The Pattern of Her Heart (35 page)

“Then it’s good you’s got all dis water around,” Prissy said as the group followed the man through the narrow passageways.

The crewman laughed at her remark. “If this cotton gets going, that river ain’t gonna help us much, except to swallow up the boat when she sinks. Gotta catch ’em early or there’s not much hope. Here’s the cabin,” he said as they came to a stop in front of an open doorway.

Jasmine surveyed the room and though she thought the captain had taken great leniency in calling the space a cabin, she didn’t say so. “Do thank the captain for his thoughtfulness,” she said instead.

“I don’t want to stay here,” Alice Ann said tearfully. “I’m afraid we’re going to burn in the fire.”

“What are we supposed to do when the fire starts?” Spencer asked, his voice quivering.

“There isn’t going to be a fire,” Nolan asserted.

“That man said there’s a fire almost every time they go on the river,” Spencer said. “Now I wish we hadn’t come on this boat.”

Nolan attempted to calm the children, but both of them were insistent upon further talk of fires or drowning, continuing their questions until their fear was palpable.

Jasmine pulled her satchel close and rummaged through until her fingers touched upon the leather-bound Bible. She pulled it out and handed it to Nolan. “Perhaps you could read to the children about Jesus calming the storm,” she suggested.

“Excellent idea,” he said and opened the Bible to the Gospel of Luke. “Come sit close while I read these verses. They are very powerful words about a time when Jesus was out in a fishing boat with His disciples.”

“Is this a fishing boat?” Alice inquired.

“No, but I suppose it would be easy enough to fish from this boat,” Nolan replied. “Now come sit on my lap while I read to you.”

They created a tender picture for Jasmine: Alice Ann on her father’s lap, Clara on Henrietta’s lap, and Spencer between the two—all of them focused upon God’s Word. Nolan quietly began reading, the children’s eyes growing wide as Nolan read about the storm that suddenly arose at sea and how the disciples hastened to awaken Jesus, who was sleeping in the boat.

“What did Jesus do?” Alice Ann asked, her dimpled chin turned upward as she looked into her father’s eyes.

“I’m going to tell you in this next verse—listen closely. ‘He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” ’

” “You must remember that Jesus is in this boat with us right now,” Jasmine said. “He’s our protector, just as He was for the disciples.”

“But I can’t see Him,” Alice Ann said.

“Because He’s in your heart—and you must not ever forget He is with you,” she explained. “It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining and it’s not overly cold. Perhaps your father would agree to a short walk around the boat so you can become more comfortable with our new surroundings.”

The children agreed, even convincing Henrietta to join them on their brief tour while Jasmine and Prissy set about arranging their belongings.

“You truly believe what you tol’ your younguns ’bout Jesus being with us and being our protector?”

“Yes, of course. Don’t you believe Jesus is watching over you, Prissy?”

“I ain’t so sure. Maybe I jes’ don’t have enough faith, ’cause I sure has had some mighty bad things happen to me. I called out to Jesus, but them bad things jes’ kept on happening. Seems like maybe He jes’ don’t care much ’bout me.”

Jasmine reached out and gently grasped Prissy’s hands in her own. “God loves you, Prissy. There was a time in my life when I thought God had forsaken me. I was truly unhappy and suffering more than
I
thought fitting for a person who loved the Lord. Eventually, however, my situation changed and my life significantly improved. Our timing is not always the same as God’s timing.”

“Maybe that’s true, but jes’ about the time I think things is getting better, then I get slapped back down again. Like me and Toby getting married—now that was a good thing, and I was mighty happy ’bout that. But now Toby’s gone, prob’ly sold at the auction to some new owner, and we’ll likely never see each other again. And me gonna have dis baby don’t make things no better,” she lamented.

“I know that’s how it must seem now, but you need to keep believing that God is going to see you through this difficult time. I promise we’ll do everything we can to find out where Toby is and have him join you. As soon as we arrive in Lowell, I’ll pen a letter to my cousin Levi and ask his assistance. I believe he’ll agree to help us, and I know we can trust him. Why don’t we agree to earnestly pray about this every day? What do you think?” Jasmine asked.

They sat face-to-face, Prissy staring deep into Jasmine’s eyes. “I guess we can try, but I jes’ don’ know if it’ll do any good,” Prissy replied in a soulful voice.

“We’ll both pray, and I’ll believe for
both
of us until you gain enough strength to believe for yourself.”

Prissy nodded her head up and down, her tawny skin shining like pulled taffy in the warm afternoon sun. “You’s a mighty fine woman, Miz Jasmine. You is one of the
good
things God done give me.”

“Thank you, Prissy. And I’m going to trust God to send you more good things too.”

Kiara wiped her hands on her apron, wrapped an old shawl around her shoulders, and walked out the back door toward the stables. Both Aidan and Katherine were napping, and Nevan was off to school. She hoped to make good use of the free time to begin supper preparations, but first she wanted to find Paddy. Simon came out of the stables leading one of the fine Arabians, the horse stomping and snorting in the cold afternoon air. She could not help but admire the horse’s beauty.
A fine animal,
she thought as she waved her arm to gain Simon’s attention.

When he finally looked in her direction, Kiara cupped her hands to her mouth. “Ask Paddy to come and see me when he has a minute.”

Simon waved his hat. “I’ll do that, Missus,” he called.

“Thank you!” She rubbed her arms under the woolen shawl. “It’s cold out here,” she muttered while hurrying back indoors.

