Love Finds a Home (Love Comes Softly Series #8) (6 page)

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warned the children. "Aunt Belinda wants to surprise her." They nodded in wide-eyed understanding, and Ruthie clapped a hand over her own mouth "just in case."

The farm dog welcomed them, even seeming to remember Belinda. He stopped at her side long enough to lick her hand and wag his tail, and she patted his head fondly. "You remember me, don't you?" she murmured with satisfaction. Then the dog scampered away, far more interested in the children who ran on ahead to the house.

Marty appeared at the door, drying her hands on her apron. "You're earlier than I expected," she called. "How did you get away from the office so soon?" She leaned down to hug Aaron and Ruthie. "How's school, Thomas?" she inquired.

Belinda, screened behind Luke and Abbie, could hardly contain herself. She wished to rush headlong into her mother's arms. She suppressed the urge and swallowed away a sob from her throat.

"Ready," whispered Luke, and Belinda nodded, tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips. The three adults moved toward the farmhouse. Marty was still busy chatting with the three youngsters. Belinda could hardly believe they hadn't even suggested they had a surprise for Grandma, though they were casting furtive glances toward the approaching adults.

Belinda had almost reached her mother when wee Ruthie could keep quiet no longer. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing a pudgy finger at Belinda.

Marty looked up. Luke reacted quickly, stepping aside at just that minute.

Belinda heard Marty's gasp. With a cry of "my baby" she threw herself toward her youngest. Belinda met her halfway and, weeping, they wrapped their arms around each other. Marty was whispering words of love and endearment over and over, but now she was saying "Belinda," not "baby." Belinda did

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not remember her mother calling her "baby" before.
Is that really how she thinks of me?
she wondered for a moment.

"Oh, Mama," Belinda finally managed, "I'm so glad to see you!"

Marty pulled a handkerchief from her apron pocket and wiped her eyes and nose. She held Belinda at arms' length and studied her face carefully. "You've changed," she said at last, nodding. "But I don't see nothin' but maturity in your face. You've grown up, Belinda," and she hugged her close again.

For Belinda's part, her mother looked very much the same as she remembered her.
Thank you, Lord,
she whispered.
Thank you for taking good care of Mama.

The rest of the family demanded equal time, and the two women were forced to draw apart while the children all tried to talk at once.

"Were you surprised, Grandma? Were you surprised?" "Well--my lands! I guess I was."

"It was a good trick, wasn't it, Grandma? We really fooled you, didn't we?"

"You certainly did. You certainly did. My, my," and Marty cast a loving glance toward Belinda, "it was a good surprise." And she led the way into the big farm kitchen.

"Grandpa will be surprised, too, won't he? Won't he?" "He will. He sure will."

And so the talk went on, bubbling and humming around her until Belinda felt her head was fairly spinning.

"I'm gonna run and tell Uncle Clare and Aunt Kate," shouted Thomas and headed for the door, then slid to a stop and looked toward Belinda. "Can I?"

"Go ahead," laughed Belinda. "They might as well hear it from you, and I am anxious to see them all."

The house was in even more confusion when Kate and the boys arrived. Only two of the nephews were home. Dan was

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off with his father on a farm errand. Belinda was startled to note that David was taller than she was, and Dack was very quickly catching up. They gave her boyish hugs and Kate held her fiercely. Belinda wondered if Kate was actually thinking of her own Amy Jo as she hugged so tightly.

"What do you hear from Amy Jo?" Belinda asked when she could draw a breath.

"She's fine, she says. Expectin' her second child any day now." Kate wiped her eyes, drew a deep breath, and managed a smile. "Her first little one will soon be three. Hard to believe, isn't it?"

Belinda nodded, imagining lively Amy Jo as a mother.

"Well, that's the way life is," shrugged Kate. "Ya raise 'em to leave. That's what life is about. Dan, now, he's got a girl. A nice girl, too, so I 'spect it won't be long till he'll be off on his own, as well."

"Is Dan . . . is Dan still working with . . . with Rand?" Belinda couldn't believe the difficulty she was having with the simple question.

"Oh no," explained Kate quickly. "Rand left. He went back to the town--wherever it was--where he lived before. Dan does odd little building jobs for the neighbors, but mostly he farms with his pa."

Belinda was relieved. Her trip home would not be marred by another argument with Rand, though she could have enjoyed a visit with him.

"Rand married a girl from down there," Kate went on. "She didn't want to leave her family, so they settled in the area."

Jackson . . . and now Rand,
Belinda mused, her eyes no doubt reflecting her surprise.

But no one noticed, and Dack interrupted the conversation with a question. "Are you going to be a nurse again?" he asked Belinda.

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"I'm a nurse now," Belinda answered. All eyes turned to Belinda as she spoke. "In fact, I did a good deal of nursing the early part of the summer. I wrote Mama--Grandma--about it. Aunt Virgie--Mrs. Stafford-Smyth--was very sick. I was afraid we might even lose her."

"You call her Aunt Virgie?" asked Marty.

"Yes, she asked me to," Belinda stated simply, and Marty nodded.

"Is she better now?" asked Marty.

"Much better, though it took her quite a while to get over it. But she's fine now. Just fine. In fact, she's feeling so well she's off to New York for six weeks."

Marty looked at Belinda, her eyes shadowed with questions. She did not speak out loud, but Belinda could feel the silent conversation pass between them.
And while she's in New York, you have come home?
Marty's eyes asked. The question was so real Belinda nodded solemnly in answer.

And you will go back to Boston?
Marty's questioning eyes probed, and Belinda answered that with a slight nod, also.

Marty turned her head then, and Belinda expected it was to hide her tears of disappointment.

Thomas now drew their attention. "When's Grandpa coming home, Grandma?"

