Love's unfolding dream (Love Comes Softly Series #6) (10 page)

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"Oh, could we? Could we? I'd love to. What's this one?" asked Amy Jo, hopping off the bed to carefully lift one from the trunk.

"It's a book on nature," replied Melissa.

"It's got lots of pictures!" exclaimed Amy Jo excitedly. "Illustrations," Melissa corrected softly.

"How'd they git these pictures?" continued Amy Jo, ignoring Melissa's comment.

"An artist drew them."

"Drew 'em? Ya mean--with a pencil?"

"Or paints--or inks."

"Drew 'em," Amy Jo mused in a daze. "They look so real."

Melissa was called downstairs to come meet her aunt Kate and three boy cousins. Amy Jo did not move from her seat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were fixed to the pages of illustrations.
How could anyone make such true-life drawings!
she marveled. But she'd sure like to try. She'd
love
to try. Something deep within her responded to the artwork in the book. Her eyes grew bright with hope as she studied the work.
Oh, if only I had such a book.
Her eyes went back to the trunk. So many--she'd had no idea this cousin from the West would have such treasures. And to think that she would be willing to share them! It was almost too good to be true.

Amy Jo sat for a long time, slowly paging through the fascinating book.

Clark and Marty knew Melissa must be terribly weary after her long trip. She did not protest when they suggested bed, saying that they could catch up on the rest of the news later.

Clare, Kate, and their family had returned to their log home across the yard, Amy Jo tightly clutching the illustrated nature

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book that Melissa had been more than willing to lend. Amy Jo promised she would be back in the morning as soon as her chores were done.

Marty sat quietly fingering the gifts from Missie that Melissa had promptly dug from her opened trunk as soon as she was able. The evening had been a satisfying and exciting beginning for all of them.

Melissa followed Belinda up the wide stairway and into the bedroom still strewn with books from her unpacking. As she gathered them up, she was glad she did not need to spend this first night alone in another room. She missed Julia. She missed her mother and papa. She even missed her two teasing big brothers.

Belinda folded back the spread, looking a bit shy.

"Do ya want the back or the front side?" she asked Melissa. "You pick," encouraged Melissa. "It's your bed."

"I don't care," insisted Belinda.

"Then I'll take the back. That's where I sleep with Julia."

Without further comment the two prepared for bed, said their prayers, and climbed between the fresh sheets. They said a simple good night to each other and did not talk any further.

Melissa's tired thoughts took her back over the miles to those she had left behind--to her home, her room, her family as she had left them. Oh, how she would miss her family! But she took herself firmly in hand and told herself she was going to really like it here on the farm, with her wonderful grandparents whom she loved deeply already. And Belinda and Amy Jo . . .

And then she was asleep.

Belinda's thoughts went forward as she lay in bed beside Melissa. What were the days ahead going to be like? Would they like each other? Would they become good friends as well as kin? How would Amy Jo feel? She had seemed so happy over the books that

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Belinda was sincerely hoping Amy Jo would now also be pleased Melissa had come.

It was not long until Melissa's even breathing told Belinda she was asleep. Still, Belinda could not stop her thoughts from tumbling over one another. It was all so new and different--so strange. It was much later before she was able to quiet her busy mind and follow Melissa to dreamland.

"She's a real sweetheart, ain't she?" asked Marty after she and Clark had settled themselves in bed.

Clark chuckled. "Sweetheart--an' a real chatterbox," he responded.

"She had a lot to talk 'bout. I'm glad she's not tight-lipped. I woulda hated it iffen she had come from Missie an' not told us anything 'bout what's goin' on there."

"She does a bit of talkin'," Clark agreed, and he chuckled again.

"She's a pretty little thing, too," Marty commented further. "Those flashin'
dark
eyes an' that glossy brown hair. Her smile is like her ma's, though--but her colorin' sure isn't."

"Uh-huh," agreed Clark.

"An' she has nice things, too. I didn't know iffen I'd hafta git out my sewin' machine to have her ready fer school, or what."

"Missie wouldn'ta sent her to us without the things she be needin'."

"No, I guess not. I shoulda known better."

