Song for Silas, A (14 page)

The walk home worked like a tonic on Silas. He was glad that most of the way was beyond the houses of town because he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. Anyone watching would have thought him dim-witted.

Silas felt not at all fatigued as he neared the ranch. In fact, when the house came into view, he began to run. Just as he hit the porch, the front door opened and Christine ran out. Silas grabbed her in a great hug, and Christine laughed with sheer joy.

“Your beard!” Christine cried. She was staring at him, her mouth wide open. “I can’t believe you shaved your beard off! You look wonderful!”

“Well, I’m glad you approve. For a minute there I wondered if you might not.”

“It’s just that you look so different. My goodness, you’re almost as good-looking as Luke.”

Silas laughed. “Now that’s high praise coming from a woman in love. By the way, where is the man in question?”

“He’s right here,” a deep voice sounded behind them, “trying to figure out who the strange, beardless man hugging my woman is.” Luke came up the steps, and the two brothers embraced.

“You know,” Luke commented, “I’d forgotten what you look like under all that fur. You’re not half bad-looking.”

“Thanks,” Silas said dryly, but he was grinning.

“Where’s Josh?” Silas asked of Christine.

“He’s inside. Come on. Did you walk from the train station?”

“No, I walked from Grandma Em’s. I got in last night.”

“Josh, look who’s here.”

Joshua Cameron was sitting on the kitchen floor contentedly chewing on a hard biscuit. Christine scooped him up, washed the crumbs from his face and hands, and landed him in the arms of his Uncle Silas.

Silas held this treasured little boy and said nothing. He actually expected Joshua to reach for Christine, but for the moment Josh just sat looking solemnly up at the man holding him.

Silas returned Josh’s solemn appraisal, looking deep into the inherited brilliance of the Cameron blue eyes.

“Hi, Josh.” Still no change in expression. But Silas didn’t care—it just felt so good to hold him. Josh’s little hand reached up and tentatively touched Silas’ mustache. Silas held still as the tiny fingers explored his upper lip and the hair above it. Suddenly Josh giggled.

The adults laughed, too, and Silas hugged the little boy fiercely to himself. His heart nearly burst with happiness. These people were his home.

Silas felt instant peace settle over him upon completion of the letter. Sitting at the desk in his room, he bowed his head.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me wisdom in this job offer. I could not gain perfect peace about it, and so I believe Your answer is no. Thank You, God, for this home and my work here. Please help me to know if I should build this year. I need to know what’s right. And please, God, help me to accept Amy as just a friend. I don’t want to hurt her, so please heal my heart and give me acceptance of her friendship and nothing more. Amen.”

Silas had dreamed about Amy coming to him—dreamed that after he left she missed him so much that she jumped on the next train for Baxter. But it was just a dream, and Silas was going to have to accept the fact that she did not return his love.

True, he was going back in the fall, but he could not go expecting Amy to run into his arms. He had Amy’s friendship, he hoped, and was going to work at keeping it. Every day he prayed for strength in this and knew God was already working. God had not deserted him, and Silas was determined to go on with his life.

Settled back into his work routine and doing well in his determination to move ahead, a few days later Silas saddled
a horse in the late afternoon and went for a ride. He ended up down by the creek in the spot Julia had written about in her letter.

As Silas sat in this peaceful spot, he began to miss Julia so much he turned his mount toward the MacDonald farm. As he did so, he realized it would need to be a short visit as Christine would soon be getting supper on.

Silas was nearly on top of the farmhouse when he realized something was wrong. Julia and the boys were huddled together in the yard watching the house with fear-filled eyes. Spotting instantly the cause of their fear, Silas saw smoke coming from one of the kitchen windows.

“Mac’s in there,” Julia cried as Silas jumped from his mount. “He pushed us out when a pan on the stove caught fire.”

Silas ran for the house, his heart pounding in fear, but Mac had things well under control. Silas began to throw the remaining windows open while Mac pulled singed curtains off a window near the stove.

Mac was not three steps out into the yard when Julia launched herself into his arms. Her body crashed against his with enough force to topple a smaller man.

Julia was nearly hysterical in her sobbing, and the boys clinging to their parents’ legs were not much better off. Silas knelt down and hauled them into his arms. They accepted the comfort gladly and held on to his neck as the tears flowed freely.

