A Place Called Home (16 page)

“Christine!” Grandma Em reached for her but Christine eluded her grasp. “Christine!” Grandma Em followed her down the stairs, silently pleading with God for help. “Christine, it was just another dream. Christine—please stop.”

Nearly to the parlor, Christine in her haste missed the last step. She fell forward, her head hitting the wall to the side of the staircase before she rolled onto her side and lay in a heap at the bottom.

She sat up and rubbed her head in confusion. Grandma Em knelt beside her, her face lined with worry. Christine's eyes went back up the staircase. It was coming back to her in a rush: She had had another nightmare.

Would she ever get over her fear of death? She was so far from Spooner but still haunted by her fears. She felt helpless. Tears filled her eyes and she began to tremble. “I'm sorry,” she choked out.

“Shhh, don't cry. It's all right. I'm right here.” Grandma Em's hand smoothed Christine's tumbled hair and gently touched her cheek. “Let's go back upstairs.”

Christine was still trembling as she sat on the side of her bed. Grandma Em sat beside her, listening and praying. “He was by my bed at home. He had a knife. I thought it was real and he was right here in the room with me.”

“Christine.” Something in Grandma Em's voice pulled her out of her miserable shell and made her look up. “Christine, what if you had died tonight, if it hadn't been a dream and you were really killed?” Emily let this sink in for a moment. “Where, Christine? Where would you spend eternity?” Grandma Em's voice ended on an urgent note.

“I don't know,” Christine whispered in confusion and misery.

“Were you listening on Sunday, Christine? Did you understand what Pastor Nolan said? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”

“I've never prayed before. I don't know what to do.” Christine's voice was slightly breathless. It was coming again, that feeling of expectancy that overtook her whenever she went to church or heard Bible verses.

“Believe, Christine, only believe,” Grandma Em said gently. “Pray and tell God that you know of your sins and that you believe Jesus died for them. Trust in Him now, Christine, for your eternal salvation and His loving care for you now here on earth.”

Christine sat still for a moment as she felt the wonder of Grandma Em's words bubbling up within her. It was all so clear now—her searching, her fear. God was waiting to take them
all—waiting for her, Christine Bennett, to hand them over to Him.

Bowing her head, Christine began to pray. “Dear God, I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and that He died for my sins.” Christine's voice broke as she struggled to bring her tears under control. “Thank You, God, for coming into my life. Amen.”

Christine turned and looked at Grandma Em, but neither woman could see through the tears that flowed unchecked. Neither woman could speak or find a handkerchief, so the silence was broken by sniffs and small sobs with an occasional breathless laugh.

Christine drew in a shuddering breath. “I have so many questions.”

Grandma Em squeezed her hand. “Will they wait till morning?”

Christine smiled and nodded her head. The women embraced and Grandma Em made her way back to her room. Her head barely hit the pillow before she fell into the most peaceful sleep she had known since Christine had arrived. Down the hall Christine's eyes were also closing. Her plans to lie awake and talk to God melted as sleep claimed her with a smile on her face.

Emily stood at the door of Christine's room. Taking in the made bed, she saw that all else was in place and quiet. She had expected Christine to sleep late. After putting the coffee on, she peeked out and saw Christine coming toward the house.

“Good morning,” Grandma Em called as she opened the door. Christine hurried toward her, a smile lighting her face.

“Good morning, Grandma Em.”

“How are you, Christine?”

“I feel wonderful. You, on the other hand, are probably ready to boot me out of the house for all the nights' sleep I've cost you.”

Grandma Em's answer was quite serious. “Having you find Christ, Christine, has been worth every moment.”

Christine's answering smile was serene. “It feels peaceful and wonderful knowing that God loves me so much. I'm sure you understand how lonely I was after losing my grandfather.”

“I know, dear. The hurt can feel as though it's going to overwhelm you. But I promise you this, Christine: God is bigger than any hurt you'll ever have.” It felt wonderful having Grandma Em to share with, Christine thought as the two women readied breakfast.

That morning during Grandma Em's reading and prayer time Christine prayed too. It was simple and heartfelt and was followed by questions from Christine which took all morning.
“If the Bible is God's Word, why was it written by men? How do you know God is everywhere at once?” Christine never seemed to run out of them, and by lunchtime Grandma Em was exhausted.

After they had eaten, Grandma Em went to her room for a nap. Luke and Silas came into the kitchen just as Christine was finishing the dishes.

“Well, hello!”

“Hello, yourself!” Silas answered as he leaned against the dry sink. Luke took a chair at the table.

“Where's Gram?” The question came from Luke. He had prayed so much last night, in ignorance about Christine and Grandma Em, that he felt a bit concerned for them today.

“She's upstairs taking a nap.”

“She's not sick, is she?”

“No, no, just tired.”

