faces began to turn toward Clark, and it was apparent that many people were waiting expectantly to see how he would answer Henry when the time came for a decision. Clark looked around him at the strange little congregation. He saw Missie and Willie, Henry and Melinda, and knew how much they had grown in the faith; he saw rough cowhands, unknowing but open to the knowledge of the Word; he
saw the young woman from town, her sorrow showing in her eyes as she longed for some kind of comfort; he saw the Crofts, seeking for healing in their recent bereavement; he saw the family and their son whose arm still needed to be straightened; he saw Andy sitting stiffly beside his mother; he saw the De la Rosas, with the pain and the questions still lingering in Juan's eyes. Clark's heart went out to them all. He felt a strange stirring within and he knew that, with God's help, he must feed this flock. He stood up, his crutch held firmly in his hand for support, and looked around at the faces before him.

  "It honors me to be asked to open God's Word with ya here. With God's help, I will try to give to ya the meanin' of the scripture read each Sunday. We can learn together."

  He sat down and clapping echoed through the room. Marty was so proud and happy she wanted to put her head against Clark's shoulder and weep tears of joy.

  Henry stood again, his face beaming. "We got us a preacher!" he exulted. "Now, what we gonna do 'bout a church?"

  There was enthusiastic and spontaneous response to the question. Many voices began to call that they would build their own church, and some shouted suggestions about where it should be located. Henry finally got things quieted enough to speak again.

  "I've been a-thinkin'," he said, "thet since there's not a church in town yet, an' this is a powerful distance fer some to

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  travel, thet we ought to try to even things up a bit, an' put the church 'bout halfway fer everyone."

  "I'm 'bout halfway!" cried Mr. Newton, jumping to his feet. "I shore would be right proud to be givin' some of my land fer a church."

  Others nodded, their eyes shining; it was agreed that the church building could be located on the Newton ranch. "We'll need us timber an' materials an' a buildin' plan," said Henry. "Lots of things to be decided."

  "Then let's git us a committee," someone called.

  It was decided that Willie, Henry, and Mr. Newton would be the building committee. The rest of the congregation would wait for orders and do their bidding. Excitement ran so high that tongues could not slow down even when Missie served coffee and cookies. They were going to have their own church! It was a dream come true.

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  Chapter Twenty-two

  Moving

  Marty wrote another long letter home. They would not be returning to the farm until the next spring. Though Clark was daily gaining strength and was now able to stand the train trip, he was going to stay and help establish the new church by giving the people lessons from the Scriptures and encouraging them in their building project.

  Marty was pleased to see the enthusiasm with which Clark greeted each new day. He spent hours poring over his well- worn Bible, and as his eyes found new truths, his lips shared them with others. He could not even wait for Sundays but spoke excitedly with anyone who was within listening distance.

  Clark also was busy with other matters, thinking often of little inventions that would help him in overcoming his handicap. Daily his independence was growing. He scarcely needed help with anything anymore. He even devised a way to again ride horseback with the men or with Nathan. He moved about the ranch on his own, carrying buckets or saddles in the hand

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  that wasn't busy with the crutch. He traveled to the garden and helped to dig the last of Missie's vegetables. He went with Nathan to gather eggs and prepared fryers for Sunday dinner. Watching him move about with confidence and assurance, Marty marvelled and rejoiced.

  Missie, too, was glad to see her father up and around again. But she still could not keep from fussing over him. In her admiration for him, she chose to show her love by trying to make him comfortable whenever she came near him, by feeding him special treats from the kitchen, by entertaining him with chats and games. Marty could no longer ignore her concern. Surely Willie could not help but miss the attention that should rightly have been his.

  Marty took a walk, hardly knowing how to handle her problem. Certainly Clark was loved in Missie's home. Willie had great respect for him. Missie loved him deeply, and the boys doted on their grandfather. Still, Willie's immediate family needed their own father and husband, and he needed Missie and their sons.

  Marty wondered just how to discuss the problem with Clark. Would he see her concern and understand? What could they do? They were committed now to staying for the winter. And it wasn't possible to live in Missie's home and shut oneself away.

  At last Marty decided that she must at least talk about the problem with Clark. If he did not see it as anything to get concerned about, then Marty too would try once again to put it from her mind.

  That night after they had retired, Marty timidly broached the subject. She hoped Clark wouldn't think that she was just being foolish.

  "I've been a-thinkin'," said Marty slowly. "It must be rather difficult fer Willie with us here."

