A Quiet Strength

by Janette Oke

  Jonathan made the trip in to see the banker and paid off his loan. He bought feed from a local farmer to get his stock through what remained of the winter, assured now that the two-year-olds would reach the spring sale in first-class shape. Mindy started making trips to the barn with Jonathan again, and she continued to feed the chickens, cats, and Murphy. “I think they did miss me,” she told Grandmother Withers quite seriously. “The chickens all nodded their heads to say hello, and the kitties rubbed against my legs and purred. And Murphy—he was the happiest of all. He barked all over the place.”

  Mindy still had occasional reservations about baby Martha. But more and more she was sidling over to the baby’s cradle to see if Martha would welcome her with a smile. Martha always did, gurgling and cooing and reaching for Mindy’s braids. But now and then Martha’s little fingers grabbed Mindy’s nose or scratched a cheek, and then Mindy would cry out in accusa? tion. Virginia tried to explain that the baby did not really mean to hurt. She just wanted to grab. She was still too little to understand about being gentle.

  Mindy shook her head, angry and frustrated. “She should grow up,” she said on one such occasion.

  “She will. She grows a little every day.”

  When Dr. Luke announced that the cast could come off Grandmother Withers’ leg, the entire family gathered around for the exciting event. Mindy’s eyes grew big when he got out his tool. “Is he gonna cut Grandmother’s leg off?”

  Jonathan reached down and lifted her up. “Oh no. He’s just going to get Grandmother’s leg out of that nasty white house it’s been living in for such a long time.”

  But when the procedure began, Mindy still looked doubt? ful. “I’m afraid he might,” she said, scrunching tight her eyes and burying her face on Jonathan’s shoulder.

  Jonathan held her close until the last bit of sawing was complete and Grandmother’s leg was free.

  It looked whitened and withered and a bit sickly. Virginia wondered if the small child should see it and moved to stand in the way.

  “Pass me those stockings, dear,” Grandmother Withers requested and proceeded to quickly make the exposed leg match up with the other. “Now she can look.”

  Jonathan coaxed Mindy to take a look at her great? grandmother, and hesitantly the little girl lifted her head and opened her eyes. They widened in surprise.

  “You’ve got two now,” she said.

  “Yes. Two.”

  “It’s unbroke?”

  “Unbroke.”

  “Get up.” Apparently Mindy wanted to see if the fixed leg really worked.

  “Oh, I can’t get up quite yet, but very soon. Dr. Luke says I will need the help of a cane for a while.”

  “What’s a cane?”

  “A stick to help you walk.”

  From then on Mindy insisted on having her own stick. Jonathan cut one from a dead tree limb, peeling the bark off so it was smooth. She carried it with her wherever she went. When Grandmother Withers began walking about the house, cane in support, Mindy walked right beside her, leaning on her own stick and limping along in unison. Virginia smiled. They made quite a team.

  Jonathan returned from the spring sale with a broad grin on his face. It sounded like his horses had made quite an impres? sion on the buyers. “If they think those were something, they should see Cinnamon,” said Virginia. Cinnamon still walked with a slight limp, but that did little to impair her beauty. She was a magnificent animal. Head high, eyes bright with intelli? gence and high spirits, mane and tail flowing, coat glistening in the unusual brownish bay color that had earned her name.

  “I’ve been thinking about Cinnamon,” said Jonathan slowly. “You realize I would have sold her if she’d been sound.”

  Virginia nodded.

  “Well, God does work in strange ways. I’ve a feeling that she’s going to be worth a great deal more to me as a brood mare than she would have if I’d sold her this year.”

  Virginia’s face reflected her surprise.

  “I think we will be awful glad we’ve kept her. Just look at her out there.” Jonathan nodded toward the corral where Cin? namon frolicked in spite of her limp. “Did you ever see such a wonderful horse? Match her up with Warrior and we’ll have ourselves one first-rate animal.”

  Virginia nodded again. It was true. She smiled. God did work in mysterious ways.

