Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(3)

Ellie laughed. She was used to Clare's teasing. Besides, she doted on her oldest brother and he would have done anything in the world for her. Clare roughed her hair and went to wash



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for breakfast. Ellie tried to pat her hair back in its proper place and then dished up the scrambled eggs. Arnie, content to wait his turn at the washbasin, finally crossed to Marty. "Happy birthday, Ma," he said, laying his hand on her shoulder.

"Thank ya, son. It sure has had it a promisin' start."

"An' soon we'll all be headin' for Clae's. Boy, those kids of Nandry's git noisier ever'time thet we see 'em. 'Uncle Arnie, give me a ride.' 'Uncle Arnie, lift me up.' 'Uncle Arnie, help me.' 'Uncle Arnie--'

"An' you love every minute of it," cut in Ellie.

Arnie did not argue, only grinned. Marty agreed with Ellie: Arnie did love the kids.

Clark came in then, drying his hands on a towel, and glanced around the kitchen.

"Well, it 'pears thet my family has 'bout gathered in. Everyone waitin' on me?"

"Yeah, thought you'd never git here, Pa," said Clare, taking the rough farm towel and winding it up to snap at Arnie.

"The boys jest now came in," Ellie informed her pa, "so I guess you haven't kept anyone waitin' any."

The men, finished with their washing and fooling around, took their places at the table. Marty moved her chair into position and Ellie brought the platter of hot bacon from the stove. Marty looked at the empty place. "Luke," she said. "Luke isn't here yet."

"Still sleepin'?" asked Clare, knowing that Luke did enjoy a good sleepin on occasion.

"He'll be here in a minute," said Ellie. "I think thet he'd like fer us to jest go ahead."

"But--" Marty protested, and just then the screen door banged and in came Luke, his hair disheveled by the wind and his face flushed from hurrying. Marty's heart gave a skip at the sight of her "baby." Luke was her gentle one, her peacemaker and dream-builder. Luke, fifteen, was smaller than the other boys and had serious and caring soft brown eyes. Marty felt that she had never seen another person whose eyes looked



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as warm and compassionate as her little Luke's.

"Sorry," he said under his breath and slid into his place at the table.

Clark just nodded, but his love for his boy showed in his simple nod. "Would you like to wash?"

"I can wait until we pray; then the food won't be gittin' cold."

"Reckon the food will wait well enough. Go ahead."

Luke hurried from the table, inspecting his hands as he went. They were covered with red stains. He was soon back, and the family sat quietly as Clark read the morning scripture portion and then led in prayer.

His prayer of the morning included a special thanks for the mother of the home and his helpmate over the years. Clark reminded the Lord that Marty was truly worthy of His special blessing. Marty remembered an earlier prayer, so long ago when she was a hurting, bewildered and reluctant bride. Clark had asked the Father to bless her then too. God had. She had felt Him with her through the years, and these dear children about her table were evidence of His blessing.

After the prayer ended and the food was passed, Clare looked up at Luke between bites of bacon and eggs. "So, little brother. What ya been up to so early in the mornin'?"

Luke squirmed a bit. "Well, I jest wanted ma to have some strawberries fer her birthday breakfast, but boy--were they little and hard to find this year! Guess it ain't been warm enough yet." He held out a small cup of tiny strawberries.

Marty's throat constricted and her eyes filled again with tears. Her sleepyhead had crawled out early to get her some birthday strawberries. She remembered back to when Missie had first started the tradition of "strawberries for Ma's birthday breakfast." After Missie had left, the children had pooled their efforts for a few years; and then, with the breaking of the pastureland that had housed the best strawberry patch, the tradition had drifted away. And now little Luke had tried valiantly to revive it again.

Clare reached over and roughed his younger brother's hair. His eyes said, "You're all right, ya know that, kid," but his



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mouth was too busy with Ellie's breakfast muffins.

"Ya should have told me," Arnie whispered. "I'd a helped ya."

Marty looked around the kitchen at the four children still sharing their table, and her heart filled with joy and overflowed with love reflected in the glisten of tears in her eyes.



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Chapter Two




Birthday Dinner



"Thet was a lovely dinner, Clae," Marty remarked, delicately catching the last traces of birthday cake crumbs from her lips with the tip of her tongue. Clare's groan as he held his full stomach was eloquent. Josh laughed.

As the plates were pushed back and second cups of coffee were poured, the pleasant clamor of visiting began. It seemed that everyone had something to say all at once, including the children. Clark held up his hands for silence and finally drew the attention of the group.

"Hold it," he chuckled, "ain't nobody gonna hear nobody in all this racket. How 'bout a little organization here?"