Lyddy introduced Sheila to the children, and she gave them the gifts she had brought from their grandparents. For Eric, there was a pocketknife, chosen by his grandfather, and for Serenity, whom they called Sera, there was the doll. She was delighted with it, as was Eric with his knife, and they thanked Sheila for bringing them.
“Thee must write for your sister and yourself to your grandparents back in Fair Hill,” their mother told them. “Aunt Sheila only brought them to you from them.”
“Yes, they are very proud of both of you.! Sheila told them smiling, as she seated herself near Sera.
Eric said he would write a note and send it off soon.
“Everything okay at home?” Mike asked Barbara as the children began to play together. Paul Michael, Sheila noticed, seemed to like being close to Sera and he was very attentive to her. She thought this a very fine thing for as young as they both were.
“Yes, everything’s fine, Mike, we just decided to come by and left the older ones with Paul and Uncle Alan.” Barbara explained as Lyddy poured tea for all of them, and set some cookies out to go with it.
They talked for a while, enjoying the warmth of this little house.
“Is thee coming to worship?” Lyddy asked Sheila as they gathered their warm wraps to leave.
“Yes, we’ll be there.” she told her. “We enjoyed the meeting in Fair Hill and I look forward to this one.”
“Good, we’ll be glad to have thee.” Lyddy gave Sheila a warm hug, and thanked her again for bringing the gifts for the children.
When they reached the town of Mapleton, where Barbara needed a few things from the store, Sheila looked about her as she stepped from the wagon.
“This is a very neat and clean place,” she observed.
“Yes, we like it. And it has all we need.” They all went inside, and Sheila was introduced to Carl and Bess Meyers and their family. They got a few things for meals, and Sheila bought some peppermint sticks for all of the children.
Then they returned to the farm, passing the meetinghouse on the way back.
Barbara pointed it out to her Aunt, and she was reminded that Alan had drawn up the plans for it.
“It looks very inviting,” she said as they passed it.
“Yes, I always feel that way when we go inside.” Barbara agreed.
When they reached the farm again, the two men were again inside, having some tea and a snack, with the older children nearby.
“Did thee have a good visit with Lyddy?” Paul asked as he warmly greeted Barbara.
“Yes, all is well there.”
“That’s good.” Was Mike inside?”
“Yes, he seemed to have some time on his hands.” Barbara said, putting things away with the help of Elizabeth.
“Should have sent him here.” Alan put in. “We could have given him something to do.” They all laughed a bit at his presumption that Mike had nothing to do at home.
“I doubt he would have really wanted to leave work at home and come here.” Barbara teased.
“Well, maybe he’s bored with his own work and something different would be welcome.” Knowing how hard the work was out here, They all laughed again.
“Lyddy invited us to worship,” Sheila told him when the laughter subsided.
“Oh, did you tell her we’d be there?”
“Yes, and she said she was glad.”
“Well, if we’re going to consider building here, we should find a place to worship.”
“There is a Lutheran church in Mapleton if thee prefers it,” Paul put in. “But thee is very welcome to meeting too.”
“I think I’d like to try the Meeting first.” Sheila told him.
“then thee is very welcome. I have to admit though, this is a huge change.” He said and his smile was warm.
“Yes, it is for me too,” she told him. “But it has been an interesting time for both of us.”
“So tell us the story, Aunt Sheila,” Barbara said.
“I will, but not with the children here.” she said quietly.
“Maybe this evening then?” she asked.
“Yes, I’ll tell you then.” Her Aunt agreed.
The day went by quickly. There was always something to be done, or a child to talk to, and before Sheila knew it, the children were all in bed, and the adults were all gathered in the living room, enjoying a fire, and some hot tea.
“Does thee feel like telling us what happened?” Barbara asked in the middle of a short silence.
“Thee doesn’t have to talk about it if thee would rather not.”
“Yes, I want to tell you.” Sheila answered finishing her tea. “I think you should know.”
So they all settled back to listen, and Alan made sure he was sitting near enough to give her a squeeze of the hand in support.
She began slowly, but as she saw their rapt attention the words came faster, and she told them the whole story of her father, and the illness she had suffered recently.
When she had finished, her weariness must have shown on her face, for Barbara came and took both of her hands in hers.
“Thee is very brave to tell us all of this,” she said quietly, her gray eyes shining with unshed tears. “I can understand a lot more now of why thee was so hesitant to let me be a part of thy life. I just want to make sure that thee knows that I appreciate thy sharing this with us.”
Sheila gave her a brief smile, but no words would come. The look on Barbara’s face was clearly meant to let Sheila know that no words were necessary.
When she seated herself again, Paul rose and took her place, his face full of caring and concern.
“Thee has had a difficult time, Aunt Sheila,” he began. “But thee will heal now. Thee is among those who love thee and want the very best for thee, and that will finish what thee started in Fair Hill.”
Sheila managed a soft thank you, and he nodded. “Just be sure to let us know if there is anything at all that thee needs here.” He added gently. “We will be glad to do anything for thee.”