  “Look at them,” Jonathan said, his arm around Virginia’s waist as they looked out the window toward the corrals. “Each one prettier and spunkier that the last. We’ve got us some winners here, Virginia.”

  “You’ve also got yourself a powerful lot of work,” said Virginia, the realist. It was going to take more hours than the day held to get all the new foals thoroughly broken and last year’s yearlings ready for the next spring sale.

  “That I have,” admitted Jonathan. “But at least it’s enjoyable work.”

  Virginia did not argue. She had learned that even though Jonathan was awfully busy, he was happy. And he brought that happiness with him every time he entered the house. The whole family benefited. She smiled. “So what are we naming this batch?”

  “Thought you and Mindy might like the honors.”

  “That would be fun.”

  They settled on Copper, Midge, Minx, Captain, Star, Dol? lie, Murphy, and Kitten, the final three names having been picked by Mindy. Jonathan accepted the names with a nod.

  Throughout the long summer days, Jonathan worked from sunup to sundown. The family saw little of him, unless they looked out at the corrals where he worked with one horse or another. Virginia was glad to have Grandmother Withers for companionship. Together they managed to plant a garden, work up more flower beds, go into town for slips and roots from her previous home’s garden, and in general learn to love and appreciate each other in new ways. Grandmother With? ers had not mentioned the boardinghouse again. Virginia was glad. With Grandmother there to read to a knowledge-thirsty Mindy or keep a watchful eye on a creeping Martha, Virginia was able to find time for a book now and then herself. In fact, it would be hard to think of their home without Grandmother Withers.

  By August the elderly woman’s leg was strong enough to do away with her cane. Mindy was disappointed. She liked their walking sticks and the bit of drama they provided. Grand? mother now insisted that she could handle the stairs with no problem. Her bed and dresser were moved up the steps and into the spare room. Mindy was glad to have the story reader closer by, and Virginia was thankful to have the living room back into regular service.

  Martha, who was now sleeping through the nights, was moved in to share Mindy’s room. The little girl was delighted. Virginia often heard the two giggling together after they had been tucked in and wondered just who was entertaining whom and in what way. But she did not interfere, unless the laughter went on for too long. Then she would tiptoe to the door and admonish them both to quiet down and go to sleep.

  Virginia often thought about Jenny. Where was she now and what were her circumstances? Virginia’s heart ached for the lonely, desperate young woman. She inquired from time to time of Mr. Woods, but Jenny’s father always answered the same way: He had heard nothing. Jenny had not even stopped to see him on her previous trips into town. He looked sad and lonely, and Virginia’s heart grieved for him. He came to the farm on occasion to visit with Mindy, but so far the youngster refused to warm up to him. That grieved Virginia, as well. She wished there were some way she could bridge the chasm between child and grandfather. He would smile patiently and remind Virginia that such relationships took time.

  Mindy was still cautious and reserved with her other grand? parents. Only Great-grandmother Withers seemed to have managed to win her over. Perhaps that is what it takes, thought Virginia. Living in close proximity. Sharing a home and a storybook day after day.

  But Virginia could think of no way to repeat that with the other grandparents. They would just have to hope that time would accomplish the same effect.

  Murphy’s one bad habit was that he loved to chase
the horses. Jonathan was forever shooing him away from the cor? rals.

  To Murphy it all seemed to be a wonderful game. To the horses it was a great annoyance. “He’s gonna get his head kicked in for sure if he doesn’t stop that,” Jonathan growled in disgust, going out once again to call in the dog.

  But Murphy seemed to be very good at dodging the flashing hooves. He would sneak up behind an unsuspecting animal, dash in for a quick nip, then fall flat on his belly while the enraged animal lashed out above his head. Then would fol? low the wild chase as the horse took off at a gallop, Murphy hot on his heels, barking joyously that he had put the animal on the run. Virginia, watching the spectacle from her kitchen window, couldn’t help but chuckle, then catch her breath in dismay. Jonathan was right. The dog was going to try it one time too often.

