Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(21)

"Sometimes that just isn't possible," remarked Missie.

"Well, Arnie feels thet with Hester it has to be. She is very protective of her brothers. Would fight fer 'em if necessary. Arnie admires thet in her. But he wants to see the good in 'em that Hester sees. So far," Marty laughed softly, "I think thet he's been hard put to find some good, even though he's sure been lookin'."

"I hope he doesn't spend too many years lookin' and let some girl with no such problems be snatched up by someone else in the meantime."

Marty sighed. "Arnie deserves a good girl. He is so sensitive to the feelin's of others. He's got a lot of his father in him, thet boy."

"What 'bout Ellie? She got a beau?"

"Not really. Not yet. Guess I was sorta hopin' thet ya



73



wouldn't ask. I keep tryin' to pretend thet she ain't old enough yet--but I guess I know better, deep down. She's old enough. She's pretty enough, too. I guess thet she jest hasn't encouraged them much to this point. Ma Graham remarked 'bout her soon marryin' an' leavin' me. She's right. I've seen the boys tryin' to git her attention in a dozen ways. I always jest thought of it as schoolboy stuff. Not really. One of these days she'll notice 'em too."

"Wish I could see her. S'pose there would be any chance thet she could come out for a while?"

Marty felt a moment of panic. Ellie come out here? The West is full of young men. Why, if she came to see her older sister, she might marry and never return home ag'in! She fought back her uncomfortable thoughts and responded in an even voice, "Maybe she could come on out on her honeymoon."

"But you said she didn't even have a beau--"

"She don't yet. But, my, thet can happen fast enough. I'm half scared thet she'll have her mind all made up 'bout some young fella by the time thet I git back home."

Missie laughed at her mother's fears. "Now I hardly think that's possible. Not for the short time you'll be away. Are you sure you can stay only for two weeks? Seems like it's hardly worth coming all that way for such a short time."

"We couldn't possibly stay longer. Takes a week to come out an' a week to go home. By the time we git back, we'll have been gone a whole month. It's a busy time of the year, as well. Pa left his boys completely on their own fer the summer hayin' an' all, an' Clare has to git his house ready. Luke is studyin' hard for his college exams an'--"

"Dear little Luke." Missie's voice was gentle. "How is he?" A softness filled Marty's eyes. "He's not changed. Growed a little, I guess, but he's still got his same ways. Remember how he liked to cuddle up close in your lap when he was a young'un? Well, I git the feelin' sometimes thet he'd still like to do thet--iffen society wouldn't condemn it. He finds other ways to show love now. 'Member how you always used to pick me birthday strawberries? Well, yer pa broke up the pasture



74



where the strawberries grew so well, so the last couple a' years the kids have jest forgot the strawberries. This year Luke decided thet I needed my birthday berries, so he went out real early an' went a-lookin' fer 'em. Had to really work hard, but he came back with a cupful. They was little and a mite on the green side, but I never tasted any better berries--ever."

"An' he's still doing well in school?"

"He's a good student, but he's through at school now. The teacher says thet she's given him everythin' thet she can give. He's read everythin' in sight an' still can't git enough."

"What will he do? He can't just quit."

"He plans to go on. Wants to go to the city fer college. I'm glad--an' scared--an' sad, all at one time. I hate to see him go off alone like thet. Seems so young. He's only fifteen."

"Is he plannin' to be a teacher?"

"A doctor."

"A doctor?" Missie's tone was both surprised and admiring.

"He's had his heart set on it for a number of years now. He's talked to Doc Watkins 'bout it, too. Doc is pleased as a pappy. He doesn't have any children of his own an' he's takin' great pleasure in nursin' Luke's ambitions."

"That would be nice to have a doctor in the family."

"Luke says thet he wants to help people. He's always wanted to help people, an' with so many towns not havin' a doctor--"

"What I wouldn't give to have a doctor here." Missie was wistful. "Young boy of our neighbor's broke his arm last year. There was no one to set it proper-like. He'll always have a twisted, almost useless arm, just because . . ." Missie's words trailed off. "I keep thinkin', What if it had been Nathan?"

Marty looked up with troubled eyes. She knew a mother's heart and the panic that one felt when a doctor was nowhere around when one was sorely needed. She too breathed a prayer that somehow this frontier settlement might soon have a doctor, but she also prayed with some reservation. Not Lukey. Please, not Luke.

Missie interrupted her thoughts and her silent prayers. "Tell me about the neighbors. Do we still have the same



75