Love's Enduring Promise (Love Comes Softly Series #2) (18 page)

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having never recovered from her stroke. Mr. McDonald had decided after her funeral to return East, but time had brought him West again.

"Jest didn't feel to home there," was the only explanation that he gave, so he took a room at Mrs. Keller's boardinghouse and spent his days chatting, whittling, and spitting tobacco juice out in front of his old store. Mr. Cassidy didn't seem to mind, though Mrs. Cassidy tired somewhat of scrubbing the steps.

Marty wondered what it would be like to go back East after having been gone so long. Her own pa was gone now and her ma lived alone. They kept in touch, though the letters were sometimes far apart. Marty did try to at least keep her posted on each new family member and to send her greetings at Christmastime.

No, she was sure that she wouldn't feel at home there anymore either.

She gently slapped Arnie's finger away from the butter and gave him a piece of buttered bread. The years had brought so many changes--most of them good ones.

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Chapter 35

Nandry

Young Josh Coffins was the first to make a move in showing serious intention toward Nandry. Marty knew that it was bound to come. She favored it and deplored it at the same time.

Fall work was over again, leaving a young man time to think of things like courting. Josh approached Clark after church one Sunday to ask permission to call. Clark was not a dense man, but he did take pleasure in teasing.

"Sure thing, Josh. I'd be most happy to have ya drop by to see me. Reckon we could have us a quiet talk--like out in the barn where we'd not be interrupted by small fry and women."

Josh reddened and stammered as he endeavored to explain that that wasn't really what he had in mind. Clark laughed and slapped him on the back good-naturedly, and Josh realized that he'd been "had."

He laughed at the joke on himself and felt good within that this respected man of the community would trouble himself to tease him.

"Yer welcome to come," Clark said more seriously, "an' I promise ya not to be holdin' ya at the barn."

Josh grinned, muttered his thanks and walked off. The way had been cleared. Now to approach Nandry.

He found her sitting on the church steps, several youngsters

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in tow. Baby Luke was on her lap, pointing out horses and wagons with his usual "Wha' dat?"

Josh leaned carelessly on the handrailing. Nandry looked up and the color of her face deepened.

"Been talkin' to Clark." Previously Josh had always said Mr. Davis as he had been properly taught.

Nandry's eyes widened at his words as well as his deportment, for Josh seemed to evidence a kind of emotional swagger. She waited.

"He says it be fine with 'im if I come a callin'."

Nandry's color deepened still more. Still she said nothing.

"Be it okay with you?" There, the question was out. The ball was now handed to Nandry. There was no way that she could pretend not to understand his meaning. She flushed a deep red and studied the child on her lap. Minutes ticked by. It seemed an eternity to Josh who stood waiting, heart pounding and hands sweating.

"I reckon," finally came the soft answer and Josh's face broke into a relieved grin. He wanted to throw back his head and whoop, but something warned him that he'd better not do that.

"Thanks," he said to Nandry. The evenness of his voice surprised him. "Thanks. Next Wednesday then. I'll be lookin' forward to it," and then he was gone, suppressing the urge to run and leap the nearby pump.

Nandry buried her blushing face against the small Luke, her heart pounding in her ears. She had been hoping that it would be Josh. She had noticed Willis Aitkins looking at her, too, but she had really favored Josh. He had not even waited for the customary Saturday call. Usually when the young folks started to keep company, the calls were made on Saturday night. Only the very serious called on
both
Saturday and Wednesday, and Josh had said he'd see her Wednesday. Nandry hoped with all of her heart that Clark and Marty would approve. She wanted so much to do what would please them, but she realized that she also was feeling a strong tug toward Josh Coffins.

She lifted the small Luke and held him to her so closely

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that he squirmed in protest.

"Oh, Lukey." She called him that only when she felt especially affectionate. "How can one feel so happy, an' sad, an' excited, an' scared all at one time?"

Luke didn't understand the question, but he reached out his baby hand to touch the tear that lay glistening on her cheek.

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Chapter 36

The Excitement of Christmas

Another Christmas was drawing close, and as Marty made preparations she felt that this would be a very special Christmas. Never, over the last several Christmases, had Marty felt such intense excitement.