He resumed his place near Barbara, and then Alan spoke. “I think we should pray together for clearness about what Sheila and I should do.” He said earnestly.
So they centered down and Sheila marveled at how close to God she felt right here in this simple house on the prairies.
They lost themselves in prayers and Scripture verses until Paul broke meeting. Sheila looked up at a clock on the mantel to see that an hour had passed.
“That seemed like five minutes,” she said in wonder as they all rose.
“Yes, time goes fast when we’re all so united.” Barbara agreed, giving her a hug. Alan and Sheila left them then, and went to their room, needing sleep to prepare for their first Sunday.
11
Sheila woke to the sounds of the day beginning. The soft voices of the children, as they tried to keep quiet, and the stove downstairs as Barbara got the fire going and started breakfast seemed somehow normal to her ears. She dressed quickly, noting that Alan still slept, and went down to join the family.
“Alan’s still asleep, she said after greeting Barbara in the kitchen.
“Paul hasn’t been up that long either.” Barbara said with a little laugh. “Guess we kept them up too late.”
“Thanks for listening to me last night. I tend to ramble once I get started.” Sheila said, putting the kettle on for tea as Barbara got bacon ready to fry.
“I am very happy to know that thee is not carrying that alone anymore,” Aunt Sheila,” She said seriously. “God is doing a great healing in thee, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”
“Yes, He definitely is,” Sheila agreed. “It has been difficult, and I have been a burden to Molly and your Mother-in-law, but they were stronger than I was, and able to help. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
“I’m sure it was no burden for them. God gives us strength to match our service.”
“You’re probably right about that.” she mused. “I guess that’s how I got through everything wh
en I was a child, although I didn’t know it at the time.”
Barbara touched Sheila’s shoulder as they passed one another, and she knew Barbara understood.
Alan came down then from upstairs, still waking up, and went directly out to the barn to help Paul with the chores.
“I think that cool air will wake them.” Barbara said laughing as she saw him shiver when he opened the door. “It’s not snowing, is it?”
“No, Mother,” Elizabeth said, entering the kitchen and beginning to set the table. “It’s cold, but no new snow.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” her mother said ruffling her hair. “Thank thee for helping.”
“You look like pictures I’ve seen of your mother,” Sheila told her.
“That’s what father and mother say.” She answered quietly. “I’m the only one who doesn’t have blonde hair and blue or gray eyes.”
“Well, that’s okay.” Sheila said gently. “You are very pretty as you are.”
“Thank thee, Aunt Sheila,” she said politely. “Father says that too.” “Did thee know my other mother?”
“No, I didn’t know anyone from Fair Hill till now,” Sheila told her. “But I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance. Everyone there speaks highly of her.”
“Everyone here who knew her does too.” Elizabeth replied. “But she is my real mother.” She added, giving Barbara a quick hug.
“I sure am,” Barbara agreed, hugging back. Elizabeth finished her task then, in companionable silence, as did the others. Breakfast was on the table and hot when Paul and Alan reentered the house, and washed up for the meal. Paul got the younger children settled while Sheila and Barbara put the dishes and platters on the table.
“It’s a cold morning,” Alan said taking his place amid the happy chatter. “Everyone should dress warm.”
“Yes, it still feels like February.” Paul agreed, and then brought the family to silence for grace.
When grace was said, and the chatter resumed, they all ate leisurely, enjoying the hot meal.
“I think I’d miss this now if we weren’t here,” Alan said after a pause in the children’s voices as they ate.
“Yes, it seems normal already.” Sheila agreed, Helping little Molly who sat near her, to cut some toast in half.
“Both of thee seem to fit in well,” Paul, agreed passing Alan a dish.
“I hope thee finds a place close,” Mercy said from across the table. “I like having thee here.”
“Yes, thee likes the extra peppermint sticks,” Leticia teased. They all laughed and Mercy smiled her admission that they were part of the reason.
They were soon finished, and the children were dressed and prepared for meeting. Sheila found herself helping with that too, enjoying their small bodies in her lap and putting curls into the girls’ hair. They took a sleigh that Paul had made and were soon heading toward the meetinghouse, bells ringing merrily on the collars of the horses.
“This is like Christmas.” Alan remarked to Sheila. “Being in the midst of this family is like Christmas every day.”
“I agree. We’re blessed to be here.”
They soon joined the throng going into the meetinghouse, and Sheila joined the girls and Barbara as the women separated from the men. She thought of those in Fair Hill and knew that they would have done this already this morning. She thought of Martha with her little son, and Amy and Andrew giving one another a smile as they parted.
She found a place among the girls, sitting between Mercy and Leticia, and joined the silence that was descending.
She could not help stealing a quick gaze around her as they centered down. Here too, there were at least three if not 4 generations of families, joining for worship and melding their lives into one. It would be easy to become a part of this community, just as they had in Fair Hill.
Many folks spoke during the time they were there, folks of all ages, from the elder ones to the younger ones. Sheila felt uplifted and as if she had been here for a long time instead of a few short days.
