When they reached the tree, the widow’s hired men were working in the fields. One of them walked Mrs. Perry up the hill to meet the grieving parents. He carried a shovel and began to dig a hole at the base of the tree. The widow took Ada’s hand in hers and told her how sorry she was for their loss. She then turned to Eli and hugged him. He thanked her quietly.
Ada smiled through her tears as she remembered Ira leading them in a prayer. The workers came to the edge of the field and stood with their hats in their hands. They lowered their heads for the duration of the burial. Ada was moved by their show of respect. It was a good funeral, simple but full of love and support.
Rosa had once said these memories would never be void of sadness, and that was so true! But she also said there would be joy in them. At the time, Ada didn’t believe her. Rosa had urged them to find some small happiness while holding Ruth Ann. Though she tried, Ada still couldn’t find any joy in that memory; it felt more like a constant ache in her heart that varied only by waves of intensity.
Now, three years later, she understood what Rosa was trying to say. She could finally feel the bitter sweetness of those days, but not in the way Rosa had suggested. The peace in her soul came from the Savior, and her joyful memories centered on the people He had put into her life. They had walked that journey with her, and despite everything she had ever lost, she felt more than blessed because of them!
ELI
Eli could feel the gentle tug of the river on his line. He and Jed stood on the bank of Badger Creek in the dim early morning, not caring if they caught anything. They were simply enjoying each other’s company. Jed turned toward him.
“How have you two been doing?” he asked. “Are you settling into that town all right?”
“We’re doing okay,” Eli said as he watched the moving waters. “We’ve made a few friends, but some people still don’t… Well, you know how it is. A town like that will always be uncomfortable with someone like me.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Jed replied. “Speaking of that, you might lose some ink when the cut on your arm heals. I can touch it up for you.”
Eli turned his arm to look at the injury. A piece of glass had sliced through one of the vines on his tattoo. “I got this during the fire I told you about. It really shook Ada up. Our neighbor’s boy was trapped in the house. He would have died if…” Eli sighed, shaking his head. “Anyway, it brought back memories of losing Ruth Ann. It’ll be good for her to be here.”
“And what about you?” Jed asked. Eli looked at him with a question in his eyes. “I’m wondering if you’ve found what you’re looking for in that town,” Jed clarified. “I want to know if you’re ever coming back home. I get the feeling this visit was for Ada, not you.”
The pang of guilt resurfaced and clutched at Eli’s gut. He looked at the ground but kept silent.
“Eli, you’ve been searching for as long as I’ve known you. Most of the others think you took Ada away so the two of you could heal, and I’m sure that’s part of it. But it isn’t the only reason why you left. You told me about your dream a long time ago—the one about the crops. I know you’re trying to figure out what it means. I’m asking if you’ve found what you’re seeking. Have you discovered what you think you’re supposed to be doing?” Eli sat on the ground and Jed joined him.
“You and I both know what I’m supposed to be doing,” Eli said as he wedged his pole between two rocks and scratched at a pebble in the dirt. “What I don’t know is how God wants me to do it.”
“Well, there’s definitely some truth in that,” Jed agreed. “What you’re supposed to do—what we’re all supposed to do—is glorify God. That’s our purpose. How we do it is something we all have to figure out for ourselves. But I can tell you one thing. The best way to glorify God is to put Him before everything else in your life, Him and nothing else. Anything you choose to do in life—anything you choose to do with what God has given you—do it all for Him. If you do that on a daily basis, even while you’re still searching, then you will be fulfilling your purpose.”
Eli nodded. “But you know what I mean, Jed,” he insisted. “You know what else I’m trying to figure out. I want God to show me what I’m supposed to do with it all. I don’t understand why He’s so quiet now.”
“Maybe He doesn’t want to show you yet, or you’re not ready to know.” Jed jabbed him with his elbow. “Maybe you aren’t listening the way you should.”
“I am listening,” Eli said, flinging a small rock at a sapling near the edge of the water.
