The One Who Waits for Me (35 page)

Her hand tightened in his. “Will this new community have sweet tea?”

“I'm not staying if it doesn't.”

“You're seriously considering this notion?”

“I am. There'll be sugar. You can count on it.”

They walked on. “The sisters have offered rooms on the third floor of the abbey to you, Joanie, Trella, and Esther. When we return from checking in with our families, we'll begin work on housing.”

“Preach's father will be disappointed that he can't pastor his flock.”

“Preach figures God has someone else in mind for his father's church. Sanctuary will need Preach's spiritual guidance.”

“Sanctuary?”

He flashed a grin. “Reverend Mother has her heart set on the name.”

“Sanctuary.” Beth's hand tightened in his larger one. “Sounds like a lovely place.” One she'd gladly spend the rest of her life building.

Pausing, he faced her and took her other hand. “We've come a long way in a short time, you and I,” he said. His gaze locked with hers. “I have to leave for a little while, but I'll be back. Will you be here?”

A smile touched her eyes. “I may have run away in the past, but my intent all along was to find my property and settle there. I guess the Lord has fulfilled His part in the matter.” She squeezed his hands. “Go home, Pierce, and check on your family. I'll be waiting for you when you come back.”

He took her in his arms and leaned down to kiss her. “I will return. You know that.”

“Hmm…do I?”

His second kiss persuaded her that she knew that perfectly well.

“Pierce, when you come back, would you mind taking me to the plantation to get my mother's things? Joanie and I hid them in the root cellar before we left.”

He chuckled softly. “Beth, I'd be willing to take you to the moon if I could manage it.”

Her lips touching his, she whispered, “How long will you be gone?”

“I'll make it as fast as possible.” He kissed her again. Then, lifting his head, he whispered, “By the way, Miss Jornigan, I've fallen in love with you.”

“Honest?” Her fingers threaded golden locks of sun-kissed hair.

“Have I ever misled you?” His mouth lowered to take hers in yet another kiss that was nothing less than a sealed bargain.

The future stretched before her. Exactly what kind of future wasn't yet clear, but something told Beth she'd be drinking a lot of sweet tea in her old age.

1. At the beginning of the story, we see three different men: Pierce, a white man; Gray Eagle, an Indian; and Preach, a black man. Do you think it is their faith in God that unites them even more than the fact that the war is over? Does the war being over make close friendships for them possible now?

2. After their parents are gone, Beth and Joanie decide to strike out on their own, taking a very vulnerable friend along with them. What do you think of their decision to do that? Was it brave or foolish or both?

3. Sadly, the women on Walt's plantation were not treated well. Fortunately, God led the soldiers to the ladies just in time. How does a good man change Beth's view of men in general? Did Gray Eagle and Preach have the same effect on Joanie and Trella?

4. The kindness of the Cherokees made a huge difference in these women's lives. Even in light of the fire, they showed Beth mercy. What about the nuns? How did they make a difference for Beth and Joanie?

5. How does greed play into Walt's decisions to chase his nieces without mercy? What consequences do he and his son suffer because of their bad decisions?

6. When Walt and Bear show up drunk at the Indian camp, did you think Pierce's actions were justified? Did he go too far or not far enough in trying to teach those Jornigan men a lesson? Do you think Pierce, Gray Eagle, and Preach should have handled the situation with Walt and Bear differently? Dealt with it more decisively sooner? What would you have done?

7. Beth begins a personal search for understanding about prayer. What did you think of the different ways to talk to God discussed in the story? Were all acceptable to you? If not, why not?

8. These three couples were blessed to find true love and hope for their futures during the course of their adventures. What do you think of the idea of waiting on God for the things you long for?

9. Reverend Mother asks her new friends to form a community that is all about sanctuary for troubled souls. Is there a way you can be a refuge for anyone in your world today?

10. 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (
KJV
). Which character in this book saw these words most poignantly fulfilled in his or her life?

L
ORI
C
OPELAND
is the author of more than 90 titles, both historical and contemporary fiction. With more than 3 million copies of her books in print, she has developed a loyal following among her rapidly growing fans in the inspirational market. She has been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, The Holt Medallion, and Walden Books' Best Seller award. In 2000, Lori was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame.

Lori lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband, Lance, their three children, and five grandchildren.

Dwadlo, North Dakota, 1893

“The winter of '93 will go down as one of the worst Dwadlo's ever seen.” Hal Murphy dumped a sack of flour on the store counter and then turned to address Mae Wilkey, the petite postmistress stuffing mail in wooded boxes.

“Spring can't come soon enough for me,” she said, stepping back and straightening the row of letters and flyers. “I'd rather perspire than struggle to keep warm any day of the week.”