The pressure of Clark's hand on hers didn't mean "I told you so," but Marty realized Clark was right when he encouraged her not to worry about things.

There was silence for a few minutes.

"She's not 'uppity,' though," continued Marty.

"Ya thought she might be?"

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"I wasn't sure. Ya know how Missie always talked 'bout all those ranch hands makin' such a fuss over her an' all."

"Well, I'm right glad she's not spoilt none," Clark was quick to point out.

Silence again.

"Did notice me one thing, though," said Clark thoughtfully. "What's thet?"

"Did you notice how edjacated she be?"

Marty was silent. She had noticed
something,
come to think on it, but had not put it into words. "She's had her one more year of schoolin' than Belinda," she said at last.

"It's more'n thet. She talks--well, she talks careful like . . . not. . . not like you'd 'spect someone from out west to talk." "Her ma an' pa was both edjacated."

"Yeah, but she's even more careful than either of 'em. Didn't ya notice?"

"Guess I didn't."

"You will," promised Clark.

"Maybe it's got somethin' to do with her wantin' to be a teacher."

"Missie was a teacher."

Marty thought about it. Melissa did talk more carefully than any of them. Well, it wouldn't hurt for them all to pay a bit more attention to how they spoke. It might be especially good for Belinda and Amy Jo.

"Ya know what thet there trunk was full of?" Marty asked. "The one thet ya groaned over carryin' it up the stairs?" "What? Felt like bricks."

"Books."

"Books?"

"More'n half full of books," announced Marty. "Saw it myself. An' she was quick to share 'em with the other girls, too.

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Didn't ya see Amy Jo a huggin' one to herself like she'd never let go of it?"

"So she's a book lover, huh?" mused Clark. "Maybe
thet's
why she talks so proper."

"Could be," agreed Marty But after thinking about it for a minute, she added another thought. "Do ya s'pose thet some of it might be Melissa's schoolteacher, Henry's wife, Melinda? 'Member how careful she always spoke?"

"I'll jest bet yer right. She probl'y drills her students on proper word talk. Melissa might notice a difference round here," said Clark. He was quiet for a few moments. "We'll hafta tread careful like," he went on. "She's got an awful lot of changes ahead of her."

"She has at thet," agreed Marty. "Won't be hard to be thoughtful of her. She's 'most won my heart already."

Clark reached out a hand to smooth Marty's hair back from her face. "I'm glad she came," he said softly. "Glad we're gettin' a chance to know her a bit. Makes one glad an' sad all at one time, don't it--doesn't it?" he corrected himself.

Marty agreed. As usual, he had read her thoughts perfectly.

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NINE

Cousins

The rest of the family were all anxious to meet Melissa, so after the next Sunday's church service, they planned to gather at Clark and Marty's. They had all been introduced to her in the churchyard, but Marty was sure Melissa would never be able to keep all her cousins straight after just one meeting. And it was important to Marty for Melissa to really know her own kin.

Melissa had already mailed a fat letter home to her family, telling all of her experiences on the trip east and how exciting it was to meet her grandparents. She covered a whole page about Belinda and another about Uncle Clare and his family.

Marty had carefully planned the Sunday dinner and the time the family would spend together. The grown-ups were to sit at the table in the big kitchen, but the children would be allowed to take their dinner out on the wide back veranda. Marty debated about where to put Melissa. Would she feel more comfortable with the youngsters or the adults? Marty was getting herself in a stew over it when Clark interrupted her little argument with herself.

"Be good for Melissa to git to know her cousins afore school starts. Why, with the knowin' of all of 'em, she oughta know 'bout half the school." He chuckled at his own little joke.

Marty knew he was exaggerating, but she made no reply. Clark's comment served to make up her mind. She would put

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Melissa on the veranda with the rest of the youngsters. There were already enough adults at the table. Mary and Jane always wanted to sit at the table with the grown-ups. That made twelve and that was about all the big table could hold. Marty instructed Belinda about the setting of the table.

It wasn't long until the teams began to arrive, filling the farmyard with excited voices as cousins noisily greeted one another.

Melissa, who was busy helping cut apple pies, smiled as she heard the racket.

