It was wonderful for husband and wife to share how they felt. And Jake had to admit that some of his joy over knowing that his precious Bobbie had found someone special had diminished slightly. They talked until nearly dawn and once again overslept for church.
It was unusual that this should happen twice in the same month, but when it did, Maryanne always fixed a special breakfast and then the family had their own Bible reading and discussion at the kitchen table. No one was happy to miss services, but they all thoroughly enjoyed these family times in the Word.
After church Jeff commented to his father about not seeing the Bradfords. Bill seemed unconcerned and told Jeff that the Bradfords loved to go camping and possibly left after the work at the Micklesons.
Jeff had never known anyone who went camping as a recreation. He decided he would ask Bobbie about it in the morning.
eighteen
“I can’t believe your whole family overslept.”
Bobbie laughed. “It’s not the first time.”
“My dad thought you might have gone camping.” Jeff said this thinking Bobbie would laugh at the idea.
“I wish,” she said with feeling. “We tried to go my first weekend back but it poured.”
“Where do you go? I mean, where do you set up camp?”
“We head east on the Sonoma Road. My dad knows a man who owns a ranch that goes back up into the hills. We camp in a wooded area of his land, near the creek. Some parts are so dense with trees that you stay dry in the rain. But it doesn’t work if we leave the house in the rain and all our gear is soaked before we arrive.”
Jeff was captivated. “What do you take in the way of gear?”
“Everything you need to survive the weekend—food, a change of clothes, fishing gear—”
“Do you fish?”
“Sure.”
“Does Gilbert know?”
“I do now.” Gilbert spoke from the doorway. “So when do we leave?”
“Not until I find out more about this camping,” Jeff told him.
Bobbie could see that their questions could go on all day, and she knew she had to get some work done. “Why don’t we talk at lunch?”
“I think she’s trying to tell us to get back to work,” Jeff commented.
Jeff and Bobbie tried again at lunchtime to talk, but Rigg came in. The conversation turned to business at the mercantile, and again Jeff’s questions to Bobbie were put off.
Bobbie thought nothing of this. In fact she had forgotten the entire discussion, so she was doubly surprised when Jeff appeared at her side to walk her home.
“You can tell me about your camping on the way.”
“All right,” Bobbie agreed after a surprised moment.
“What do you usually eat?”
Bobbie was having a hard time understanding why this was so interesting to Jeff, but she was a good sport and answered his queries.
“My mom packs enough food for an army, but we fish and pick berries if the season is right. My dad always makes hot coffee and flapjacks over an open fire in the mornings. In fact there’s nothing quite like an outdoor breakfast with a hot cup of coffee in your hand.”
Bobbie’s voice was so wistful that Jeff found himself wanting to try this camping business. He wondered how Bobbie and her mother managed in their long dresses but figured that was none of his business.
“Do you sleep on the ground?”
“We might now, I don’t know. But when we were little we all laid our bedrolls in the back of the wagon. Don’t forget, Jeff, I haven’t done this in five years.” The statement was completely innocent, but Jeff felt like she had punched him in the ribs.
“I’m sorry, Bobbie.”
“Oh Jeff,” Bobbie said as she immediately realized her mistake, “I didn’t mean it that way!” Bobbie brought them to a halt with a hand on Jeff’s arm. She could see he was still hurt.
“It’s time we talk, Jeff,” Bobbie said quietly. “I know it’s suppertime, so if you don’t want it to be now, then we need to plan on another time. You need to understand why I didn’t come back for all those years. Otherwise I’m going to have to weigh everything I say to you.”
“I think you might be right. Why don’t you plan on having supper at my house tomorrow night and we’ll go for a walk afterward.”
“That sounds fine, and you’d better head back now because it looks like it’s going to rain.”
They were almost to Bobbie’s house as Jeff agreed. Bobbie entered the house to find the family just sitting down. She had forgotten that Troy was having Carla Johnson over for the evening. Stuart, Alice, and the twins would be joining them later for dessert.
