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

by Janette Oke

  She cleaned out the tiny soddy and bade it a fond farewell, then moved their things back into Missie's fine house for the remaining days.

  Willie came home from the De la Rosas' with exciting news. The community had voted to begin the new school in the church building. Henry's Melinda had been asked to teach. Her close neighbor, Mrs. Netherton, an older woman with no children, had agreed to stay with Melinda's young son while she was at school. Since Melinda was reluctant to leave her boy behind, the first year of school would be held only for three days a week. Still, the neighborhood agreed that this arrangement was far better than no school at all.

  Willie and Missie decided that Nathan would be allowed to join the school-bound crowd. As Melinda would be driving right by their ranch, she agreed to pick up the young scholar.

  Marty took special note of each day as it ticked by. A little clock ran in her mind: This is our last Friday. . . our last Saturday . . . our last service in the little church. She prepared with extra care. Clark had already shared with her some of his thoughts on the scripture portion for the day. Marty felt them to be most appropriate on their last day with the congregation that they had learned to love. There was no better message that Clark could leave with them.

  When Clark stood before the group on that last Sunday, he read solemnly, yet triumphantly, from the Word: "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord" (Jer. 9:23,24).

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  As she listened, Marty prayed for each individual who sat in the seats around her. Her desire, and Clark's, was that each one of them might deeply live the truth of the Scripture, this one in particular.

  After the service had ended, Clark asked Henry to speak to the congregation. It was common knowledge that when Clark left, Henry would be leading the group.

  With tears in his voice, he expressed his thanks to Clark and to Marty for their leadership and encouragement over the months they had been with them, the congregation echoing his appreciation. Then Clark and Marty, taken completely by surprise, were guests of honor as the whole fellowship gathered around to give them a farewell party. Food was spread out on makeshift tables, and ladies served while the men and children dug in with relish. Underlying the festivities and laughter was a feeling of sadness because of the fact that in just two days the Davises would be leaving them. Clark and Marty appreciated each one who came with a special thank-you shining from his or her eyes and warm handshakes. They were special, these people. They were special because they were Christian brothers and sisters. Clark and Marty both knew they would miss them.

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  Chapter Thirty-two

  Homeward Bound

  When Tuesday arrived, Marty was packed and ready to go. Willie brought around the team and, as Missie prepared her sons for the trip to town and Clark went to say a last farewell to the ranch hands, Marty slipped out of the house and made one last trip to the little soddy.

  She was not as nostalgic about the small shack for her own sake as for Missie's. Marty had spent the one winter in the soddy by choice. Missie had made it a home because it was all that was available to her.

  Marty stood and gazed around the little room once again. In her fancy she could see Missie as a very young bride bending over the tiny stove with its cow-chip fire, preparing the evening meal. In the cradle at the end of the bed would rest the tiny baby, Nathan. Willie would return from his long, hard day of herding cattle to be greeted with love and concern and a simple meal.

  Marty could picture, too, the growing Nathan, the Christmas gathering of ranch hands, the visits with new neighbors.

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  Marty would cherish her mental pictures of the little shack. Her own winter spent there helped her to more clearly picture Missie in the soddy.

  Yes, she and Clark had been happy in the soddy, too. Those long evenings as she sat sewing and Clark pored over his Bible, sharing with her special truths as he found them and getting her thoughts on particular verses--these were memories to treasure. Perhaps it would be many days until she and Clark would have so many hours of each day to cherish as their own without interruption from the daily demands of farm and family.

  Marty retraced her steps to the house--Missie's beautiful home. Marty had never seen a home that was more comfortable or more tasteful. She was proud of Missie and her homemaking ability.

  They were loading the wagon when Marty rounded the corner. She stepped forward to take her place. All the ranch hands who were not on duty were present to shake her hand, and Marty spoke to each of them. Cookie was the last in the line.

  The old ranch cook stepped forward, his hand outstretched.

  "Cookie," said Marty, with tears in her eyes, "we are jest so thankful to God fer yer choosin' to follow Him. Ya're jest so special to us in so many ways."

  Cookie changed his mind and gave Marty an affectionate hug instead.

  Lane moved forward and took Clark's hand. He said nothing in words, but his eyes spoke volumes.

  Just as the wagon was about to move out of the yard, Wong came running, waving a bundle in his hands. It was some of his fresh doughnuts, a treat for the trip. Marty and Clark thanked him warmly and he beamed as he bobbed his head.

  "Much thanks," he said. "Much thanks for the special joy that you brought to this house and to Wong's kitchen. Come again, maybe?"

  The wagon pulled away amid hat-waving and calls, and then they were on their way.

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  Marty's view was blurred with tears as she looked back from the hillside where she had taken her first look at Missie's home. So much had happened there to endear so many people to her heart.

  Josiah crawled on her knees, and she held him close all of the way to town. Nathan chattered excitedly, feeling that Grandma and Grandpa were privileged indeed to be passengers on a real, moving train.

  "An' someday I'm gonna come all the way on the train to the farm an' see ya," he promised.

  And Josiah echoed, "See ya."

  "Yah," said Nathan, "me and Joey. We'll come an' see ya."

  "That would be wonderful," said Marty and held her "Joey" even closer.

  When they reached the town, Clark checked their trunk through, and they gathered their hand-baggage and went to get a cup of coffee while they waited for the train.