“Listening and searching are not the same,” Jed pointed out. “God wants to see that you’re listening, not just hear you say you are. Sure, we both know what gifts He’s given you, but you’re still holding onto something, Eli. You need to let go of it and sit back and be still. Sometimes God’s answer comes in pieces. He gives you the part you’re ready for and holds the rest back. Don’t expect it too soon. You’ll be the one who gets frustrated, not God. He’s more patient than you. He can still work through you if He wants to, even if you fight against Him the whole time. Don’t forget, you’re the one who needs Him, not the other way around.”
Eli nodded again and dropped his shoulders. “Okay. I know I’m stubborn. I’m just anxious to start doing something. Waiting is hard!”
“I know it is, but it sounds to me like God has already brought you something to do. Focus on helping your neighbors through their ordeal. Maybe it will calm your spirit.” He put a hand on Eli’s shoulder. A fish tugged at Jed’s line, and he grabbed his pole tighter. “Ha! I got the first one! See if you can catch up to me, now.”
MARCUS
It was Saturday afternoon and tomorrow’s sermon was ready, but Marcus felt restless. Something still needed to be done, but since he couldn’t think of what it might be, he decided to go for a walk. If a brisk walk could help him write his sermons, then perhaps it could help him figure out what he was forgetting. He bundled up against the late November air, kissed Grace, and headed out the door.
As he turned toward the backcountry roads, he sifted through a mental list of his parishioners. A few of them were going through some big life changes, and he made sure he was always there for them. But maybe he had missed something. He intended to walk until he figured it out.
Could it be Jacob and Laura Martin? They seemed to be doing well, despite Jacob’s recent mishap. His leg had healed, and he was able to get around using his cane and a wooden peg strapped to his ankle, but it slowed him down. He told Marcus that he was hoping to get a prosthetic foot. He needed to save up for it, though, and wasn’t ready to tell Laura about his plan yet. Saving the money would take a while, especially now that she was expecting a baby in May. Marcus congratulated him and promised not to say anything to Laura until Jacob did. No, the Martins were not the source of his restlessness.
What about Evelyn Russell? Her son had been released from prison a month ago. He wrote to her about the possibility of moving back home, and though some people in town would oppose this plan, none of them knew yet. His return to East Haven wasn’t a certainty anyway; that couldn’t be it either.
Perhaps his unrest had to do with Louise Evans. Two Sundays ago, she asked the pastor if he and Grace could take her home. After a short visit in her parlor, Mrs. Evans asked him for some advice. She had been contacted by a Mr. Dixon from the White Falls bank. He claimed that her husband had taken out a loan shortly before he had passed away. Well, she had no idea this loan existed, nor had any idea why he would do such a thing. No payments had been made toward the loan for three years, and now Mr. Dixon insisted she pay it in full by the beginning of the year or she would lose her house and land.
She had resigned herself to losing her home, but she was worried that this would alter the town’s opinion of George. He wasn’t alive to defend himself, and the thought of anyone speaking poorly of him broke her heart. She was hoping Marcus could help her move into a different situation without ruining the reputation of her late husband. It would need
to be affordable, though, since she had very little to live on.
“I’ll do my best to think of something,” he told her. “Perhaps I could talk to Mr. Dixon and see if he will give you more time.”
“Thank you, Pastor Duncan,” she said with a sigh.
“In the meantime, is there anything you could sell to help with your expenses? What about George’s tools? I know it’ll be hard to see them go, but he has some nice ones. You could sell them for a decent price if you’re willing.”
“Oh, I can’t do that,” she said. “I gave those tools to Eli Gardner.”
Marcus was surprised. “Eli has George’s tools?” he asked. Why would Eli allow her to do that? Surely, he knew their value.
“Well…not exactly.” She explained. “He asked if he could keep them here and use them while he works on the repairs around my house.”
