Love's Enduring Promise (Love Comes Softly Book #2) , livre ebook

© 1980, 2003 by Janette Oke
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan. www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Newly edited and revised
Ebook edition created 2010
Ebook corrections 8.14.2012, 02.26.2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0297-0
Cover design by Jennifer Parker Cover model photography by Jason Jorgensen
Dedicated with love to
Edward
Terry, Lavon, Lorne, and Laurel
—my wonderful family
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
1. New Beginnings
2. Ponderin’s
3. Little Arnie
4. Visits
5. Exciting News
6. Wanda’s New Baby
7. Mrs. Larson
8. A Strange Answer
9. Nandry an’ Clae
10. A Trip to Town
11. Family and Teacher
12. School Days
13. Somethin’ New
14. Tommie’s Friend
15. Search for a Preacher
16. Marty Talks to Ma
17. A Call on Wanda
18. The New Preacher
19. School and Visits
20. Bits ’n Pieces
21. Reverend Knutson
22. Life Moves On
23. Church and Family
24. Christmas
25. One More Time
26. Josh and Nandry
27. A New Parson, a New House
28. Livin’ and Learnin’
29. Missie’s Callers
30. Missie’s Discovery
31. Christmas Surprises
32. One More Surprise
33. A Special Day
About the Author
Books by Janette Oke
Back Cover
ONE
New Beginnings
Marty stirred restlessly. The dream had possessed her, and now she felt an uncontrollable shiver run through her body.
With her gradual wakefulness came an intense relief. She was here, safe and belonging, in her own bed.
Still, an uneasiness clung to her. It had been a horrible dream, so real and frightening. Why, she asked herself, did she even have this dream after all this time? And it had been so real—so very real.
She could feel the dream’s frightening details close in about her again as she thought about it. The broken wagon, a howling blizzard pulling and tearing at the flapping canvas, and she, Marty, huddled alone in a corner, vainly clasping a thin, torn blanket about her shivering body in an effort to keep warm. Her despair at being alone was more painful than the cold that sought to claim her.
I’m gonna die, she had thought during the dream, all alone. I’m gonna die —and then, thankfully, she had awakened and had felt the warmth of her familiar four-poster and looked through the cabin window at a sky blessed with twinkling stars.
But she could not suppress another shiver, and as it passed through her body, a strong arm went about her, drawing her close.
She hadn’t meant to waken Clark. His days were such busy ones, full of farming and care of the animals, and she knew he needed his sleep. As she studied his face in the pale light from the window, she realized he wasn’t really awake—not yet.
A flood of love washed over her. Whenever she needed assurance of his love, it was readily given to her, even from the subconscious world of sleep. This was not the first time that, even before he awakened, he had sensed her need and held her in his arms.
But wakefulness was coming to him now. He brushed a kiss against her loose hair and whispered, “Somethin’ wrong?“
“No, I’m fine,” she murmured. “I jest had me a frightenin’ dream, thet’s all. I was all alone an’—”
His arm tightened. “But yer not alone.”
“No, an’, Clark, I’m so glad—so glad.”
As he held her close, she knew her shivering had ceased and the reality of the dream was gone.
She reached a hand to his cheek. “I’m fine now—really. Go back to sleep.”
His fingers smoothed her hair, then gently rested on her shoulder. Marty lay quietly, and in a few moments Clark’s breathing assured her that he was asleep again.
Marty had control of her thoughts now. With the terror of the dream pushed aside, now she used the quiet moments before the dawn to think through and plan for the activities of the day.
Over the winter months, every moment the community menfolk could spare from their own work had been given to felling and skidding logs. The families in the area felt strongly the need for a school for the educating of their children, and they knew the only way they would get one would be to build the structure themselves and find a teacher to go with it.
It would be a simple one-room affair, built near the creek on a piece of property donated by Clark and Marty Davis.
Gradually the piles of logs had grown. The men had been anxious to bring in the required number in front of the spring thaw, and then before the land would be beckoning to their plows, there would be time for a work bee or two.
The log count had been taken—the requirement filled. Tomorrow was the day set aside for the “school raisin’.” The men hoped to complete the walls and perhaps even add the rafters. The building would then be completed through the summer as time allowed. By fall the children would have a school of their own.
Marty’s thinking jumped ahead to the teacher. They still needed to find a teacher, and they were so difficult to locate and interest in coming out to the frontier. Would they build their school only to discover that they were unable to obtain a qualified teacher? No, they must all pray—pray that the little group working on the search would be fruitful, that their efforts of building the school would not be in vain, that a suitable teacher would be found.
Little Missie would not attend the school for its first term. She would be five come November and probably too young to join the others starting in the new school. Marty felt torn—she wanted Missie at home with her for another year. Still, in all the excitement over the new school, it was hard to not be actually involved with a child in attendance. She reminded herself again that Clark and she had decided Missie should wait—a hard decision, for Missie talked about the new school constantly.
At first the school had seemed so far into the future, but now here they were on the threshold of its “birthin’.” The thought of it stirred Marty, and she knew she would be unable to go back to sleep, even though she should. It was too early to begin the day’s work. Her moving about might waken the other members of the family.
She lay quietly, sorting out in her mind what food she would prepare for the school work crew on the morrow and what would need to be done in preparation today. She mentally dressed each of her children and even mentally noted which of the neighbor women she might want to have a chat with when the work would allow it. The opportunity to gather together, even if it meant hard work and extra effort, was something Marty treasured, and she knew the others of their community shared her anticipation.
The minutes seemed to tick by slowly, and finally her restlessness drove her from under the covers. She lifted herself carefully and slowly, for the child she carried made most movements cumbersome.
Jest another month, she reminded herself, an’ we will see who this is .
Missie was hoping for a baby sister, but little Clare didn’t care. A baby was a baby to his small-boy way of thinking; besides, a baby stayed in the house, and he, at every opportunity, marched along with his pa, trying to match his steps with Clark’s. So Clare couldn’t see a baby adding much to his world.
Marty slipped into her house socks and wrapped a warm robe about her. The little house was cold in the morning.
She went first to look in on the sleeping Missie and Clare. It was still too dark to see well, but through the light from the window their outlines assured her that they were covered and comfortable as they slept.
Marty went on to the kitchen and as quietly as possible lit the fire in the reliable old kitchen stove. Marty felt a kinship with her stove—almost like a man with his team, she reckoned with a little smile. The stove and she worked together to bring warmth and sustenance to this home and family. Of all the things their home held, the stove, she felt, was really hers.
The fire was soon crackling, and Marty put the kettle on to boil and then filled the coffeepot. It would be a while before the stove warmed the kitchen and the coffee began to boil, so Marty pulled her robe about her for warmth and lifted Clark’s worn Bible from the shelf. She’d have time to read and pray before the family began to stir.
She felt especially close to God this morning. The dream had made her aware again of how much she had to be thankful for, and the anticipation of the new school added to her feelings of well-being. As close and cared for as she felt with Clark, only God truly understood her innermost self. She was glad for the opportunity to pour it all out to the One she had come to know only recently.
Marty sat slowly sipping the hot coffee, enjoying its warmth spreading through her whole being. She felt refreshed now, both physically and spiritually. Again her eyes sought out the passage on the pages open in her lap. The verse had seemed meant especially for her at this particular time. Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest .
The words were rich in promise and a comfort to her, particularly after her troubled dream. Alone . The word was a haunting one. She was so thankful she was not alone. Once more in deep humbleness and gratitude she acknowledged the wisdom of her Father in bringing Clark so quickly to her after the tragic death of husband Clem. She realized now that as soon as she had inwardly healed sufficiently to be able to reach ou