Read Online Love Finds a Home (Love Comes Softly Series #8) by Janette Oke - Free Book Online

could still be very warm during the day.
    "My, you look nice," Marty beamed at Belinda. She knew Marty enjoyed seeing her back in her old flowered blue calico. Belinda didn't trust herself to comment. She feared her voice might give away her true feelings about the wardrobe upstairs.
    "I'll be right back," she informed her mother and set out down the path at the back of the house. It had been a long time since she had used an outside facility, and she found it strangely disagreeable.
    When she returned, Marty was dishing up a platter of scrambled eggs and farm sausage. "Pa said to call him in as soon as you were up," Marty informed Belinda. "Would you like to call 'im? He's at the spring."
    Belinda nodded, looking forward to a quick morning walk to the spring. It had always been one of her favorite spots--just as it had been her mother's. She nodded again and turned to leave.
    "Tell 'im everything is ready," Marty called after her, and Belinda took it as a signal that she was to hurry.
    It really wasn't far to the spring, but she ran anyway. She would have enjoyed a leisurely walk so she could smell the fall flowers and enjoy the colors of the leaves. She would walk the path again later--many times, perhaps--and enjoy the smells and the colors to her heart's content.
    Just as Marty had said, Clark was there, raking fallen leaves from the crystal water.
    "Pa," Belinda called, out of breath, "Mama says breakfast is ready."
    Clark looked up from his task.
    "My, don't ya look bright and pretty," he responded.
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    Belinda just smiled. Both Clark and Marty seemed to prefer having their little girl back.
    "Sleep well?" asked Clark as he set aside the rake.
    Belinda wished he hadn't asked. "Well. . ." She hesitated. "It took a long time for me to drop off," she admitted, then quickly added when she saw worry in Clark's eyes, "Guess I was just too excited."
    Clark nodded. "A lot happened in one short day," he agreed.
    They walked to the house, Belinda almost running to keep up with the long strides of her pa. "My," she joked, "how fast did you walk when you had two good legs?"
    Clark chuckled. "Not much faster, I 'spect. I figured as how I wouldn't let the loss of a limb slow me down any more'n I could help."
    "Well, it sure hasn't," panted Belinda. -
    Clark slowed down a bit. "I was jest thinkin' as I was cleanin' the spring," he said slowly, "of thet boy Drew."
    Belinda's eyes flickered toward her father. She felt the color strangely rise in her cheeks.
    "Ya ever hear from 'im?" asked Clark.
    Belinda shook her head.
    "He was over a while back," Clark went on. "Called on yer ma an' me."
    Belinda looked at her father, and she could feel her eyes widen with her questions. "He's home?" she asked softly
    "Was. Ain't no more. He was jest visitin' his ma fer a spell. His pa passed on, ya know"
    "No," said Belinda. "No. . . I didn't know that. What happened?"
    "Not sure. Some said heart. It was sudden like."
    "I'm sorry," Belinda responded, her voice not more than a whisper.
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    "Yeah, it was a shame. A real shame. An' as far as we know, him not ever makin' any move toward the church's teaching, either. The missus, now, she comes regular like. Been comin' the last two years. Took a stand about her faith in front of the whole congregation. Really somethin', her being' sech a quiet, sensitive soul."
    "What about the . . . the younger boy?" asked Belinda. "The one who was going to school?"
    "Sidney?"
    "Yes . . . I'd forgotten his name."
    "He's still with his ma. Works in town at the feed mill. Rides home every night. Folks say he had his heart set on going fer more education--but he hasn't gone, least not yet."
    They were nearing the house. Belinda hadn't asked the questions she really wanted to ask. What about Drew? Is he still following the Lord? Did he ever become a lawyer as he'd dreamed? Will he ever come back . . . home? Has he . . . has he married? But Belinda asked none of them. Instead she said, "I'll bet Drew's ma was glad to have