“I think I have the perfect thing for you.” Phil disappeared behind the closet door and reappeared with a forest green, high-waisted, maxi skirt with gathers and a sheer overlay skirt in the same shade. The skirt was paired with a burgundy, V-neck, crop top.
“Wow! That’s gorgeous…” Jill breathed. “I brought the perfect shoes for this in a shade of blush velvet. They’re Madden Girl, block heel, strappy sandals.”
“Do you have an evening purse?” Phil asked.
“I brought my Michael Kors mulberry clutch…”
“That’s perfect,” Phil agreed. “I was thinking you could wear your brown suede, fringed jacket or your jean jacket with this ensemble.”
“Thanks so much!” Jill nodded. “What are you wearing?”
“I’m wearing this deep purple, layered, maxi skirt with a white button up shirt. I’m going to pair it with a jean jacket, black strappy heels, and this Kate Spayde, gold, hard-cage clutch.” Philomena showed her the golden glittery clutch and the skirt.
Jill nodded approvingly.
“Not so very long ago, before I decided to become a Christian, I might have worn something with a plunging neckline… but I’ve grown in my desire to dress a little more modestly since then,” Philomena admitted while she laid out the white shirt next to the skirt. “I don’t know how, and I don’t completely understand it or claim to have all the answers… but somehow the Lord has been changing and molding me into a disciple and follower. He has been renewing my mind through reading the truth of His Word and showing me who I am in Him. I feel so loved and cherished by Him… protected and nurtured.”
Curious as to Phil’s conversion, Jill asked, “What made you decide to become a Christian?”
Phil sat down on the edge of the bed and Jill plopped down into the chair at the desk. “It was really a gradual decision as the Lord began blessing me with His truth and peace. He showed me my deep need for Him and how lost I was without Him. He also spoke to me through the lives of others. I could see so much joy and peace in their lives, even when they were in difficult situations. They had something I didn’t have and I wanted it… badly. I guess you could say He gave me a hunger for Him. Others around me who were already following Him seemed to carry His presence with them everywhere they went, and now, I realize I carry Him with me everywhere, too. I don’t ever have to face anything alone.”
“There was a time in my life when I was living for the Lord as a Christian,” Jill replied. “I think losing Alex just knocked my faith onto the ground. The pain of loss has been my only vision for a long time. I think having Logan walk back into my life since my return to Wyoming is part of a bigger plan the Lord has for me, but sometimes I’m not sure if I can trust the Lord.”
“I think we’ve all felt that way about something at one time or another in our lives,” Phil responded with understanding in her voice. “I think at the end of the day, the Lord’s plans for us are better than those we have for ourselves. I don’t know why He chose to take Alex home early; but I do believe after seeing you and Logan together this weekend, the Lord certainly has a wonderful road ahead for you with a strong, Christian husband by your side.”
Jill listened to Phil’s comforting words. “It sure does seem like something good is about to happen.”
“Besides, there are five children between the two of you who need a loving home with two parents who will model Christ’s loving example and teach them to lean on Him even in the hard times.” Phil shared remarkable insight, pointing out the bigger picture Jill had been contemplating for weeks now.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for it yet, but maybe if I can get past this ache in my heart and surrender my thoughts about how I think things should be, perhaps I can embrace God again and the future He seems to have in mind for me… for all of us… even though it isn’t what I thought it would look like. In some ways, I think it may even be better than what I had envisioned. Thanks for answering my question. In any case, tonight is going to be so much fun!” Jill smiled and rose, pausing to add, “Thanks for the outfit. I’ll be back in about ten minutes or so, dressed, and ready to go.”
“You’re welcome,” Phil replied. “See you in about ten minutes.”
An hour and a half later, Logan landed the helicopter in a parking lot in Cheyenne across from the city’s best kept secret: Bella Vincelli’s Italian Restaurant. The view of Cheyenne all lit up at night had been breathtakingly beautiful against the black sky on approach. A waiter led them through a maze of tables covered with white linen cloths. They were seated at once with a great view of the city skyline and night life. Logan had reserved a table near a stone fireplace and a picture window.
