“It’s gettin’ kind of late and the stormy weather has kept the skies overcast,” Pastor Shattuck stated. “I believe once Mara is finished helpin’ out, she and I will make our way back to town. I ought to go ready the buggy.”
“We really should be going, as well,” Mrs. Perkins said with a quick glance at her husband.
He nodded and stood. “Pastor makes a good point. Might even get back before the next storm moves in.”
They heard the rumblings of thunder in the distance, and Mother moved to the end of the table. “I will miss your company, of course, but I completely understand.”
Deborah looked to Mara. “I can handle this by myself.”
The young woman inclined her head to the kitchen. “I’ll . . . ah . . . bring these in and then go.”
Something in her expression made Deborah realize she had something she needed to say. Deborah nodded and led the way with a stack of plates. She quickly discarded the dishes on the counter and turned to Mara.
“Has Jael sent word?”
“Yes. She sent this letter.” Mara put the tableware down and reached inside her blouse. “I hid it so I could give it to you when we were alone.”
“Probably a good idea. Maybelle and Annabeth have a tendency to run their mouths at the most inopportune times.” Deborah took the letter. “Thank you for doing this. I know it’s probably not the most comfortable thing. I certainly didn’t want to put you in a compromising position.”
“I don’t feel that it’s a problem.” Mara smiled. “I also heard from your brother Rob. He hopes to come home for a visit this summer. Probably toward the end of next month. Won’t that be wonderful?”
“Has he hinted about the two of you setting a wedding date?”
Mara blushed. “Not exactly. We both know that when the time is right, we’ll wed. We’re trusting God will show us when.”
“I wish He’d show me when, as well,” Deborah said with a sigh. “I don’t understand this waiting, but I suppose in time God will reveal everything I need to know.”
Mara leaned forward and kissed Deborah’s cheek. “He will.”
Long after everyone had gone, G.W. checked in on the sleeping twins, then headed back into the room he shared with Lizzie. She was already in bed, and he had to admit, she made a most fetching picture with her long blond hair brushed out around her shoulders.
“You’re the prettiest gal around. You never fail to make my heart skip a beat.” He grinned and sat to take off his boots.
Just then, he heard the mules fussing, which wasn’t like them. Getting to his feet, he reached for his rifle. “Sounds like we’ve got a varmint causin’ problems.”
“Do be careful,” Lizzie said, sitting up. “It could be one of those wild hogs.”
He nodded and headed out. Reaching the back door, G.W. wasn’t surprised to find Arjan on his heels.
“What’s goin’ on out there?” his stepfather asked, holding up a lighted lantern.
“I don’t know, but the girls sound mighty upset.” G.W. opened the back door to agitated braying. He could see movement in the distance. “They’re out of the pen. Somehow they got the gate open.” The two men moved out to round up the animals. It was strange, G.W. thought, that they should be having this kind of problem. The mules had been confined since Friday and there hadn’t been any trouble with them.
Arjan picked up a bucket and tapped the lantern base against it. “Come on, you old coots, I’ll give you some grain.” Several of the nearest mules began to wander toward them.
Without warning, G.W. heard a man call out, “Just wanted to get your attention!”
Arjan stopped. “Who’s there?”
Several mounted riders approached. There were five in total, and each wore some kind of sack over their heads. Holes had been cut out to let them see, but otherwise their faces were hidden. “We’re part of the White Hand of God,” the leader announced. “This here is what we call a friendly warnin’. Mind your own business or there’ll be trouble.”
G.W. felt the reassurance of the rifle at his side. He didn’t move to expose the weapon, but stood stock-still. “Who are you to threaten us?”
“You Vandermarks have been nothin’ but trouble. You need to remember your own kind and leave the darkies to themselves. I’m here to issue a warnin’. Stop offerin’ that reward your family posted and keep that nosy sister of yours from pesterin’ folks for answers. Otherwise, you’ll be forcin’ our hand.”