“Hi, everyone. Sorry I’m late.”
“That’s all right, we haven’t really started,” Jake assured his daughter.
Bobbie, who had been feeling preoccupied with her discussion with Jeff, found her mind moving to other things during the meal, the foremost of which was Troy’s demeanor toward Carla.
Across the table from Bobbie, with her parents on either end, they were giving her a perfect view of their interplay. Bobbie felt something catch in her throat time and again over the way Troy leaned to hear Carla when she spoke.
Carla was a very sweet girl; Bobbie remembered her well from school. She had beautiful brown hair and it was obvious that Troy was devoted to her. Bobbie thought, with a certain bias, that Carla wouldn’t find a man more wonderful than Troy, and if the look in Carla’s green eyes was any indication, she felt the same way.
The meal began to drag for Bobbie. It was becoming increasingly hard to watch her brother in the beginning stages of love. Something almost resentful rose up in her over the fact that Cleve had never been as solicitous to her as Troy was being to Carla.
Bobbie immediately confessed the thought. It was unfair of her to judge Cleve in such a way. She knew what he was and it had never bothered her in the past that he didn’t make over her all the time.
Even as Bobbie told herself this, she knew it wasn’t entirely true. She did want someone who would look at her with love-filled eyes and who listened when she spoke because he believed what she had to say was important. But there was something else—something that Bobbie had not wanted to face. Bobbie wanted, no needed, a man who would be a spiritual leader in her home the way her father was. Bobbie knew that Cleve did not fit the bill.
He had admitted to her on more than one occasion that he had a hard time reading the Bible. And one time when they had discussed memorization, he told her he thought it was a waste of time. “After all, I’ve got the whole Book right here,” had been his words, and they had bothered Bobbie immensely.
Bobbie often shared with him from the latest passage she had been reading, but Cleve never reciprocated. And another thing—she worried about his concept of prayer because of yet another conversation they had had.
“Will you be praying with me, Cleve? I’ve misplaced my spare set of glasses and I really want to find them.”
“Honestly, Robbie, you don’t actually bother God with those types of things, do you?”
“Well, yes,” Bobbie had answered uncertainly. “I mean, whenever I need help of any kind, I go to God. What sort of things do you pray about, Cleve?”
“Well, not little things,” he had replied almost defensively. “After all, God did give us brains and I think we need to use them.”
Bobbie had thought on his words for a long time and did some studying in her Bible. If they weren’t to call on God for everything, then why were the Psalms filled with pleas for help and praise to God for His every provision? Why did God state repeatedly that the very beasts of the fields were in His care if He didn’t want his children to go to Him for their needs?
Bobbie ended her search with the verses in Luke 12, verses 6 and 7: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Bobbie had shared the verses with Cleve, but he had only shrugged, noticeably uncomfortable. There were times when Bobbie wondered how she could even entertain thoughts of marrying Cleve. Yet there were those occasions when he made her feel special or cared for, and she was almost sure he was the one. But the operative word was almost.
Bobbie knew that if she married Cleve, she was doing so with her eyes open. She didn’t have doubts about his salvation, but Cleve did not seem to be growing in the Lord, and what was worse, he seemed content to stay that way.
Bobbie’s beliefs were quite different. She knew the first step had to be an acceptance of the gift that God offered through His Son’s death on the cross, but it didn’t stop there.
The Bible said that when a person is in Christ he is brand-new, and it was upon these words that Bobbie faced the fact that she couldn’t go on living as she always had. God was in control now, and old things like selfishness and pride were no longer to be tolerated because they were not pleasing to her Lord.
Some people would have said that Bobbie was some sort of fanatic, but Bobbie knew better. Never had she experienced such peace. It was indeed a peace that passed all understanding, a peace in knowing that her eternity was secure and that God cared about her every moment on earth, and was there for all her needs.