When meeting was about to be broken, Mike Hansen rose and spoke, telling everyone of the arrival of the Scotts and asking that they be welcomed into the meeting. Then a man about his age rose and spoke.
“It seems that the Lord has brought the Scotts here at just the right time,” he began slowly. “Em and I have decided to return to Fair Hill.” There was sadness in his voice but he smiled through it. “As many of thee know, my father isn’t doing well back there, and I need to go back and help him and mother on the farm. There’s no one else to do it, and mother says he needs us, even though he won’t say it himself.” “So if the Scotts want our farm here, maybe we can make some kind of agreement.” He seated himself again, and a few more announcements were shared, then meeting was broken, and they all filed out, greeting one another on the lawn outside. Alan came to stand with Sheila then, and many of the folks greeted them as if they had always been there. The man and his wife also came to them as the crowd thinned and introduced themselves.
“I’m John Travis and this is Emily,” he said with a welcoming handshake. “Would thee be interested in the farm?”
“Hey, Travis, come and have dinner with us, and then thee can discuss it more,” Paul put in as he came up to them, his son in his arms.
“That would be great, is thee sure Barbara won’t mind?” John and Emily had four children around them.
“When have I ever minded having thee with us?” she said appearing beside Emily. “Thee is welcome, especially if thee is leaving and we won’t have thee here.”
So they followed the family home, as did Mike and Lyddy and their two children. Sheila was remembering days in Fair Hill when the big old house had been full of guests after church. No one ever thought of them as guests, they were just members of the family. Evidently, this custom was followed here too.
Wen everyone arrived home, a table was put up in the living room that would seat the adults. The kitchen table was made larger to seat the children, and Elizabeth and Mercy kept things running smoothly there while the adults gathered in the living room. The smallest children were kept with their parents so that they could be fed, so Paul-Michael and Sera were with the adults, as well as the Travis’s youngest two, who were twins.
Everyone helped to put things on the tables, and soon the meal was beginning.
“It’s just like you planned this,” Sheila said to Barbara as they seated themselves.
“I guess I always assume that we’ll have some extra folks about on Sundays.” She said with a laugh. “It’s how it is out here.”
“We all had to help each other a lot in the beginning,” Lyddy put in from Sheila’s other side. “So we still feel more like one family than many.”
“That’s a good way to do things,” Sheila agreed. “Many hands make light work, my mother used to say.”
“And it’s true,” Emily agreed. “None of us could have made it out here at first without everyone else. “Each of us has some special gift or talent and we all use them for the good of everyone.”
“You must have learned that in Fair Hill,” Sheila said smiling.
“Yes, we grew up believing that was how we should live.” Lyddy agreed. “And our children are doing the same.”
When the meal was over, and the children were all either napping or playing among themselves, the adults talked about the Travis farm.
“It’s not as well developed as this one,” John admitted. “We do have a frame house though. No Soddy.”
As they discussed the number of acres and what they were used for, Sheila sat quietly among them, amazed at this turn of events. They had only been there a few days and already they were talking about a farm, and making a life there. She decided that once God directed them to go somewhere or do something, things happened fast.
Alan and John discussed prices for the land and buildings, and came to an agreement. It was decided that Alan and Sheila would go to town with him in the morning and settle things at the bank and the l
and office. The farm was as good as theirs.
“I don’t think thee should buy it without seeing it first,” John said after a pause. So they gathered the Travis’s four children and then Alan and Sheila followed them to the farm. The others remained at the Becker farm.
They found to their delight, that the land was adjoining not only the Becker land, but the Hansen farm as well. So they would be in their midst, close enough to easily go from one to the other.
It seemed to cover miles since the land was so vast out there. There were a few hills, but most of it was prairie. There were fields for wheat, and pastures for the sheep who now lived in the barn. There were a few horses for working the land, which, along with the other livestock, had been part of the agreement. John and Emily would take the train back to Fair Hill, leaving all of the animals with The Scotts. There were chickens and Emily assured Sheila that there would be eggs. The house was small, and Sheila decided it would have to have been cramped for the family. But for them, it was enough, at least for the time.
“If thee wants to change anything or add on,” John told them, as they stood in the cozy living room, “I’m sure the folks will help. They helped us raise the house and barn and dig the well.”
Emily and Sheila went to the kitchen together. “I’m leaving everything here,” she told Sheila, “As I won’t need it back in Fair Hill. “I think most things are here, but the stores in town have anything thee needs.”
Sheila looked around her at the neat kitchen, and could not believe what she was seeing. Everything was in its place, and nothing she would need seemed to be missing. This would be her kitchen, where she could fix meals and this would be the heart of their new home. She gave Emily a smile. “I’m sure everything I need is right here, my dear.” she said shakily. “If there is anything you want to take back with you as a remembrance, please feel free to do that.”
She hugged Sheila for a moment, tears shining in her eyes. “It’s hard to leave this place,” she admitted trying not to cry. “I’ve raised our family here, and they were all born here. But we do need to help the family back in Fair Hill.”
West From Fair Hill (A Refuge in Fair Hill Book 3) Page 9
