The White Knight (32 page)

“The Japanese are attacking Hawaii! They're bombing the fleet in Pearl Harbor!”

A total silence fell over the room and then everyone began speaking at once. “Are you sure, Andrew?”

“They're talking about it on the radio.”

Someone from the back of the room yelled, “There's a radio back here in the corner. Let's see if we can hear something.”

Andrew turned the radio on and turned the volume up so everyone could hear.

“. . .attack was completely unexpected,” the announcer was saying, “for the representatives of the Japanese Empire were in Washington for peace talks. The first reports are that the American fleet has been decimated. Many lives have been lost. This, of course, means that America will be at war with Japan.”

“How could they bomb Hawaii?” Peter asked loudly. “Japan is thousands of miles from there.”

“Aircraft carriers,” Luke said grimly. “No other way they could have done it.”

Luke's words were verified, for as they listened to the newscast, they learned that the Japanese carriers had brought the bombers and fighters to the attack. The one piece of good news was that none of America's carriers were at Pearl Harbor.

“That means we still have a chance in the Pacific,” Luke said. “If they had gotten the carriers, there would be no stopping the Japanese.”

“What will happen, Luke?” Joelle whispered.

He took her hand in his own. “A lot of people are going to die.” He looked around the room with troubled eyes, then added, “And some of them will be Winslows.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Christmas Surprises

Joelle was sitting in the kitchen talking to Jolie. They spoke mostly of the war, for in the three days since the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Winslow household, like practically every other household in America, was filled with talk of nothing but the tragedy. The two women were sipping coffee, and Jolie was speaking softly, her eyes full of grief.

“The whole world seems to have been turned upside down, Joelle, in just a few days.”

Joelle nodded. “I read a poem one time. The poet said that once he stooped over to pick up a shoe, and when he straightened up his whole world had changed completely. I didn't understand that poem until December the seventh. Now I don't think anyone can have the same life they had before that.”

“I believe you're right. I never thought of it that way.”

“I've been thinking about all those poor men who died on the
Arizona.
They got up that morning, I suppose, and had breakfast and had no idea what was going to happen. That before the day was out they'd be taken out of this earth.”

“It's an awesome thought, but you know, Joelle, it's true of us every day. Not just the sailors on the
Arizona
but every one of us. When we wake up in the morning, we ought to think,
I may not live to see bedtime. I may be in the presence of the Lord tonight.
”

“You're right, of course,” Joelle agreed. “We never know when our time will come.” She took a sip of her coffee. “I've
heard that several of our family have already enlisted. One of Wesley's sons enlisted in the navy. Just yesterday. I talked with Wes and his wife and they were saddened by it, but at the same time they understood that it was going to be that way.”

“There was a picture in the paper yesterday of one of the enlistment lines in Little Rock. The same thing is taking place all over the country. All the young men are rushing to arms.”

Suddenly Joelle lifted her head. “I hear the front door.”

“It's probably Peter. He usually comes in about this time.”

The two women turned to face the door, and Peter came in, accompanied by Tim.

“Hello, dear.” Peter kissed Jolie and smiled at Joelle. “What have you two been doing all day?”

“Nothing much,” Joelle said. “Luke went out on some business. Hasn't been here all day.”

“I was hoping he'd be here,” Tim said. “There's something I want to talk to him about.”

“What are you so excited about, Tim?” Jolie asked. “You never could cover up your feelings too well.”

“The greatest thing has happened, Mom.” Tim's face was flushed, and his eyes were dancing with excitement. “Dad and I have been talking all day to government officials.”

“Talking about what?”

“About the company. It's great, isn't it, Dad?”

Peter did not seem as excited as his son. “I suppose it could be called exciting, but it's sad too.”

“Sad? How could it be sad? It's a great opportunity for the Winslow Company.”

“What are you two talking about?” Jolie said. “What were you talking to the government about?”

“Mom, they want our company to make carburetors for army vehicles. Of course nothing's signed yet, but they're positive that we can get a contract. Why, it'll be the biggest thing that our company has ever done. We'll have to put up a new building to take care of all that business.”

Jolie glanced at Peter and saw that he did not seem entirely happy. “Aren't you in favor of this, Peter?”

“I guess so, but it's going to mean a lot of changes.”

“What kind of changes?” Joelle asked. “We'll have to enlarge the factory, and it's going to be harder to get help. All the young men will be going off to fight.”

“We'll find the help,” Tim said confidently, “and we'll be doing a great work too. You know—we'll be doing our part for our country.”

“This whole country has got to gear up. We've got to build an army. We've got to build tanks and planes and ships. It's going to be the biggest effort this country has ever made,” Peter said.

Tim turned to Joelle and smiled excitedly at her. “All the time we were talking to them, I was thinking of you and Luke.”

“Of me and Luke? Why would you think of us?”

“We're going to need all the help we can get. This expansion might work out perfectly for the two of you.”

“I don't see what it has to do with us. We'll be going back to Tennessee to continue with the Haven and to start looking into expanding to take in boys.”

“I realize that, but here's what I was thinking,” Tim said. “Why couldn't you establish the headquarters for the Haven Foundation in Little Rock?”

“Why here? Why not in Tennessee?”

“Because, don't you see, Joelle, if your office was here, you could run the Haven—and Luke could go to work for the company.”

Joelle glanced at Jolie and then shook her head. “We've already got plans.”

“Everyone is changing their plans. This war has changed everything. You can still do the Haven work. With the money that's coming in, you can hire a director to take Luke's place,
and he can plunge right in here. It's an opportunity of a lifetime.”

“I don't think of it like that,” Peter said heavily. He seemed depressed. “It seems wrong to take advantage of a terrible thing like a war to make money.”

