Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(22)

people livin' round about?"

"Pretty much. The Coffins moved on back to the area thet they came from. Mrs. Coffin never did really take to our community. Some said thet she jest couldn't stand being' away from her twin sister. After they lost their little girl--remember the sickly little one?--well, after they lost her, Mrs. Coffin insisted that they go on back to their home. Some new people on their land now. Called the Kentworths. Not friendly folk at all. All the neighbors have tried to git acquainted an' have been told not to bother. People say thet he's a lawbreaker an' jest doesn't want folks snoopin' round. Thet's what he calls it when anyone comes a-visitin'--snoopin' round. She's most as bitter and disagreeable as he is, so fer the time we jest have to sit tight an' pray fer 'em and watch fer a chance to show our carin'. Must be awful to live with such inner bitterness."

Missie nodded her head in agreement.

Marty went on, "Most of the other neighbors are the same as before, I guess. The Grahams are as dear friends as ever. Sally Anne has three girls, 'most growed up now.

"Tommie's Fran jest had a baby boy. He's six years younger than Tom, Jr., the boy who had been the baby fer a good while. Tom is thrilled with the new little fella."

"An' the Marshalls? How are they doin'?"

"It's sad," Marty answered, "sad to see the Marshalls an' their son, but it's beautiful, too. There is so much love there. Rett is a very loving child. He's a young man really, but he is still a child. Wanda and Cam really love 'im. He is so good with animals thet it's 'most uncanny. Wild or tame--they all seem to understand Rett."

"An' Wanda's happy?"

"Happy? Yah, she's happy. She needs to rely on her God daily, though. She has her hard times, but I'm sure thet she wouldn't be tradin' her boy fer all the boys in town."

Missie shook her head as she thought of the grief that Wanda had carried. "She has suffered so much," she said softly.

"Yah," acknowledged Marty, "she has suffered--suffered and growed. Sometimes it seems to take the one to bring the other."

"When one does suffer, it is good to see that it hasn't been



76



wasted--that the sufferer allows God to make it a blessin' rather than a bitterness," Missie expressed.

Marty nodded and then went on. "Wanda and Ma Graham both sent their love. They sent some small gifts to ya, too. We have some packages from them in the trunk. Pa and I decided thet the things we brought with us would jest wait until tomarra. No sense rushin' into everythin' tonight."

"Now that you've mentioned gifts, I'm not sure I can wait 'til mornin'," Missie laughed. "Sorta like teasin' a body--"

"They'll keep. We didn't want to come a-rushin' in here handin' out goodies right an' left. You might have understood, but Nathan and Josiah might be a-thinkin' thet's all grandparents are fer."

Missie laughed. "I'm a-thinkin' my sons have you all sorted out already. They seem to know right off that you're here just to spoil 'em."

"We'll have to be careful, but it sure'd be easy to spoil a bit, all right. Clae's girl, Esther Sue, and Nandry's four shore think thet we are there jest to humor them. 'Course they like attention from their uncles as well. Arnie does most of the fussin'. Arnie really loves young'uns. The others all love the little ones, too, but it is Arnie who never seems to tire of 'em, though he pretends he does."

"An' Joe still hasn't gone off to seminary? Has he changed his mind?"

"Oh, no. He's as set on it as ever. I'm hopin' thet he'll be able to go next year."

"Oh, it's so good to catch up a bit! Makes me feel closer to them somehow. I've missed them all so much."

Marty's eyes filled with tears. "An' we've missed you. Missie, you'll never know how many--" She shook her head and stopped short. "No, I won't say it. I'm here now with you. I see ya have a lovely home, two beautiful boys, thet you're happy. I've told the Lord so many times thet if He'd jest give me this special treat, I'd thank Him with great thankfulness. Now I'm here an' I'm gonna keep my promise. I am thankful, Missieso very thankful." Tears finally spilled down Marty's face, and Missie went to kneel before her and put her arms around her.



77



"Oh, Mama," she said, "I've longed for you so often. I promised the Lord that I'd be content with seem' you, too. An' here I've been upset because you can't stay longer. I'm ashamed of myself. We'll just make every minute that we have together count. We'll fill our time with so much happiness that we'll have barrels of memories to keep us when the time comes that we need to part again."

Marty smoothed Missie's hair. "Thet sounds like a grand idea," she said. "I've tucked away a few of these precious memories already."

Missie stood up. "Well," she said, "let's just get on with another one. Willie has developed a real liking for popcorn before bed, so let's go pop us some. He says that there just isn't anything better than to have a close family chat over popcorn. It's warm, an' homey, an' fillin'." Missie laughed and led the way to the big kitchen. "I always feel like a little girl sneakin' in where her mama doesn't want her when I do this. Wong is so fussy. But I always clean up real careful-like."