Where the Wild Rose Blooms (47 page)

"Read to you?"

Jackie nodded, and Clayton noticed that she was almost tense.

"Did you have something in mind?"

Again she bit her lip, and this time Clayton waited. Silence.

"What is it, Jackie?"

"Clayton, could you read the Bible to me?"

Her voice was so hesitant, her look almost fearful. Claytons heart broke.

"I'd love to," he told her truthfully. "Just let me borrow a copy from Eddie."

"You're going to, Clay?" she whispered before he could leave. "You're really going to read to me?"

"Sure.

The smile that lit Jackie's face was the first Clayton had seen from her in more than a year. It did funny things in the region of his chest. He moved toward the door, but ran into the doorpost because he was staring behind him, watching her. Eddie, who was headed that way, laughed when she witnessed it.

"Are you in a hurry?" Eddie asked, noticing that he looked a little dazed.

"She smiled," he said, his voice bemused. "I saw her smile."

Eddies gaze became very tender. If Jackie could see him now, she'd know in an instant how much he still loved her.

"Are you taking a break?" she asked.

"No. She wants me to read to her. May I borrow a Bible?"

Eddie walked back into the study with him and showed him the one Robert kept in his desk. "He does his Bible study here," Eddie explained.

"Hi, Eddie."

"Hi, yourself. How are things going?"

"Good. I wrote a paper."

"You wrote a paper?" Eddie sounded uncertain.

"Well, just a paragraph really." Jackie's hand searched the desk and found the sheets. "It's one of these."

"Wow," Eddie managed. "You did great. You'll have to dot your
i's
and cross your
t's
as you go, but this is wonderful."

Jackie smiled at how closely she'd echoed Clayton.

"Well, I'll leave you to it."

"Are you going into town today, Eddie?" Jackie suddenly asked. In a flash Eddie realized how long it had been since she'd taken Jackie along.

"I was, but why don't I wait until tomorrow," Eddie suggested. "Then you could go with me."

"All right." Jackie didn't smile this time, but she was very pleased.

Eddie went out after that, and Clayton sat down to read. Jackie moved from the desk to the sofa and made herself comfortable. He began in the book of Luke, and Jackie listened to every word and detail. Things she had paid little heed to in the past now leapt out at her. She didn't ever remember hearing that Zacharias had been made mute until his son was born, but it was right there in the first chapter. Hearing it, Jackie burst out with a question in the middle of the verse.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why was Zacharias made mute?"

"Because of his unbelief. Let me finish verse 20 for you,
'... because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. '

"Oh," was all Jackie said, but Clayton could tell she was troubled.

"Is it clear to you now?"

"I understand what happened, but didn't you read to me that he and Elisabeth were upright, blameless people?"

"Yes," Clayton responded, thumbing back to verse six. "'And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.' Is that the verse?"

"Yes." Jackie's voice sounded almost sad. "God takes unbelief very seriously, doesn't He?"

"Yes, He does," Clayton had to agree. He watched her face for a time and decided there must be huge regret involved in fighting God for as long as she had. He quietly prayed that Jackie would put the past behind her and begin serving God with her whole heart. Clayton told her what his prayer had been. Jackie smiled and thanked him, and they talked of the importance of this for a few minutes. After that he read on, finishing the 80 verses contained in the first chapter of Luke.

"What did the doctor say?" Jackie asked as soon as they walked from the office back onto the street.

"That we should put a nursery together sometime before next year. '

"Oh, Eddie. Oh, Eddie!" Jackie nearly flapped with excitement. "I don't know if I can wait that long."

The expectant mother laughed.

"Are we going to see Robert?"

"No," Eddie told her immediately. "He's so excited about this that he's sure to make a scene right there in the bank."

"Oh, Eddie," her sister scolded. "He would not."

"You haven't seen
him
chase me around
the
house in the last few days, and we weren't even sure. All he wants to do is hold me."

"It must be torture for you."

This was Jackie's first attempt at humor since she'd come to live with them, and Eddie wanted to shout with laughter. It was too bad they weren't alone so she could give way to her mirth.

"What's on the list now?" Jackie asked, her eyes still shining over Eddies soft chuckles.

'The general store. I want some yarn."

"Booties," Jackie proclaimed triumphantly. "You're going to make booties, isn't that right?"

"Hello," Eddie said congenially as someone passed. To Jackie, she said "Will you keep it down, Jackie? The whole street heard you.'

Jackie laughed. "I'm not responsible for my actions," she declared. "I'm a delirious aunt-to-be."

Eddie told herself not to laugh because it would only encourage her, but Jackie could feel her shaking.

"Well now," a deep voice spoke as footsteps neared. "This certainly looks like a good time."

