Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(63)

Marty's thoughts turned more and more to her farm-home family. How's Clare and his young Kate doin' in the little log house? Is Arnie still seem' the preacher's daughter? What is the girl really like? Is Ellie entertainin' any gentleman callers? Which of the neighborhood young men will be the first one to notice our pretty young daughter who is now a woman? She



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wondered if Luke still nursed his dream of going off to train as a doctor and how Dr. Watkins and the boy were getting along. Marty was anxious to get home again and have some of her questions answered.

A long letter from Ellie arrived. She told about the new grass and leaves on the flowering shrubs. She spoke of the songbirds that were back and the new colt in the pasture. She reported that Clare had plowed the garden spot and she and Kate had planted the garden--more than they would ever be using themselves, she was sure, but they just couldn't seem to get stopped once they had started. She told of Nandry's tears of joy and sorrow upon receiving the news of her father. She wrote that Nandry had immediately sat down and penned a long letter to Clae and Joe. Ellie gave news about the neighbors, the church, and the school. But she did not say how Clare and Kate were doing in the little house, nor if Arnie was still seeing the preacher's daughter, nor if she, Ellie, was receiving gentleman callers, nor how Luke was doing in his quest of becoming a doctor. Marty's heart yearned to know all the answers.

"Clark," she said, folding up the letter for the third time, "I think thet it be time we got us some tickets."

Clark ran a hand over the rope that he was braiding for Nathan and agreed. "Yah," he said, "I think thet it be. We best have us a chat with Willie an' Missie tonight."

That evening Marty expected some protests when they voiced their decision. Missie set down the cup of coffee she had just poured and took a deep breath.

"No use pretendin' that we didn't know it had to come," she said quietly. "No use fussin"bout it. You must be powerful lonesome for the ones at home. I marvel that you were able to stay away this long." She poured another cup of coffee and handed it to Willie. "'Course I wish you could just stay on here forever. I know better. Truth is, I'm thankful for every day we have already had."

Willie cleared his throat and ran a hand through his heavy head of hair. "Don't know as how I'm gonna git along without yer pair of hands," he said to Clark. "Can't believe the number of little things thet you've seen to over the winter



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months--things thet none of us ever seemed to find time fer."

Clark smiled. "Got a good idea," he said. "Why don't I see iffen I can talk yer pa into comin' out fer a spell? He's awful handy 'round a place. Never seed a man thet could make things look better in short order than yer pa. How 'bout it?"

Willie grinned. "I'd like thet," he said sincerely. "Seems to have been a long time since I seen my pa."

"When do you plan on goin'?" asked Missie.

"I'll be a-ridin' into town tomarra and checkin' out the trains. No use waitin' 'til it gits so hot thet one can hardly stand the ride. It was pretty hot at times when we came out last year. Thought thet it might be a little cooler iffen we go right away."

Missie was silent.

Marty looked at her daughter and caught her blinking away tears.

"We've loved havin' you," Missie finally managed. "You know that. Just sorry we have to send you back to the rest of the family different than you came, Pa. Hope that they won't hold it against us and the West."

"Why should they?" asked Clark. "Accidents aren't confined to one place. Jest before we left home, a neighbor farmer got drug by a team of horses and lost both of his legs."

"Still," said Missie, "it's gonna be a shock for them."

"We're gonna miss ya at the church," put in Willie. "Can't believe how much interest there is since we started to have real services."

"Thet won't stop," Clark answered. "Henry is all prepared to give ya Bible lessons jest as I was doin'. He'll do a fine job. I already wrote to Joe to send Henry out some good Bible books fer studyin'. I expect Henry to really git into 'em. He loves studyin' the Word and will bring to the people everything thet he can find. I think thet Henry is gonna make a fine lay preacher."

"We're glad for Henry," Missie said. "He's been a great help and a good friend ever since we left home."

"Ya have some very fine neighbors here," Marty said with feeling. "I'm so relieved, Missie, to know that ya have ladies to



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visit and share with and a good doctor close by so thet ya won't need to go way up to Tettsford Junction fer this next little one."

"So am I," Missie agreed, reaching out to take Willie's hand. "That was what I hated most 'bout havin' Nathan an' Josiah--the long months of being' away from Willie."

"Well, iffen I'm gonna make thet ride into town tomarra, I guess I should be gittin' to bed. Thet's a long way fer a slow rider to be a travelin'." Clark stood and lifted his crutch into position.

"Would ya prefer the team to a saddle horse?" asked Willie.