"Christine, someone is bound to ask me where you're from or why you're in Baxter. I have no wish to pry or to embarrass you, but, maybe you could give me a little help." Emily stopped talking then, praying she hadn't said too much. If she drove this young woman away, she would never forgive herself.
Christine's answer was long in coming, and her voice was quiet and hesitant. "My grandfather died about two weeks ago. We lived up north. I was on my way south to stay with
someoneWhen that didn't work out, I stayed on the
train and found myself in Baxter. Upon arriving, my bag was stolen and I was attacked. That's how I met Dr. Mark. Losing my bag made work necessary." They had continued to walk as Christine spoke and were now home and seated on the front porch.
"But even if I hadn't been hurt, I would have stayed and rested for awhile before starting home."
"Thank you for sharing with me, Christine. I'll be praying for God's special comfort over your loss." Emily stood and put a comforting hand on Christine's shoulder. "Please
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remember, Christine, I'm here for you. If there is anyone at home you want to contact, feel free to use the paper and stamps in the desk in your room."
Emily left Christine alone on the porch. She was glad she had asked. Christine had been honest with her, of that she was sure, but neither had she told the entire story. Emily's mind went back to her meeting with the sheriff in the general store that morning. When Christine had been across the store looking at bolts of fabric, the sheriff had approached her and asked outright if the young dark- haired woman was Christine Bennett. Emily had been a little surprised when he had done nothing more than thank her and walk away after she had told him yes.
Emily climbed the stairs to her room. A pensive look on her face, she prayed that God would give her the needed wisdom to help this girl she was sure He had placed in her life.
Christine was not long in following Grandma Em indoors. Going to her own room, she sat at the desk. As she sat there she realized she had been trying to block Spooner and its problems from her mind. And for awhile it had worked. The paper was in the desk, just as Grandma Em had said. She toyed with it a moment before pulling some out. Determination on her face, she began to write. Even if it meant confronting Vince Jeffers herself, she wanted some answers!
Christine could not have known that a small, nondescript man was boarding the train in Spooner. His destination: Fall Creek. His purpose: to do Vince Jeffers' bidding.
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Sunday dawned warm and lovely, but the beauty of the day was lost on Christine. Staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror which hung on the inside of her closet door, her thoughts were more suited to rain.
The dress she wore was mint green, lightweight, and fresh-looking. With short puffed sleeves, a fitted bodice, and a full skirt, the dress was really quite lovely and looked as though it had been made for her. A frown clouded her face as she remembered it hadn't been. Continuing to frown into the mirror, she realized how important it had become that Grandma Em's family and friends like her. Being out of her element and dependent upon other people brought a rush of insecurity to Christine.
As Christine descended the stairs she decided to relax and be herself. Her lack of close friends in Spooner had been because of where she lived, not because people didn't like her. Joseph Bennett's neighbors had been elderly, which probably explained why Christine had grown close to Grandma Em so quickly.
Being busy helped Christine get her mind off her troubles, so with a determined step she headed to the kitchen to start breakfast. Turning from her work, she heard Grandma Em's footsteps approach.
"Good morning, Christine. Oh! You look lovely, and your hair up like that is darling!"
"Thank you." Christine's raised hand to her hair showed Grandma Em how unsure she had been.
"Oh, Christine, there will be three of us for breakfast. Silas and Luke always take care of the stock on Sundays and then take us to church."
Christine noted that Grandma Em talked to her as though she had been a part of the family for years. Emily headed off
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in the direction of the dining room, counting aloud the number of family expected for lunch.
Christine continued with breakfast preparations when the door leading to the backyard burst open. In strode a man, who without a glance in Christine's direction went to the washstand. Christine stood still, her eyes taking in dark hair and a full, dark beard. His shirt tightened across a broad back and muscular arms as he reached for the soap. His height made him a Cameron.
