Read Online Love's Enduring Promise (Love Comes Softly Series #2) by Janette Oke - Free Book Online
Authors: Janette Oke
Ads: Link
gave Marty and his two daughters a quick nod, which Marty supposed was to suffice for thank you, goodbye and God bless you, all three, and went out the door. He was full of the coming trip west and of all of the good fortune that he was sure it would hold. Jedd always had regarded good fortune more highly than hard work.
Thus it was that Nandry and Clae were established as members of the Davis household.
Marty decided to give the girls a few days of "settlin' in" before establishing routine and expectations.
She looked at their sorry wardrobe and decided that a trip to town would be necessary if they were to be suitably dressed for the soon-to-commence school classes.
61
Marty seldom went to town, sending instead a well-itemized list with Clark, but she felt that this time she should go herself. Clark would find the selecting of dress materials and other articles difficult and time consuming.
Marty had been saving egg-and-cream money over the months and felt that now was the time to dip into her savings. It wasn't fair to lay all of the expenses on Clark. He had already had to pay Jedd for the dubious privilege of raising his daughters. Marty felt her hackles raise at the thought.
Well, that was all passed and done--so be it. From here on they were hers to care for, and to the best of her ability, she planned to do it right!
Nandry seemed her usual withdrawn self, neither expecting nor finding life to be interesting, but Clae seemed to observe everything around her and even dared at times to delight in what she discovered.
Both girls were surprisingly helpful--a fact for which Marty was grateful. Nandry preferred to spend time with young Arnie rather than the other members of the family. Marty did not mind, for help with the adventuresome and often mischievous little boy was always welcomed.
Marty planned her journey to town for the following Saturday. She would go in with Clark and thus save an extra trip.
On Friday after breakfast was over, she called the girls to her. It was time, she decided, that they work a few things out.
They sat down silently, their hands nervously twisting in their laps. Marty smiled at them in an effort to relieve their tension.
"I thought thet it be time thet we have a chat," she began. They did not move nor speak.
"Is yer room okay?"
Clae nodded and Nandry followed suit. The fact was that Clae had never believed that anything so fine really existed. The bed was soft with warm, nice-smelling blankets, colorful rugs were scattered over the floor, printed curtains with ruffles hung at the window and two framed pictures graced the wall. A neat row of pegs was on the wall behind the door and a wooden chest stood beneath the window. There was even a
62
small bench with cushions all of its own. How could she ask if the room was all right? Clae nodded mechanically, trying to keep the sparkle from bubbling up into her eyes.
Marty continued to smile.
"I thought maybe we should be sortin' out our work. Missie washes the dishes two mornin's a week, an' she cleans her room--makes her bed and hangs up her clothes each day--an' she helps some with Arnie, too. Now then, what ya be thinkin' thet you'd like to be doin' fer yer share-like?"
No response.
"I know thet ya already been makin' yer bed. Thet's good; an' ya do a nice job of it, too. But, is there enythin' thet ya 'specially like to do? Better than other things, I mean."
Still no answer.
Marty felt trapped, and just when she was wondering whether to assign the work as she saw fit, or to dismiss the two and forget the whole thing, assistance came to her from her own Missie.
"Mama says I wash dishes good," Missie announced, "but I'll share. Do ya want to wash dishes sometimes, Nandry?" Nandry nodded.
"An' do you too, Clae?"
Clae nodded.
"Well," said Missie, very grown-up like, "then why don't we take turns?"
It was settled.
Missie went on. "We all need to make our own beds, but Clare is too little yet to make his bed, an' Arnie
Thus it was that Nandry and Clae were established as members of the Davis household.
Marty decided to give the girls a few days of "settlin' in" before establishing routine and expectations.
She looked at their sorry wardrobe and decided that a trip to town would be necessary if they were to be suitably dressed for the soon-to-commence school classes.
61
Marty seldom went to town, sending instead a well-itemized list with Clark, but she felt that this time she should go herself. Clark would find the selecting of dress materials and other articles difficult and time consuming.
Marty had been saving egg-and-cream money over the months and felt that now was the time to dip into her savings. It wasn't fair to lay all of the expenses on Clark. He had already had to pay Jedd for the dubious privilege of raising his daughters. Marty felt her hackles raise at the thought.
Well, that was all passed and done--so be it. From here on they were hers to care for, and to the best of her ability, she planned to do it right!
Nandry seemed her usual withdrawn self, neither expecting nor finding life to be interesting, but Clae seemed to observe everything around her and even dared at times to delight in what she discovered.
Both girls were surprisingly helpful--a fact for which Marty was grateful. Nandry preferred to spend time with young Arnie rather than the other members of the family. Marty did not mind, for help with the adventuresome and often mischievous little boy was always welcomed.
Marty planned her journey to town for the following Saturday. She would go in with Clark and thus save an extra trip.
On Friday after breakfast was over, she called the girls to her. It was time, she decided, that they work a few things out.
They sat down silently, their hands nervously twisting in their laps. Marty smiled at them in an effort to relieve their tension.
"I thought thet it be time thet we have a chat," she began. They did not move nor speak.
"Is yer room okay?"
Clae nodded and Nandry followed suit. The fact was that Clae had never believed that anything so fine really existed. The bed was soft with warm, nice-smelling blankets, colorful rugs were scattered over the floor, printed curtains with ruffles hung at the window and two framed pictures graced the wall. A neat row of pegs was on the wall behind the door and a wooden chest stood beneath the window. There was even a
62
small bench with cushions all of its own. How could she ask if the room was all right? Clae nodded mechanically, trying to keep the sparkle from bubbling up into her eyes.
Marty continued to smile.
"I thought maybe we should be sortin' out our work. Missie washes the dishes two mornin's a week, an' she cleans her room--makes her bed and hangs up her clothes each day--an' she helps some with Arnie, too. Now then, what ya be thinkin' thet you'd like to be doin' fer yer share-like?"
No response.
"I know thet ya already been makin' yer bed. Thet's good; an' ya do a nice job of it, too. But, is there enythin' thet ya 'specially like to do? Better than other things, I mean."
Still no answer.
Marty felt trapped, and just when she was wondering whether to assign the work as she saw fit, or to dismiss the two and forget the whole thing, assistance came to her from her own Missie.
"Mama says I wash dishes good," Missie announced, "but I'll share. Do ya want to wash dishes sometimes, Nandry?" Nandry nodded.
"An' do you too, Clae?"
Clae nodded.
"Well," said Missie, very grown-up like, "then why don't we take turns?"
It was settled.
Missie went on. "We all need to make our own beds, but Clare is too little yet to make his bed, an' Arnie
Similar Books