“And you, Christine, are you okay?” Luke asked, but both men had noticed the high color in her cheeks and the almost-fever brightness in her eyes.

“I'm fine. In fact, I'm wonderful. Last night I accepted Christ into my heart.” Christine's smile was beaming.

Luke's eyes closed against a sudden rush of tears, his hands tightly clenched in his lap. He felt as if his heart would burst through his chest, so full was his joy.

Silas let out a yell and laughed as he grabbed Christine in a hug that threatened to break her back. Setting her down, he gave her a hearty kiss on her cheek and she joined in his laughter.

Luke had risen from the table and was headed toward Christine. She suddenly felt shy. Luke stopped before her but didn't touch her. The expression on his face was tender and understanding, and when Christine's eyes met his, she blushed furiously.

Silas felt immense happiness that he wasn't attracted to this girl. The only time he had ever seen her blush was in front of Luke. Silas wondered if Luke was aware of it.

Luke, upon seeing the blush, smiled and said quietly, “I prayed for you last night.”

“You did?” Christine hoped her voice didn't sound as high-pitched to his ears as it did to her own.

“I'll tell you about it sometime.”

“Okay,” Christine answered, feeling oddly breathless.

“A woman my age needs peace and quiet for her afternoon naps.” A falsely indignant voice spoke from the kitchen doorway. Everyone laughed, and what followed was a chaotic time of excitement and questions, smiles and rejoicing.

Before the day was out, the entire Cameron family knew of Christine's decision. Pastor Nolan also heard. He and Mrs. Nolan came by to talk with Christine and Grandma Em after supper.

Christine fell into bed that night exhausted and overjoyed. As she lay quietly talking with God, she prayed for all the trouble and goings-on in Spooner without being specific. She asked for special protection over Mrs. Hall and a safe end for everyone included in this turmoil. Christine placed her fears and worries in God's hands and fell asleep peaceful and trusting.

“Baxter?” Vince Jeffers looked once again at the paper in his hand: “c/o Emily Cameron, Baxter, Wisconsin.”

“Is this all there was?”

“I think so. The old lady started to stir around and I had to get out of her room.”

“You went all the way into her bedroom?” Jeffers' voice was incredulous.

“I had to—that's where her desk is,” the small man defended himself.

“Were there other papers—a letter, perhaps?”

“Mighta been a letter, but since I can't read to tell…”

Vince Jeffers for once was not angry; he looked thoughtful. “Something tells me we've found her.” He spoke as he poured each man a liberal helping of brandy. “Sit down. We've got some planning to do.”

“Hurry, Daddy, I can't wait to see Luke's ranch,” Caroline stated.

“What's your hurry? The ranch isn't going anywhere.”

At her father's answer Caroline turned with a huff on the buggy seat. This action brought a grimace of pain to her face.

“Can you believe this buggy? It's ancient and this seat is like a board, and to top it off, it was the best the livery had!” Caroline's voice was heavy with disgust.

Frank slanted a look at his daughter, thinking as he did so how he had courted her mother in a buggy worse off than this one. At the time he didn't have two nickels to rub together. But it hadn't mattered; he and Lily, then and still today, had eyes only for each other.

Before Caroline came along, Frank had taken over his father-in-law's breeding yards. By the time Caroline was four he was well-established, his reputation was spotless, and his stock had more than tripled.

Caroline, too young to remember anything except a fancy house with many servants, had never worked a day in her life. Frank knew it was his own fault that she was more little girl than woman. When his little girl had begged to come north with him in Lily's absence, he couldn't say no.

But he was brought out of his reverie by his daughter's whining. “Are we almost there?”

The road rounded a large clump of trees, and, just as Luke had directed, the house was in view. With an eighth of a mile Frank was turning up the driveway and pulling the buggy to a stop in front of the house.

Silas came out the front door just as Frank helped Caroline down from the buggy. “Hello!” he greeted them with a friendly smile. “Luke is in the barn. Come on, I'll show you.”

The three of them made their way around to the side yard and headed for the massive, well-built structure housing the Cameron's 26 horses. They found Luke in the alleyway between the stalls, checking the injured foreleg of a four-week-old colt. The colt's mother beckoned to him from a few stalls away, giving Luke the extra chore of trying to hold the young animal still.

Without a word Silas stepped over to hold the colt's head, freeing both of Luke's hands for the leg.

Frank stood still, admiring the two men as they worked gently and effectively with the horse, unaware that the train of his daughter's thoughts was quite different. Dressed in her yellow riding habit, she expected to catch Luke's eye the moment she walked into the stable. She felt angry at his lack of attention. She determined to make Luke notice her today so he would want to see her every day they were here for the next few weeks.

The Chamberses stayed long at the ranch that day. The cool weather was perfect for riding, and they spent most of the afternoon on horseback.