As he washed, and without looking up, he began to speak in an exasperated voice. "Gram, those pigs are a nuisance. How you stand it is beyond me! And that goat! I was ready to nail his mouth shut this morning. Plus I made the mistake of going out to the pigs before giving corn to the chickens. They followed me and kept up a steady stream of chatter the whole time I was wading in to feed those two monstrosities you call pigs."
Silas Cameron turned from his washing to see he was not addressing his grandmother. He did not know this woman who stared at him as if he had lost his mind, but he was warm to his subject, so he continued. With little more than a flicker of surprise showing in his deep blue eyes (eyes that must be a Cameron trait, Christine thought), he went on.
"Have you seen those pigs?" he asked her directly.
"Belle and Betsy?"
"Right. Well, I'll tell you this family could be eating ham and bacon for years if she'd let us butcher those two. Everyone tried to tell her when she and Grandpa bought this place, but no, she said she felt sorry for the animals and Grandpa never could tell her no. So here we are, how many years later still taking care of-" He stopped when he saw his grandmother standing in the doorway, an amused smile playing across her lips.
Silas was always much quieter than his brothers and sister. He was not one you interrupted-for fear of shutting him up, never to know when he would start again.
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Emily now openly smiled at her grandson. Silas returned the smile as he moved over to bend and kiss her cheek. Straightening, he leveled a look at Christine.
"Gram, introduce me to this poor girl who was forced to stand here and listen to me rant and rave."
After the introduction, and while he was still warm to the subject, Silas shot another question at Christine.
"What do you think of Belle and Betsy?"
"Well, they do grow on you."
Christine watched him throw back his head and roar with laughter, giving her a glimpse of beautiful white teeth amid his bearded face. His eyes were still sparkling with mirth when he said, "Grow is something Belle and Betsy do very well!"
This brought laughter from both Grandma Em and Christine as they laid out breakfast. While they ate Emily couldn't help but notice how relaxed Silas was with Christine. Since he was normally quiet around people he didn't know well, she couldn't help but wonder if he was drawn to her because of her resemblance to Julia or if he was attracted to her as a woman. She was lovely and sweet. Grandma Em ate her breakfast with a thoughtful heart.
Later, as Silas helped Christine onto the seat of the sturdy, two-seated wagon, she sighed with relief. If the rest of the family was this nice, everything would be just fine.
The drive to church was short-almost too short for Christine to become nervous; almost, but not quite. Her palms felt damp and she hid them in the folds of her skirt, but the sight of the church interrupted her thoughts.
It was white and small and utterly charming. Christine's eyes traveled skyward, taking in the high steeple. The bell caught the morning sunshine, Christine noticed, just as it began to ring. She loved the sound. Grandma Em's hand on her arm brought her out of her daze and they walked up the steps together. Grandma Em, sensing a need in Christine, closely hooked her arm in Christine's and led them to a seat.
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With a simple but warm interior, the oak pews boasted a dark stain, as did the pulpit. Off to one side sat a piano that had
seen better days.
Unaware of the curious glances in her direction, Christine's eyes moved around the room. A tall, lovely young woman stood out like a Christmas tree on the Fourth of July in a small town like Baxter!
Christine watched as a man stepped into the pulpit. Emily leaned over and told Christine his name was Pastor Nolan.
Christine listened closely as Pastor Nolan made a few announcements before opening his Bible. She watched Grandma Em do the same with a Bible she hadn't even noticed. Christine's cheeks burned; she had no Bible. Without even looking at Christine, Grandma Em reached into the pew rack, took out a Bible, and handed it calmly to Christine.
It took Christine a little time to find Luke 15:11, and once she did, she didn't look at her Bible again. Her eyes riveted on Pastor Nolan, listening intently to every word.
Pastor Nolan was telling a story of a young man who wanted his inheritance early. His father gave it to him. The young man left home and spent every dime, wasting it away on riotous living. When the young man found himself alone and destitute, and knew his father's servants lived better than he did, he picked himself up and started home. The father had been watching for his son and saw him when he was still down the road. The father ran and hugged his son, his heart alive with joy. They celebrated his homecoming and welcomed him with open arms.
