“Yes. Thank you for having me.” Thinking that the rumors of Travis’ wife being a beauty were certainly true, Pup smiled kindly into Rebecca’s deep brown eyes.
“It’s our pleasure. My name is Rebecca by the way. Travis and the boys are out riding.”
Pup dismounted and offered Rebecca her hand. The women shook, and Pup tied the horse’s reins to the post and followed Rebecca as she moved back up onto the porch. Pup was much taller than the other woman; indeed, if Rebecca hadn’t been expecting there would have been little to her. But at the moment that was the least of Pup’s worries; she never figured on Travis not being present when she arrived.
For a moment Pup nearly panicked over what they might talk about, but she worked at staying calm. A moment later she let her head tip back. The porch was high and painted white. Most of it looked newly swept. The job was so thorough that it was immediately obvious where Mrs. Buchanan had left off with the broom.
“It looks as though I interrupted your work,” Pup offered, opting for a safe subject.
Rebecca sighed and admitted, “I was so tired this morning that I could have slept all day. Now I’m so full of energy that I’m driving Lavena crazy.”
Pup looked at her. “Your housekeeper?”
“Yes. If she knew I was out here, I’d be getting the sharp side of her tongue.” She smiled. “Would you like to sit down?”
Pup shook her head. “I’ve been in the saddle for several hours, but don’t let that stop you.”
With that, the expectant mother watched in amazement as Pup picked up the broom and started on the porch where Rebecca had left off. The socially proper side of her wanted to tell her guest to drop the broom, but something in the other woman’s face stopped her. A moment later she lowered herself onto one of the comfortable wooden benches that sat on the front porch.
“Is this what women call nesting?” Pup suddenly asked.
“What’s that?” Taken off guard, Rebecca did not immediately catch on.
“Oh, you know, wanting to clean and get everything ready before the baby comes?”
“I think it must be. Now that I think about it, I did the same with the boys.”
Pup brushed at a web and then looked over at her. “You had twins, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Garrett and Wyatt.”
Pup couldn’t stop her eyes from dropping to Rebecca’s distended waistline. “Is it twins this time, too?”
Rebecca chuckled, her hand going to her swollen middle. “No. Big as I am, I’m sure this is only one.”
Glad she hadn’t offended, Pup smiled and went back to work. “I’ve heard that women can tell if they’re carrying a boy or girl. Is that true?”
“I’ve heard that, too, but I don’t know. The boys want a baby sister. I guess I’ve been afraid to say too much and possibly disappoint them.” She looked over to find Pup’s eyes on her again.
But you know, Rebecca Buchanan, Pup thought to herself, you believe you know what this baby is. I can see it in your eyes. However, all she said aloud was “Do you hope for a boy or girl, or doesn’t it matter to you?”
The younger woman smiled. “Only for the boys’ sake. I’d like to see them get the baby sister they want.”
Pup smiled as well and went back to the webs. A moment later she heard, “Well, of all things!”
She turned toward the front door to find a pint-sized woman whom she knew to be Lavena Larson. They had never met, but Pup had seen her around town over the years.
“I thought you were out here working; I tell you I did,” she went on to the mistress of the ranch. “Travis and the boys are just back, and I was going to tell him if you were.”
Rebecca smiled tolerantly at her. As a rule Lavena was very good about staying in the background, especially if they had company. But Rebecca’s present condition had given her motive to throw off all caution. She was as protective of Rebecca as a mother hen might be, probably more so.
“Lavena,” Rebecca spoke with some authority now, “please meet our guest, Pup Jennings. Pup, this is Lavena North, our housekeeper.”
Surprised that she’d gotten the name wrong, Pup still came forward and offered her hand. “Hello,” she said kindly.
Lavena shook it, but her eyes went to the broom.
“You’re not going to continue with that broom, are you?”
“As a matter of fact I’m finished,” Pup said smoothly, passing the aforementioned object to the bantam-sized woman.
Lavena thanked Pup with a low word and then turned back to the house. However, she didn’t go before throwing a parting shot. “And you just stay seated, Rebecca, or you’ll be hearing from me!”The door closed on this command, and the women exchanged a smile.
“At least she has your best interest in mind,” Pup said to her hostess. “I’d hate to have her as an enemy.”
Rebecca laughed in genuine amusement. “I’d never thought of that before. I have more to be thankful for than I realized.”
Rebecca had just finished speaking when the sound of the boys’ voices floated to them. They were coming around the side of the house and picked up the pace when they saw their mother seated on the porch. They ran to kiss her and then turned curious eyes on their guest.
“Garrett and Wyatt, I’d like you to meet Miss Jennings.”
“Hello,” they chorused together and even smiled at her.
Pup smiled in return. “Your mother tells me you’ve been riding.” Pup studied their small faces, silently delighting in the differences between them: one dark, the other fair.
“We rode all over,” Garrett told her seriously. “We went for a long one this time.”
“Do you share a horse or each ride one?”
