Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(48)

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.