“My friend Lindy would love this place,” Jill commented as she perused the menu. “We used to go to this beautiful Italian restaurant in Little Italy with Madison for girl’s night out.”
“What are you going to order?” Logan asked her as he studied the menu.
“I adore Italian food…” Jill remarked. “I’m going with the spinach cheese ravioli and béchamel sauce, and a salad with oil and vinegar. Oh, and the crème brûlée topped with fresh raspberries for dessert.”
“I’ll have what she’s having!” Phil added, “Sounds delicious! Have you ordered from here before?”
“No, but I descend from a family of Jewish Italian immigrants on one side; a few German and English folk on the other,” Jill answered. “Mama makes some of the very same recipes her Jewish Italian great, great, great grandmother did.”
“Really?” Phil inquired with avid interest. “What are some of your favorites?”
“Italian wedding soup, matzo balls, stuffed cabbage rolls, minestrone, spaghetti with meatballs, homemade linguini…”
Chase leaned over and grinned at Logan, “If her mom is cooking, I want an invite to the wedding!”
Logan winked at Jill as he replied to Chase. “Are you kidding? You’re our best man!”
Everyone laughed, including Jill, blushing as she sank behind the enormous menu. Turning to Philomena, “I was going to mention Mama usually makes a killer streusel at Christmas from a recipe on our German side of the family, but I’m only fanning the flames…”
Phil laughed with her, her violet eyes dancing. “These boys are incorrigible. I’m pretty sure you’re doomed to happiness!”
Jill so wanted to believe her…
After the meal, the foursome burned calories off by strolling along the well-lit streets in the area. They perused several shops, including an antique shop, a bakery, and a book store. Half an hour later, the girls emerged with stacks of books. Chase hailed a horse and carriage down for a romantic ride around the area.
Logan sighed. “I know this is supposed to be romantic an’ all, but I’m just glad to set the bags of books down,” he remarked as the boys helped the girls inside the carriage first.
Again, they were laughing and carrying on as if they’d known each other for years. It warmed Jill’s heart to be making new friends. It had been so long since she’d truly laughed. Being around Logan and Chase, one could not help but laugh. She hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in years.
Jill had risen early to dress for church. She wore a floral print dress beneath her jean jacket and the same strappy sandals she’d worn the night before. The fuchsia pink and black dress had a full length piece of black sheer voile overlay extending below the hem of the floral skirt. She wore a fuchsia and black fascinator to complete the look. Logan wore khaki carpenter pants with a navy and red plaid shirt beneath a navy cable sweater. Having his arm around her in church actually felt romantic.
The Sunday morning service in Tipton wasn’t as difficult to get through as Jill thought it might be. She’d been apprehensive at first and almost made up an excuse not to go, but how could she say no without breaking Logan’s heart when he’d done so much for her? Besides, there was a nagging in her soul to give God the benefit of the doubt where her heart was concerned. After all, it was entirely possible He knew what was best f
or her. Having Logan in her life again and returning to Wyoming had been the best thing to happen to her and the kids since Alex.
She was beginning to feel hope rise up within her for the first time in three years. In fact, the preacher’s words seemed incredibly foundational in her life after all she’d been through. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11…” The words the minister spoke made her wide-eyed with hope. A peaceful presence of God dwelt heavily in their midst and the hair stood up on her arms, leaving her with a slight tingling sensation. The Holy Spirit spoke to her heart and mind through the Scriptures the preacher read, but none more than the verse from Jeremiah. She had struggled through the two opening hymns, but the words the preacher delivered from the pulpit were like honey… refreshing water to her parched soul. Logan rested his arm around her shoulder as they listened to the encouraging sermon.
“In the situations we face within the circumstances of our daily lives, we don’t always know what the Lord may have spared us from when things don’t turn out the way we want them to. Nor do we realize the character he is building within each of us, until we remember who we used to be.” The preacher’s words remained with Jill long after the service, making her smile through lunch and even as they gathered their luggage and climbed into Chase’s pick-up.
