Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(5)

When she finally could control herself, she stepped back from Clark's embrace. With a happy smile but trembling lips, Marty said apologetically to her family, "I think thet I need me a little walkin' time, an' then we're gonna sit us down an' talk all 'bout this--" She did well to get that far without more tears, and she left the cozy kitchen filled with the family she loved and walked out into the June sunshine.

Here at Clae's there was no place in particular to go, so she wandered aimlessly. She found herself yearning for the familiar trees and little spring behind her own house. She had gone there so many times over the years when she had some thinking to do. Well, Clae's trees would suffice. Marty certainly did have some thinking to do. She tried to collect her scattered, excited thoughts. She was going to Missie! She and Clark would travel those many miles on the train. No wagons--no slow days of wind and rain. Only padded seats and chugging engines eating up the distance between her little girl and herself. Oh, she could hardly wait! She held up the note that she still held in her hand and read it again. "Arrangements have been made for tickets on the train to Missie. We leave as soon as you can be ready to go. Love, Clark."



As soon as you can be ready to go. Oh, my. There was so



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much to be done. So many things to prepare and take with them. There was her wardrobe. She would need new things for traveling. Why, her blue hat would never do to wear out among stylish people, and her best dress had a small snag near the hem that still showed even though she had mended it carefully. Oh, my. How would she ever--? And then Marty remembered the second note. "This is for the new things that you be needing. Just let me know when and where you want to do the shopping." "Oh, my," Marty said aloud. Clark had thought of everything, it appeared. "Oh, my," she repeated and quickly changed directions back to Clae's kitchen. She must talk to the girls. They were far more aware of the present fashion trends, and they knew what stores carried the needed articles, and they knew where she would need to go to do her shopping and when the stages ran between the towns. "Oh, my," she said again in a flurry, "I do have me so much to do. Oh, my."



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Chapter Three




Planning



The days that followed were busy ones for Marty. Nandry and Clae went shopping with her for yard goods in their small town and then pored over design sketches that Clae made in an effort to achieve fashionable gowns. It was finally concluded that a trip to a larger center would be necessary if Marty were to be presentable to the outside world on a cross-country train trip. But when could she work that into this busy time? Though her wardrobe consumed much of Marty's time and attention, there were other matters that weighed heavily on her mind as well. One of them was the fact that Clare had wedding plans. As yet, the definite date for the marriage had not been set, but how could they go way off west not knowing? Marty held her tongue, but she did try to "plant the seed" in Clare's thinking that it would be most helpful if his young lady could finalize a date. Clare understood the subtle suggestion and told Marty he would see what he could do.

Marty was also anxious about her packing. Every day she thought of something new that surely Missie and Willie and



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their young family might need. How much dare she accumulate before the train company--or Clark--would declare that she had far too much baggage? She sighed as she tried to select the most important items.

Clark occasionally tried to draw from Marty an estimated day for departure. She knew that a decision must be made. Clark had many responsibilities of his own that needed to be assigned to others. He couldn't properly sort them out until Marty had given him some kind of idea as to when she would be ready to go. She didn't know whether to hope that Clare would set the wedding date for immediately or postpone it until they were sure to be back.

Then, of course, there were the other children. True, Ellie was capable of caring for the household, but it seemed like a big job to put on such slender shoulders. Marty conveniently forgot that at Ellie's age she had already been a married woman.

Yet Marty's heart was most concerned for Luke, her gentle youngest. How she wished that she could take him with her. At the same time, she was afraid to suggest it, even to Clark. What if Luke did go, and what if he decided that he liked Missie's West, and what if he decided not to come back when Clark and Marty returned home? No, she'd best leave Luke safely where he was. She had no desire to have another child so far away from home.

So Marty spent her days musing and fretting. She tried not to let it show, but it did. Each of the family noticed it and finally decided that something needed to be done or Marty would wear herself out. Nandry and Clae made arrangements for the care of their children and planned a trip to the city by local stagecoach for shopping. Ellie was invited to go along. The necessary items were purchased and prepared for travel. Marty was afraid she was spending an inappropriate amount of Clark's money, but she did rather enjoy this unusual extravagance. She purchased a few pretty things to take to Missie as well. Who knew whether Missie had had opportunity to shop at all since leaving her home?

Clare discussed his marriage plans with his sweet Kate and, with the help of her mother, they were able to arrive at a



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