Baby Luke toddled about, a happy child, having finally outgrown his fussiness. Ellie was still a bundle of activity, but now small bits of the energy could already be channeled into helpful areas. Arnie, Clare, and Missie would enjoy the break from school and were already making plans for sliding on the creek's frozen surface and sledding down its banks. The most important ingredient adding to the extra excitement was that Clae would be home. Clae, their little would-be-teacherMarty could hardly wait.

Clae's letters were filled with excitement about what she was learning, who she was meeting, but most important, how much she was missing them all.

Marty felt that the days would never pass quickly enough until the time came for Clark to meet her in town.

She fussed over all of Clae's favorite dishes, made sure that Nandry had the shared room prepared, and coaxed the younger children to feel the same excitement that she felt. There would be another
first
at their Christmas table as well. Josh Coffins, Nandry's promised fiancé, would be joining them.

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Marty shared in the joy of the young couple, but she dreaded the thought of losing her Nandry.

A spring wedding was planned and as soon as the rush of Christmas was put aside, Nandry and Marty would get down to the serious business of preparing the bridal dowry.

Nandry seemed very happy, and Marty had for some months been giving her the egg money so that she would have something with which to buy the little "extras."

But first she would feast upon Christmas.

Clark chose the tree and the evergreen boughs that would form their traditional wreaths.

This year a turkey would not be purchased as Nandry had added a half-dozen turkeys to her chicken pens.

A fine young gobbler was chosen to honor the Christmas dinner table and was getting extra daily care and attention from Nandry.

Pies, tarts, and cookies, along with loaf cakes, lined the shelves in the pantry.

Marty had been to town for her shopping, and gifts laid wrapped beside her chest of drawers or hidden beneath her bed to supply socks for Christmas morning.

On the day that Clae was to arrive, both Nandry and Marty felt almost too excited to work. Marty was glad that she had much to do to help the time go faster. Still it seemed that the clock would never get around to the time when they were expected home.

At last it came and Marty heard Ole Bob's sharp bark, and the happy shouts of children.

Missie was the first one in.

"Guess who we found?" she teased.

"Where did you come from?" asked Marty.

"Pa came round by the school to give us a ride, too, seeing it was closin' time."

They all came tramping in then, Clark bringing up the rear, carrying Clae's suitcase and a large bag.

Marty pulled the girl into her arms.

"Oh, Clae, jest look at ya. Why ya've gone and plumb growed up on us since ya been away."

Clae hugged her in return.

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"Oh, it's so good to be home. I could hardly wait."

She went from Marty to her sister and then to Ellie and

Luke, hugging each one in turn, and exclaiming over how the youngsters had all grown, and making Nandry's cheeks flush

red with teasing her about her Josh.

The whole cabin took on an atmosphere of celebration, and the chattering was both confusing and near deafening.

"I be thinkin'," said Clark, setting down the suitcase and the bundle, "thet we be needin' a bigger house."

Marty just smiled. They were hard put for space at times; she knew that. Again she was having to put up with a crib in her bedroom, and the three girls who shared one room barely had room to turn around.

They were crowded, but they were happy. The conversation did not lessen as the evening wore on. There were so many things for Clae to tell, to describe. There were so many questions for the others to ask.

After the young had been put to bed, with the promise of full socks in the morning, Marty, Nandry, and Clae still talked on. Clark listened and added his occasional comment.

"When's the day for your wedding?" Clae asked Nandry, and Marty noticed Clae's careful speech.

"The last o' May. We wanted to wait 'til ya'd be home. You're to be my maid o' honor, ya know."

"I hoped that I would. Where are you going to live?" "There's a small cabin on the Coffins' farm. The people who usta farm it lived in it. The Coffins built a bigger one

when they came. We'll use the little 'un fer now." "You must be excited?"

"I am," said Nandry and her face verified it. "It's a funny feelin'. I want so much fer time to go quickly, yet I hate it at the same time."

"Meanin'?" Clae forgot herself for the moment and used a familiar expression.

"This house--the kids--I really hate to leave the kids."

