The Long Road Home Romance Collection

by Judi Ann Ehresman

“Thanks,” Bess managed, “I guess there’s so much I don’t understand. So much I don’t know.”

  Rebecca was swift to reply. “Oh! None of us understands it all. God reveals himself to us a little at a time.” She had offered to accompany Bess to Pastor Lewis’s home to have him explain some of it to Bess.

  They walked on in silence for a while, but then Bess surprised herself. “I really do want answers,” she admitted to Rebecca.

  Rebecca’s eyes had lit up, and she’d led Bess to the pastor’s home, right around the corner. Pastor Lewis had clearly explained the whole truth of the waywardness of mankind, Christ’s coming to earth and His death on the cross to pay for all of mankind’s, and what she must do personally to accept His forgiveness. It sounded so very easy.

  And that was the day Bess’s whole life changed—for the second time! In light of all that Pastor Lewis explained, Bess did not want to go back to her old way of life. That very day they all prayed together, and Bess knew without a doubt she was a new creation. Her life would be completely different from here on out.

  At their generous offer, Bess moved in with the good pastor and his wife that same day. To say that her life had changed was a total understatement. At first, Bess felt at a loss. She had no identity, no means to be independent, and wondered about a purpose for her life. Mrs. Lewis, who asked Bess to call her Marita, took Bess under her wing to teach her and spend time with her. Also, Rebecca Taylor came over often, and the three women visited and chatted together.

  Chapter 3

  At first, Bess was timid about attending the church services. Marita Lewis and Rebecca Taylor were careful to always sit on either side of her and then to introduce her to others within the church as soon as services were over.

  Before long, Bess felt accepted and known and loved within that small church. When she saw Ethan, he spoke to her, letting her know he was happy that she had found her answers to life in her faith in God. She knew he was genuinely happy for her, but she also realized he had no real feelings for her other than a casual friendship. For some reason, that was all right with her. She was totally content with her new life with God, since she was trying to read the Bible and understand its teachings and therefore didn’t have time to devote to a relationship right now anyway.

  Bess had always enjoyed spring with its promise of new life but never had it seemed so overwhelmingly wonderful as it did this year. When she would hang clothes on the clothesline for Marita, she couldn’t help just standing in awe and breathing in deeply. The fragrances of new grass, honeysuckle, spring flowers, and fresh air made her heart want to burst with joy. How had she missed all this before? She truly felt like dancing and singing and embracing the world!

  One day late in the spring, as Bess, Marita, and Rebecca were visiting with some other ladies after church, one of the men came up to the group somewhat hesitantly.

  “Good morning, Robert!” Marita said with a friendly smile. “How is Anita doing today?”

  “It’s difficult to know for sure. She never complains. But this week I suggested to her that we find someone to come live with us who could keep house and cook for us and help her with the children since she is bedfast. Pastor Lewis thought your friend Bess might be interested.” He glanced timidly at Bess, then smiled and offered his hand.

  Bess shook his hand but didn’t quite know what to say. Should she tell him of her past? Did he know how inexperienced she was with housekeeping?

  In the silence Marita replied gently, “Perhaps we could discuss it and then come out for a visit. Maybe when Bess meets Anita and the children she will be better equipped to answer. Would that be satisfactory?”

  “Of course! What a splendid idea! Might I suggest tomorrow afternoon, then?”

  Bess and Marita nodded simultaneously. “Tomorrow, then,” Marita said with another smile.

  Over lunch Marita mentioned the conversation to her husband. Pastor Lewis looked at Bess. “When he asked me if I knew of someone, I thought of you immediately, Bess,” he explained kindly. “You have learned to cook and take care of a house in the past several weeks with us, and although you are welcome to stay indefinitely, I thought you might want to entertain the possibility. When you meet Anita, you can decide if it is something you care to do or if you prefer to stay on here. Either way is perfectly acceptable to Marita and me.” He glanced quickly at Marita, and she nodded enthusiastically.