“Today we shared,” Wyatt filled in. “Sometimes Gary gets Dixie and I get Feather, but today we shared Feather. She’s Mama’s horse.”
“What’s your horse’s name?” Garrett wished to know.
“That’s Ginny,” Pup said as she looked over at the trim brown mare. “Do you want to ride her?”
“Can we?”Wyatt was already on his feet.
“May we?” his mother corrected.
“If it’s all right with your mother.”
Rebecca gave her consent with a nod, and Pup stood as the boys dashed off the porch. She followed them, removing her bag from the side of the saddle and untying the reins. Looking like little pros, the boys moved Ginny so they could climb into her saddle from the porch, and, faces serious, set off for a ride in the yard.
“Well, you certainly know how to make friends.”
Pup turned with a smile and saw that Travis had come onto the porch from the front door.
“Hello, Travis.”
“Hello yourself. Glad you could make it.”
Pup came up the steps and shook his hand. He motioned to a bench, and Pup sat down before he joined Rebecca. Afraid that an uncomfortable silence would fall, Pup immediately opened her bag and drew out the tin of candy.
“I brought you a little something,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as awkward as she felt. The can was passed to Rebecca.
“Thank you,” she said kindly and then tore back the paper. “Peppermint!” she said with elation. “We haven’t had peppermint since last Christmas. The boys are going to be thrilled.”
“That was kind of you, Pup,” Travis inserted. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The rancher smiled at her and then turned to the woman he was sitting next to. His arm was already along the back of the chair, and it now dropped gently onto her shoulders.
“Lavena tells me you’ve been naughty.”
Rebecca turned her head to smile into his eyes. “She came out here to catch me in the act. You should have seen her face when she saw that it was Pup who was sweeping down the front porch.”
Both women laughed at his expression.
“It was better Pup than me,” his wife went on to tell him. “I was already in enough trouble.”
“I
can see I’m going to have to keep an eye on you two,” Travis teased them, completely unaware of what his words did for Pup’s heart.
Not until after she’d given the broom to Lavena did she think how strange her actions might have seemed. The last thing she wanted was to invite a bunch of questions or odd looks, but Rebecca had taken it in stride and so had Travis. She was still asking God to help her handle the rest of the evening as well when Travis called a halt to the boys’ ride.
“Gary, Wyatt, come back to the porch. I think Miss Jennings’ horse has had enough for now. After all, she came all the way down the mountain today.”
“You live in the hills?” Wyatt asked when they neared, and Pup nodded her head.
“In a cabin?”
“Yes.”
“Do you live with anybody?”
“I live by myself.”
Clearly the boys thought this was great, and Travis could see that more questions were coming.
“You can talk to Miss Jennings at supper, boys,” he informed them. “Let’s take this little mare to the barn for the night.”
“It’s Ginny, Papa. Her name’s Ginny.”
“All right,”Travis agreed, treating this with a sincerity that equaled his boys’. He tossed an amused smile at his wife and guest before heading to the barn with his sons.
“Why don’t you come in?” Rebecca was saying as she stood. “I’ll show you to your room, and then I think it must be close to dinnertime.”
Pup picked up her bag and followed her hostess, once again pleased that no awkward silences or questions had assailed her. She was shown to a room off the kitchen and told that it had been Lavena’s room before she moved to a small house on the property and married one of Travis’ ranchhands. The mystery over the name was put to rest in Pup’s mind.
Left alone, Pup found the bedroom spacious and comfortable. Although sounds could be heard from the kitchen, Pup knew they would not disturb her. She took a moment to check her wig in the mirror and wash her face and hands at the basin. The main reason for this visit came rushing back to her, and she forced herself not to worry about who she might be meeting Sunday morning. In many ways it was a temptation to saddle up Ginny and head right back up the mountain, but nervous as she was, her desire to be in church was stronger. In time she went out to enjoy the evening with the Buchanan family, thanking God again that He was watching over her.
28
No one was up the next morning, at least not early enough to be in the kitchen before Pup came from her room. She remembered the hospitality she felt from the Harringtons in Longmont and could honestly say that the Buchanans were no different. With that in mind, she moved quietly and started the coffee. It was just finishing, filling the kitchen with the familiar aroma, when Lavena came through the back door.
“Well now,” she said simply, “first the front porch and now the coffee. Pretty soon I’ll be out of a job.”
Pup only smiled, knowing Lavena was not at all upset. She knew that Lavena would never be out of a job. The house was spotless and the food on the table the night before was some of the best Pup had ever tasted. Pup had to hide a smile as she pictured herself trying to do Lavena’s job. Fiasco was the only word that came to mind.
“Are you ready for some breakfast?” the feisty housekeeper wanted to know.
“The coffee’s enough for now. Thank you.”
Lavena evidently didn’t feel a need to comment again; she turned around and went to work. It wasn’t long before she was filling muffin tins for the oven, and even before they went in, Pup could see that they would rise higher than her baked goods ever did. She wondered for the space of several heartbeats if it might be time to work on her own cooking skills, but a moment later she spotted a Bible. All thoughts of food and cooking disappeared.