It was the first time that Marty had ever heard Nandry give anyone a glimpse into how she felt. It made her feel closer to the girl.

"You won't be too far away," said Clae. She shook her

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head. "No one will ever know how homesick I was at first. I thought I'd just die if I didn't get home. I thought that I'd just never make it--but I did. I reminded myself of the money paid for my schooling--the faith that people had in me--and--and I remembered Ma, too. Sometimes I think about Ma, about how proud she'd be, how happy that we got a chance."

Marty remembered too.

"She'd be happy for both of us," Clae went on--"for me being a teacher, for you marrying Josh. It sort of gives it extra meaning, remembering Ma."

It was the first time that the girls had ever talked to her about their mother. Marty spoke softly.

"Yer ma would be very proud. She wanted so much thet ya both make good, an' ya have, both of ya, an' I'm proud, too."

Clae put her arms around Marty's neck and gave her an affectionate squeeze.

"And we know why," she said. "We never say much maybe--not as much as we should, but we know why we've made good. Thank you--thank you so much. I do love you and I'll never forget--never."

Nandry nodded her head in agreement but said nothing.

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Chapter 37

Christmas Dinner

The household was awakened early the next morning by Arnie's squeals of delight. Clare's voice soon joined his and then a general hub-bub followed. Marty pulled herself out of bed and slipped into her house-socks and robe. Clark was already on his feet, tucking his shirt into his trousers. They entered the sitting room together and watched the excited children. Nandry came in carrying the awakened Luke, and Ellie danced round the room waving her arms excitedly. So far, she had been caught up in Arnie and Clare's yelling and had not even thought to check out what her own stocking might hold.

Luke quickly dismissed the silly antics of his older kin and stood transfixed, gazing at the glittering tree in the corner that had sprung up from somewhere during the night.

Missie emerged rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"It's not even five o'clock," she said in disbelief. "Ya usta make me wait."

"They'd waited, too, iffen I'd had enythin' to do with it," responded Clark, but Marty noticed that he seemed to be enjoying the whole, wild uproar.

Eventually things began to simmer down, the fire was kindled in the kitchen stove and the kettle put on to boil. The fireplace was replenished and coaxed to flame.

The children's roar simmered to an excited hum, and the adults took advantage of the near quiet to exchange their gifts. Clae had somehow managed to bring a small gift for each of

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them. Marty knew that she did not have much extra spending money and appreciated her gift the more for it. What Clae had lacked in shekels she had supplied with creativity, and her sewing skills had come to the fore. Luke had received a stuffed teddy bear; Ellie, a pint-sized apron complete with pocket; Arnie and Clare, checkered man-sized handkerchiefs. For Missie there was a lace-trimmed bonnet, and for Nandry a carefully embroidered pair of pillowcases for her hopechest. Marty unwrapped her gift to see the most beautiful lace handkerchief that she had ever seen, but the note that accompanied it was what made Marty cry, for it bore the simple words, "To Mother, with love, Clae." None of her children had ever called her Mother, and it seemed appropriate for this "special" child to use the name.

Clark's gift, too, carried sentiment, and he slipped the card that accompanied it into Marty's hand, knowing that it would bring her pleasure. The card read, "Thanks for being a true pa. Love, Clae."

Marty tried to blink away the happiness that was showing in her eyes and exclaimed over the new woolen mittens that Clark was proudly trying on.

Nandry too had surprises for them. She had made picture books for all of the younger children, gluing the newspaper and calendar pictures that she had gathered onto pieces of cloth. Missie received new hair ribbons--her sense of self- esteem ever needing bolstering by new ribbons. Marty got a little wooden box to hold her many and varied recipes that were forever flooding over in the drawer space where she kept them. Clark received a hand-made cover for his well-worn family Bible.

Marty and Clark passed 'round their presents and watched with pleasure the shining eyes of the recipients.

The clutter was cleared away, the cherished gifts put carefully in their new places of belonging, and the day proceeded, the excitement spilling over into every area.

After breakfast Clare and Arnie were allowed to go out to try the new sled that Clark had made them. Ellie went, apron- clad, to play with her tiny new dishes, and Luke was put back to bed to catch up on some of the sleep he had been denied.