“Kinda like you’re forcin’ mine,” G.W. said, raising the rifle to his shoulder.
The leader pulled back on the horse’s reins and the beast took several steps back. “Friend, you don’t want to be doin’ this. You don’t know me, but I know you. I know where you live, and I know your family.”
“Don’t you dare threaten my family,” G.W. said, moving a step forward.
“Bad things are gonna happen,” the man said, turning his horse. “If you don’t do what we’ve asked, the blood will be on your hands.”
He kicked his horse and gave a blood-curdling yell, echoed by the other men as they moved back to the road. G.W. started to follow, but Arjan took hold of his arm.
“Let ’em go. There’s no sense in goin’ after them. We need to get the mules back in the pen.”
“They threatened our family. It ain’t right to just let ’em go.”
“Maybe not, but if you go after them, they’ll hurt you or kill you. They have the lead, and setting up an ambush sounds like just the kind of thing those cowards would do. Stay here, G.W. There’ll always be another day to fight.”
G.W. looked at his uncle for a moment, then lowered the rifle. “I suppose you’re right.” But the idea of letting such men roam at will didn’t set well. “This leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” he told his uncle.
“It does in mine, too, but it can’t be helped just yet. Not without risking too much . . . not without endangering those we love.”
Christopher had been completely exhausted by the time they reached Lufkin. Rather than wait for a train to take them south, Christopher arranged to rent a wagon and an ancient pair of horses to pull it. Even though it was late in the day, he felt it was important to get the family home. The weather was clear, the roads dry, and he longed for his own bed.
It was the middle of the night, however, before he was finally able to make his way to that bed. Even then, despite the ache in his back and weariness in his bones, Christopher found sleep hard to come by.
Because the hospital was the only place with enough beds, Christopher had settled them there for the night, but Jonah was afraid of the small infirmary, and only an hour after Christopher urged the boy to give it a chance, Jonah found his way into Christopher’s room. Emma soon followed, declaring that there were scary noises coming from outside. She was certain that bad fairies were coming to hurt them. The comment had made Christopher smile. Despite their Christian upbringing, Ma had no doubt shared the mythical stories she’d known as a child. She had wanted to hide their Irish beginnings, but Christopher knew his ma had been steeped in such superstitious tales. It would have been hard to bury them away.
The children crawled into bed with Christopher and quickly fell asleep. Throughout the remaining hours of the night, Christopher tried his best to doze, but it was useless. Each time he started to nod off, he worried about crushing Emma or Jonah. Finally, he gave up altogether and got dressed. A quick glance at the clock showed that it was nearly five.
With a sigh, Christopher went to the stove and got a fire started. The idea of strong coffee gave him hope that he could make it through the day. He put the pot on the burner and went to check on what food he had in the house.
There wasn’t much of anything he could feed himself, much less five growing bodies. The only solution that came to mind was to take them to the Vandermarks. Euphanel would be more than capable of helping him figure out a solution, and he was anxious to see Deborah. Maybe breaking the news to her with the support of her family would make t
he situation easier. Maybe.
Christopher knew the Vandermarks would be up with the sun, but he didn’t want to wake his siblings. They might as well get some rest, even if he couldn’t. To busy himself while the coffee brewed, Christopher went to his office and pulled out a ledger. He didn’t have a lot of money left, and that was the most worrisome challenge of all. How was he supposed to support a family? He had nothing of value to sell. He needed his gelding to get around the area to see his patients, and the crude wagon and horses he’d rented in Lufkin would have to be returned within the week.
He buried his face in his hands. God, I just don’t know what to do. I didn’t think this through, and I didn’t make provisions. All I could think about was getting back here.
Guilt washed over him in waves. He’d put his own desires first. The children would suffer because of his need to return to Deborah. But it wasn’t just Deborah. Christopher couldn’t stomach remaining at Mrs. Maynard’s much longer. Every time he caught sight of the charred remains of the family home, he was tormented by images of his parents burning to death. He couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
Besides, there is nothing for us in Kansas City, he thought.
