“Aren’t you afraid they won’t like you?”
“That who won’t like me?”
“Luke’s family. They might not like you at all. They might be mean to you.”
“Now, why would you say a thing like that?”
“Because when my mama died I went to stay with a different family. They didn’t like me at all.”
“I sure can’t understand why. There must be something wrong with those people. Everybody here loves you, Sunny.”
“But aren’t you afraid Luke’s folks won’t like you?”
For a moment Joelle hesitated, but she had determined to always tell the truth to the girls. “Well, I am a little nervous.”
“You see! That’s the way I feel.”
But Joelle laughed and said, “It’s all foolishness. They’ll like me and I’ll like them, and then I’ll come back and it’ll be just like it was before. You won’t have to—”
At that moment a small herd of girls appeared in Joelle’s room. They all got as close to Joelle as they could and were pumping her with questions. June, who had reformed to a great extent after Phyllis had run away, sat as close to Joelle as she could get. The other two, Gladys and Shirley, crawled onto the bed, leaning around to watch Joelle’s face. It gave Joelle a good feeling to know that she had bonded with these girls. She was very proud of the progress they had made.
“We bought you a going-away present,” June said, mischief dancing in her eyes.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
“It was my idea,” Gladys said. “I thought of it myself.”
“What a nice thing to do.”
“I woulda thought of it if she didn’t,” Shirley said.
“We all put all our money together,” Sunny told Joelle. “And we went down and picked you out a present at the store.”
“Here it is,” June said. “You better like it.”
“I’m sure I will.” Joelle began to unwrap the package. “Somebody did a good job of wrapping.”
“I did that,” Shirley said. “I’m the best wrapper here.”
“You are not,” Sunny said. “I can wrap as good as you.”
“Now, don’t fuss, girls. Let me see what you got me.” Joelle untied the ribbon, opened up the colorful paper, and lifted the garment out. For a moment she could not speak. Her cheeks grew red, and she said, “Why . . . what a . . . nice present.”
The garment she was holding was a thin nightgown of sheer black silk. It was designed for a more daring woman than Joelle had ever been, and she knew she would be embarrassed to even put it on and see herself—much less let Luke see her in it!
“We all voted on it,” June said. “Gladys wanted to get you a vacuum cleaner, but we didn’t have enough money for that. Besides, a bride needs a nightgown like this.”
“It’s very pretty.”
“Look, you can almost read a newspaper through it,” Sunny said. “Why don’t you put it on and let us see how it looks.”
“No. I’m not going to do that,” Joelle said quickly. She looked around and saw that they were all waiting expectantly, and despite her inhibition, she knew she had to show the proper response. “It’s the most beautiful nightgown I’ve ever seen,” she said, holding it up against herself. “It’s just beautiful and I’ll treasure it forever. Thank you so much, girls.”
“You gotta keep a man interested,” June told her, “and that gown oughta do it.”
“I’m sure it will,” Joelle said, thinking, If this won’t do it, nothing will.
“Who’s gonna look out for us while you’re gone?” Sunny asked.
“The Taylors are going to stay here until we get back.” Ted and Irene Taylor were favorites of the girls. They were farmers in their middle forties and had no children of their own but had been very helpful with the girls. Anytime Joelle had to be gone for more than a few hours, she could call on the couple and they would come at once, and the girls all loved them.
“That’s good,” Sunny said. “I can make Ted do anything.”
“I doubt that,” Joelle said. “At least I hope not.”
“Irene can’t cook as good as you can,” Gladys said, “but I’ll help her.”
“That’s good, Gladys.”
At that moment Luke’s voice drifted up from downstairs. “All right, wife, I’m leaving without you if you don’t come down right away.”
“I’ve got to hurry.” Joelle started to close her suitcase, but Sunny said, “Wait a minute. You haven’t put your present in it.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Actually Joelle had been hoping to leave the nightgown behind, but she knew that would not do. Quickly she opened the suitcase and put the gown inside. Then the girls began to argue over who would carry the suitcase downstairs. June, being the largest and the oldest, won the battle and carried it down triumphantly.
“Are you ready for the big trip?” Ted Taylor asked. He was a big man with a weathered face from years of farming.
“All ready, Ted. I thank you and Irene so much for helping with the girls.”
Irene, Ted’s wife, was a small woman with quick mannerisms. “It’ll be fun,” she said. “Now, don’t you worry about a thing.”
“Come along,” Luke said cheerfully. “You can say your good-byes while I get the plane warmed up.”
All of them followed Luke outside and watched as he stored their luggage and then got in and started the engine. As it was warming up, Joelle went around to each of the girls and said a personal word and gave her a hug. Then she went over to thank Ted and Irene again.
Luke came out of the plane and was careful to go around to each of the girls. He had discovered that they were very jealous and somewhat insecure. So he spent equal time, as far as he could manage it, and when he had hugged them all and given them a kiss on the cheek, he winked at Ted and said, “That’s your last chance to hug a good-looking man until I get back.”
“I’m glad you borrowed that closed airplane from Mr. Morrow,” Ted said.