She also thought about the kids. Back home with Mama and Aunt Meredith, they would have enjoyed their first church service in more than two years. She was starting to miss them something fierce and glad to be flying home with hope in her heart. Logan had already mentioned how much he missed Gracie and Micah.
Thoughts seemed to swirl in her head as fast as the propeller wings of the helicopter when Logan began switching on those buttons for the return flight home. In truth, the whole weekend had been foundational for the two of them as a couple, though she wasn’t ready to fully embrace the idea. What if she’d misunderstood what the Lord was doing? At times she still struggled with doubt, wondering if He was there. She was leaving The Broken J with a flickering faith, but she knew something was different. Sometimes she was afraid if she wanted anything too badly, it would be taken from her. She had to keep this hope thing in check, but at least she had hope. Frail hope was better than none at all. She promised herself to think about the verse from Jeremiah in the days ahead.
Jill waved good-bye from the helicopter as Logan prepared to take off. The updraft whipped giant clouds of dust around again. Philomena and Chase stood outside Chase’s pick-up truck, waving good-bye from a safe distance. She hoped it wouldn’t be too long before they could visit again, maybe next time with the children. The Broken J would always hold a special place in her heart. It had certainly been a place of strengthening and healing for Jill and Logan, but particularly Jill.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26
Chapter 12.
Neighborly Matters
“We’re so happy to have you all settled in Wyoming,” Joan Michaels remarked warmly as the kids climbed into the jeep after a successful visit with Alex’s parents. “Promise you won’t be a stranger.”
“Yes, you’re welcome to stop by anytime,” James Michaels echoed with his wife as they stood in the drive next to the jeep. She had parked in front of their one-story, ranch-styled house situated in a typical suburb on the edge of Lander. “We’re overjoyed to see you and the grandchildren.”
Jill nodded with tears in her eyes as she gave them one last embrace and climbed into the driver’s seat. She turned the ignition and hit the button to roll the window down.
“Bye Papa! Bye Grammy!” Savannah waved from the backseat cheerfully, her hair done up in two braids and tied with bright pink ribbons.
“Bye!” Zach called out from beside his little sister. He had enjoyed the visit so much.
“Don’t forget now… we’re retired, so if you need anything, we’re more than happy to help,” Grammy Joan reminded her one last time.
“Thank you! Alex would be glad we’re here in Wyoming with you all. Take care and we’ll visit again sometime around the holidays. Be sure to come to the rodeo in October if you can make it.” Jill blew them a kiss.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Papa James grinned, winking at Zach. They waved again as she put the jeep in reverse to pull out of the drive. Jackie leaned over from the passenger front seat and waved to her grandparents.
As Jill drove home, she couldn’t help but feel she’d postponed the visit a little too long. It had gone really well. Joan had softened since Alex’s passing. Grief had a way of putting things in proper perspective. A glance in the rear view mirror revealed Savannah’s dark circles were completely gone. They were replaced with the complexion of a happy third grader with rosy cheeks and a cheerful spirit who loved feeding and talking to the chickens. Yes, Alex would be happy they had returned to Wyoming.
Other good things were happening to each of her children. Jackie wasn’t hiding in her room all the time and had even invited a friend to spend the night one Friday. She’d finished sewing two fifties skirts with the help of her Grandma Betty Anne. Zach was happy because he and Logan, along with Micah’s help, had nearly finished the treehouse. Zach and Jackie were both enjoying learning to ride Molly. He enjoyed the visit to meet his paternal grandfather more than all of them combined. He and Papa had talked about everything from baseball, to airplanes, to horses. Looking at all of the photos of Alex around the house had been bittersweet. Jill’s eyes had filled up with tears more than once. They heard Logan’s name come up a few times from the children, but if it bothered them they gave no indication.