While Julia was gaining some control, Mac released her to gather his boys into his arms. Silas looked on as they shared a family hug. His look then swung to the house. It would need to be aired out and that would take a few days.

There was little discussion as everyone seemed to be in a state of shock, but soon the wagon was hitched and Mac had his family loaded and on their way to Luke and Christine’s.
Silas had assured Julia that whatever needed to be done could wait until tomorrow.

Julia and the boys sat in the wagon, each with a bundle of clothes. Silas had ridden ahead, and Luke and Christine were in the yard as Mac drove the wagon in.

They saw instantly that Julia was white with strain. “Come on, Julia.” Luke’s voice was tender as he lifted her down.

As she looked up at her older brother, Julia’s eyes filled with tears. “I thought Mac was going to burn.”

“It’s okay now,” he said as he hugged her, his eyes meeting those of Mac who had been watching his wife with concern. “He’s fine. You come inside. We’ll take care of everything.”

The four MacDonalds were swept inside and made comfortable. Julia seemed to be coming around, finally realizing Mac was really okay. Her eyes watched him as he went down the hall to clean up and change.

Over supper, Mac told briefly what had happened. The stove had been very hot and a greasy pan flared up without warning. Mac had grabbed the pan and moved it directly beneath the curtains. It all happened very fast and was enough to scare everyone and fill the downstairs with acrid smoke. The house would need a complete airing out and some minor surface work done in the kitchen.

Christine bustled about at bedtime making everyone comfortable. Silas was putting his two oldest nephews to bed, and Christine was checking on Julia. She was only in the bedroom a few minutes when the door reopened and Christine walked back down the hall and to the kitchen where Luke and Mac were talking.

“Excuse me a minute, Mac.” Christine bent over her husband and whispered almost urgently for his ears alone, “Where are my nightgowns?”

Luke’s eyes met Christine’s and, though he tried to look innocent, she could see he was thoroughly enjoying this. Christine tried to look stern, but failed miserably. As they shared a long, loving look, both husband and wife were instantly back to a moment in one of the early weeks of their marriage.

Christine had just finished taking a bath in their bedroom near the stove, when she heard Luke coming down the hall. She searched quickly for a covering and grabbed the first garment she found—one of Luke’s shirts.

Luke had entered and swept her with a look but said nothing. Christine had wondered about that look, but then put it out of her mind until the following night.

Luke was already snuggled beneath the covers when Christine came in to get ready for bed. She reached into her drawer for a fresh nightgown, but surprisingly only found a stack of Luke’s shirts. She took one out and stood a moment in confusion. Understanding was not long in coming, and she turned to the man in the bed.

“Where are they?”

“Put away.”

“Where?”

“You don’t need them, Christie. Wear the shirt.”

Christine fumed as she put the shirt on, determined to show him how ridiculous it looked. But once Christine was in the shirt, Luke only smiled.

Christine, indignant and angry, stomped over and stood by the bed. “It’s indecent.”

“What’s indecent about it?” Luke found this highly amusing coming from a woman who went riding astride in her husband’s denim pants, but wisely kept from commenting.

“My legs show.” Christine looked down at the aforementioned members as though they themselves were the ones offended. The shirt stopped just above the knees.

“I know your legs show, but I’m the only one who will see them, so what’s the problem?”

“LUKE!” Christine wailed in pure frustration, but it was no use. He was not about to tell.

Christine waited until the following day for Luke to leave the house. When he did, she tore the place apart. Every nook and cranny was searched. Nothing. She hadn’t come up with a clue to where he had hidden her nightgowns.

Now husband and wife stood smiling warmly at each other. Julia needed a gown, and the story was too special to share. Luke arose, kissed his wife’s cheek, and went to fetch a nightgown. Christine didn’t follow him to the hiding place—she really didn’t want to know.

Everyone spent the next few days working on Mac and Julia’s house. They stayed nights at Luke and Christine’s, but every minute of daylight was spent airing and cleaning. It was amazing how fast the smell of the smoke had infiltrated everything.

The first night Mac and Julia were back in their own home and the children put to bed, Mac turned his full attention to his wife for really the first time since the fire. He had sensed all along something was wrong but, with taking care of the house and the running of the farm, he’d had no time to talk with her.

“How are you doing?” They were sitting in the kitchen, each with a cup of coffee, and Mac was studying his wife’s face with deep concentration.