  “We will miss you greatly if you decide to take the position, Bess,” Marita said, “but we would not hold you back if you want to do this. It would be a wonderful way to enjoy a bit of independence at the same time you are helping someone in need. You think about it, and we will support you completely, whatever you decide.”

  Even though Robert and Anita Sheldon were part of the same church Bess attended, she had not yet met Anita since she was unable to attend services. However, Bess was delighted with the possibility of the position.

  The meeting at the farm was strained at first. Bess had never been around children, but she couldn’t help liking nine-year-old Paul’s red hair and freckles. Conner had black hair like his dad, dark brown eyes, and another generous helping of freckles. He had just turned eight. Phillip was six years old and had more teeth missing than in, or so it appeared from his shy smile. There was nothing at all shy about Anna. The four-year-old girl was all smiles and dimples and curls and sky-blue eyes.

  When she met Anita Sheldon, Bess realized that Anna was a carbon copy of her beautiful mother. The polio had left Anita’s legs useless, and the pain she suffered was evident in her drawn face and blue, blue eyes, but only gentle words were on her lips. Bess knew she would have her hands full with an invalid, four energetic children, and a farmhouse, but she longed to be given the position. Though she didn’t know the first thing about raising children, much less keeping house and cooking, the arrangements were made, and she soon found herself settled in and running a household.

  The Sheldon home was a very pleasant place in which to work. Bess quickly learned to run the household with Anita’s encouragement and advice. The children were a bit shy of her at first, as she was of them, but they all soon learned to love one another.

  Bess’s life soon took on a contentedness she had never known before.

  The fragrance of the lilies of the valley was almost dizzying as Bess cut a large bouquet to take into the house for Anita to enjoy. Anita had commented on the fragrance every time the breeze blew through her window, so when Bess realized how much the dear lady wished to see the dainty lilies, she arranged them in a glass and carried them into Anita’s room.

  “Oh, Bess, they are even more beautiful than I remembered. I haven’t seen them for what seems like forever. This morning I smelled them through the window, and I lay here trying to remember what they looked like exactly, and now you have brought them indoors for me! You are indeed an angel to think of me with all the other work you do. Now I won’t long to be outdoors so much. It is wonderful to be able to hear the children playing and know they are being cared for so well. God certainly answered my prayers more than I ever could have hoped or dreamed when He sent you to us.”

  “Anita, you are God’s answer for me. I certainly appreciate the way you and Robert have accepted me and allowed me to be part of your family. This is the first real home I have ever known, and the first privilege I’ve ever had to be around children. I appreciate your trust in me and patience with me as I learn how to do the housework and care for the children.”

  As she said all this, she was straightening the bedclothes, plumping the pillows, and trying in general to make certain Anita was comfortable. She was amazed at the way God had given her a love of serving. Her greatest thrill was to make Anita comfortable and to care for those wonderful children. She smiled to herself as she remembered the way she used to think housewives must lead a boring life. She shook her head. There could be nothing more fulfilling than this.

  Again she offered her silent prayer of thanks as she hugged Anita and went out to
make the bread into loaves and check on little Anna.

  Day by day Bess learned how to clean the house, care for the vegetable garden, cook the meals, do the laundry, and care for the children and their invalid mother. How she loved doing the housework to the music of the children’s voices outdoors as they played and worked together. What a privilege she had been given.

  One day, as she helped Anita sit up a bit more in her bed, she thought how long the days must get for her to be unable to see and hear what was going on in the household. Suddenly she realized that she was probably strong enough to carry Anita outdoors where she could see and hear what was going on in the family.

  She quickly went out to place a chair in the shade by the honeysuckle arbor. Inside she found Anita’s kimono and brought it over to the bed. “I have a wonderful idea. I’m going to carry you out of doors today. Would you like that?”

