Janette Oke (11 page)

When haying time and the scurry of activity had passed, there was time for more leisurely pursuits, which sometimes led to pranks. One particular day, Jack and Janette wandered into the barnyard, looking around for some kind of mischief—something they could enjoy while still avoiding any serious trouble. Spying a long rope and the nearby horses, the plan began to form. Soon the rope was tied to the gatepost and then stretched inconspicuously along the ground across the gate's opening, the second end hidden behind the woodpile. Then, they were ready for the real fun!

Janette was to shoo the horses through the gate while Jack held the end of the rope. At first, she had little success, and the horses were driven vainly back and forth across the “spot.” Then, finally, things worked out as planned.

Just as Trix ran across the rope, Jack gave a mighty heave and the rope snapped up, hitting Trix squarely on the under belly. His reaction was explosive. Hooves flashed and Trix bucked while Jack and Janette rolled with laughter. He had had no idea what had hit him, and all the effort was counted as well worth it—there was great satisfaction in turning tables on the ornery horse.

Soon another horse was added to the herd. It was not unusual to buy or to sell farm horses, and one day a neighbor arrived leading a bay behind his wagon. Fred had gone to a farm sale, and Jack and Janette were told, “Your dad bought him. He'll be home in a bit.”

The man handed the lead rope to Jack and the two looked over the new horse, wondering what he would be like. Was he mean? Could he be trusted? And what was the strange lump on the side of his jaw?

Jack led the bay to the barn and fed him. He seemed gentle enough. Later, when he was turned out to pasture, the other horses began to pick on him. It made Janette worry that he might be hurt. They nipped and kicked and chased him around and around. Her anger rose as she watched, but finally the herd stopped their initiations and Dan, as the bay was dubbed, was accepted.

He was a good horse, gentle and trustworthy, both in harness and to ride. He quickly became Janette's choice whenever he was available. She even liked to pretend that Dan was her own, though of course he was not. He was a workhorse that belonged to the farm and family, but she loved him deeply anyway. And Dan repaid her devotion by doing everything he was asked to do—or at least he tried. Once Janette made him plunge into a pond of cold spring water and urged him to climb aboard floating ice blocks. The idea failed, but not from lack of effort on Dan's part. The ice kept chunking off just as he extended his hoof and thrust his weight onto it. But he kept right on trying valiantly until Janette gave up the attempt.

There were other farm horses too. An old white horse named Jack died one cold wintry day and gave the coyotes a feast down in the pasture. And there was King, a dark brown horse, and Old Bob, who fell down a shallow, deserted well. The group of men who gathered to try and save him had a terrible time fighting with him until they were finally able to hoist him up. Horses were only a part of farm life, but they were an important part. And for Janette and those who shared her equestrian pleasures, not only were they depended on for many of the farm tasks, they became dear friends as well.

Fred continued to receive offers to buy Trix. His answer continued to be “no,” but as the years slipped by Trix grew old. The time finally came when Fred decided it was best to get rid of him. More cold winters would have been hard for the old horse, and Fred was far more practical than the children would have been. Had they kept the animal until he dropped of old age as some of the other horses had done, his carcass would have surely been pulled down to a distant field and left where the coyotes would have squabbled over its remains. There was nothing to be gained by allowing the old horse such an undignified end.

So Fred sold Trix to a man who made frequent horse-buying trips through the area. Janette stood behind the living room curtains, tears spilling down her cheeks as she watched the dealer cross the yard, Trix in tow. The dear, stubborn old horse was still prancing as he was led out to be loaded on the truck, unaware that he was taking his last trip. And Janette was certain she would miss him, despite all his senseless antics.

Midnight, too, was eventually sold, this time to distant neighbors. He was no longer a young horse, and Fred felt that the family needed the money more than they needed him. He had never been a really “good horse,” but the Steeves children had all learned to love him anyway, so it was hard to let him go.

It was even more difficult when, a few days later, Midnight appeared back in the yard, a piece of rope dangling from his neck. Apparently he had not cared much for his new home and had decided that no mere rope would keep him from returning to where he belonged. The girls pampered and fed him, soothed him and petted him, and begged to be allowed to keep him. However, they were old enough to know better. For, of course, Fred notified the new owner and Midnight was taken away again.

The day of the school track meet was fast upon them, and joyous excitement buzzed throughout the school building. A classmate, Alice Hurteau, the youngest member of a French Canadian family in the community and another of Janette's school companions, was athletic and ready to challenge whomever contested her from the other schools. Janette shared her enthusiasm, though not quite all of her competitiveness.