Christopher got to his feet. He needed the counsel of someone wiser, and Euphanel and Arjan Vandermark would offer reasonable solutions and godly guidance. They could help him figure out what to do. Heading into the infirmary, Christopher found Jimmy was already awake.
“I figured you’d still be sleeping.”
Jimmy shook his head. “I kept thinking about everything. I can’t seem to make my mind relax.”
Christopher nodded. “I’ve got the same problem. Let’s get the others up. I want to take you all out to meet some friends of mine. They’ll be able to give us breakfast, and maybe some advice as to what we need to do next.”
“Who are these folks?”
“My fiancée’s family. The Vandermarks own a big logging company and live north of here. We passed their place on the way down.”
Jimmy nodded. “Okay. I’ll get ’em ready.”
“Good. I’ll go hitch the wagon. Emma and Jonah are sleeping in my room, just off the kitchen. Have everybody out front as soon as you can.”
Christopher made his way back into the kitchen and moved the coffeepot from the stove. Next he went to the examination room and took up his medical bag, just in case anyone needed his skills along the way.
He slipped out the back door and headed to the livery, where he found Peter Garby singing and shoveling hay. The old black man straightened and smiled at the sight of Christopher.
“Doc, I figured it was you what left me this new business. Where’d you get these sorry old nags?”
Christopher smiled. “Now, Peter, those nags brought me and my family all the way from Lufkin.”
“Well, that ’splains it, then. They was probably in their prime when they started the trip. That old cow path you traveled ain’t fit to be called a road. ” Peter laughed at his own joke and pointed at the wagon. “Ain’t never seen kindlin’ fixed up like that.”
Laughing, Christopher nodded. “I feared it might well fall apart beneath us, but it was all I could afford to rent out.”
Peter nodded and put his hayfork aside. “You headin’ off, Doc?”
“Yes. I need to hitch up the wagon. I want to take my family out to the Vandermarks.”
“That’s the second time you mentioned family. What you jawin’ on about?”
“It’s a long story. I’m afraid my parents were killed in a house fire.”
The older man took the hat from his head and placed it over his heart. “God bless ’em. I’m sure sorry, Doc.”
“I have three brothers and two sisters who were still living at home. I brought them back to Texas with me.”
Peter put the hat back on his head and went to the stall Christopher had used the night before. “You’s a mighty good man, Doc. I’ll get your wagon ready.”
“I’m going to have to get some work quickly in order to pay you, Peter.” Christopher hadn’t thought even as far as to how he’d manage to care for the team of horses before taking them back to Lufkin.
“Don’t you fret none, Doc. I know you’s good for it.” Peter worked quickly to harness the team and get them secured to the wagon. He managed it in half the time it would have taken Christopher. “They’s ready for you.”
“Thanks, Peter. I appreciate your help.”
The old man grinned, revealing several black holes where teeth were missing. “My pleasure.”
Christopher led the team from the livery and across the street. He stopped in front of his porch and found his siblings waiting impatiently. Jonah jumped down rather than taking the stairs. He hurried to Christopher.
“Where are we goin’?”
“To see some friends of mine.” Christopher helped him into the wagon and motioned for the others to come.
“I’m hungry,” Jonah declared, leaning down over Christopher’s shoulder.
“I am, too,” Christopher replied. “My friends will have food for us.”
At least he was pretty sure they would. Times were hard for everyone, and maybe this wasn’t his best idea. Still, he knew the Vandermarks—especially Euphanel. She would be madder than a nest of wet hornets if he let his family go hungry.
Jimmy helped load the girls into the wagon before he climbed aboard himself. Tommy followed suit, yawning all the way.
“Don’t know why you had to wake us up so early,” Tommy complained. He plopped down in the bed of the wagon. “Sure ain’t as comfortable as a bed.”