Marty's eyes moved to the clock on the kitchen shelf. "Soon," she replied evenly. "He should be here soon."

And then the farm dog barked an excited welcome, and they all knew Clark was on his way.

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SIX

Seeing Pa

Belinda was so emotionally drained she knew she could not bear another "game." Before anyone could urge her to duck in the pantry or slip into the living room, she rose from her chair and rushed out the door.

The big team hadn't even pulled to a stop in front of the barn before she could see her father's attention fastened on someone flying toward him, arms outstretched.

"Pa," she called in a half sob. "Pa."

Clark looked in wonder, no doubt unable to comprehend what his eyes--and ears--were telling him. And then he flung the reins from his hands, flipped himself over the wheel, and met his girl--his Belinda--with open arms.

"It's you. It's really you," he murmured huskily into her hair as he lifted her from the ground and gently swung her back and forth. Belinda briefly wondered if her ribs might be crushed in the bear hug.

"Oh, Pa," she laughed as she kissed his cheek. "Pa . . . it's so good to see you."

He set her back on her feet and looked deeply into her eyes. "How are ya?" he asked sincerely.

"Fine . . . just fine," Belinda assured him.

He hugged her to himself again, tears unheeded on his

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cheeks, and she leaned back and wiped them away with a gentle hand.

Then she reached out to set his hat, dislodged in his quick descent from the wagon, back on straight. "Oh, Pa" was all she could say.

"Ya look great. Jest great," he told her.

Belinda laughed. "Not really," she said ruefully. "I can feel my hair slipping over my ears, my dress is wrinkled, my face feels flushed, I've got train soot to scrub away. Why, I must look a sight."

Clark laughed heartily. "Ya look good to me," he insisted. "When did ya git here?"

"I came in on the train this afternoon. Luke brought me out."

"Luke knew?" asked Clark, and Belinda nodded.

"The rascal! Never said a word--unless he told yer ma."

"No--he didn't tell anyone. I asked him not to. But. . . but I later wished . . . wished I hadn't been so secretive. It wasn't fair . . . not really."

"Well, yer here now--thet's what matters," Clark responded and gave her another hug and a kiss on the forehead.

David arrived then. "I'll take care of the team, Grandpa," he offered.

"Thanks, boy," Clark responded, and he motioned toward the house. Belinda allowed herself to be led, her pa's arm still around her waist.

"How's your patient? Mrs. . . . let's see . . . Mrs. StaffordSmyth. She doin' okay?"

"She's fine . . . now," responded Belinda. "She got over her bout with influenza just fine. She's off to New York for six weeks. Staying with a friend."

And when Clark's arm tightened about her waist, Belinda

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realized her father would know that "six weeks" meant she was going back.

"How have you been keeping?" Belinda asked solicitously.

"Fine," responded Clark. "Don't I look fine?" he teased.

"You look just great," Belinda responded, laughing. "I don't think you've aged a bit. Oh, a few more gray hairs," she said with a chuckle, "but other than that . . ."

"Thet gray hair," said Clark, removing his hat and running fingers through his still-heavy head of hair, "thet comes from havin' young'uns scattered all over the country from east to west."

Belinda laughed.

"What'd yer ma say when she seen ya?" Clark asked next. "Bet she was fit to be tied."

Belinda smiled, then sobered. "I sure hope it wasn't too foolish of me to come sneaking in," she replied. "But she seems to have handled it very well."

"Good," said Clark as he held the door for her.

They were met by a barrage of shouts, all the children again talking at once. Luke had held them in check so Belinda could have a few moments alone with her father, but now they all wanted to get in on the excitement.

"Surprise, Grandpa! Surprise! Weren't you surprised? Wasn't it a good trick? We already knew. We already knew! Weren't you surprised?"

Clark tried to answer but was drowned out. He held up his hand--his family signal for some order. When the clamoring had turned to a soft hum, he answered their eager questions.

"It was a grand surprise," he informed them. "I never had me the faintest idea thet Belinda was comin' home. It sure was a great surprise. Why, ya couldn't have brought me a better one--an' thet's a fact."

They were about to return to their excited babbling, but

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Clark again held up a hand. "Now, I need me a cup o' coffee . . . to sorta get over my shock like, iffen Grandma has one handy."

Marty smiled, nodded, and moved to the stove.

"She might even have some cookies and milk fer hungry little people," Clark went on, "seem' as how it's too early fer supper yet. I s'pose she'd let ya have 'em on the back veranda."

Kate went to help get the cookies and milk ready for the children, and Marty hurried to cut some date loaf. "I wish I had some of yer favorite lemon cake on hand, Belinda," she said over her shoulder. "Iffen I'd only knowed . . ."

But Belinda had moved up beside her and was saying there'd be plenty of time to enjoy her mother's lemon cake. Belinda turned to the cupboard. The cups were still in the same place. It was nice to come home and find so many things--and people--unchanged. Belinda poured the steaming coffee into the cups and then went to the pantry for the cream and sugar. They, too, were in their usual spot. Belinda smiled. She could just slip right in at home again and carry on as though she'd never been away. A nice thought.

The commotion subsided considerably with the children out of the kitchen. It seemed like such a long, long time since Belinda had sat at the familiar table, with familiar folks, talking over simple and familiar topics.

She was brought up-to-date on each family member, told news of neighbors, updated on the affairs of the church, and reminded of things from the past. Belinda wished they could just chatter on and on, but Marty broke the spell.

"My lands!" she gasped, staring at the clock. "Look at the time. Why, we'll never be havin' our supper iffen I don't get me busy."

Kate jumped up and moved toward the kitchen door. "Clare'll soon be home, too," she reprimanded herself.