On the morning of the appointed day, Janette rummaged through her clothing, trying to find a blouse that would suit the slacks she was wearing for the special event. There was none. It was her sister June who came to the rescue. From her closet of carefully maintained clothes, she produced a lovely white blouse. Janette could hardly believe that she would be able to wear the snowy-white garment and promised fervently that she would do her best to take good care of it.

All day long she was conscious of keeping the blouse from getting dirty, or spilled on, or smudged from track dirt. At the end of the day, she looked at the blouse in triumph, confident that it was no worse off for her use of it.

Some friends gave her a ride home from the track meet in their car, and as they bounced along over the rutted roads they talked about the day and relived its most exciting moments. Their small school could boast of capturing a good share of the day's ribbons.

The car pulled into the Steeves' yard and Janette stepped out, bursting with news to share with her older siblings and parents. Just as she leaned back toward the car for one last farewell, someone inside reached for the door and pulled it closed. The sound of tearing cloth ripped through the air. Somehow, the car handle had caught the front of the blouse, ripping where it pulled against the buttons. Janette felt heartsick. She had spent so much of the day concentrating on the blouse and now, just at the last moment of it being in her possession, was to go into the house with it torn. How could she ever face June?

She knew she should be scolded, but June said nothing. Later she carefully and skillfully mended the tear. There was no money for the luxury of a new blouse, and Janette was sure that each time June wore it, she was reminded again of her little sister's carelessness, but June never said one word about it.

Janette had a number of boy cousins around her own age and one girl cousin just a few months older than she. She loved being with Eva. During their early years before the move North, Eva's family lived nearby on the prairie and the two girls had seen each other often. Later Eva's prairie family also moved north, and the two families attended the same country school.

It was fun getting to know each other again, and they shared many good times. When sometime later the Burt Ruggles family moved several miles away to Ponoka, it was still close enough so that the families could spend time visiting in one another's home.

On one such occasion when Janette was in her early teens and visiting with Eva, they attended a special service in the Ponoka Baptist Church. It became one of the pinnacle events of her young life, for it was at that service, prompted by an invitation, that Janette dedicated her life to be used in any way God chose. Many years before at Bible camp, Janette had prayed for forgiveness of her sins; now she was stepping out further in her walk with the Lord. Now she was giving over all the big and little decisions that lay ahead of her. It was a significant experience for her, and she felt her dependence on God and her desire for His will grow.

Church attendance was still a regular part of the Steeves' life, and their church was currently being ministered to by the Lloyd Torgersons, who had recently taken up residence in the small church parsonage with their two young girls. While they were with the church, Mrs. Torgerson lost the baby that she had carried to full term, and the stillborn baby was prepared for burial by the pastor himself.

Reverend Torgerson was a handy carpenter, so he made a little wooden coffin and lined it with soft white material. He then lovingly and sorrowfully laid the baby into it himself, and arranged the small frame and tiny limbs to look comfortable and peaceful.

For some reason Janette found herself at the parsonage, and after Reverend Torgerson welcomed her into their home, he asked if she would like to see the baby. Chills ran up and down her spine at the thought of it but Janette agreed. The young girl had never before looked upon death, and struggled to force herself to gaze at the tiny infant lying among the soft white folds of the casket interior. The impression stamped itself on her mind, and though the experience was in no way pleasurable, it had not been terrifying either. Perhaps a merciful God was even then preparing her for later years, when she would look into the face of another infant so newly born and yet so still.

When the Torgersons left the area, Neil Neufeld, a young bachelor, came to the Hoadley pastorate. It seemed that Pastor Neufeld did not find himself well suited to single life and he left shortly, returning to Hoadley with his young bride, Gladys. They made a good team and the local people enjoyed them. Neil had a hearty laugh and shared some of the loves of fishing, hunting, and picnicking with Fred and the uncles. Even the church prayer meetings, held at various houses, became times of fun as well as fellowship.

As the school year approached when Janette was to begin grade nine, word came that the Harmonien school was not able to provide a teacher and that correspondence courses were to be offered instead. Fred and Amy decided that Janette and her younger sisters should attend the Hoadley school. Not long into the year, however, the Hoadley teacher decided that she could not manage the work of a ninth-grade student along with the younger students that she was responsible for. So Janette was asked to withdraw and reluctantly switched her enrollment back to the Harmonien school—which meant she would need to order the correspondence courses. Just before Christmas, they arrived.

Once the hustle of the season had passed and Janette had just settled herself to the hard work of catching up from a lost school semester, news came that Aunt Laurine was sick and needed help with her family. Instead of returning to her studies, Janette found herself packing her belongings and moving south to Champion. In the busy months that followed, all thoughts of schooling were left behind.