“Dad, the carburetors have to be built. We'll be serving our country.” Turning to Joelle, he said, “Would you agree to it if Luke does?”

“I suppose so,” Joelle said reluctantly, “but I don't think he will.”

“I'll talk to him,” Tim said. “Did he say when he'd be back?”

“No. He just said he had some things to take care of.”

“Tell him to come see me in my office first thing in the morning, will you, Joelle? I'll run all the numbers by him.”

“I'll tell him, Tim, but don't get your hopes up.”

****

Joelle was getting ready for bed when Luke finally came in.

“Where have you been all day?”

Luke began to undress. “You sound like Mom, always wanting to know where I've been.”

“Well, I can't help but be curious. You left this morning and I haven't seen you since then.”

“I've been up on top of Mount Pinnacle.”

“Where's that?” she asked as she climbed under the covers.

“Just west of town here. It's the highest spot in this area. You can see a long way.”

“Why did you go up on top of a mountain?”

Luke was slipping into his pajamas. He got into bed beside her and reached over to kiss her. “I just needed a good place to think, and that was the best place I could come up with.”

“Why, it's freezing out there, Luke.”

“You're right about that. The wind cut right through me up on top of the mountain.”

Joelle studied his face carefully. “I guess you had a reason for going, but I can't imagine what it was.”

“When I was a young fellow I used to go up there by myself. It was so quiet and peaceful. I was always busy with something or other, and at times I just wanted to get away. It was a little cold today, but I wanted to think about what all has happened to this country and about us.”

“Couldn't you think here?”

“I suppose I could, but I just wanted to get away for a while. You're not mad at me, are you?”

“You know better than that.” She reached over and touched his face. Smiling, she said, “You'll know it when I get mad.”

“What have you been doing all day?”

“Nothing much. Been listening to the radio. The news gets bleaker all the time. They keep talking about how we lost our fleet except for the carriers. Now the Japanese can just walk right over us. Is that true, do you think?”

“I'm afraid we're not going to win any battles for a long time. Congress has cut back on the military until practically all we've got is a peacetime army and navy. All the equipment is pretty well worn out. We'll have to start from the ground up to fight this war.”

“That reminds me. Tim came by with your father today. Tim was so excited.”

“He's always excited. What is it this time?”

“He was telling us how he and your father have been talking to someone from the government. He says that the government wants the Winslow Factory to build carburetors for military vehicles.”

“Wow, that'll be great for the company.”

Joelle hesitated, then said, “He wants you to go talk to him tomorrow about an idea he has.”

“Tim's full of ideas. What's this one?”

“He wants us to move the central headquarters for the Haven to Little Rock.”

“Wait a minute. Let me guess. And he wants me to come back to work at the factory, doesn't he?”

“Yes, he does. He's very excited about it.”

“Well, I'm not. I've already got something to do.”

“What will you tell him? He's going to be terribly disappointed.”

“I'll just tell him I have other plans.”

Joelle gave a little cry and reached out and threw her arms around Luke. “I'm so glad.”

“Glad I'm not going to work for the factory?”

“Yes. I wanted us to work for the Haven together.”

“And that's just what we'll do, so you can forget about my going to work at the factory. That's just Tim's idea.”

Drawing back, Joelle said, “You know, I'm enjoying my visit so much. It's been so good to meet your family—but I'm ready to go home now. I miss the girls and there's so much to do.”

“Only another day and we'll be on our way. I feel like you do. There's a lot to do.”

****

“I'm sorry you have to go so soon,” Jolie said. The four were standing outside the hangar at the airfield. The plane was warmed up, and they were saying their final good-byes.

“It's been such a wonderful visit,” Joelle said, smiling, “and now that the Winslows are behind the Haven, we're going to see great things for God.”

“I hope Tim's not too disappointed by my not coming to work at the factory,” Luke said.

His father shrugged his shoulders. “He was pretty disappointed. He's a stubborn fellow, but he'll get over it.”

“Well, this is good-bye for a while,” Luke said. “We'll keep in touch.”

Joelle hugged Luke's parents, and then she followed Luke out to the plane. He helped her in and shut the door, and then went around and climbed in beside her.

Joelle turned and waved as Luke taxied out toward the main strip. He picked up speed and then they were off the ground. Joelle waved again and saw Peter and Jolie waving at her. “I feel like I've got brand-new parents.”

“You do. They're crazy about you.”

As Luke gained altitude, they discussed their plans for expanding the Haven to include a boys' facility. “You know,” Joelle told him, “as our place gets bigger, I don't want to become just an executive in an office somewhere. I want to know these young people.”

“You probably won't be able to know them all, but you'll always know some of them.” Luke grinned and reached over and squeezed her arm. “It's going to be great, honey. Better than anything you've ever dreamed of.”

****

Sunny was full of questions as she helped Joelle peel potatoes. More than once Joelle had asked her to try to make her peelings thinner. Sunny was more interested in fishing for information about Joelle's trip than she was in peeling potatoes. She had fired questions as fast as she could speak, and finally she said, “Did Luke like the present we gave you, that nightgown?”

Joelle laughed. “Yes, he liked it.”

“I thought he would. Men like frilly underwear on women.”

“How in the world do you know that?”

“I read it in a magazine.”

“What magazine was that?”

“I don't remember. Just one that Shirley found.”

“Well, I've got something better for you to read than magazines about underwear.”

Sunny suddenly dropped a potato into the bowl and turned to Joelle. Her face was lit up, and Joelle thought about how she had changed since the first time she had met her. When Sunny had first come to the Haven, she had been depressed,
sullen, and uncommunicative. But now the girl had an inner glow that was so good to see. “You know what, Joelle?”