Love comes softly (20 page)

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but Clark lightly brushed aside her concern.

After their morning reading and prayer they began their meal. Missie was strangely quiet, sensing that something was amiss. Finally Marty could stand it no longer. "What ya plan_ nin' to do?"

"First off, I'm goin' over to Ben's. He said he'd be right glad to take two of the milk cows. He'll feed 'em both in exchange fer the milk from the one ther's still milkin'. When I have me feed again, we'll get 'em back."

"An' the rest of the stock?"

"We'll have to be a sellin' the fifteen head in the grazin' pen."

"An' the hogs?"

"Most of 'em will have to go. I hope to spare me a young sow or two."

"How ya be a feedin"em?"

"The seed grain wasn't lost. It's in the bins by the pig lot. I'll have to hold me off plantin' thet new land I'd been a count- in' on 'til another year, an' use some of the grain to feed a sow through."

"An' the horses?"

"Horses aire fair good at grazin' even in the winter. They can paw down through the snow. I'll take me a bit of money from the sellin' of the stock to git me enough feed to look to the one milk cow thet we keep."

"Ya got it all figured already."

"Not quite all, but I been workin' on it. We maybe have to skimp a bit here an' there, but we'll make it. Iffen all goes well, come crop time, we'll be gettin' on our feet agin."

"An' the fare back east?" Marty didn't ask this out loud, but Clark somehow must have seen the question in her eyes.

He looked deeply at her for a moment, then spoke slowly. "When I asked ya to set yerself in here to care fer Missie, I made a promise to ya. I'm not a goin' back on it now. Tell ya the truth, I would be a missin' ya should ya go, you an' the young 'uns, but I'll not be a holdin' ya iffen it's what ya be a wantin'."

For the first time Marty was no longer sure.

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Clark carried his plans through for the stock. The hogs, except for two promising young sows, were sold, as was the grazing stock. It was decided to buy enough feed for the milk cow and the two sows, and to save the seed grain so that the new field could be sown. They would need the money from the crop more than ever to help with expenses until the livestock built up again. Only a few hens were saved. The rest were put in crates and taken to town.

Clark now had more logs to cut, as come spring a new barn would have to be built.

The corral fence was repaired and the single cow and team of horses were placed in the grazing pen where there was a shelter for them. The saddle horse was lent to Jason Stern, who seemed to have great need of it for the present.

Somehow life fell into a routine again. No one wished for spring more fervently than Marty.

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Chapter 26

Barn Raisin'

March blew itself out in an angry swirl and April came in, promising better things in the days ahead. As the month grew older the snow began to disappear, the sun took on new warmth, and patches of green slowly began to appear in sun- warmed places. Dan and Charlie sought out each patch, eager for easier feeding. The milk cow had ceased milking, readying herself for calving. Milk now had to be brought by pail from the Grahams every few days.

Near the end of the month, Marty looked out at the nearly bare steaming garden. How eager she was to get at the planting. She had been cooped up for so long, and could hardly wait to get out into the warm sunshine, to some task that could be done out of doors.

However, there were other things that must be done before spring planting. Over the month the neighbor men had taken their teams and given Clark a hand with the logging. Now the logs stood ready for the raising of the new barn. If they had a good day, they'd even give a hand with the two bedrooms, they had promised.

Marty looked out now, envisioning the new barn standing where the old one had stood. How good it would be to see Clark have a barn again. The bedrooms-- she'd wait for them if she had to.

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But the first big event was to be the house raising for young Jason Stern and Sally Anne, a house being even more important to a man than a barn. Tomorrow was set aside for the "raisin'," and Marty had been busy draining kraut, cooking ham, and baking extra bread and pie. The men would share their labors and the womenfolk would share their larders. Marty looked forward to the day. It would be so good to have a visit with her neighbors.