“I see,” Marcus said, nodding. “I’ll explain the situation. I’m sure he won’t mind if you sell them.”
“No, no. Please don’t do that. He has worked so hard for me. And if you tell him, he’ll know about the loan. I can’t do that to George. Please, Pastor, we must think of something else.”
“Okay. I’ll give it some thought. Don’t worry, Mrs. Evans. I’ll come up with a plan.”
The widow thanked him. She seemed relieved now, knowing he would help her. That week, Marcus rode out to White Falls and confirmed that there was indeed a loan, but Mr. Dixon wouldn’t give her more than an extra month to come up with the money; by February, it must be paid. So, yes, Louise Evans would need his help soon, but that wasn’t what was eluding him.
Isaac and Hannah Weber had recently moved into their new home. Now that they were settled, Marcus no longer needed to worry about them. The rebuild had been a fast project, and it wasn’t without its moments of stress. Eli, who had signed up to help every day, came to see Marcus a few hours after the meeting. He had decided to leave town for a while. He wanted to take Ada home to see their family and planned to be away for about ten days. He would not be able to help with the cleanup after all.
Eli thought it might be good for the Webers to continue living in his house while he and Ada were gone. That way, they wouldn’t feel as though they were being a burden. By the time the Gardners returned, the Webers would feel comfortable enough to stay for as long as they needed. Marcus agreed and assured him that the men could handle the cleanup without him.
Of course, John Miller did not miss the fact that Eli was absent; he wasn’t at all surprised to hear how “that boy” had gone back on his word. He failed to notice, however, that Eli worked on the house every day after his return. It didn’t matter how much Marcus tried to defend Eli. John saw what John wanted to see, and he didn’t see anything wrong with trying to goad the young man into a fight. It seemed as though John would throw around snide comments intended to push Eli to the point of swinging his fist, and thus show everyone some flaw in his character. But Eli held his ground and kept his frustrations to himself. There were times when Marcus feared John might succeed, so he was relieved when the house was finished and those two were finally separated, except on Sundays when everyone was better behaved.
“You know, Pastor,” John said to him once, “that gypsy boy has bewitched you! I want to be there when you finally figure out he is not the man you think he is. I hope you’re not too disillusioned when you see what kind of person he really is.”
“John,” Marcus said, “maybe you’ll be the one who sees Eli differently someday.”
As Marcus thought about these events, his walk took him down the road that passed in front of the Gardners’ home. He stopped at their gate. There was something different about Eli these days. It was a subtle change, but Marcus noticed it. The young man was not as talkative as he used to be. Even though Eli was a confident man, Marcus had sensed something slightly guarded in his manner from the first day they met. But since returning to town, there was a shift in Eli’s attitude. He was still guarded, but his lack of humor seemed to reflect an internal struggle with whatever he was hiding.
Grace noticed it too, but she was convinced it was something else. She thought Eli spent too much time helping the Webers, and perhaps it was hurting the young couple. He hadn’t worked for Ray Larson in two months, and that couldn’t be good for them.
Marcus pushed the gate open and walked toward the house. He finally realized what had escaped his notice. There was a question he needed to ask Eli.
JED
As Jed watched the wagon depart, he wondered when he would see the young couple again. This day was inevitable; it had been a hard year, and every moment of it pointed to right now. After Ruth Ann died, the devastated parents didn’t want to go to the markets with the rest of the caravan. Jed and Rosa chose to stay with them at the winter camp. It was important to be with Eli and Ada as they grieved, and Jed couldn’t imagine leaving them, even for a few days. That summer they shed several tears, offered up many prayers, and talked through hard emotions.
In July, Ada asked Jed to add a small flower to her tattoo. She wanted a memorial to Ruth Ann. While Jed pricked the flower onto her arm, her eyes drifted off, and she commented to Eli that she could barely feel it. As August hinted at the end of summer, the couple’s energy and mood began to rise. Eli played his guitar more often, and they shared frequent smiles with each other. By the end of the month, the couple had recovered a small bit of their playful spirit. However, losing a child had forced them to grow up even more than when they had lost their parents.
