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.
15
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 Godâs 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.
At one time he prayed simply for a wife. But the years passed and no feelings of love developed for any of the young women at church. This caused Lukeâs prayer to change, and he began to pray for preparation. Daily he prayed for growth and wisdom, asking God to help him be ready if ever God chose to give him a wife.
Another thing Luke did over the years was to observe. The two marriages he was closest to were those of his brother and sister. After much time watching Mark with Susanne and Mac with Julia, Luke was sure that God would give him a wife like Susanne. Sue was sweet, gentle, and submissive. Luke loved his sister Julia, but she certainly had a mind of her own. He wondered at times if Mac had any control over her at all.
Luke remembered back to a time when Julia was 12 years old. She had put on a pair of boyâs jeans, sneaked out of the house, and gone riding astride. She had gotten in trouble for it, but it had never stopped her. In fact, she was still doing it. Why, just a few days before Luke had left for Chicago, Julia had ridden over, in blue jeans, astride her horse. Luke had stared at her jean-clad legs in tight-lipped disapproval, causing the happy smile on Juliaâs face to vanish.
That she had come over especially to have a quiet visit with him before he left for his trip only occurred to him after, without dismounting, Julia handed him a basket of his favorite cookies and then with a quiet âIâll miss you, Luke,â pulled her horse around and rode away.
Luke, awash with guilt, knew he had to see her and make things right. So after supper he rode over to the MacDonald farm, only to be told by Mac that Julia had gone to bed early with a headache.
Mac stood watching his brother-in-law run long fingers through dark curly hair in mild frustration. Mac was reasonably sure that Luke was the reason Julia had come home fromher ride with red, swollen eyes. As strong-willed as Julia was, Lukeâs approval had always been important to her. Luke was also a bit too stern for his own good.
Luke had not been able to see Julia to apologize until the night of her birthday party. Smiling, she told him it didnât matter, but Luke could see the hurt she was trying so hard to hide.
Lukeâs hand went to the bag on the seat next to him. He hoped Julia would like the book and small glass dish he had found for her in Chicago. He planned on telling her again how sorry he was, and hopefully they could then have the
15
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 Godâs 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.
At one time he prayed simply for a wife. But the years passed and no feelings of love developed for any of the young women at church. This caused Lukeâs prayer to change, and he began to pray for preparation. Daily he prayed for growth and wisdom, asking God to help him be ready if ever God chose to give him a wife.
Another thing Luke did over the years was to observe. The two marriages he was closest to were those of his brother and sister. After much time watching Mark with Susanne and Mac with Julia, Luke was sure that God would give him a wife like Susanne. Sue was sweet, gentle, and submissive. Luke loved his sister Julia, but she certainly had a mind of her own. He wondered at times if Mac had any control over her at all.
Luke remembered back to a time when Julia was 12 years old. She had put on a pair of boyâs jeans, sneaked out of the house, and gone riding astride. She had gotten in trouble for it, but it had never stopped her. In fact, she was still doing it. Why, just a few days before Luke had left for Chicago, Julia had ridden over, in blue jeans, astride her horse. Luke had stared at her jean-clad legs in tight-lipped disapproval, causing the happy smile on Juliaâs face to vanish.
That she had come over especially to have a quiet visit with him before he left for his trip only occurred to him after, without dismounting, Julia handed him a basket of his favorite cookies and then with a quiet âIâll miss you, Luke,â pulled her horse around and rode away.
Luke, awash with guilt, knew he had to see her and make things right. So after supper he rode over to the MacDonald farm, only to be told by Mac that Julia had gone to bed early with a headache.
Mac stood watching his brother-in-law run long fingers through dark curly hair in mild frustration. Mac was reasonably sure that Luke was the reason Julia had come home fromher ride with red, swollen eyes. As strong-willed as Julia was, Lukeâs approval had always been important to her. Luke was also a bit too stern for his own good.
Luke had not been able to see Julia to apologize until the night of her birthday party. Smiling, she told him it didnât matter, but Luke could see the hurt she was trying so hard to hide.
Lukeâs hand went to the bag on the seat next to him. He hoped Julia would like the book and small glass dish he had found for her in Chicago. He planned on telling her again how sorry he was, and hopefully they could then have the
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