Under the Distant Sky (31 page)

“‘Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.’

“Solomon Cooper is not in this body. Because he died as a born-again child of God, he is with the Lord in heaven.”

Tracie Armstrong and Deborah had their arms around Hannah, letting their strength flow to her as she held her children close in front of her.

“In Psalm 116:15,” Tony said, “it says, ‘Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.’

“Mr. Cooper was one of God’s saints. When he died before dawn this morning, his death was precious in the sight of Almighty God because Mr. Cooper is now in His presence.”

Through her tears Hannah nodded at Tony’s words, though her heart ached with a dreadful grief.

“Just one more verse,” Tony said. “Revelation 14:13. ‘And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.’”

Tony’s voice broke as he said, “I am one of Solomon Cooper’s works. He cared enough about me and my eternal destiny to lead me to Jesus Christ. One day—only God knows when—I will follow him into heaven.”

Tracie squeezed Hannah’s arm and whispered, “And I’m one of
your
works, sweet Hannah. We’ll be in heaven together forever because you cared enough to lead me to Jesus.”

Tony took a deep, shuddering breath. “Solomon Cooper was a very brave man. Not only did he show valor on the battlefield in the War, but he demonstrated unparalleled courage and heroism by dying to protect his family.

“He loved his dear wife, Hannah; his dear daughters, Mary Beth and Patty Ruth; and his dear sons, Christopher and Brett Jonathan more than he loved his own life. God bless the memory of this gallant man in each of our hearts.”

When Ezra Comstock had closed in prayer, the people gathered around Hannah and her children, speaking words of comfort and love.

Ezra was the last person to speak to Hannah as the others lingered around her. “Hannah,” he said, “I know you probably feel like you want to turn around and go back. I’d like to see you go on to Fort Bridger… but not too far along the trail we’ll come upon another supply train headin’ back east. If you wish to join it, I’ll make arrangements for you.”

“Mrs. Cooper,” Stuart Anderson said, “if you choose to go on, I’ll drive your wagon for you until you feel up to it. Tracie can handle ours.”

Martha Perryman stepped close. “Hannah, if you decide to go on to Fort Bridger, William and I will do whatever we can to help.”

“The rest of us, too, Hannah,” came the voice of Mary Croft.

There was a jumble of voices offering their support.

Ezra touched Hannah’s arms. “I know you’d probably like to spend a little time here at the grave, once the body’s been covered. I want you to know that we’ll wait as long as you want. It will be Hannah Cooper who says when we go. Understand?”

“Yes,” she said, and nodded.

Hannah took her children to the wagon so they would not see the men lowering their father into the grave and filling it in. She embraced each child, telling them how much she loved them.

“Mama,” Mary Beth asked, “are we going on to Fort Bridger as Papa said he wanted us to?”

Hannah patted Mary Beth’s tear-stained cheek. “I…I can’t answer that question right now, honey. I need to talk to the Lord. You understand.”

Mary Beth nodded.

“We’ll be praying the Lord will show you, Mama,” Chris said.

Hannah thanked him and said, “You stay here while I go to the grave. I’ll be back shortly.”

The Cooper children had no lack of friends who pressed close to comfort them.

As Hannah stepped up to Solomon’s grave, she broke down and sobbed. It took several minutes to bring her emotions under control. Finally she spoke out loud. “I know you’re not
in this grave, Sol. Only your earthly shell is there. You’re in the presence of our Jesus.”

She faltered for a moment, then swallowed hard. “Lord Jesus, You saw fit to take my husband to be with You. I do not pretend to understand. I—” The brokenhearted widow dropped to her knees and sobbed again. “Why, God? Why? Why would You take my husband when we had a new life ahead of us out here? I don’t understand…I don’t understand…I don’t understand! O dear God, I know You don’t make mistakes. Help me to trust You in this.”

A few more minutes passed before she said, “Lord, I can’t go on. I can’t! I must take the children and go back to my parents. I can’t do it without you, Sol! I can’t do it! I’ll swallow my pride and go back to Mother and Daddy.

“Lord, I’m going back. I know Sol said he wanted us to go on to Fort Bridger, but I just can’t do it. I—”

Hannah, child,
came the still small voice,
remember your own words to Lisa Norwood about going on with her husband’s dream?