"Hello, Travis," Eddie spoke warmly, bringing her sister to a gentle halt.

"You look radiant, Mrs. Langley," he said kindly and tipped his hat. "As do you, Miss Fontaine."

"Hello, Travis," Jackie added, smiling. Eddie watched him blink at her. "We're going to the general store and then I think Eddie should take me to lunch, don't you agree?"

"Absolutely," Travis said, turning pleased
eyes
to Eddie, who was grinning at him.

"I think I should take you home," Eddie announced, "before you get us arrested."

"I've never spent any time in jail," Jackie said thoughtfully. Eddie shook her head.

"We'll see you later, Travis."

"All right. Goodbye."

"What has come over you, Jacqueline Fontaine?" Eddie asked in amazement, but she was more amused than angry-Jackie didn't answer. She was in great spirits right now but couldn't really tell Eddie why. It wasn't that she didn't know, but now was not the time or place. Only just last night she had been telling the Lord that she could live forever as she was. Eddie was probably expecting, so she would have a baby niece or nephew to play with, and Clayton was her friend again. She still desired to be his wife and have his children, but God had given her a deep contentment for the way things presently stood.

She now sighed to herself. Eddie didn't hear the sound, but saw that her sisters face looked very serene. They had come to the general store, and even the familiar smells and sounds were Gods way of saying to Jackie that He was going to take care of her.

Has there ever been someone so blind?
she asked the Lord.
Thank You, Father, for never giving up. Thank You for showing me the way.

Jackie had Eddie laughing again, this time from nearly tripping on the doorstep. She didn't fall, but her recovery and comments were so funny that Eddie didn't try to hold back.

"I've got to sit down," Eddie gasped as she moved into the living room. "I don't know when I've laughed so much."

"I'll get us something to drink," Jackie offered.

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. Lena was going to leave early today, but she usually makes lemonade."

"Okay. Don't go away now."

Eddie leaned her head back and sighed. It was as if her sister had been dead and had now returned to life, Eddie had struggled so many weeks trying to understand what she should do but finding no answers. She knew Jackie needed salvation, but in truth it had seemed so impossible.

Jackie was busy in the kitchen for a long time, and Eddie made herself stay seated, wanting to think and pray. Suddenly, in the midst of Eddie's reflections, the front door opened. Eddie put her head up to see Robert come in. He was a few hours early, and she rose to greet him with a pleased smile on her face. Her welcoming smile changed to a look of astonishment when her parents came in behind him, followed by Lexa, Danny, and Sammy, all looking a little travel-worn but absolutely wonderful.

"Oh, Mother," Eddie said softly, noticing that they were all very quiet as she hugged each one in turn. Indeed, their silence was tense. Their eyes looked past her, taking in more than the house, and Eddie understood.

"Come this way," Eddie told them, her voice low. Less than a minute later they stood just inside the kitchen.

"Am I taking too long?" Jackie asked, having heard the movement.

"No," Eddie spoke with a teasing tone.

"Well, go back and sit down. I'll wait on you and not even get you wet. "

"All right," Eddie told her, but she didn't move.

Addy had put a hand to her mouth to keep from gasping with delight, and now she waited until Jackie put her glass down.

"Hello, dear."

"Mother?" Jackie said immediately, turning from the counter, her excitement making her unsteady.

"Yes, honey, I'm here."

"Oh, Mother, Mother." Jackie's hands began to flutter in the air and continued until Addy came to hug her. The deed was enough to spark the whole family into action. They all began to talk at once. Jackie's mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out as she realized that everyone was there. They were together. For the first time in months they were all together in a good way. When Eddie and Robert had come to take her to Boulder, she had been impossible, and even refused to tell her family goodbye, but with the changes in her heart, this was like a dream come true.

"You can share my bed," Jackie found herself saying to Danny, and then Lexa was there. "Oh, Lexa, how long can you stay? You can share my
bed,
all right? Oh, no, this can't be Sammy. You're so tall. Share my bed, will you? Stay in my room so we can talk."

"Well, that's four in the bed now," Robert commented with a laugh. "Maybe Eddie should move in there too.

No one noticed the kitchen—no one noticed that they were standing and not comfortably seated in the living room. It was just too wonderful to talk and touch one another right where they stood. Jackie was filled with questions, and her father finally put an arm around her and answered them.

"We'll be here for five days, and then we're going to visit the Taggarts in Denver. From there we'll head home. We didn't write ahead of our coming because I wasn't certain when I could close the store. "

"You actually shut the doors of the store?"

"Yes, I did. Doc Edwardson has a key in case there's an emergency, but I warned customers ahead of time that we would be gone when they usually shop for school. I've put a sign out that says we'll be back on September 5."

"We'll miss the first two days of school," Lexa added happily.