Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) (21 page)

He shrugged. “Don’t rightly know. Guess it all depends on where we stop on a Saturday night.”

“I understand.”

Grace gave her teacher another hug, then trudged back to the boat.

“Be careful to stay away from the edge,” Judith called to the child.

“I will.”

“Between Jeb and me, we keep an eye on the girl.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do, but—”

Ernie gave his son a pat on the back. “Get them mules movin’, son. They’ve had a long enough rest.” He lifted his hand. “See ya, Judith.”

When school was out for the summer, Judith often went for walks along the towpath, where she watched the boats and hoped to see Ernie and his children go by. Sometimes, on hot, muggy days like this one, she would take off her shoes and wade in the cool water. It was also a good time to read her Bible, pray, and contemplate the future.

Judith stopped walking long enough to watch a pair of ducks settle on the water.

“‘Male and female created he them,’” she quoted from Genesis. “Will I ever find a mate, or will I spend the rest of my days as an old maid?”

Judith moved on, wondering if God might have something else in mind for her besides teaching at the schoolhouse.
I’m in love with Ernie and care deeply for his children, but he’s given me no indication that he feels the same way toward me
. She sniffed and forced her tears to remain in check.
Dear Lord, help me learn to be content
.

“Simmer down and quit your runnin’!” Ernie hollered at his daughter as she scampered from the bow of the boat to the stern and back again. He glanced around, hoping Jeb would find something for her to do, but the elderly man was nowhere in sight. “Must have gone below to get somethin’,” he muttered. “He’d better not be sleepin’ on the job again.”

Ernie guided the boat through the locks, glad when it went well and the mules cooperated. It would have been easier if Jeb had been on deck to keep an eye out for other boats and be sure they weren’t getting too close.

They’d only gone a short way past the locks when Ernie heard a splash. Thinking it must be some kid throwing a rock into the canal, he continued to steer the boat as it moved forward.

“Help! Papa, help me!”

Ernie froze.

“Get her, Papa! Grace is drownin’!” Andy shouted from the towpath.

Ernie rushed to the side of the boat and looked over. He saw nothing but the swirling waters and a tree branch bobbing up and down.

“She’s over there!” Andy hollered, pointing to the water splashing against the bow of the boat.

Ernie made a beeline in that direction and dove into the chilly canal. He spotted Grace a few feet away, her arms pawing the water, her legs kicking frantically. Down she went, then up again, gurgling, screaming, panting for air.

He reached her seconds before she went under again and wrapped his arm around her chest. Several minutes later they were on the shore, Grace gasping for breath, Ernie thanking God he’d gotten to his daughter in time.

Once they were on the boat again, Ernie made sure Grace changed into dry clothes and went to bed. Then he headed for Jeb’s sleeping quarters and found the man sprawled on his bunk, fast asleep.

Ernie grimaced and shook Jeb’s shoulders. “Wake up!”

His helper’s eyes popped open, and he released a noisy yawn. “What’s the matter, boss? How come you’re all wet?”

Ernie quickly explained about Grace falling overboard, and Jeb’s face blanched. “It’s my fault. If I’d been up there watchin’ her instead of takin’ a nap, she never would have fallen off the boat.”

Ernie couldn’t argue with that, but yelling at his helper wouldn’t change what had happened.

Jeb sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bunk. “It’s time for me to put myself out to pasture.”

Ernie’s eyebrows lifted. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“I should have stayed in Easton with my daughter and not returned to the canal this spring. I’m gettin’ too old to be watchin’ out for a little one while I try to cook, clean, and keep an eye out for boats that might be comin’ ahead.” Jeb shook his head. “Ya need someone younger’n smarter’n me. What ya really need is a wife.”

Ernie stood there a few seconds, letting Jeb’s comments run through his befuddled brain. Finally, with a feeling of determination, he tapped the elderly man on the shoulder and said, “I think ya might be right ’bout some of that. And I believe it’s time for me to take action.”

“Teacher, there’s somebody here to see you!”