  And it finally happened, just as Jonathan had predicted, only it wasn’t Murphy’s head that received the hoof but his right shoulder. Virginia was hanging out the wash and heard the crack all the way to the house. She lifted her head, and a few moments later, Jonathan came toward the house carrying the broken body of the hapless Murphy. “Well, he did it this time,” said Jonathan. “Cricket really got him.”

  Virginia gasped and shook her head. “Oh no. Is he …?”

  “He’s still breathing, but he’s hurt pretty bad. His shoulder crunches when I move it.”

  “Oh no,” Virginia said again.

  “I think I’m going to have to put him …”

  “Oh!” Virginia’s hand went to her mouth and she could say no more.

  “Where’s Mindy?”

  “She and Grandmother are in the garden.”

  Mindy. She loved Murphy. What would this do to dear Mindy? They couldn’t risk another emotional setback for their still-vulnerable daughter.

  “Oh, Jonathan. She will be heartbroken. Isn’t there any way to save him? Can’t we at least try?”

  “He’s pretty bad off. We don’t want him to suffer.” His expression was grim. “I’ll take a look. Maybe give Danny a call. We’ll see.”

  It was a faint hope, but Virginia clung to it as she watched Jonathan carry Murphy into his tool shed.

  CHAPTER 18

  I’ve made him as comfortable as I can, but he’s in a lotof pain,” Jonathan whispered to Virginia. Mindy had still not heard of Murphy’s mishap. “I’m gonna run into town and see if I can get Danny on the phone.”

  Virginia nodded. “Is there anything I can do for him while you’re gone?”

  “I’ve confined him. He doesn’t like it much, but we can’t have him thrashing around. I’ll be back just as soon as I can.”

  The time dragged until Virginia heard the car again. She hurried to the window to see a second motorcar pull in behind Jonathan. It was her uncle Luke, black doctor’s bag in hand. They went together into the tool shed. After waiting for what seemed forever, Virginia could stand it no longer. “Grand? mother, I’m going out for a few minutes. Can you watch the children, please?”

  Grandmother Withers nodded her assent and Virginia hurried out. She found both men kneeling over a very still Murphy. He was so motionless Virginia was sure he was already gone. But Jonathan explained, “I couldn’t reach Danny. Luke volunteered to take a look. He’s given him something to ease his pain.”

  “He’s in pretty bad shape, Virginia,” said her uncle Luke. “The bone in his shoulder seems fragmented. There’s no way I can just set it.”

  “Then … there’s nothing we can do?”

  “We can try surgery—it’s the only way to find out the extent of bone chips or splinters. Maybe clean it up.”

  “Would it work?”

  “Could. We’d have to wait and see what we find when we get in there.”

  “Then … let’s.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “If you’re willing … yes.”

  The two men exchanged looks. “We’d have to work on the kitchen table,” said Luke.

  Virginia nodded.

  “I assume you don’t want Mindy seeing this.”

  “No.”

  The silence hung around them as Virginia tried to figure out how to get the child away from the farm home. “How long will it take?”

  “I can’t say until I open him up. Could be an hour. Maybe longer.”

  “Could you take her picking flowers?” Jonathan wondered. “A walk to the creek? Berries? Anything.”

  “I couldn’t be gone that long. Martha will want to eat. Maybe you …”

  “But Luke needs help.”

  “I could help him,” put in Virginia quickly. “If he just tells me what to do.”

  “Are you sure?” asked her uncle. “Surgery can get a bit messy.”

  “You might need to feed Martha at a crucial time,” Jonathan reminded her.

  “Well, we can’t just let Mindy walk in and see her dog cut open—looking dead—on the kitchen table,” she said.

  “Maybe Grandmother can do something.”

  “Her leg still bothers her if she’s on it for long.”

  “How about a picnic?” suggested Jonathan. “They could walk into the trees and have a picnic lunch and read books together.”