The house raisin' went well and the men finished the task in the late afternoon. The women enjoyed a day visiting and sharing recipes and patterns. The Larsons were late and when they did arrive, Mrs. Larson shyly shoved her pot of potato stew onto the table laden with good things. The womenfolk for the most part didn't seem to notice her, but Marty crossed over to her to at least say a "howdy."

Jedd was there only to give a hand on the last few logs, but then seemed to consider his advice of far more worth than his brawn. He did, however, manage a hearty meal along with the rest.

Marty went home, contented. Sally Anne would have a nice little cabin to set up housekeeping in. True, there was still a lot that needed to be done, but Marty was sure that in Jason's eagerness he'd soon take care of that.

Marty had had a nice long visit with Wanda Marshall, showing her a simple crochet pattern and finding her a keen pupil.

Mrs. Vickers had buzzed about, whispering choice bits in various ears, and Mrs. Watley had planted herself in a sunny spot by the desserts and busied herself with drinking coffee and "keepin' the young 'uns outen the food."

It was all fun, Marty decided, and next week it would be their turn.

True to their word the neighbors arrived on Tuesday morning with a determination to get the job done. Log by log the barn began to raise. Clark and Todd Stern manned the axes that skillfully cut the grooves so that one log might fit the next.

By the time the women banged on a pot to announce dinner,

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the barn had taken on shape, nearly reaching the rafter stage. The men were eager to get back to their work so did not tarry long over their meal.

While the women were doing the dishes, Tommy Graham came in. "Pa said, iffen ya be a movin' the things from the lean-to, we be a tearin' it off an' makin' the bedrooms."

Marty fairly flew. She had never been in the lean-to before, and was a bit shocked at its barrenness. The bed frame held a coarse straw tick. Marty thought it hard and lumpy. Thoughts of her own soft feather tick made her feel guilty. The few articles that Clark had were quickly moved into the sitting room, as well as his clothes from the pegs.

Marty was scarcely finished when she heard the hammers and crowbars. The men went to work with a will and by supper time the logs were in place.

Supper was almost festive. The men felt well pleased with themselves. Clark Davis was a favorite neighbor. There wasn't a man there that he hadn't helped out at one time or another, and it pleased them to be able to help him in return.

When the meal was over the men visited while the women cleaned up the tables and sorted out their own crockery and pans.

Jedd had really set a new record on that day. He had made it in time for both dinner and supper, partaking freely of both meals. His Missus couldn't make it, feelin' poorly. Marty felt sorry for the poor woman.

At last they were all gone, some having promised to be back to help with the roofing and the floors.

Clark was half-dead on his feet, wanting to carry more than his share of the load on his own "raisin' " and then having to do up the chores after the others had left. He stretched out on the hard straw tick on the sitting-room floor, meaning to just rest a bit before he went to bed "proper like" and in next to no time was sound asleep.

Marty, who came through from the kitchen, stopped short. "Lan' sakes," she exclaimed, "he be plum' beat."

She crossed to gently ease a pillow under his head and slip off his shoes, then, placing a blanket over him, she went on to bed.

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Chapter 27

Laura

In less than two weeks' time the visiting preacher would be paying his visit and Sally Anne would be marrying. Ma hated to think of it, but she guessed that it was a part of life, and from now on she'd be losing them one by one.

The thought of Sally Anne leaving the nest was one that she could accept, but Laura's strange behavior troubled her. The girl had been acting so differently lately, sullen and resentful around the house, then slipping away for long walks. At times she even rode off on one of the work horses.

Finally Ma could take it no longer and knew that she must have a talk with the girl. She waited for a time when they were alone, then began as gently as she could.

"Laura, I be thinkin' thet somethin' be a troublin' ya. I'd be right glad to be a sharin' it iffen ya'd like to lay it on me." Laura looked at her with rebellion in her eyes.

"Nothin' the matter with me," she responded hotly.

"I think there be. Maybe it be a natural thing-- all the fussin' an' fixin' fer Sally Anne."

