by Janette Oke
“This is Amber. My mother.”
They exchanged greetings. Amber was given a welcoming embrace. Henry knew they would have much to say to each other.
Other figures crowded into the doorway. Henry was gripped in the bearlike hug of his father, who then greeted the young woman in a more gentle and subdued fashion, yet with great warmth. She smiled her relief to Henry. She was part of the family.
A young woman stepped forward about the same time that a big husky crowded into the circle, his tail wagging his entire body. There was no doubt the dog remembered Henry, and his face got an excited licking when he squatted down to greet his old companion.
But then Henry stood and turned to Christine. He held her close and rocked her back and forth as he signaled his care and concern. She clung to him and wept. Henry was once again sharing another’s grief.
“Where’s the child?” Elizabeth’s question brought everyone’s attention back to the present. Henry laughed. “He’s sound asleep. In the backseat.”
“Oh,” murmured Elizabeth in grandmotherly-like care. “Bring the poor little fellow in, and we’ll get him to bed.”
Henry gave Christine a final kiss on the top of her head and turned to fetch Danny, Amber at his side. They soon returned, Henry carrying the sleeping boy and Amber his overnight bag.
“Mom—you’ll be letting in mosquitoes,” Henry joked as Elizabeth stood at the open door.
“I don’t think they’ll want to come in here,” laughed Wynn. “They don’t like smoke. Christine cooked supper.”
His attempt to lighten the atmosphere worked, and they all laughed together.
“I was just joshing,” Wynn eventually explained. “She’s a great cook. She even remembers how to make pemmican.”
Elizabeth was totally immersed in caring for the young boy. “He’s beautiful,” she whispered when she finally got a glimpse of the sleeping little face. Henry kissed the boy’s head and smoothed back his hair while Elizabeth removed the shoes.
“I’ve put a cot in the middle room,” Elizabeth explained to Amber. “I do hope you don’t mind sharing a room with him, dear.”
“Not at all.”
“I’m afraid it’s a bit crowded. Not much room—”
“It will be fine. Just fine.”
And it was fine. Clean and fresh and airy with lacy curtains at the windows and a homemade comforter on the two beds. It took little time to get the small boy tucked between snug flannel sheets.
Soon the rest were gathered in the living room. There was no fire in the hearth as the night was warm—not just from the mild weather but from the warmth of this family gathering. They were together once again.
Henry hoped with all his heart—though they had not yet spoken of it—that the family would soon include two new members. As he looked around the room at the happy faces and listened to the soft chatter, he was sure there would be an abundance of welcome. He had never felt happier in his entire life.
The next few days were spent with the Delaneys getting to know Amber and Danny. It was not difficult. Danny was the catalyst that drew them together. They laughed at his antics, shared his adventures, and marveled again at the special gift of childhood. They walked and picnicked, canoed and fished, played games and romped with Teeko. It was relaxing, family-fun time, and it passed all too quickly.
Toward the end of the short visit, when Henry was confident that Amber felt comfortable left in the company of Elizabeth, he set out to have some private time with his sister. “I think Christine and I will check out that strawberry patch we used to visit.”
“That’s a good idea,” Elizabeth said. “You may not find much left, but there may be a berry or two hiding out.” Amber nodded her assent. He had already discussed his plan with her.
The two didn’t even reach the old strawberry patch. As soon as they were out of sight of the small town, Christine crossed to a large log and settled herself on it, setting her pail aside. “There aren’t any strawberries,” she said simply. “We may as well save our energy.”
Henry did not argue but lowered himself to the leaf-strewn ground.
“I’d like for us to talk,” Henry said directly. They had always been frank and open with each other.
“I wanted to talk too.”
He plucked a fresh blade of grass and placed one end in his mouth, enjoying the fresh taste from the broken stem.
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
Christine did, pouring out the entire sorry story of her courtship and breakup.
“I don’t need to tell you that you certainly made the right decision,” he said when she had finished, wiping away her tears.