Bobbie knew she had to share her feelings with Cleve in a letter. He was quite sure that she would eventually be his wife, and Bobbie was having to face facts: Unless Cleve did a tremendous amount of changing in the time they were separated, she simply could not marry him and still be in obedience to God.
Maybe she hadn’t answered her mother’s question honestly. Maybe she was entertaining thoughts of marriage to Cleve because she was quite certain he would be the only one who would ever ask.
nineteen
Tuesday did not start well for Jeff. Sylvia was at the office very early wanting to see him. They hadn’t talked for over a week, specifically since the Sunday before when she had left the churchyard in a furious display of dust. Jeff’s several attempts to talk with her had availed him nothing. Three times he had gone to her sister’s house and tried to see her, but she refused to even come downstairs. Jeff figured she needed more time and decided to back off.
When by the next Sunday Jeff had made no effort to approach Sylvia, her fury mounted. She waited all that day and Monday for him to try again, but by Monday evening he still hadn’t made an appearance. Sylvia found she couldn’t take anymore. Tuesday morning she was at the shipping office just after 8:00, dressed to perfection and wearing a forgiving smile on her face.
“Have you got a minute, Jeff?” Sylvia asked in her most humble voice, and Jeff, sincerely wanting to clear the air, walked her to the buggy.
“I’m sorry I didn’t see you last week,” Sylvia started right in. “I’m afraid I wasn’t feeling very well.”
Jeff saw her excuse for the lie it was, and for the first time he wasn’t sure what to say to this woman he had been seeing. He was still trying to figure out what had been so upsetting about his suggestion that they eat at his house.
“Well, I’m glad to see you’re feeling better now.” Jeff replied with the first thing that came to mind, but he almost felt as if he had lied himself.
“Thank you.” It wasn’t what Sylvia wanted to hear, and she just barely controlled another show of temper. Jeff was looking uncomfortable, and Sylvia knew then and there that her plan had backfired.
She had deliberately let Jeff think she was angrier than she was, in hopes of bringing him to his knees. But all it had accomplished was to drive him farther away. The beautiful blonde couldn’t help but wonder how long it would have taken him to come to her if she hadn’t made the first move. She could see she had a lot of repair work to do.
“The main reason I came today,” Sylvia improvised, “was to ask you to supper tonight at the hotel.” Sylvia’s voice could have charmed the birds from the trees. “Just the two of us in one of those cozy little tables by the bay window. It’ll be my treat.” Sylvia was smiling in a loving, almost intimate way.
“Thanks, Sylvia, it sounds great, but I’ve made plans. Can we make it tomorrow night?” Jeff was completely sincere and he smiled at her in true kindness. He desperately wanted to clear the air and even wished he could leave work on the spot to do so. But his talk with Bobbie was equally important and he knew he must not cancel it.
Sylvia was in a near state of shock. Time and again Jeff had asked her out and she always made sure he knew her refusal stemmed from another man’s invitation for the evening. But never had Jeff turned her down. In fact, Sylvia was tremendously prideful knowing that he dated no one else and hadn’t dated anyone long before she came back to visit.
“You’ve made plans?” Sylvia asked uncertainly, and Jeff answered unsuspectingly.
“Right. You see, Bobbie and I need to talk, so she’s coming to my house for supper tonight.”
“You and Bobbie?” Sylvia’s voice had gone very soft.
“Right. We should have talked when she first came back. There are some things which have waited too long to be cleared up.”
It never occurred to Jeff to lie or try to cover up his evening with Bobbie. He saw the look on Sylvia’s face and stood in surprise as she climbed into her buggy without a word. She ignored Jeff when he called her name and even shrugged off the hand he had laid on her arm. Jeff stood and watched her whip her poor horse into a frenzy as the buggy bolted down the street.
“What’s the matter?” Bobbie inquired of Jeff, who had gone back into the shipping office and was standing by her desk like a man lost.