She was pleased she had decided upon mutton stew for supper. Upon entering the warm kitchen, Kiara checked the dried apples she had earlier placed in a bowl of warm water. The apples were ready to be used in her apple cinnamon cake, one of Rogan’s favorites.

“I hear ya’re wanting to see me,” Paddy said as he burst through the kitchen door.

“Close that door—ya’re bringing all the cold air in with ya,” Kiara scolded.

He gave the door a shove. “It’s closed,” he said with a grin. “Now what is it ya’re calling me away from my work to discuss?”

“I was wondering if ya would like to join us for supper tonight.”

Paddy pulled off his cap and ran his fingers through the dark curls that fell across his forehead. “It’s an inviting offer, but I do na think so. I’ve a lot of work to finish today, and I’ll likely work until late.”

Kiara glanced over her shoulder and gave him a haughty look. “Since ya have yar own house, ya never seem to have any time for yar sister and her family. Poor Nevan’s soon goin’ to forget he has an uncle.”

“Go on with ya, lass. Ya know I spend far too much time at yar house, and Nevan’s out to the stables every day after school, so I do na think he’s going to be forgetting me.”

“That does na change the fact that I would enjoy havin’ ya join us for supper tonight. I’m fixing a fine mutton stew—ya won’t want to be missing that, will ya?”

“Ya do know how to win yar own way. I will na promise ta be here, but if I finish all my chores and paper work, then I’ll join ya,” he said as he helped himself to a piece of her soda bread.

“Ya should have more than enough time, for I do na plan ta serve supper until seven-thirty.”

“Rogan working late, is he? I’ll do my best.” He pulled his cap back onto his head and opened the door.

He didn’t wait for an answer before hurrying off, and for that she was thankful. After all, she did not want to tell her brother an untruth. Nor did she want to reveal her plot to have him spend the evening with Mary Margaret.

The children were cooperative, and Kiara’s supper preparations moved forward according to plan. “Go and wash up—we’re having company for supper,” she told Nevan when he came in from the stables with a piece of straw tucked between his lips. “And take that straw out of your mouth,” she said in a stern tone.

“Uncle Paddy does na care if I wash up,” he muttered.

“Uncle Paddy’s not the only one comin’ for supper. Did he say he was comin’ for sure?”

“No, he said he was going to try, but he was runnin’ behind. Mrs. Houston’s brother came to see ’im this afternoon, so he’s even further behind with his work. Who else is comin’ to supper?”

“Mary Margaret O’Flannery. The lady who works with Bridgett—she’s been here to visit several times. Do ya remember her?”

Nevan’s brow creased for a moment. “Is she the one that watched ya showing Bridgett how ta make the lace?”

“Aye, she’s the one.”

“Has Da come home yet?”

“He has, and he’s already washed up and tendin’ to Katherine.”

“Can we be expectin’ ta see Bridgett and Cullen at supper too?”

“No. Just Mary Margaret. Now stop with yar questions and get yarself presentable.”

He gave her a quizzical look. “Sure and supper is smelling fine,” he hollered over his shoulder as he hurried off.

She smiled at her son’s remark. Nevan was like his da— he enjoyed a satisfying plate of food and a hearty laugh when he sat down to supper each night. Kiara pulled off her apron and peeked out the kitchen window, checking to see if she could see Paddy, but there was no sign he’d yet left the barns. She sighed, hoping her plan wouldn’t run afoul. The good Lord knew Paddy had reached the age at which he needed to wed a fine Irish lass. But, like most men, Paddy was not yet aware of his need. She hoped this evening would be just the thing to heighten his awareness.

“I may just have to go out and yank him in here by the ear if he does na soon show up,” she muttered. She glanced at the mantel clock as she passed through the parlor on her way up the stairs. She had only a few minutes to make herself presentable before Mary Margaret’s arrival.

“Would ya take Katherine downstairs and keep a listen for Aidan? He should na be waking up, but ya never know,” she remarked as she stood in the doorway of the children’s room, where Rogan was reading to Katherine. “Mary Margaret should be arriving, so can ya keep a listen for the carriage also? I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Aye. Sure and ya seem to be making this supper into an important evening. It’s only one young lass coming to have a meal. I do na understand why ya’re rushing about like ya’re fixing supper for nobility.”

“I’m na acting any different than any time when I invite company for supper,” she defended.

Rogan swooped Katherine up onto his shoulder. “Say what ya will, lass, but I know different,” he said with a wide grin. “Duck yar head, Katherine,” he instructed before walking through the doorway.

Mary Margaret turned in front of the mirror. However, the small oval looking glass prevented her from seeing much more than a limited portion of her body at one time. Exasperated, she ran down the stairs and into the dining room, where Mrs. Brighton was clearing off the supper dishes.

“Do I look presentable?” she asked, doing a brief twirl in front of the older woman.

“You look quite lovely. You can be sure Mr. and Mrs. Sheehan will think so too. Have they invited you for supper to celebrate some special occasion?”

“I do na think so. I received a note asking me to come to supper, and that’s as much as I know. I must hurry or I’ll be late. Kiara said she would delay supper to accommodate my workin’ hours, but I do na want her children to become overly hungry because of me. She’s even sent a buggy for me.”

“Then you had best be on your way. Have a nice time,” Mrs. Brighton said.

“Sure and I’m hopin’ to enjoy some Irish food and stories,” Mary Margaret replied as she scurried down the hallway. She slipped into her woolen cape and then stopped to give Mrs. Brighton a quick wave before departing.