“I know,” she admitted, “but it sure was not an easy one.”
“It’ll get easier—as time goes on. You will get over him, you know.”
“In a way,” said Christine honestly, “I think I already have ... sort of. I can pray for him now ... honestly. For his salvation. For his safety. I hear he’s joined up. It all frightens me. Dad is sure we’ll soon be in a war. He doesn’t talk about it much. Doesn’t want to worry Mom.”
There it was again. That ominous cloud hanging over the country—the entire world. All of the what ifs and whens that kept the world holding its collective breath.
But Christine was continuing. “It’s easy for me to understand why Boyd is as he is. But... but it’s me that bothers me.”
“You?”
“How could I use such poor judgment? Where were all those lessons in faith? All those things Mom and Dad taught us over the years? I know what the Bible says. How could I have gotten so far off track? I don’t know if I’ll be able to trust myself again.”
He reached out and cuffed the shoe dangling from her foot near his head—the only part of her he could reach without getting up. “Sure you can. It was all still there—buried a bit deep for a while—but still there. You wouldn’t let them coerce you into moving in with them. That would have been disastrous. And you did realize—in time—that you couldn’t marry the guy. Thank God for that. You could have spent a lifetime being... physically abused.” Just thinking of it made Henry feel angry, and he threw the stem as far as he could.
“The thing that ... that bothers me the most is that I was praying. All through the relationship ... I was praying. Asking God to lead me. Asking Him to show me ... and yet I very nearly made the biggest mistake I could make in life.”
“You think God let you down?” asked Henry softly.
“No. No ... nothing like that. I ... just tuned Him out. Wouldn’t listen to Him speak. It’s frightening.” She hesitated, and he thought about what she had just said.
“When you really want something,” she went on, “you can bend God’s will to fit your own. I learned that, and it has really made me think. If you truly want God’s will for your life, you need to do a good deal more than pray. You need to listen for the answer ... and obey, even if it goes against what you had hoped for.”
Henry listened and nodded. He was very sorry she had gone through such difficult circumstances. But his kid sister seemed to have learned one of life’s most important lessons.
“So where ... from here?” he asked her.
She laughed. “Well ... I soon need to get back to gainful employment. The folks have been most tender in nursing my broken heart... but one can’t go on being babied forever.”
“Where will you go?”
“I’ve looked a bit around here, but there isn’t much. I guess I’ll go back to the city.”
“How about coming back with me?” Henry offered. “Surely there’s something you could find in the area... and you’d still be with family.”
At first she brightened and he thought she was going to agree. Then she shook her head slowly. “I don’t think now would be a good time.”
“You wouldn’t need to hurry. You could live with me and take your time finding—”
“I wasn’t thinking of me.”
“Then who?”
&
nbsp; “You ... and Amber.”
“But that wouldn’t—”
“Yes, it would. You’ve got a wonderful relationship, Henry. One that I pray I will one day enjoy with ... someone. She’s a wonderful girl. I already love her. But she doesn’t need me butting in—taking your time and attention. It’s enough that there’s a child you need to fit into the plan.”
At first he was ready to argue, but even as she spoke he realized her wisdom. He was pleased by her unselfishness. Her maturity and insight. He stood to his feet and reached over to give her a playful nudge as they used to do.
“For a kid ... you’re not so dumb. I think you’re going to make it.”
They grinned affectionately at each other. It was time to pick up the empty berry pail and head for home.
The family had only one more day together. The time had gone much too quickly. According to Danny they should just stay where they were. “Why can’t we live here?” he asked Elizabeth, looking somber. She gave him a hug and told him his grandparents were anxious for him to get back, but in her heart she knew just how much she would love to keep him close. Well, he had been calling her “Grandma Beth” at her suggestion, and she was sure it was only a matter of time....
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a grandparent?” she said to Wynn as they prepared for bed.
He must have known where her thoughts were leading. “He’s quite a little guy,” he responded with a chuckle.
“She’s sweet, too, isn’t she?” She knew she did not have to explain.