  It was hard to know what should be said in their last few minutes together. It seemed that there was still so much to say, in spite of the fact that they had spent months talking.

  They filled the time with small talk and reminders of messages for each one of the family members on the farm.

  It was time to leave when Scottie appeared.

  "I wasn't able to see ya off at the house," he said, extending his hand to Clark, "but I shore didn't want to miss sayin' a good-bye. Guess I needn't say thet we are gonna miss ya 'round the spread. S'pose now I'll have to mend my own halters and clean my own barns."

  Clark smiled. He didn't feel he had helped Scottie that much, but he knew that what he had done had been appreciated. He shook Scottie's hand firmly. "Ya'll always have a warm spot in our hearts an' prayers," he told the ranch foreman, and Scottie smiled.

  They walked slowly to the train station. Already the train was sending up great puffs of smoke as the firebox was filled in preparation for the departure. Long cars were filled with bawling steers, and Marty knew that they would share the ride

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  with many cattle heading for market. She wondered if some of Willie's herd might be on board.

  It was time for the last tearful good-bye.

  "Pa," spoke Missie, her voice choked, "ya s'pose thet ya could be shippin' me out some apple cuttin's by train? I've been missin"em something awful."

  Clark was thoughtful. He wasn't sur
e that apple trees would grow in the area, but he nodded his head to affirm his answer. "Why not?" he said. "It's shore worth a try. Ya can plant them down by yer spring an' make sure thet they git plenty of water. Might not produce too much fruit, but ya might git enough fer a pie or two."

  Missie laughed through her tears. "Truth is," she stated, "I won't even be carin' too much if I don't get fruit. It's the blossoms thet I miss the most. Seems they promise spring, an' love, an' happiness, ever'time they appear."

  Clark gave his daughter an understanding hug.

  They all embraced one last time and told one another again how much the visit had meant to each one of them. Marty and Clark held their two grandsons for as long as they dared; and then the "all aboard" was called, they waved one last time, and climbed on the train.

  Marty waved until the train turned a curve and then the town and her family were left behind. She then wiped her tears on her handkerchief and resolved that she would cry no more.

  The day dragged by, measured by the rhythms of the steel wheels. Each revolution took them farther away from Willie and Missie, but closer to the other members of their family.

  There were a few stops at small towns here and there-- some of them seeming to take far too long--but then they traveled on again, day and night. On the third day, they pulled into the town where they had switched trains on their westward journey. Again it meant an overnight stay. Clark and Marty both remembered the dirty little hotel and its bedbugs. "Surely we can do better than thet," Clark assured Marty, and made some discreet inquiries. They were pointed to an elderly lady's house whom, they were told, kept roomers on

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  occasion; fortunately, the woman had room and accepted them as overnight guests.

  By the time they neared the station the next morning, shoppers were beginning to appear on the streets. The town was again awakening as it had done the year before.

  When they reached the train station, Clark held the door for Marty and she passed through and headed for some seats near the window. She would just sit and wait while Clark checked out the departure time.

  Clark walked closely behind her to settle the luggage that he carried, before going to the ticket counter. Other passengers milled about the room as well.

  Marty heard the loud voice of a youngster. "Ma, look-- look at thet poor man."

  Marty's head came up slowly and she looked around her, already feeling pity in her heart for some unfortunate person. She spotted no one.

  "Ya lookin' fer the man?"

  At the sound of Clark's voice, Marty flushed, embarrassed to be caught staring about because of curiosity. Her eyes admitted to Clark that, indeed, she had been looking for "the poor man."

  Clark was quick to ease her guilt.

  "I was, too," he confessed. "Did ya spot 'im?"

  Marty shook her head no.

  "Me neither," said Clark and then began to chuckle. Marty looked at him in surprise.

  "Thet is," went on Clark, " 'til I looked at myself." "Yerself?"

  Clark chuckled again.

  "He was talkin"bout me, Marty."

  "You?"

  Then Marty's gaze fell to the pinned-up empty pant leg and the crutch held in Clark's hand. Her breath caught in a little gasp. It was true. The boy was speaking of Clark--and Clark was chuckling!

  Then Marty saw it--the humor of it, the glory of it. They both had completely forgotten that Clark was considered

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  handicapped--"the poor man." They reached for one another and laughed together, tears of joy running freely down their cheeks.

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  For those readers who enjoy Janette Oke's prairie fiction, here is the untold story of one of the most beloved novelists of our time. Written by her daughter, Janette's biography gives intimate glimpses into her life and heritage, and her fiction fans will find hints of characters and events that she has incorporated into her captivating stories.

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  A birthday surprise,

  a new journey west, and a delightful reunion! But then comes tragedy....

  Love's Abiding Joy

  Marty and Clark Davis's daughter Missie and her husband had homesteaded land in the far West, many weeks' journey away by covered wagon. But with the coming of the frontier railroad, the miles are suddenly bridged, making possible their long-awaited reunion.

  Grandparents Marty and Clark are thrilled to meet their two little grandsons for the first time. Missie, anxious to hear news from home, plies her mother with questions about her brothers and sisters. And as Willie proudly shows the two visitors around his successful ranch, Missie, just as proudly, shows them the little soddy that was their original home.

  But the joyful reunion is shattered by a tragic accident.... Will they ever be a happy family again?

  A Gentle Story of Faith and Love and Joy in the Midst of the Swirling Storm of Life,

  BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS

  ISBN 0-87123-401-7