There was a small shelf by the kitchen door and on the top of it rested a black Bible. Lavena, indeed the whole kitchen, was forgotten as Pup retrieved it and wandered back to the table. She opened it to the book of Ephesians. She’d been reading in that book in the Dougans’ Bible before it was time to leave for Boulder. And forcing herself to keep her promise, she had left the Bible safely at home.
She immediately turned back to that book and took up where she had left off in chapter six. She’d read the first nine verses at the cabin and went over them again, but verses ten through twelve were new to her, and in the Buchanan’s kitchen she read to herself with great concentration.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
At that point she stopped and looked up, completely taken aback to see that Travis had joined her at the table. He stared across at her, his face open and kind, but he did not speak.
“It sounds like we’re at war in here,” she finally said in confusion.
“What book are you in?”
“Ephesians.”
“‘Put on the whole armor of God’?”
Pup could only nod.
“Those verses are referring to the battle with sin,” he began. “When a person comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ—”
“I did that,” she cut in ever so softly.
“Okay,” Travis nodded, pleased to hear it but wanting to answer her immediate question. “After salvation,” he went on, “we see God’s holiness in a new light. We see more than ever what sinners we are—even more so than at the point of salvation. We recognize that a holy God was merciful to us, but we can’t be content to live as we always did. However, old sin habits die hard. In Ephesians, Paul tells us—”
“Paul?”
“He’s the writer of the book.”
“How do you know that?”
“The first verse, or possibly the second, names him.”
He watched as she looked back at the first chapter and then raised her head to stare at him again.
“Paul tells us how to fight against the sin we so naturally want to fall into.”
“I’m not sure I do.”
“Do what?”
“Want to fall into sin and need to fight against it.”
This gave Travis pause. Had she really come to Christ? Or was she so young in the Lord that she just had a very limited knowledge of sin in general? He prayed about what to say.
“I must have completely missed that Paul wrote this book,” Pup said, her voice filled with wonder. “I read those verses but didn’t understand that’s what he was saying. It makes me wonder how much else I’ve missed.”
“Don’t let it worry you,”Travis assured her, still wondering how much he should share. He took a moment to think and then offered something that would cover her whether or not she’d actually made a decision for Christ.
“If you remain faithful with your study, Pup, you’ll understand. God never hides from us.”
She nodded, her face still intent. “Does Pastor Henley welcome questions?”
“Absolutely. He enjoys it. I’ve yet to see a Sunday when someone didn’t approach him.”
At that point Lavena brought a heavy stack of dishes down from the cupboard, and Pup and Travis’ eyes were drawn to her. Although not aware of Lavena, Pup realized she’d been working in the kitchen the entire time. Was she comfortable with talk about God’s Word? Did she know Christ? Somehow Pup didn’t think so. Pup pondered on this for a few moments. The questions going through her mind must have been evident on her face. When she looked back at Travis, he slowly shook his head no.
If they’d been alone she might have tried to ask him, but not only was Lavena present, the boys joined them just five minutes later. They proclaimed to all in the kitchen that they were starving, and not until they mentioned food did Pup realize she was now ready to eat. It was the start of an enlightening day for her—one she would ne
ver forget.
Rebecca did not get up to eat breakfast or see Travis, Pup, and the boys off to church. As Pup gathered her things to leave, she wondered if this was because of her pregnancy or because she didn’t enjoy church. Pup now remembered that the day she and Travis had talked at the train station, he had said he attended church with his sons. Pup had not taken him literally, but now thought she probably should have. After her things were ready and her room in order, she expressed to Lavena her thanks for the meal and a comfortable night. She went to the wagon to find Travis had already saddled Ginny and tied the mare’s reins to the back; Pup had told him at breakfast that she would be headed home after services.
Pup and Garrett took the rear seat, and Wyatt joined his father as he handled the reins. The boys entertained the adults as the horses drew them closer to church, and for a time, Pup was not left alone with her thoughts. However, as they came to the edge of town the boys fell silent, and she was forced to think about what might lie ahead.
Many of the faces in town were not new to her, but she knew they considered her strange. After all, she was not given to small talk and she always came and went from the bank, livery, post office, and general store just as swiftly as she could. No one in town was ever openly rude, but Pup was good at reading people. She knew when someone didn’t know what to make of her. Would it be any different with this church congregation? She reminded herself that at times she’d seen confusion and surprise in Travis’ gaze, but he had also proved to be kindness itself.
“You’ve grown rather quiet back there.” The object of her thoughts spoke from the front seat.
“Have I?” she evaded the comment.
Since Pup was not sitting directly behind him, Travis was able to turn his head and stare at her for a moment.
“You’ll be welcome at the church,” he said calmly, his eyes moving back to the horses. “I was sick to my stomach with anxiety the first time I came, but there was no need. I wasn’t asked to sing a solo or even to stand and give my name. People were friendly and kind.” He glanced behind him one more time. “They’re still the same today, Pup.”