Judith looked up from where she sat on the sofa, darning a pair of long black stockings. “Who is it, Melody?” she asked the preacher’s daughter.

“It’s that canal boatman.”

“Who?”

“Andy and Grace’s pa.”

Judith’s heart thudded in her chest, as she stood on trembling legs. Had Ernie come to pay her a call?
Of course not, don’t be ridiculous
. She went to the door and found him standing on the porch with his arms crossed. “Hello, Ernie. I’m surprised to see you.”

He rocked back and forth on the heels of his boots. “I … um … that is …”

“What is it?” she prompted.

“The other day Grace fell overboard and almost drowned.”

Judith gasped and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. “Is she all right?”

Ernie nodded. “My helper fell asleep and wasn’t watchin’ her. Now he’s plannin’ to move to Easton to live with his daughter, and that leaves me with no one to mind Grace.” He stared at the porch. “You were right about her needin’ more supervision.”

Judith didn’t know how best to reply, so she just stood there.

“The thing is … I … uh … well, I think we should get married!”

“What?” Judith felt the blood drain from her face. Had she heard him right? Had Ernie just asked her to marry him?

“I said, I think … I mean, would ya marry me?” he stammered.

Judith grasped the doorknob, feeling as though she could topple over. She had wished so long that someone might propose to her, but she never thought it would happen—and certainly not like this! What about love? What about romance? Could she marry Ernie simply because he needed a mother for his children? He obviously didn’t love her, or he would have said so. And what about her teaching job? If she were to marry, she would have to give that up. No, it was impossible, and she told him so.

He blanched. “I thought you cared about my kids.”

“I do.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Judith fought the desire to tell Ernie how much she loved him, but that would be the worst thing she could do. “I hope you’re able to find a suitable replacement for Jeb—someone who will be able to watch out for Grace.” She gathered the edge of her skirt, turned, and rushed inside.

CHAPTER 12

A
fter a sleepless night, Judith wasn’t sure she could go to church the following morning. As she stood in front of her bedroom mirror, she realized that her eyes were rimmed with red, her cheeks looked puffy, and her nose was sore from having blown it so much. When Ernie left yesterday, she’d gone to her room and cried until no more tears would come.

How could the man expect her to marry him when there was no love involved? She knew he needed someone to cook, clean, and watch out for Grace, but surely he could hire a young, able-bodied helper to do those things.

“Then why did he ask me to marry him?” she moaned.

Judith’s gaze fell on her Bible lying on the dressing table. It was never good to begin the day without reading God’s Word. She picked up the Bible, took a seat on her bed, and opened it to Proverbs. One particular verse seemed to jump right out at her. “‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.’”

Judith drew in a deep breath. “I know I should trust You in all things, Lord,” she prayed, “but sometimes it’s hard to do. Could it be that You might have something else in mind for me other than teaching? Would it be better for Grace and Andy if I were to marry Ernie? Could it be Your will for me to be his wife?”

She moved back to the mirror. “I know I’m not beautiful, but perhaps in time Ernie could come to care for me the way I do him.”

Judith remembered hearing Pastor Jacobs’s wife tell her daughters that real beauty comes from the inside, not the outward appearance. Perhaps if she allowed God to work through her and set a good example to Ernie’s children, he might learn to appreciate her inner beauty.

Judith sat on the grassy bank of the canal, waiting, watching, hoping Ernie’s boat would come around the bend. She had been coming here every day for the last week and hadn’t spotted him. In the past he’d come by Parryville about the same time of day. Maybe he had been delayed. She knew there were often pileups at the locks, and sometimes breaks in the canal occurred.

“Or maybe he changed his schedule, and I’ve missed him.” She lifted her face to the sun, leaned back on her elbows, and closed her eyes. “Heavenly Father, I’m trusting You to direct my paths. If it’s Your will for me to speak with Ernie, then he will come by at the right time.”

A sense of peace settled over Judith, and she knew what she must do. When summer was over and the children of Parryville returned to the one-room schoolhouse, would Judith still be their teacher? Her fate was in God’s hands.