After the trip to The Broken J, they’d all been invited to Jack and Sadie Haven’s log cabin on the front southwest corner of The Sweetwater. Though she occasionally saw Jack and Sadie out and about at The Sweetwater and they’d had several enjoyable exchanges, the dinner had been the first opportunity Jill had to sit down and talk with them since her return to Wyoming. Talking about Cassie and Matthew Walters had been difficult, especially with Grace and Micah present. Otherwise, it had been a pleasant dinner with Logan by her side, holding her hand through much of it. She was beginning to realize she suddenly had a huge network of support placed all around her. Maybe it was all a part of the good Lord smiling down on her.
“Uncle Logan, you sure do spend a lot of time with Jill!” Eight year old Micah remarked from his position in the saddle on Jersey, a pony with markings similar to a Jersey cow... hence his name. “You gonna marry her?”
Logan eyed his nephew from astride Storm. “I sure hope so, son. I sure do hope so.” They were plodding along slowly in the pasture land just outside the corrals. He had promised them a bit of horseback riding after the busy harvest time and he meant to keep all of his promises to them. Buck’s dog, Harley, trotted along beside the three of them. It was an odd group; a stallion trying to walk slowly alongside one female and one male pony, and one golden retriever who thought he was a horse. For some reason, they all got along well for a short ride close to home with the barns in view. He had to remember Grace and Micah had grown up in the city of Cheyenne where Matthew’s job had taken him. They weren’t used to riding horses or being on the ranch, but they were learning.
Brightening at his answer, eleven-year-old Grace Anne inquired, “Have you asked her?” She continued to sit up straight in the saddle on Sheba, just as Logan had taught her. She had already learned to ride a few of the mares, but Sheba remained her favorite and was safer for an inexperienced rider. He supposed it was partially because Grace Anne was on the petite side for an eleven year old making Sheba a good match for her.
Logan looked over at Gracie and winked. “Kinda been waitin’ for the right time…”
“She’s awful purdy!” Micah grinned, tilting his head funny so he could look up from under the brim of his child-sized, cowboy hat at his uncle from beneath a head of curls.
&nb
sp; Logan laughed. “Yes, Micah, she’s real pretty and right smart, too!”
“Well, I’ve seen a lot of really nice couples break up at school,” Gracie stated in a serious tone. “My advice is don’t wait too long, Uncle Logan, or someone else might come along and steal her!”
“Is that so?” Logan grinned. “I’ll certainly try to hurry it up then, but we don’t want to rush it and scare her away, either.”
“Then ya gotta find zactly the right time,” Micah pronounced.
“Do you have a ring yet?” Gracie Ann asked.
“I’m surprised you two know all this married people stuff,” Logan commented, keeping his eyes straight ahead toward the Saturday morning sunrise on the horizon.
“Oh yes, we know all sorts of stuff!” Micah interjected.
Gracie rolled her eyes at her brother. “No we don’t, Micah… just these things we’ve told you, Uncle Logan. We’re still kids, but we do know some stuff.”
“Seems to me you two have some very good advice I should listen to,” Logan acknowledged, hoping to head off an argument.
“So, do ya have a ring?” Micah persisted about two seconds later. “Because if you do, then we’ll be like a real family, kind of…”
He looked down at his nephew. The conversation wasn’t turning out quite like he had expected. Maybe he should’ve let them argue a bit. “Well, uh, no… not yet… and listen, we’re already a family. Jill still might not say yes, ya know…”
In true firstborn and leader fashion, Gracie Anne inserted boldly, “Well, I’d start there, Uncle Logan, with a ring.”
“Yeah, ya don’t wanna lose her,” Micah agreed. “Or our future brother and sisters…”
“Well, I appreciate the unanimous support on this all important decision. Marriage is not a thing to be entered into lightly and the more support for a prospective married couple, the better. All righty, I’ll start lookin’ for a ring,” Logan answered, considering the good Lord might be trying to speak to him through the children. The good Lord had to know he wasn’t going to get out of this conversation any other way. Besides, they were right! He really did need to be ready, in case the right moment came along. In fact, he might have to create the right moment…
Dreams of Sweetwater River (Whispers In Wyoming Book 3) Page 10