“She’s very sweet.”
“I’m so happy for them.”
“Aren’t you jumping the gun a bit?”
“I don’t think so. I see that look in their eyes.”
“Like you saw in mine when I was falling for you?” he teased.
“Pawsh. You hid yours so well I never could have guessed,” she answered in mock haughtiness.
He pulled her into his arms. “Do you see it now?”
She looked up at him and nodded, her eyes suddenly misty. “I see it now.”
“That’s what counts,” he said and kissed her on the nose.
On their last evening, Henry and Amber walked out under the June stars. They had taken few evening strolls because of the ferocity of the mosquitoes, but now with Danny already tucked in for the night, Henry had dared suggest it, and Amber had quickly agreed.
They walked companionably for some time, enjoying the closeness, the peacefulness of the evening. The growing darkness drew a curtain around them into a special nearness of mind and soul.
“When I was a kid, I always listened for the wolves this time of night,” Henry said thoughtfully.
“I remember the wolves. I never did learn to like the sound.”
“Dad taught me to love them. I almost felt I knew them.”
“One of the pack?” she teased.
His hand on hers tightened.
“Now I sort of feel as if I’d like to be the head of a pack of my own.”
“Of wolves?” she teased back.
“No ... not of wolves.” They laughed softly together.
He stopped his steps and turned to her, drawing her into his arms. “A people pack,” he whispered. “It’s been hard to be patient. It seems like years and years of waiting and praying. But now ... dare I hope?”
Her voice spoke from just below his chin. “I don’t know. I’d have to be asked.”
“I think I could do that.”
He lifted her chin and let the overhead moon light her eyes. “I love you, Amber. You and that wonderful little boy of yours. I would be so proud to have you as my wife. Would you?”
“I’d be happy to join your pack,” she answered in a whisper.
Above them the moon seemed to wink at them. The soft wind played wood songs through the poplar trees. Henry sensed it all, yet was aware of nothing—nothing but the song in his heart and the woman in his arms.
She was not weeping.
He wanted to rush back and shout the wonderful news. And he would. Momentarily. He had the feeling no one would be at all surprised. But first he wanted to linger—to savor this special moment of happiness. She had said yes, and it made his heart sing. Above, beyond the moon and stars, he felt the Father gently smiling down upon them with divine approval from somewhere up above. His heart breathed a sincere prayer of thanksgiving. Truly, God was good.
Children’s Books by Janette Oke
www.janetteoke.com
JANETTE OKE CLASSICS FOR GIRLS
(for girls ages 10-14)
The Bluebird and the Sparrow
The Calling of Emily Evans
Drums of Change
A Gown of Spanish Lace
Heart of the Wilderness
Roses for Mama
PICTURE BOOKS
(for all ages)
I Wonder... Did Jesus Have a Pet Lamb?
JANETTE OKE’S ANIMAL FRIENDS
(full-color, for young readers)
Spunky’s Diary
The Prodigal Cat
The Impatient Turtle
This Little Pig
New Kid in Town
Ducktails
A Cote of Many Colors
A Prairie Dog Town
Maury Had a Little Lamb
Trouble in a Fur Coat
Pordy’s Prickly Problem
Who’s New at the Zoo?
1
with T. Davis Bunn
Table of Contents
Books by Janette Oke
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
CHAPTER One
CHAPTER Two
CHAPTER Three
CHAPTER Four
CHAPTER Five
CHAPTER Six
CHAPTER Seven
CHAPTER Eight
CHAPTER Nine
CHAPTER Ten
CHAPTER Eleven
CHAPTER Twelve
CHAPTER Thirtenn
CHAPTER Fourteen
CHAPTER Fifteen
CHAPTER Sixteen
CHAPTER Seventeen
CHAPTER Eighteen
CHAPTER Nineteen
CHAPTER Twenty
CHAPTER Twenty-One
CHAPTER Twenty-Two
CHAPTER Twenty-Three
Children’s Books by Janette Oke