Luke had made a deal with Jim Morrow, who owned hundreds of acres of farmland. He had borrowed Morrow’s closed Cessna in exchange for spraying his crops when the next season started. “It’s a little bit too cold for open cockpits, Ted. Well, you and Irene take care of everything here, and I’ll take care of everything in Arkansas. Come on, wife.”
Joelle got into the plane as Luke held the door open, slammed it shut, then came around to climb in beside her. He reached over and fastened her safety belt and grinned at her. “Safety first. It’s been hard enough to get a wife. I don’t want to have to go to the trouble of getting another one.”
Luke took off and then he wheeled the plane over to give Joelle a good look at the Haven. All the girls were looking up and waving, and she waved back.
“They’re such dear girls,” she said. “You know, Luke, sometimes it breaks my heart when I think that there are girls everywhere who could be helped just like these.”
“Boys too.”
“Yes. Boys too.”
“Well, we put it before God and now it’s up to Him. He’ll see to it that there’ll be more than one Haven.” He leveled the plane off and climbed to a higher altitude. “I’m looking forward to seeing the folks. And I’m especially looking forward to showing you off.”
“I wish they could have been at the wedding, but it was all so sudden.”
“You wanted to get married so bad that you just couldn’t wait. We’ll just have to make it up to them.”
“You were the one who wanted to get married so bad.”
“Was it? I knew it was one of us. But anyhow, it’s done now, and anyway, I liked having such a small, intimate wedding. And I know my family will like you. They’ve never thrown out a Winslow bride yet.” He laughed and lifted the nose of the plane higher into the air.
****
The flight was a delight to Joelle. Before this, she had only flown in the open plane with the engine roaring and the wind tearing at her hair. Being enclosed in an airplane
with the engine somewhat muted permitted more talk.
On the first leg of their journey, they hit snow flurries, but as they moved west, the weather warmed up. By the time they were over Little Rock, the sun was shining brightly. Luke pointed ahead to the town of Liberty. “There it is. My old hometown. Let me give you a tour.”
“A tour?”
“Sure. Show you some of the high points of the misspent life of Luke Winslow.” He banked the plane and in a short time pointed down. “There’s where I went to high school—and there’s the football field. I wish I had a dollar for every forward pass I’ve thrown down there.”
He skimmed over Liberty, pointing out different sights, and finally mischief twinkled in his eye. “Now I’ve got something really important.” He flew over a wooded area that surrounded a small lake. “There’s Lovers’ Lake,” he said. “That’s where I used to bring girls to point out the beauty of nature,” he said. “You’d be surprised how beautiful nature is on a moonlit night on a lake like that.”
Joelle had become accustomed to Luke’s mild teasing, and she said tersely, “I don’t want to hear about your old girlfriends.”
“There was Mabel Matthews,” he said. “Now, Mabel really appreciated the beauty of that lake.”
Joelle turned and hit him sharply on the arm. “Hush up! I don’t want to hear about it.”
“I’ve kept it all in my diary. I’ll let you read it sometime if you’re good.”
“I don’t want to read your old diary!”
Luke laughed and banked the plane. “Oh well, then. I’ll show you the home place.”
He dropped the nose of the plane down and finally banked and pointed. “Look. There it is right there. That multicolored brick with the white windows.”
“What a beautiful house and beautiful lawn too.”
“I hated that lawn when I was growing up. Five acres and I had to cut every bit of it.”
“Didn’t your brother help you?”
“Well, every now and then, I guess.”
Suddenly Luke grinned. “Let’s give them a thrill.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll announce our coming.”
“What are you doing, Luke?”
“I’m going to give them a buzz.”
Luke slowed the plane down, but he flew dangerously close, it seemed to Joelle. The wheels almost seemed to skim the top of the house, and then he banked again and began circling.
“You’re going to hit the telephone wires or those trees.”
“An old crop-duster like me? Why, I could fly through the front door and straight out the back.” Luke laughed. “Look. They’re coming out.”
Joelle looked down and saw that, indeed, people were coming out of the house.
“There’s Dad—and there’s Mom. Look, they’re pointing up.”
“They’re probably talking about how crazy you are.”
“You’re probably right. Dad will have a word or two to say to me about this.” He reached over and pulled Joelle close. He gave her a quick kiss, and his eyes were dancing with fun. “But I’m giving him a beautiful daughter, so he won’t stay mad very long.”
“Don’t you think it’s about time you landed this thing?”
“I guess you’re right.”
Soon Luke was bringing the plane down on the municipal field. After he cut the engine, he said, “Welcome to Liberty. Are you anxious to meet my folks?”
“I guess so.”
“You’re not nervous, are you?”
“A little bit. They haven’t even met me, Luke. We shouldn’t have gotten married before I at least met them.”
“We didn’t have time. They’ll love you.” Luke got out, came around, and helped Joelle out of the plane. After grabbing their bags, he made arrangements with one of the employees to take care of the plane and asked the man where he could find a telephone. He found the phone and called for a cab.
“Did you just get in?” the driver asked as he got out of the cab.
“Yep—just flew in from Tennessee.”
“Let me help you with the bags.” The driver stowed the bags while Luke and Joelle got seated.
“Where can I take you?”