“I’m not sure. Sylvia wanted to go to supper tonight and I told her we’d have to make it tomorrow because you were coming over. She wouldn’t even talk to me. Climbed in her buggy and rode away.”
“Oh Jeff,” Bobbie whispered, “how could you?”
“How could I what?” the young man asked in all honesty.
“How could you tell Sylvia that you can’t see her because you’re having dinner with another woman?”
“But we’re not—you know.” Jeff finally caught on and was looking at Bobbie incredulously.
“Well, I certainly know that, and so do you, but obviously Sylvia doesn’t.”
Bobbie watched Jeff turn from her desk and stare out the window for a long moment. When he was still quiet after a time, Bobbie spoke.
“You need to go see her and explain. In fact, I think we should cancel tonight so the two of you can go out.”
Jeff turned and looked at the woman standing behind the desk. A wish rose up strongly within him that Sylvia was as understanding as Bobbie. But Jeff immediately pushed it away; it was a disloyal thought.
“Jeff.” Bobbie called his name softly. He was looking at her but he didn’t really seem to know she was there.
Jeff made an instantaneous decision. “Thanks for offering, Bobbie, but I’d still like you to come to supper.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I’ll try to see Sylvia at lunch, but we’ll keep our plans for tonight.”
She only nodded, hoping that Jeff knew what he was doing.
“Hello, Sandra. Is Sylvia here?”
“Yes, Jeff, she’s here. Come in.” Sandra was faintly satisfied to see Jeff on her front steps. She had just told her sister the day before that she would not lie for her again. Sandra thought Sylvia was crazy to have a gorgeous man like Jeff Taylor calling on her and pretending to be sick or out.
“Have a seat. I’ll tell Sylvia you’re here.” Sandra walked up the stairs, glad to have an opportunity to show her sister she meant business.
“Sylvia, Jeff is here.” Sandra poked her head in the door of her sister’s room, which always looked as though a tornado had just passed through. Sylvia answered from the unmade bed where she had been crying.
“Tell him I’m sick.”
“No,” the older woman answered calmly.
“What do you mean no?” Sylvia’s voice was shrill with pan
ic. Surely Sandra hadn’t meant what she said; she never did.
“I mean that if you don’t come down right now and see Jeff, I’ll tell him he can come up.”
“You wouldn’t!”
Sandra’s answer was to shut the door and start back down the hall. But Sylvia snatched it open before her sister could move five feet.
“All right, all right,” Sylvia whispered furiously. “I need a few minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”
Sylvia gave her sister a withering look before slamming the door and rushing to the mirror. She stopped just short of repairing her face, a new plan forming in her mind. ‘Maybe it would be a good idea to have Jeff see me like this.’ Sylvia realized that she didn’t look too bad. She touched up her hair a bit, took the last lace-scented hankie from her top bureau drawer, and went into the hall, her face a picture of rejection.
Sandra’s eyes rolled in her head at the obvious display, but Sylvia’s mind was made up and she ignored her. Jeff stood up from his place on the sofa as soon as he spotted the women on the stairs. Sandra smiled at Jeff as she passed through the room and Sylvia sat on the sofa and waited for him to be reseated.
Jeff didn’t immediately notice that Sylvia had been crying. He was too busy trying to find words to breach the awkward silence that stretched between them. Then Sylvia spoke first.
“Why are you here, Jeff?”
“I’m here to find out why you’re so angry with me all the time.” Jeff hadn’t meant to say that, but was glad he did. He was, by nature, a noncombative person. He would usually go out of his way to avoid a fight, which included stuffing his real feelings deep inside, something that was often a mistake.
Sylvia didn’t know what to say. He had never mentioned her temper before. She decided to go with that.
“You know I have a temper, Jeff. It doesn’t really mean anything when I get mad.” But the words didn’t wash with Jeff and he again surprised himself by saying exactly what was on his mind.