  Anita’s eyes were large as she looked at Bess. “What if you hurt yourself? I could never forgive myself. Maybe when Robert comes in, he will help you. But, oh, I would love to go out and feel the breeze and be with the children. Do you think it would hurt anything?”

  “I think it would be good for you,” Bess replied. “Anita, those children need you and so does Robert. Now come on and put your arms around my neck. Try to hold on while I lift you.”

  It was a bit difficult, but she managed to lift Anita and carry her out to the chair. She took another chair to sit with Anita for a while to catch her breath and get some strength back. Just seeing the happy flush in Anita’s cheeks encouraged Bess.

  “I must get back to the housework, but I will be out to check on you from time to time.” And Bess bustled away. She went out to the garden where the boys were pulling some weeds. “When you finish what you are doing, go to the honeysuckle arbor,” she told them mischievously. “There is a treat for you there.”

  She could hear them trying to guess what was there as she walked back to the house. Anna would wake from her nap anytime now, and she would take her out to her mother. What fun that would be for them both!

  All afternoon as she worked she could hear the excited chatter and squeals as the children played with their mother. When she took cold water out to them, she thought she had never seen Anita looking so well. Bess had been right; this was what Anita needed. Bess could hardly wait to talk to Robert about another idea she’d had that very afternoon. No, she decided she would check into that herself.

  And so the excitement started brewing. The next time they all went into town to church she pulled Rebecca Taylor aside as soon as she had an opportunity after church and asked if she and her husband could order things for their store from out East.

  “Yes, we do it all the time. What is it you need?”

  “I want a chair with wheels. I have seen pictures of them. You can sit a person in the chair and move them anywhere you want to. I have some money, and I would like to get one for Anita. Would you help me?”

  Rebecca assured Bess that she would look in the catalogues and see what was available. She reminded her that it would probably take several weeks unless she could make the right train connections for shipping. Bess asked her to do what she could and handed her a purse of money. “If that is not enough, I have more. This is really important. Anita needs to be able to get out and about with her family.” And with that she hugged Rebecca and went to round up the children so they could get back to the farm, as none of them liked to leave Anita alone for very long.

  One afternoon in June while Bess was making some pies, Anita sat in a chair in the kitchen where she had been carried that day. Anita was peeling potatoes into a bowl in her lap while Bess rolled out a piecrust. Anita seemed so much more alive and strong since Bess and Robert had been carrying her into the living room or yard each day. And Bess enjoyed her jolly company.

  It was a warm afternoon, and they chatted companionably while they worked. The breeze wafted through the open windows, and a lazy fly came in also and tried to get into the pie. Bess brushed at the fly, then wiped her flour-covered hand on her apron. She reached for a flyswatter. “I’d better get this fly out of here before we have meat in our pie.”

  “Please do,” said Anita. “Flies do not make good meat in pies!” The women chuckled together companionably.

  Suddenly Anita stopped with her knife poised and tilted her head. “Is Robert going somewhere?” she asked Bess.

  “Not that I know of,” Bess replied. Just as Bess turned her head to question Anita, she heard the buggy wheels too. She went to the window but could see nothing from inside for all the shade trees. Quickly she wiped her hands as Anita said, “Go see what it is!” Bess trotted out the back door trying to shade her eyes to see up the lane.

  As she watched, a wagon came around the corner and up the lane. It looked like Rebecca’s husband, Jason Taylor. And then Bess remembered the wheelchair and ran out to meet him. Sure enough, he had a large crate in the back of the wagon.

  Robert jogged up just in time to help Jason lift the crate down to the ground. “What is it?” Robert asked.

  “Oh, it’s something Bess ordered awhile back.” Jason smiled.

  Bess was already trying to pull the boards loose from the crate, so Jason and Robert took metal bars and pried the lid off. Jason pulled the chair free from the crate and said, “Sit in it. Let’s try it out.”