"Wouldn't Mother love to be here?" she commented. Marty smiled back, sure that Missie would.

Arnie's family was the first to come into the house. Clark took care of introductions.

"Now, ya've met Arnie an' Anne at church. They have three rascals. They all look alike only come in different sizes. Silas is the oldest. He's thet big fella carryin' thet lemon pie."

Silas smiled a rather shy smile, and Melissa greeted him warmly.

"Then there's John. Don't call 'im Johnny.
He
might not mind--but his ma won't like it." Clark winked playfully at Anne, and she smiled at the good-natured ribbing.

John gave his cousin a big grin, and Melissa smiled back immediately.

"An' this here little fella--make thet, 'this here big fella'--is Abe."

Abe grinned quickly and looked ready to bolt. They all could tell he would rather be out with the boy cousins his own age. Melissa chuckled as he gave her a quick hug and then was gone.

Luke's family came in next, Abbie carrying a large potato salad. This family had been introduced at church, and Melissa now was able to repeat all their names. Thomas and Aaron were both anxious to get out to play, as well. Aaron was the baby of the bunch. Clare's Dack and Thomas were about the same age.

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Aaron wrapped his chubby arms around Melissa for a big bear hug, but Thomas backed shyly away.

Clare and Kate joined the group. Except for Amy Jo, their children did not come inside, but Melissa had already become acquainted with Dan, Davey, and Dack.

Nandry and Josh were the last to arrive. Mary and Jane, both a bit shy, welcomed Melissa. Somewhat plain and retiring like their mother, they were friendly and warm after they got to know Melissa better. Mary went to work in the kitchen and Jane went in search of Aaron, her special charge. Aaron did not object. He basked in all the special attention showered on the youngest. Free to pick his activity, his first choice was Grandpa's porch swing, and Jane willingly obliged.

They were just ready to sit down to their chicken dinner when Dan brought a wailing Davey in. He had fallen from the steps and cut his forehead. Uncle Luke had him patched up and smiling again in no time.

The mothers fixed plates of food for all who were to eat on the veranda. Even Aaron was allowed to join them, "all by myself," he announced proudly as he knelt on the bottom step in front of his food placed on the next step up. Belinda promised to keep an eye on him. Melissa wouldn't have known what went on around the big folks' table, but her delighted expression indicated she wouldn't have given up her spot on the veranda for the world.

Over the babble of excited voices, Dan and Silas tried to outdo one another in telling jokes. Most of them were corny, but their audience laughed heartily anyway.

Amy Jo spent most of her time scolding her young brothers. Dan was too silly, Davey too careless, and Dack too.. . too
everything,
she announced in exasperation while she went to get a rag for his spilled milk.

John was sitting nearest to Melissa. He eyed her openly and then asked in awe, "Do ya got yer own horse?"

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Melissa nodded. "I have three of them, in fact," she told him. "Three! Wow! All yer own?"

"All my own."

"What're their names?"

"Sandy--he was my first horse. He's getting quite old now Pepper is black and really pretty and there's Star. She has a white patch on her forehead that looks like a star. She's Pepper's mother."

"Wow!" said John again.

"Do you have a horse?" asked Melissa.

"No. Not my own. We have a pony--but we all gotta share

it."

"Do you like horses?"

John's face answered the question even before he said, "Sure do. I'd give anything to have my own. Anything!"

"I've got a book about horses," offered Melissa. "You can look at it if you want to."

John's face lit up. He'd love to look at a book about horses. "It tells all about the different kinds and how to train them and everything," Melissa said.

"Wow!" said John again.

"I'll get it for you as soon as dinner is over," promised Melissa.

From that moment on, Melissa could have asked whatever she wished and John would have done his very best to oblige her.

True to her promise, after they had finished their meal she brought the book for John to see. Several other cousins clamored to be close enough to look at the pictures, too.

"I have other books," said Melissa generously. "Would you like to see them?"

Several of the cousins declared that they would, and Melissa turned to Belinda.

"Do you mind if we go up to your room?" she asked, and when Belinda assured her that would be fine, Melissa led the way