Laura's chin went up. "What care I 'bout Sally Anne?" "She be yer sister

"No, she ain't."

Ma looked fully at the girl now. Anger began to take her. "Ya listen here, Missie. Sally an' you been close like ever since I be yer Ma."

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"Ya ain't my Ma."

Ma stopped short, her mouth open. She had known that things were bad, but had not guessed that they were this bad. Finally she started over slowly. "Laura, I'm sorry, really I am. I never knowed ya feeled this way-- so strong like. I've tried to be a ma to ya. I love ya like ya was my own, and yer pa-- he'd do most anythin' fer ya."

"Won't need to be a doin' fer me much longer now," declared Laura.

"Whatcha meanin'?"

"I'm a gettin' married too."

"Yer gettin' married? But ya ain't even had ya a beau." "Have too."

"Well, we never knowed it. Who be-- ?"

"Milt Conners!"

Ma gasped. Never in her life would she give one of hers to that drinking, no-good, ruffian, Milt Conners. Not if her life depended on it.

When finally she could speak again, she tried her hardest to be firm yet gentle. "Oh, no ya ain't. No one in this house be a takin' themselves up with Milt Conners. Iffen I didn't stop ya, yer pa sure would."

"Ya can't stop me!" Laura exploded.

"Oh, yes'm we can," said Ma, equally determined, her usually gentle eyes gleaming.

"It be too late," flung out Laura.

"Whatcha be a meanin'?"

"I'm-- I'm gonna have his baby."

Ma staggered forward a step and steadied herself with her hands on the back of a chair. "Whatcha be a sayin', girl?"

Laura stood her ground. Let Ma fume and fuss, or beat her or anything. Come time for Sally Anne to be a standing before the preacher, she'd be there, too.

"I'm gonna have his baby," she repeated.

Ma stepped forward, her face white. Tears already showed on her cheeks. She reached out for Laura and pulled her gently into her arms, holding her close, her head bowed against the long brown hair.

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"Oh, my poor baby," she wept; "my poor, poor baby." Laura hadn't expected the tears nor the deep love, and for a moment she nearly gave in.

She hated to tell Ma a lie, but she knew that under no other circumstances would Ma or her pa allow her to marry Milt Conners. No, she'd just have to go through with it and let the future take care of itself.

The two weeks until the preacher's visit went very quickly. When Sally Anne heard of Laura's planned wedding, she offered to share some of her own prepared household articles. Laura would have none of them, declaring that she wouldn't need much as Milt was already set up for housekeeping. Nevertheless, Ma sat up until late each night, making quilts and hemming towels and curtains.

Ben carried on his usual work, but his shoulders sagged, and his face appeared drawn. The anticipation of the big day had been robbed from them. Even Laura did not take on the glow that a new bride should, but she set her jaw determinedly, and helped in the preparations for the weddings.

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Chapter 28

The Big Day

The preacher's visit was to be made on Easter Sunday morning. They would first have an outdoor service together, then the wedding ceremonies would follow. Later the neighbors would all join together for a potluck dinner to honor the new couples and to have a chance for a neighborly visit before spring work would demand all their time.

Marty looked forward to the day. It would be good to see the neighbors that she had come to know. Winter had seemed to stretch on for such a long time and the feeling of spring in the air made her restless to get out, somewhere-- for something. She was curious about the church service and what the preacher would have to say. She had never been in a service just for preachin' before. Her only connection with church had been for marriages and funerals.

She felt happiness for Sally Anne with the sparkle of love on her face, but her heart ached for Laura. Ma had confided with a troubled and heavy heart the reason for the consent to the marriage. Marty shared Ma's concern over the coming union and felt such a helplessness, knowing that there was nothing that any of them could do to prevent possible heartache from reaching out to the strong-willed girl.

Marty busied herself embroidering two sets of pillow cases for the new brides. She was fearful lest her feelings even show