Luke gave the address, and the driver blinked with surprise. “I’ve been hauling people there for two days now. What’s going on?”
“A family reunion. The Winslow family.”
“Are you a Winslow?”
“A minor one. I’m Luke Winslow.”
“Hey, man, I remember you. As a matter of fact”—he grinned crookedly—”you gave me this busted beak.”
Luke stared at the man. “Don’t guess I remember that.”
“Don’t you remember when Liberty played North Little Rock for the big championship?”
“I sure do. Were you in that game?”
The cab driver laughed. “I’m Mike Connelly. I played guard for the North Little Rock Wildcats.”
“Hey, sure I remember you! I ought to.” He grinned. “You caved in my ribs pretty well, smacking me down that day.”
“That was the hardest game I ever played in.”
“Me too. What have you been doing with yourself, Mike?”
“I run this cab company. One of my drivers has been sick for the last couple of days, so I’ve been filling in for him.” He reached over and Luke shook his hand.
“I’m sorry about that nose, Mike.”
“And I’m sorry about the ribs. Well, it’s good to see you again.”
Joelle listened as the two men chatted about their high school days. She was actually more nervous than she wanted to admit, and when the cab pulled up to the Winslow home, she was almost ready to turn and go back to Tennessee.
Luke got out and helped Mike get the bags out, paid the fare, and then gave him a healthy tip. “Good to see you again, Mike. That was a great game, even if we lost.”
“I guess somebody’s got to lose. Look. Here’s my card. Call me if you need a lift while you’re here, Luke.”
“I’ll do that.”
Mike drove away, and Luke picked up the suitcases and started up the walk. They had not gotten to the porch when the door opened and his parents came out, smiling broadly. His mother came down the steps and gave him a big hug. “The bad penny’s home again, Mom.”
Peter Winslow had waited to give his wife first chance, but then he grabbed Luke and hugged him. “Good to see you again, son.”
“Dad, it’s good to be here. Look. I brought you a present. A new daughter.”
“I’m so glad to get to meet you at last,” Jolie Winslow said. She embraced Joelle at once, which immediately helped Joelle feel more comfortable.
“I’ve been longing to meet you too.”
“Well,” Peter said, putting his arm around Joelle and giving her a hug, “it’s good that Luke now has somebody who can make him behave.”
“Wait a minute,” Luke said. “I’m the boss of this family.”
“We can argue about that later. Come on in. Part of the family’s here. They’re anxious to meet you.”
“Oh, and I’d like to say a few words about your buzzing the house,” Peter began. “I don’t want—”
“Save your sermons, Peter,” Jolie said, digging her elbow into his side. “I could say a few words about the way you drive that car of yours.”
As they moved into the house, Joelle was suddenly surrounded with people. She tried to remember their names, but it was impossible. She was greeted warmly by Tim Winslow. This, she knew, was Luke’s younger brother. She remembered Luke saying Tim had wanted Luke to work at the family factory when he first came back from Spain.
Tim was all smiles now as he took his wife by the arm. “This is my wife, Mary, and these are our children, Gerald and Carolyn.”
Joelle squatted down to greet the kids but was almost immediately interrupted by a woman who looked a lot like Luke’s father.
“I’m Priscilla,” the woman said, “Luke’s aunt. It’s so nice to finally meet t
he woman who managed to snag Luke’s heart.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you too, Priscilla,” Joelle said.
“You must be tired. If you want to follow me, I’ll show you to the room you and Luke will be staying in.”
Joelle actually was glad to get a break for a moment. She followed the woman up the stairs and into a room that boasted a double bed. “Let me help you unpack. It’s madness down there with people coming and going all the time. Most of them aren’t here at the house at the moment. There must be a hundred Winslows in town.”
“I’m so glad to be here, Priscilla. Luke tells me you’re a teacher.”
“That’s right.”
“What a wonderful vocation.”
“It’s hard work, but I love it. I know I’ll miss the kids when I retire in another year or two. Now, tell me all about you and Luke.”
“What do you mean?”
“About your romance, I mean. Luke never was much for staying with one woman.”
“Did he have lots of girlfriends?”
“Oh, he was very popular. He just never got serious about any one girl.”
“I want to hear all about when he was a boy growing up,” Joelle said. “You’ll have to tell me everything.” She opened the suitcase, and Priscilla’s eyes widened. “That’s some nightgown there.”
Flustered, Joelle said, “It was a gift from the girls who stay with me at the Haven.”
“How old are those girls?”
“They range in age from twelve to sixteen.” She reddened and said, “It’s not the kind of gown I would have bought for myself.”
Priscilla’s eyes danced and she laughed aloud. “Maybe it’s really more of a present for Luke.”
At that moment the door opened and Jolie came in. “You girls can talk later. Come on down.” She turned and smiled. “Everyone wants to meet you, Joelle, and it’s almost time for supper.”
****
Joelle was sitting next to Wesley Winslow, who had brought his wife and three teenage children. The extended family was crowded around the huge dining table, waiting for supper to be served, and the room was filled with conversation and laughter. “I’ve admired your photographs for a long time, Mr. Winslow.”
“Thanks very much, but please use my first name.”
The White Knight Page 22
