To Know Her by Name (34 page)

28

No one was up the next morning, at least not early enough to be in the kitchen before Pup came from her room. She remembered the hospitality she felt from the Harringtons in Longmont and could honestly say that the Buchanans were no different. With that in mind, she moved quietly and started the coffee. It was just finishing, filling the kitchen with the familiar aroma, when Lavena came through the back door.

“Well now,” she said simply, “first the front porch and now the coffee. Pretty soon I'll be out of a job.”

Pup only smiled, knowing Lavena was not at all upset. She knew that Lavena would never be out of a job. The house was spotless and the food on the table the night before was some of the best Pup had ever tasted. Pup had to hide a smile as she pictured herself trying to do Lavena's job. Fiasco was the only word that came to mind.

“Are you ready for some breakfast?” the feisty housekeeper wanted to know.

“The coffee's enough for now. Thank you.”

Lavena evidently didn't feel a need to comment again; she turned around and went to work. It wasn't long before she was filling muffin tins for the oven, and even before they went in, Pup could see that they would rise higher than her baked goods ever did. She wondered for the space of several heartbeats if it might be time to work on her own cooking skills, but a moment later she spotted a Bible. All thoughts of food and cooking disappeared.

There was a small shelf by the kitchen door and on the top of it rested a black Bible. Lavena, indeed the whole kitchen, was forgotten as Pup retrieved it and wandered back to the table. She opened it to the book of Ephesians. She'd been reading in that book in the Dougans' Bible before it was time to leave for Boulder. And forcing herself to keep her promise, she had left the Bible safely at home.

She immediately turned back to that book and took up where she had left off in chapter six. She'd read the first nine verses at the cabin and went over them again, but verses ten through twelve were new to her, and in the Buchanan's kitchen she read to herself with great concentration.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

At that point she stopped and looked up, completely taken aback to see that Travis had joined her at the table. He stared across at her, his face open and kind, but he did not speak.

“It sounds like we're at war in here,” she finally said in confusion.

“What book are you in?”

“Ephesians.”

“‘Put on the whole armor of God'?”

Pup could only nod.

“Those verses are referring to the battle with sin,” he began. “When a person comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ—”

“I did that,” she cut in ever so softly.

“Okay,” Travis nodded, pleased to hear it but wanting to answer her immediate question. “After salvation,” he went on, “we see God's holiness in a new light. We see more than ever what sinners we are—even more so than at the point of salvation. We recognize that a holy God was merciful to us, but we can't be content to live as we always did. However, old sin habits die hard. In Ephesians, Paul tells us—”

“Paul?”

“He's the writer of the book.”

“How do you know that?”

“The first verse, or possibly the second, names him.”

He watched as she looked back at the first chapter and then raised her head to stare at him again.

“Paul tells us how to fight against the sin we so naturally want to fall into.”

“I'm not sure I do.”

“Do what?”

“
Want
to fall into sin and need to fight against it.”

This gave Travis pause. Had she really come to Christ? Or was she so young in the Lord that she just had a very limited knowledge of sin in general? He prayed about what to say.

“I must have completely missed that Paul wrote this book,” Pup said, her voice filled with wonder. “I read those verses but didn't understand that's what he was saying. It makes me wonder how much else I've missed.”

“Don't let it worry you,”Travis assured her, still wondering how much he should share. He took a moment to think and then offered something that would cover her whether or not she'd actually made a decision for Christ.

“If you remain faithful with your study, Pup, you'll understand. God never hides from us.”

She nodded, her face still intent. “Does Pastor Henley welcome questions?”

“Absolutely. He enjoys it. I've yet to see a Sunday when someone didn't approach him.”

At that point Lavena brought a heavy stack of dishes down from the cupboard, and Pup and Travis' eyes were drawn to her. Although not aware of Lavena, Pup realized she'd been working in the kitchen the entire time. Was she comfortable with talk about God's Word? Did she know Christ? Somehow Pup didn't think so. Pup pondered on this for a few moments. The questions going through her mind must have been evident on her face. When she looked back at Travis, he slowly shook his head no.

If they'd been alone she might have tried to ask him, but not only was Lavena present, the boys joined them just five minutes later. They proclaimed to all in the kitchen that they were starving, and not until they mentioned food did Pup realize she was now ready to eat. It was the start of an enlightening day for her—one she would never forget.

Rebecca did not get up to eat breakfast or see Travis, Pup, and the boys off to church. As Pup gathered her things to leave, she wondered if this was because of her pregnancy or because she didn't enjoy church. Pup now remembered that the day she and Travis had talked at the train station, he had said he attended church with his sons. Pup had not taken him literally, but now thought she probably should have. After her things were ready and her room in order, she expressed to Lavena her thanks for the meal and a comfortable night. She went to the wagon to find Travis had already saddled Ginny and tied the mare's reins to the back; Pup had told him at breakfast that she would be headed home after services.