  It sounded like an idea that might work. Virginia hurried off to make the arrangements.

  Grandmother Withers was quick to agree. “How will I know when it’s safe to return?” she asked Virginia.

  “We’ll call. No, you might not hear that. We’ll … Jonathan can shoot the rifle—three shots.”

  “He doesn’t like to fire the gun around the horses.”

  “We’ll blow the car horn. That’s it. When you hear the car horn, you’ll know it’s over.”

  Mindy was excited to be heading off with Grandmother Withers for her own picnic in the woods. They carried a basket of sandwiches, cookies, and apples, and several books and a blanket.

  “Bye, Mama,” Mindy called over and over. They were going down the steps when Mindy exclaimed, “Let’s take Murphy with us! He’d like a picnic.”

  “Not today,” said Grandmother. “Today just you and I are going to have a picnic together. It’s our own special Grand-mother-and-Mindy picnic. Maybe next time we’ll let Murphy join us.”

  Mindy was satisfied.

  Virginia went right to work scrubbing the kitchen table. She shoved the kettle forward on the fire in case Uncle Luke would need hot water for sterilizing instruments, then pulled away the chairs so the men would have working room. Just then Jonathan entered the kitchen, the sedated dog in his arms.

  Virginia was thankful her impulsive offer of help had not worked out. Murphy’s shoulder had been shaved of hair and swabbed with disinfectant. The moment Luke made the first incision, Virginia felt the room begin to tilt. Before Luke had even exposed the broken bone she knew she was going to be sick. She rushed outside, where she lost her breakfast, then stood breathing in great gulps of fresh air.

  But Martha would be waking soon to nurse. Virginia hated the thought of passing through the kitchen. The smell of the medications alone was likely to start her heaving again. At length she took herself firmly in hand and pushed open the door. Neither of the men, intent on their task, even looked up.

  “ … pretty bad break,” Luke was saying, “but it hasn’t splintered as much as I had feared. There are bone chips that we’ll …”

  Virginia moved quickly out of hearing. She picked up Mar? tha, even though the child had not yet stirred, and hurried up the stairs. She would spend the rest of her time out of earshot and away from the smells.

  The sound of the car horn brought Grandmother Withers and Mindy back from their picnic. Mindy carried a bouquet of drooping wild flowers clutched tightly in her hand. It appeared they had been picked some time earlier, but Virginia fussed over them appropriately and placed them in a quart sealer of water. Mindy looked pleased.

  “What’s that funny smell?” asked the child, wrinkling her nose.

  Virginia had scrubbed and scrubbed the kitchen table after the surgery but had been
unable to get the smells of disinfec? tant and anesthetic from the room, now also joined by strong lye soap. But Mindy soon forgot about it when no one offered an answer to her question. Instead she announced, “We read and we read and we read,” she enthused. “Over and over.”

  Grandmother Withers nodded, looking bemused. No doubt she had wondered if the car horn was ever going to sound.

  How is Murphy? was the silent question in her eyes.

  Virginia just nodded her head toward the tool shed. “Uncle Luke thinks there is a chance,” she was able to say. Relief was evident in the older woman’s face. “But we’ll have to wait and see. The next twenty-four hours are the most crucial.”

  Jonathan spent most of the night in the tool shed. Vir? ginia made several trips out to see how they both were doing. Murphy seemed to be resting fairly comfortably as long as Jonathan regularly gave the medication that Luke had left. Virginia greeted the sun over the eastern horizon with relief. Surely things would be better in daylight.

  Mindy went do to her morning chores and came back in a rush.

  “Murphy isn’t out there!” she reported, eyes wide with concern. Jonathan and Virginia exchanged glances. He reached down and lifted the child up onto his lap.

  “Murphy was hurt yesterday,” he said carefully. “You know how Murphy likes to tease the horses?”

  Mindy nodded solemnly.

  “He did that yesterday and one of the horses kicked him.”

  “Hard?”

  “Yes. Hard.”

  “Did he broke?”