Though they regained their happiness, they stopped making merchandise for the markets. When the others returned in the fall, the young couple still helped with group projects. Eli went hunting and fishing with the men and helped them smoke the meat and prepare the leather. Ada helped with the canning, but neither worked on their toys anymore. Instead, Eli worked for Mrs. Perry every chance he could, and she gladly found extra jobs for him to do. Jed sensed a growing restlessness in him.
When April came around again, there was a dip in their moods as they remembered all the losses this month had brought them over the years. Shortly after that, Eli started going into Bradford more often. Jed knew he was meeting with Harold Ross, the town’s bank owner, during those visits, but Eli wouldn’t talk about it. Jed wasn’t surprised when Eli finally told him and Rosa of his plan to buy a house.
By the time the caravan was ready to leave for the markets again, Eli and Ada began to visit towns in the opposite direction. Jed and Rosa stayed behind once again, promising to catch up with the others when they knew the young couple was finally settled. It only took three trips into three towns for the young couple to return with success. They had found the perfect house and would be moving right away.
Jed and Rosa helped them pack the wagon. They closed up the young couple’s vacant vardo and rode into Bradford together. Once in town, Eli bought a used hitch wagon and a couple of horses. They also purchased a few pieces of furniture and some dishes. After loading the new wagon, there was a flurry of goodbyes, and soon Eli and Ada were riding away from their days with the caravan and moving toward their next chapter. It was a difficult year, but it was the fastest one Jed had ever experienced. He sat in the wagon seat with Rosa and sighed as he watched them go.
“I told you those kids would run off some day,” he said, clearing his throat.
Rosa held his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder. “They’ll be back, Jed, at least for visits,” she promised, attempting to comfort him.
“Yeah, but I’m not ready for them to go,” he said, struggling to get his words out.
“We may never be ready for that,” Rosa agreed.
Jed’s eyes lingered on the road until he couldn’t see the wagon anymore.
ELI
There was a knock at the door. Eli opened it to find the pastor standing on his porch, shivering. “Hey, Marcus. Come on in. You look like you could use a few minutes in front of the fire.”
He led the pastor to the parlor chairs. Ada
stood and gave up her seat. She offered to make them some coffee and went into the kitchen. As Marcus sat down, Eli put another log on the fire. He enjoyed visiting with the pastor, but the man’s lack of smile told him this was not a casual call.
He sat in the other chair and they talked about nothing important while Ada made their drinks. After she placed a tray on the table between them, Eli winked at her and nodded his head toward the other room; the men needed to talk privately.
“If you’ll excuse me, Marcus, I need to get a few things done in the kitchen,” she said.
“Of course.” He stood and thanked her for the coffee.
Eli leaned back in his chair and waited until Ada was gone. “So, what brings you to my door, Marcus?” he asked. The pastor sighed as he sat back down. Eli could see that he wasn’t looking forward to the conversation.
“I want to make sure you and Ada are doing all right,” he said after a short pause.
“Yeah,” Eli answered with a half-nod. “We’re fine.”
“You can talk to me about anything,” Marcus assured him. He sipped his coffee, obviously waiting for a response, and then continued speaking when Eli only nodded. “I know you haven’t been working for Ray lately; you’ve spent two months helping the Webers instead. I need to know you’re okay.”
“We’re fine, Marcus,” he repeated, but the pastor pressed on.
“I hope you know you can trust me, Eli. People tell me things they aren’t ready for others to know. It’s part of my job to listen.”
Eli studied the man sitting across from him and slowly leaned forward in his chair. “I promise I’ll come to you if I ever need help,” he said.
“Fine,” Marcus said. He shook his head and frowned. “It’s just that I…look, Eli. I need you to understand that a lot of people come to me when they’re in trouble.”
Painted Vessels Page 17