At the end of the sermon Pastor Nolan said, "Maybe one of you has been away from home. The Lord Jesus Christ is watching and waiting to welcome you back. Maybe you aren't sure you even have a home. Maybe you haven't taken that step of faith and told Him of your sin and believed He died for you."
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Christine stood for the closing song on wobbly legs, not understanding everything he had said but knowing the part about home was making her depressed and teary. She mentally shook herself lest she cry right there in church.
Moving through church, Grandma Em took Christine with her, introducing her and staying close. Christine was unaware of how conscious Grandma Em was of her feelings. Grandma Em had glanced up at one point to find Mark and Susanne's eyes on Christine. She watched them exchange a glance, and Grandma Em's heart felt heavy for Christine. Emily still knew next to nothing about her, but she knew that when Christine was ready to talk she would be ready to listen.
In the wagon ride home, Christine tried to sort out the people she had met. The sermon, along with all the new faces, had been a bit overwhelming. Plus she still had not met Julia and her family.
Upon arriving, Christine went straight to the kitchen, hoping the work would take her mind off her jumbled emotions.
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"Well, if that isn't the most depressing sight I know- seeing my dress on another woman and having it look better on her!" Christine spun around in surprise upon hearing these words. Her eyes met those of a beautiful, dark-haired woman.
Julia Cameron MacDonald stood with her hands on her hips trying to look disgusted, but the smile in her eyes told Christine the truth. Julia stepped forward then, hand extended and a full smile lighting her face.
"I'm Julia MacDonald. Gram tells me your name is Christine." Julia shook Christine's hand and both women felt a spark of comradeship. Their relaxation was visible as all doubts cleared.
"Yes, I'm Christine Bennett, and thank you for the dress. I hope it hasn't put you out."
"Julia has enough dresses to loan the entire town and not be put out."
It was a man's voice coming from the kitchen doorway that Julia had just vacated. He was the size of a mountain. Christine stared at him, thinking it was the first time she had met someone bigger than her grandfather. But Julia spoke to him as if she were scolding a child.
"Behave yourself, Mac. Come over here and meet Christine." She caught his hand and pulled him over. "Mac, this is Christine Bennett. Christine, this is my husband, John MacDonald, Mac for short." Christine's hand was swallowed in a huge paw that she could not keep from staring at. Mac, seeing the train of Christine's thoughts, said, "My mother always tells me I just didn't know when to stop growing." He smiled before adding, "I can't say as I meet too many women the height of my Julia." Mac dropped an arm across Julia's shoulders and gave her a quick hug.
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Christine smiled at Julia. "I was rather surprised when Susanne brought me a dress that actually fit. You can't know how much I appreciate it."
The next hour was spent in dinner preparation and conversation. Christine met Calvin and Charles, Julia's sons. They had their mother's dark hair and their father's expressive brown eyes.
Content with family surrounding her, Grandma Em bustled around finishing the table with a hug here and a word there. Christine was again amazed at how accepted she was. When Susanne and Mark arrived, Emily bounced into the kitchen to hug Christine and inform her of her upcoming fourth birthday. Then she raced off to find Calvin and Charles.
Dinner was wonderful-with only one embarrassing moment. Mark prayed, thanking God for the day, the food, and the addition of Christine to the family. Immediately upon the heels of the "Amen," Emily wanted to know if Christine was now a member of the family because she was wearing Aunt Julia's dress.
Seeing Christine's flaming cheeks and Mark about to reprimand Emily, Grandma Em broke in kindly and explained that Christine was family because they loved her and wanted her to be.
Readying herself for bed, Christine reflected on the long day. She had read a story to the children and also listened to Julia and Susanne talk about babies and pregnancies. Mark had stopped her at one point to ask after her shoulder. She assured him everything was fine.