“Yes, ma'am.” Hal gestured to the store owner. “Add a couple of those dill pickles, will you, Dale?”

Nodding, the short, balding man known for his quietness on most days walked over to the pickle barrel and fished around inside, coming up with two fat ones.

“That'll fix me up.” Hal glanced again at the lovely sight by the mail cage. “Can't understand why you're still single, Mae,” he teased. “You're as pretty as a blooming lilac bush in summer.” He sniffed the air. “And you smell as good.”

Smiling, Mae moved to the cash box and began the daily count. Icy weather made the train late today, which was a good thing as she still had to count money and record the day's inventory. “Oh, Hal. You know I'd marry you in a minute if you weren't all ready taken.” Hal and Cara Lea had been married more than fifty years, but Mae's usual comeback never failed to put a sparkle in his eye.

“I know. All the good ones are taken, aren't they?”

Mae nodded. “Every single one. Especially in Dwadlo.”

The little town was formed when the C&NW railroad came though. Before that, only a few lone homesteads had dotted the rugged Dakota Territory: Mae's family's, Hal and Cara Lea's, and Pauline Wilson's. But in 1879 the railroad came though, and the formerly platted sites became towns. Pine Grove and Branch Springs followed, and Dwadlo suddenly thrived with immigrants and folks staking claims. The train delivered opportunists, supplies, fuel, mail, and food. A new world opened when the Dakota Boom started.

Hal's gaze focused on Mae's left hand. “Jake still hasn't popped the question?”

Hal was a pleasant sort, but Mae really wished the townsfolk would occupy their thoughts with something other than her and Jake's pending engagement. True, they had been courting for six years and Jake still hadn't proposed, but Mae knew he would. He'd said he would—every Christmas and birthday when a ring would have been appropriate instead of a locket. She had more lockets than any one woman could wear, but Jake apparently thought she could always use another one. What she could really use was his hand in marriage. The bloom was swiftly fading from her youth, and it would be nice if her brother, Jeremy, had a man's presence in his life.

“Be patient, Hal. Jake is busy trying to establish a business.”

“Good lands. How long does it take a man to open a law office?”

“Apparently six years and counting.” She didn't like Jake's hesitancy to take on a family, but she understood it even if the town's population didn't. And she had a good life filled with work, church, and town socials. Jake accompanied her to all events, came over twice a week, and never failed to extend a hand when she needed something. It was almost as though they were married.

“The man's a fool,” Hal declared. “He'd better slap a ring on that finger before someone else comes along and does it for him.”

“Not likely in Dwadlo,” Mae mused. The town itself was made up of fewer than a hundred residents. Others lived in surrounding areas but did their banking and shopping here. The general store, Smith's Grain and Feed, the livery, the mortuary, an empty store that once housed a saloon and town hall, Doc Swede's office, and Belle's Café were the entire sum of businesses in Dwadlo, North Dakota. She hadn't spotted a sign yet that advertised “husbands.” Patience would eventually win out. Her birthday was coming up in August, and Jake would surely offer his hand this year.

Hal eventually moved off to pay for his goods, and Mae put the money box in the safe. A stiff January wind snapped the red canvas awning sheltering the general store porch. Across the square, a large, empty gazebo was in mourning under a gray sky. During summer nights, music and the smell of popped corn and roasting peanuts filled the air. Today the structure looked as though it braced for another approaching storm. Sighing, she realized how much she longed for spring flowers, green grass, and sweet breezes.

Hal left and Mae finished up the last of the chores before reaching for her warm wool cape. She usually enjoyed the short walk home from work, but today she was tired—and her feet hurt from the new boots she'd purchased from a Montgomery Ward catalog. On the page they had looked comfortable with their high tops and polished leather, but on her feet they felt like cattle guards.

Slipping the cape's hood over her hair, she smiled a goodbye to Dale and then paused when her hand touched the doorknob. “I almost forgot. Pauline needs a few things today.”

“How's she doing?” Dale paused and leaned on his broom. “I noticed she hasn't been in church recently.”

How was she doing? Mae worried the question over in her mind. Pauline lived alone, and she shouldn't. The elderly woman was her neighbor and Mae checked on her frequently, but she was losing ground more and more.

“Dale, have you ever heard Pauline speak of kin?”

He didn't even have to ponder the question. “Never heard her mention a word about any kind of relative.”

“Hmm…neither have I. She surely has someone.” Someone who should be here, in Dwadlo, looking after the frail soul. Mae didn't resent the extra work, but the post office and her brother kept her busy, and she didn't have the right to make decisions in light of the elderly woman's failing health.