“I’m fine.” Julia answered with a small smile. The truth was that her head and back ached. But this, she was convinced, was due to the last few days.

“You don’t seem fine.”

“I don’t?” Julia looked truly puzzled.

“No, you don’t.” Mac’s voice was kind but firm.

“Well Mac, I feel a little achy and tired, but that’s understandable after all that’s gone on lately.” Julia’s voice told him she felt all of this was hardly worth mentioning.

Mac looked doubtful, and Julia reached for his hand. “I’m fine, honestly.” Mac continued to look at her in unbelief, but he let the matter drop.

Over the next few days Mac kept a close watch on the woman he loved. She looked pale to him, but when he tried to talk with her about it, she burst into tears and said she was still a little upset from the fire. Anxiously he watched her, but he felt helpless since she seemed to think nothing was out of the ordinary. Mac prayed and tried to leave the matter in God’s hands, hoping he would know if and when to step in.

The time to step in came ten days after they returned to the house. Mac was in the barn when the boys came running from the house to tell him their mother was on the floor.

“She just fell over, Pa,” Calvin said with fear as they followed their running father toward the house.

Julia was just coming to when Mac ran into the kitchen. He went down on the floor beside her and supported her as she tried to sit up. Her face was chalk white.

Julia opened her mouth to speak, but Mac cut in, his voice sharp with fear. “If you dare tell me you’re fine, Julia, I’ll throttle you.”

That was exactly what she had been about to say and dutifully closed her mouth. Actually, she felt a bit nauseous and was glad to be still.

“Are you okay, Mom?” Charles’ voice quivered with his question.

Julia turned to see her sons kneeling beside her, tears in their eyes. She started to reassure them, but Mac stepped in.

“Just as soon as your Uncle Mark sees her, we’ll know.”

“Oh Mac, I don’t need—”

“Not a word, Julia. Boys, get the horses out. We’re going to town.” The boys had never moved faster to do his bidding.

Leaving Julia on the couch, Mac and the boys hitched the horses to the wagon. He threatened her with dire consequences if he found her off the couch or even sitting up.

Mac carried Julia to the wagon and tried to get her to lie down in the back, but she adamantly refused. Mac gave in just to get her to town as soon as possible.

Mac moved restlessly about Susanne’s elegant living room as she sat helplessly and watched him. Julia had been with Mark in his office for over 30 minutes, and Mac was at his wits’ end.

Inside the office, Mark looked at his sister, a little surprised she did not already know what he was about to tell her.

“Julia, you’re pregnant.”

“I’m what?”

“You are going to have a baby.” Mark enunciated the words carefully as though speaking to a slow-witted child.

“But that’s impossible.”

Mark’s eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline on that statement, but Julia rushed on. “I mean, I just never got pregnant after Charlie, and I just assumed that I couldn’t.” Julia’s voice trailed off rather helplessly as she tried to take it all in. She was as surprised as Mark that she and Mac had not noticed any of the signs, for they had been there, staring them right in the face.

Mac! Julia’s next thoughts were of her husband. She had to tell him right away.

The door leading from the office into the living room opened slowly, and Mac’s entire body tensed as he watched his wife walk out followed by her brother. His peripheral vision caught Mark leading Susanne from the room, but his eyes were locked on Julia.

She walked toward him and without forewarning said, “I’m going to have a baby.”

Mac’s eyes closed, and he felt as if all the air had left his body. He stood a moment trying to pull air into his lungs. “Thank You, God. Thank You, God,” his heart kept repeating.

When at last he opened his eyes, he pulled Julia tenderly into his arms. Julia felt him tremble, and her heart broke. He had been so frightened.

The boys found their parents in this embrace and, even though it was not an unusual sight, approached carefully.

When they broke apart, Calvin said, “Uncle Mark says you’re okay and that you have good news.”

Julia broke the news to them with tears in her eyes. When Mark and Sue heard shouts and laughter from the living room, they knew it was alright to return.

What followed was a joyous chaos of laughter and tears. Mark took Julia back into his office to tell her how to take care of herself and things to watch for. She had never fainted when pregnant with the boys, and he intended to keep a careful eye upon her. He insisted Mac join them since he wanted his orders followed to the letter.

A while later Mac headed the wagon for Grandma Em’s. Even with the boys fighting in the back over who would tell her the news, he thought this was probably the most beautiful day God had ever created.