  Bess sat in it quickly, because she wanted to make sure it was going to be comfortable for Anita, and was pleased at how comfortable it was. Jason pushed her on the packed dirt of the lane and it was quite easy, but they all decided it would be easier in the house.

  Together they all took the contraption into the house to show Anita. Anita was speechless when she realized what it was. “Oh, this will be so much easier for you both. What a wonderful gift!”

  Bess and Jason showed her how she could use her arms to move the wheels and would be able to get around some by herself now as well.

  One by one the children came running in to see who was visiting and were pleased and surprised by the new chair that would make it possible for their mother to get around. And Bess was pleased when Jason returned some of the money. It hadn’t even cost what she had expected. She couldn’t help humming to herself as she went back to the work she had been doing. Yes, life was good.

  Later as they all sat around the big country table eating the delicious meal that Bess and Anita had prepared, Robert announced that he planned to make boardwalks from the doors to the outside so that Anita could get around outside some by herself as well. Anita was so excited by her new mobility that she could hardly finish a sentence. It was wonderful to think that if someone helped her into her chair she would be able to get around by herself and even be able to help out with some of the work from her chair.

  Bess’s heart was so full she was hardly saying anything. She enjoyed being a part of this family, and for the first time in her life feeling like she really cared about someone and that they cared for her in return.

  In the middle of the meal and conversation little Anna slid down from her chair and ran around the table to throw her arms around Bess and whisper, “I think you is jes’ wunnerful!” Bess smiled and quickly hugged her back, wiping away the tears with a swipe of her napkin. “I love you, little Anna,” she whispered back.

  Robert and Anita exchanged smiles and kept on eating. God had certainly blessed their little family, and they were grateful.

  That evening, as they were reading the Bible together and praying around the table, Conner prayed, “Thank You, God, for Miss Bess, and thank You, God for giving us our mommy back.”

  Bess grinned with contentment and joy.

  Chapter 4

  Bess seldom went to the town anymore except for church. She and Anita would tell Robert what was needed for the household, and he would make the trip into town for the purchases and bring them home for the family. However, the children were growing rapidly, and Anita noticed that some new clothes were needed. So Anita asked Bess if she would go along with
Robert on his next trip to purchase the fabrics and threads, buttons and other notions that they would need in order to make new clothes for the children.

  Bess agreed, so the two women planned what they would need and made the list. Bess was a bit shy to go back into town and possibly be seen by people who knew of her previous life, but she knew she would need to do so sooner or later, so she convinced herself that now was as good a time as any.

  The trip to town did seem adventuresome for Bess, now that she was accustomed to her life on the farm. She and Robert spoke some but rode in companionable silence most of the way. She soon appreciated the bonnet Anita had suggested she wear, even though it was so hot she had not wanted to cover her head. However, because the sun was so hot the shade created by the wide brim was welcome indeed. Yes, Anita was a very wise and knowledgeable woman and good friend.

  Besides the smell of the dust from the horses’ hooves and wagon wheels, she could smell the nutty aroma of the wheat and barley that was ready for harvest. Now and again as they passed a farm the acidic odor of manure from the barns wafted toward her, and she heard the cattle lowing. Once they passed a house where the children were playing some sort of tag in the yard. The laughter and shouting voices made both Bess and Robert smile. Those would be some hot and dirty children come bedtime, but nothing a little soap and water and a good night’s rest couldn’t cure.

  When they arrived in town, Robert let Bess out of the wagon at the store, while he went to the stables to water the horses. She stood on the boardwalk in front of Taylors’ store watching as Robert pulled away and started down the road. She suddenly felt very alone, although the town was busy enough with people and wagons. But she squared her shoulders and went into the store.

  Several people were inside. It took a little while for her eyes to adjust to the dimness after the bright sun outside. Several men stood and sat around the stove, even though the stove was cold. She guessed they were in the habit of gathering there in the winter for its warmth, so they still used the benches that were there to meet somewhere out of the direct sun.