  "Willie?"

  "Well, it wouldn't be, normally. But now, with yer accident an' all."

  "I try not to cut in on Willie's time," answered Clark. "I know thet he's a very busy man. I've even found a few little

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  ways thet I've been able to help lately."

  "Oh, Willie ain't feelin' thet yer a loafer," assured Marty quickly. "I know thet. He's always tellin' me jest how special it is for 'im to have ya here. An' he tells me too of how ya been organizin' the corrals an' fixin' up his barn."

  "Yer talkin"bout his family, huh?"

  "Ya mean--"

  "I've been thinkin' on it, too. Missie fusses far too much. It's done in love, an' I 'preciate it, but it don't leave her much time fer fussin' over her husband--over the boys, too. I love 'em both dearly. But they're gittin' so's they come to me when they scratch a knee or pound a finger."

  "You've noticed!" exclaimed Marty with relief.

  "I've noticed. An' now thet you've noticed, it won't be near so hard fer me to make the suggestion thet I been thinkin' on." "Suggestion?"

  "Well, we can't jest up an' pull out now. They do need us to git thet there little church started. We can't leave 'em now, Marty."

  Marty agreed.

  "An' it don't seem too smart to be a-carryin' on here in the same household as Willie an' Missie. Two families in the same house--especially when one of 'em is the grandparents--often don't work so good."

  "So?" Marty queried.

  "So I think thet it's 'bout time fer a move."

  "A move? Now where could we move? Yer not thinkin' of goin' into thet wild town--"

  Clark stopped her with a laugh. "No, no wild town." "Then--"

  "The soddy."

  "The--the soddy?" Marty was incredulous.

  "Why not? Willie and Missie lived in it fer two winters, an' they had Nathan at the time. Surely you an' me could stand it fer one. Jest the two of us. I've been thinkin' thet it might even be fun." Marty still looked unconvinced.

  "I've been checkin' it over," Clark went on enthusiastically. "The walls are sturdy, the windows in place. The roof looks

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  real good. Guess Willie jest had a new one put on to humor Missie fer our comin' out here. No reason a'tall why we couldn't be nice an' comfy fer the winter there."

  Marty's initial aversion to the idea began to drain away. She laughed softly. "Well, I never dreamed thet I'd be livin' in a soddy. An' at my age!"

  "Ya keep referrin' to yer age," said Clark. "I refuse to consider myself married to an old woman, so ya jest better stop sayin' thet."

  Marty laughed again.

  "Well," prompted Clark. "What 'bout the soddy? Ya willin'? It still has the furniture--such as it is."

  "Why not?" said Marty. "Think of the time thet I'll have jest to sit an' read or sew. Not much to keepin' a soddy up."

  "Then it's settled. We'll move in first thing tomarra."

  "Don't ya think thet Missie might need some time to be thinkin' on the idea?"

  "She'll git used to it. Ya give her time, an' she might jest think of all the reasons why we shouldn't."

  "Mayb
e," agreed Marty. "All right, we'll move tomarra then."

  She kissed Clark and turned over to go to sleep. In the darkness, a smile played around her lips. She and Clark were going to live in a soddy! Wouldn't her friends back home think that something else? Well, she'd have her share of experiences to tell them, that was for sure. She could hardly wait to write a letter back home to the children. Imagine that--she and Clark living in a soddy!

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  Chapter Twenty-three

  Callers

  The next morning at the breakfast table, Nathan was busy shoving in Wong's muffins and making plans for himself and his grandfather for the day.

  "An' we can ride over to the big hill an' look right over the range to where all the hands will be drivin' the cattle. We can see 'em start off on the trail drive to the town market. An'--"

  "Whoa, cowboy," said Clark. "Thet shore sounds like a lot of fun all right, but I'm afraid thet I can't be runnin' off today. Fact is, I was thinkin' of askin' fer yer help today."

  Nathan looked at his grandfather with surprise but quickly shifted his plans. "Sure, Grandpa. I'll help ya."

  Josiah cut in. "Me help G'an'pa."

  "You're too little," Nathan broke in, but Clark was quick to reassure the younger boy. "Shore ya can help. We gonna need all the hands thet we can git."

  Josiah beamed at being included.

  "What're you up to?" asked Missie, her curiosity overcoming her.

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  "Yer ma and me decided to move today."

  "Move?"

  "Yep."

  "Stop your joshin'," said Missie.

  "Not joshin'. Never been more serious."