Silas had been quiet until Grandma Em announced that she and Christine were going to paint the porch this week. Everyone save Julia protested. Conversation was frenzied for nearly 20 minutes, when Silas ended with "Luke wouldn't like this, Gram, and I think you know it. I also think you know, if he were here, he'd put a stop to this idea in a hurry." But the determined look on Grandma Em's face told them they had all wasted their breath.
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Reasoning that Luke must be the oldest and the head of the family, Christine wasn't too sure she would like anyone who was at all hard on Grandma Em. But then she realized she was being silly and unfair; Luke probably loved his grandmother very much. She would reserve judgment until she met the man.
Christine now lay in the darkness waiting for sleep to come. Pastor Nolan's words came back to her. "Maybe you aren't sure you even have a home." Home! The thought brought a fresh pain to Christine's chest. She would finish that letter to Mrs. Hall and get it off soon. The thought helped ease the ache in the region of her heart as she drifted off to sleep.
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The next two weeks were joyful and busy. The painting of the porch and shutters went off without a hitch. Grandma Em was thrilled, though her grandsons were still doubtful. I Emily's birthday party was held at Grandma Em's one Saturday afternoon. Emily's special guest that day was Mr. Turley, Grandma Em's neighbor. Emily usually saw Mr. Turley when she was at her great-grandmother's. The man's kindness and lack of a grandfather in her own life made him a special asset.
Julia came one afternoon. Leaving Calvin and Charles with Grandma Em, she whisked Christine back to the farm to go riding. Christine was more than a little surprised when Julia took her upstairs for riding clothes and handed her a pair of men's jeans. Christine looked down at the jeans and then back to Julia's mirth-filled eyes. Both women broke out in uproarious laughter.
The MacDonald land adjoined the Cameron land, and as the women rode over the wide acres with joyous abandon, it occurred to Christine to ask Julia how Mac felt about her in men's pants, thinking back to her grandfather's reaction. But she thought better of it and kept quiet.
Christine mailed her letter to Mrs. Hall, explaining briefly her situation and that she was well. Christine asked many questions in the letter, making it hard to sit and wait for a reply.
One day brought a confrontation between Christine and Mark, when she insisted upon knowing the balance of her medical bill. Mark ass
ured her there was no hurry, but Christine was adamant. Taking nearly every dime of her first wages from Grandma Em, Christine made her first payment. Mark protested right up to the time she left his office, but to no avail. As he saw her out the door and
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watched her walk up the street, he realized why Grandma Em and Julia liked her so much: They were three of a kind.
After nearly three weeks in Baxter, Christine was settled and content. Much of the time she was too busy to think of Spooner and its troubles.
Three weeks with the Cameron family was bringing changes to Christine's life. She was very aware that they were something special. At first she attributed it to a big family and many friends, something she had never had. But as time went on it was obvious there was something more. Not having heard from Mrs. Hall, Christine could only hope she would be around long enough to find out what that something was. But for now she was at peace and was more than content to stay where she was.
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Luke Cameron shifted his weight on the train seat. Why did the last 50 miles to Baxter always feel like the longest? Deliberately taking a night train out of Chicago, it had given him one more day with Paul, and he figured he could sleep on board.
But he had figured wrong. Luke had only dozed, and now he felt achy and irritable. The train was due to arrive in Baxter before breakfast. He realized as he sat there, that it would be hours before he could crawl between the sheets of his own bed. His own bed! The thought brought a smile to his lips. At his height he really missed the length of the specially made bed. It had belonged to his parents, Joseph and Kathrine Cameron, who had both been very tall.
As usual, whenever Luke thought of his parents and the wonderful marriage they had, it brought a painful ache to his chest over his own single state.
He and Mark were both 28 years old. God had seen fit to give Mark a wife. He had also been blessed with Emily, and now another baby was due very soon. Luke felt a bit envious, but had decided long ago that God's will was best. With this acceptance came the desire to live to the fullest, alone or not. This submission, nevertheless, did not deter Luke from praying for the desire of his heart.