“Yes, but I—”

And it was your words to Tracie Armstrong that caused her to go on. Now, Hannah, what kind of a testimony will you be to Lisa and Tracie if you turn back? Especially since they heard Solomon tell you and the children to go on and build your new life at Fort Bridger.

“But, Lord, I keep thinking if we had never left Independence, Solomon would still be alive.”

His time of departure from this earth was already appointed.

Hannah bit down hard on her lower lip. “Yes. Yes, Lord. But this poor earthly mind cannot grasp that. It seems that if we’d stayed in Independence—”

Hannah, if you had stayed in Independence, what about Tracie and Stuart and Tony?

Suddenly it came over Hannah Cooper like a warm wave of water: None of those three would be Christians now if the
Coopers had not been in the wagon train!

Hannah’s thoughts went to Isaiah 26:3. As she fixed her mind on Jesus, she bent over and put her face against her knees. She thought of God’s love for her…His death at Calvary… His compassion for her as a lost sinner, and how He had drawn her to Himself through His Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A sweet, perfect peace flooded her heart and soul.

Yes! Hannah Cooper would go on to Fort Bridger with her precious children and build the new life she and Solomon had planned!

The new baby!

Hannah sat up, looked toward the sky and whispered, “O Lord Jesus! The baby! I almost forgot! Oh, thank You that I have this part of my darling Sol to carry with me to our new home… this part of him that will add to the joy of all our lives!”

Hannah rose to her feet, her eyes bright, as she looked down at the grave with the peace that passes all understanding. “All right, darling, the children and I will do as you said. We’ll go with God’s strength and build our new life!”

When Hannah returned to her four children, she smiled and gathered them in her arms. They looked into her eyes, waiting eagerly to hear her decision.

“My wonderful sons and daughters,” she said, “the Lord has worked in my heart. I know that He wants us to go on to Fort Bridger, even as your papa said. And that’s what we’re going to do!”

“O Mama,” Mary Beth said, “we’ll all miss Papa terribly, but we’ll know he’s smiling down from heaven at us when he sees that we’re going on to Fort Bridger!”

Suddenly Hannah was aware that people were applauding her decision. She wept again and smiled at them through her tears.

Hannah looked at Ezra and said, “Mr. Comstock, I need a
few minutes to talk to my children, then we can pull out.”

“You say the word when you’re ready.”

Hannah took her children to a private spot beside their wagon. “I’m glad we all agree that we’re doing the right thing to go on, but your mama’s going to have to lean a lot on all four of you.”

Patty Ruth held Tony the Bear in one arm. “We’ll do whatever you tell us, Mama.”

The others spoke their agreement.

“When we open our store, we’ll all have to work together. It will be very hard at first. Can I count on you?”

Again the children nodded their heads.

Hannah smiled down at her children and caressed their faces.

Stuart Armstrong helped Hannah into the wagon, then climbed up and sat beside her, taking the reins.

Chris was on Buster, and Nipper was tied to the rear of the wagon.

Mary Beth and B. J. were in the back of the wagon, and Patty Ruth sat between her mother and Stuart, holding Tony the Bear.

Hannah smiled at Stuart. “Thank you for offering to drive. I should be feeling up to it in a couple of days.”

“My privilege, ma’am,” he said.

Up front, Ezra stood in the stirrups, pointed westward, and shouted, “Wagons ho-o-o!”

As the wheels began to turn, Hannah glanced back at the grave and remembered Solomon’s words to Chris when he was grieving over Joy Lynn’s death. In her heart, she said, Solomon, your memory will always be a sweet thing. And I’ll always have the memory of you. Yes, and five children who are part of you.

She brought herself around and looked forward. Twenty days to Fort Bridger… and many tomorrows. Abruptly her own words to Tracie and Deborah reverberated through her mind:
The Lord always knows what’s ahead of us and can prepare us for the trials and heartaches that come our way, even before they happen. He’s already in eternity, which means He’s already in the future. So, He’s already in our tomorrows.

“Thank You, Lord,” she said under her breath. “Thank You for that wonderful truth.”

The wagon rocked and swayed as Hannah lifted her gaze to the magnificent canopy of the sky. As she studied the blue horizon, Solomon’s words, three months ago in Independence, filled her with hope.

“Out there, Hannah, under the distant sky, is our new home and our new life.”