Read Online Love comes softly by Janette Oke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janette Oke
Ads: Link
was embarrassed by her shabbiness? Yes, she decided, it could well be. Again her chin came up.
Okay, she determined, she'd take it-- all of it. She would not be an embarrassment to any man. She would sew up the clothes in a way that would be the envy of every woman around. After all, she could sew. Clark need not feel shame because of her.
But the knowledge of what she knew or thought that she knew, drained much of the pleasure from the prospect of the new clothes.
In his lean-to bedroom, Clark stretched weary, long legs under the blankets. It had been a hard day for him, fraught with difficult memories.
It used to be such fun to bring home the winter supplies to Ellen. She made such a fuss over them. Why, if she'd been there today she would have had Missie sharing in the game and half-wild with excitement. Well, he certainly couldn't fault Marty, only five days a widow. He couldn't expect her to be overly carried away about salt and flour at this point. She must hurt-- she must really hurt. He wished he could be of some help to her, but how? His own pain was still too sharp. It took time, he knew, to get over a hurt like that, and he hadn't had enough time yet. The thought of wanting another woman had never entered his head since he'd lost Ellen. If it weren't for Missie, this one wouldn't be here now either; but Missie needed her even if he didn't, and one could hardly take that out on the poor girl.
At first he had resented her here, he supposed-- cleaning Ellen's cupboards, working at her stove-- but no, that wasn't fair either. After all, she hadn't chosen to be here. He'd just have to try harder to be decent and to understand her hurt. He didn't want Missie in an atmosphere of gloom all the time. No, he'd have to try to shake the feeling and in time maybe
62
she could too, so that the house would be a fit place for a little girl to grow up in. It would be harder for her as she was all alone. She didn't have a Missie, or a farm, or anything really. He hoped that Mrs. McDonald had made the right choices. She really was going to need warmer things for the winter ahead. The thought that he was doing something special for her in getting her the things that she needed did not enter his thinking. He was simply providing what was needed for those under his roof, a thing that he had been taught was the responsibility of the man of the house. He had learned this when he was but a 'young 'un' tramping around, trying to keep up to the long strides of his own pa.
63
Chapter 9
The Lord's Day
Sunday morning dawned bright and warm with only enough clouds in the sky to make an appealing landscape. While at breakfast, Marty, hoping that she wasn't too obvious, asked Clark if he was through at Jedd's or would he be going back for the day. Clark looked up in surprise.
"Jedd has him a bit more to finish off," he said, "an' I wouldn't be none surprised iffen he'd work at it today. Me, though, I al'ays take a rest on the Lord's Day. I know it don't seem much like the Lord's Day with no meetin', but I try an' hold it as sech the best thet I can."
Now it was Marty's turn for surprise. She should have known better if she had given it some thought, but in her eagerness to get Clark from the house she hadn't considered it at all.
"Course," she whispered, avoiding his eyes. "I'd plumb fergot what day it be."
Clark let this pass and was silent for a moment. Then spoke.
"I been thinkin' as how me an' Missie might jest pack us a lunch an' spend the day in the woods. 'Pears like it may be the last chance fer a while. The air is gettin' cooler an' there's a feelin' in the air thet winter may be a mite anxious to be a comin'. We kinda enjoy jest spendin' the day lazyin' an' look- in' fer the last wild flowers, an' smart-lookin' leaves an' all. Would thet suit yer plans?"
64
She almost stuttered. "Sure-- sure-- fine. I'll fix yer lunch right after breakfast,"
"Good!"
It was settled then. Clark and Missie would spend the day enjoying the
Okay, she determined, she'd take it-- all of it. She would not be an embarrassment to any man. She would sew up the clothes in a way that would be the envy of every woman around. After all, she could sew. Clark need not feel shame because of her.
But the knowledge of what she knew or thought that she knew, drained much of the pleasure from the prospect of the new clothes.
In his lean-to bedroom, Clark stretched weary, long legs under the blankets. It had been a hard day for him, fraught with difficult memories.
It used to be such fun to bring home the winter supplies to Ellen. She made such a fuss over them. Why, if she'd been there today she would have had Missie sharing in the game and half-wild with excitement. Well, he certainly couldn't fault Marty, only five days a widow. He couldn't expect her to be overly carried away about salt and flour at this point. She must hurt-- she must really hurt. He wished he could be of some help to her, but how? His own pain was still too sharp. It took time, he knew, to get over a hurt like that, and he hadn't had enough time yet. The thought of wanting another woman had never entered his head since he'd lost Ellen. If it weren't for Missie, this one wouldn't be here now either; but Missie needed her even if he didn't, and one could hardly take that out on the poor girl.
At first he had resented her here, he supposed-- cleaning Ellen's cupboards, working at her stove-- but no, that wasn't fair either. After all, she hadn't chosen to be here. He'd just have to try harder to be decent and to understand her hurt. He didn't want Missie in an atmosphere of gloom all the time. No, he'd have to try to shake the feeling and in time maybe
62
she could too, so that the house would be a fit place for a little girl to grow up in. It would be harder for her as she was all alone. She didn't have a Missie, or a farm, or anything really. He hoped that Mrs. McDonald had made the right choices. She really was going to need warmer things for the winter ahead. The thought that he was doing something special for her in getting her the things that she needed did not enter his thinking. He was simply providing what was needed for those under his roof, a thing that he had been taught was the responsibility of the man of the house. He had learned this when he was but a 'young 'un' tramping around, trying to keep up to the long strides of his own pa.
63
Chapter 9
The Lord's Day
Sunday morning dawned bright and warm with only enough clouds in the sky to make an appealing landscape. While at breakfast, Marty, hoping that she wasn't too obvious, asked Clark if he was through at Jedd's or would he be going back for the day. Clark looked up in surprise.
"Jedd has him a bit more to finish off," he said, "an' I wouldn't be none surprised iffen he'd work at it today. Me, though, I al'ays take a rest on the Lord's Day. I know it don't seem much like the Lord's Day with no meetin', but I try an' hold it as sech the best thet I can."
Now it was Marty's turn for surprise. She should have known better if she had given it some thought, but in her eagerness to get Clark from the house she hadn't considered it at all.
"Course," she whispered, avoiding his eyes. "I'd plumb fergot what day it be."
Clark let this pass and was silent for a moment. Then spoke.
"I been thinkin' as how me an' Missie might jest pack us a lunch an' spend the day in the woods. 'Pears like it may be the last chance fer a while. The air is gettin' cooler an' there's a feelin' in the air thet winter may be a mite anxious to be a comin'. We kinda enjoy jest spendin' the day lazyin' an' look- in' fer the last wild flowers, an' smart-lookin' leaves an' all. Would thet suit yer plans?"
64
She almost stuttered. "Sure-- sure-- fine. I'll fix yer lunch right after breakfast,"
"Good!"
It was settled then. Clark and Missie would spend the day enjoying the
Similar Books