Christopher decided to remain silent. Getting them on the road would be a smarter solution than spending time trying to convince them of the benefit. He climbed up and took a seat. To his surprise, Darcy climbed over the bench and eased down beside him. She looked up at him with a smile.
“Can I help?” she asked.
Releasing the brake, Christopher maneuvered the reins between them. “Sure. I’ll show you how it’s done.”
“I never drove a wagon before,” she said, awed by the leather straps he’d handed her. Christopher showed her how to raise the reins to lightly slap them against the rumps of the horses.
“Now tell them to ‘get along.’ ”
Darcy did so and began to giggle as the horses pulled in unison against their load. “Look at ’em go!”
Christopher chuckled. The old mares were barely moving. He showed his sister how to turn the team when they came to the main road, and soon they were headed north out of town.
“That’s not so hard,” Darcy said, tiring of the game. She handed the straps to Christopher. “Can I learn how to ride a horse?”
“I would think so,” Christopher told her. He glanced over his shoulder to see that Tommy and Emma had fallen back asleep despite the bumpy road. Jimmy had become a pillow for both of them with Emma sprawled across his lap. Tommy leaned at an awkward angle to rest his head on Jimmy’s shoulder.
The trip to the Vandermarks passed without trouble, and Christopher was more than a little relieved to see Euphanel coming from the barn with a basket over one arm. He gave her a wave and pulled the wagon to a stop near the front porch.
She looked at him for a moment, and Christopher could see the confusion on her face. Walking toward them, Euphanel shifted the basket.
“Christopher, you’re back.”
“I just got back last night.”
Darcy stood and eyed the woman. “Are you gonna marry my brother?”
Euphanel laughed. “No, darling. I’m already married.” She looked back to Christopher. “This is your sister?”
“One of them.” He pointed to the others. “Emma is back there with three of my brothers.”
“I’m Jonah,” the little boy announced. “I’m seven and I’m hungry.”
She smiled. “Well, I believe we should feed you. Do you like ham and eggs?”
The little boy’s eyes widened. “I ain’t never had an egg.”
Euphanel smiled and looked to Christopher. “Shame on you for not teaching this boy a love of eggs.”
“Gotta have them to love them,” Christopher replied.
Her smile faded. “That’s true enough. Well, bring them all in. You know your way to the dining room.”
Christopher stepped down from the wagon. “Mrs. Vandermark—”
“Now, I thought you were going to call me Euphanel.” She raised a brow.
“Euphanel. I want to apologize. I had nothing in the house to feed them. Fact is, I don’t know quite what to do—”
She held up a hand to silence him. “After we get everyone fed,” she said.
Christopher had just helped Darcy from the wagon when he heard his named called. Deborah stood only a few feet away, a look of amazement upon her face.
“Christopher?”
His siblings were now standing beside him. “I want you to meet my brothers and sisters. Well, five of them anyway.”
Deborah didn’t know what to think. She looked at the children and assessed the situation. Christopher introduced each one.
“I’m pleased to meet you,” she told them, then turned her questioning gaze back on Christopher. “How is it that they came to be with you?”
“Our ma and da burned up in the fire,” Emma said matter-of-factly.
Putting her hand to her mouth, Deborah tried to hide her shock. She could see the pleading in Christopher’s expression. “Well, come along and have something to eat. We can talk about what happened afterward.”
Christopher led the way. Deborah watched as all but the one called Darcy followed him into the house. To her surprise, Darcy stood waiting for her at the door.
“Are you going to marry my brother?”
Deborah nodded. “I certainly plan to.”
Darcy seemed to consider this for a moment. “Do we have to call you Mama?”
She couldn’t hide her surprise at the child’s question. “Are you going to call your brother Papa?”
The girl laughed. “Nope. He’s Christopher.”
Hope Rekindled Page 9