Pup and Garrett took the rear seat, and Wyatt joined his father as he handled the reins. The boys entertained the adults as the horses drew them closer to church, and for a time, Pup was not left alone with her thoughts. However, as they came to the edge of town the boys fell silent, and she was forced to think about what might lie ahead.

Many of the faces in town were not new to her, but she knew they considered her strange. After all, she was not given to small talk and she always came and went from the bank, livery, post office, and general store just as swiftly as she could. No one in town was ever openly rude, but Pup was good at reading people. She knew when someone didn't know what to make of her. Would it be any different with this church congregation? She reminded herself that at times she'd seen confusion and surprise in Travis' gaze, but he had also proved to be kindness itself.

“You've grown rather quiet back there.” The object of her thoughts spoke from the front seat.

“Have I?” she evaded the comment.

Since Pup was not sitting directly behind him, Travis was able to turn his head and stare at her for a moment.

“You'll be welcome at the church,” he said calmly, his eyes moving back to the horses. “I was sick to my stomach with anxiety the first time I came, but there was no need. I wasn't asked to sing a solo or even to stand and give my name. People were friendly and kind.” He glanced behind him one more time. “They're still the same today, Pup.”

The nervous woman nodded but did not reply. She sat still, thinking there was no reason not to believe Travis, but if that was the case, why did her stomach feel odd? She remembered the loving church family in Longmont and was reminded why she would be nervous. There was no fear that she would have to sing a solo; the apprehension came from the fact that someone might get close enough to expect her to talk about herself. And even if that didn't happen and she was able to get close for a few weeks, a telegram could arrive from Denver at any time. In the past, that mysterious aspect of her life was always very exciting, but not so today.

With subtle movements she touched the wig at her temple, praying that all was in place. Her hair was just now starting to fluff away from her scalp. It would be some time before she could leave the wig at home, but she was already feeling like a year at home wouldn't be enough. A moment later she mentally shook her head at her own musings. What foolishness. She knew she would be called back to work and that it would be far less than a year from now.

Garrett took that moment to announce the sighting of the church, so no one heard Pup sigh. But she knew then that the cramps in her stomach this morning were not just about church.

“I love this next verse,” Pastor Henley spoke from the front, his sermon almost over. “In fact I know that my wife taught it to the children this morning. Verse four,” he said, referring to the second chapter in Philippians where the sermon was centered that day. “Will you say it with me?” Pastor asked. Although he smiled encouragingly, little ones all over the church ducked their heads and lowered their eyes.

“I didn't give you much warning, did I?” he said with kind eyes, taking all the blame. “I'll do it for you, shall I? ‘Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.' Note that it doesn't say we're to ignore our own needs, but if we're
only
taking time for our own needs, we're disobeying. A church family can't function that way. We have to be mindful of each other.

“As you leave this morning, don't forget the first verse in the chapter that we've already gone over. Let's look at the list one last time. ‘Comfort of love,' it says, ‘fellowship of the Spirit,' and ‘mercy and compassion.' This is how we're to act toward one another, and when we put the needs of others ahead of our own, this comes easily. It's when we're self-seeking that these commands get lost in the shuffle. Take this away with you today. Ask God to show you how you can exhibit these things in your own life, and others close to you will be blessed.”

It was over before Pup could take a breath. It was hard to believe that more than an hour had passed since Pastor Henley welcomed everyone to the service. Pup had never taken her eyes from him, and now he was asking them to stand so he could lead them in the last song.
Had it been like this in Longmont?
She honestly couldn't remember. The things Pastor Henley had said, the warm look in his eyes, and the gentle sound of his voice had thoroughly captivated her.

“I'm sorry the boys were a little wiggly,”Travis was saying. They'd sat with the boys between them, but now the young Buchanans were gone. Pup turned to him. “They're usually better than that,” Travis explained, “but one of them must have had ants in his pants.”

Pup only looked at him. Had the boys been fidgety? Her look made Travis smile, and after a moment she smiled in return.

“I take it you didn't notice.” His eyes were sparkling with humor.

“No,” Pup said, feeling like laughing. It was a good thing she hadn't been eating—she'd have covered herself with food.

“How did you feel about the service?” Travis asked. He himself had been slightly preoccupied wondering what she was thinking.

“I enjoyed it,” she said simply, but something told him there was a wealth of meaning behind the words.

“Would you like to meet Pastor and his wife?”

“Yes, I would.”

Again the words were plainly said, but Travis was swiftly coming to realize that there was far more to Pup Jennings than probably he or anyone else would guess. Pup now stepped aside, and Travis understood that she wanted him to lead the way. He did so, feeling slightly uncomfortable walking in front of her, but she had clearly wanted this. As it was, Mrs. Henley was not at the front. Someone else had stopped the pastor, so Travis and Pup stood for a moment and waited. Pup's mind was just beginning to wander back to some of the things Pastor Henley said this morning when he turned.