Whispers of Moonlight (29 page)

"No, but we just received a letter from Addy. They're all doing well but staying in Georgetown for Christmas." Robert's eyes went to the ceiling as he tried to recall the contents of the letter. "They miss Uncle Mitch—this will be the first Christmas without him—but everyone, even Morgan, is adjusting to his death. The girls are doing well at school. The Taggarts have moved to Denver. I think you knew that, but Clayton is writing regularly to Jackie, so she's delirious. Sammy still asks about you, and Addy thinks Morgan still works too much. There was more, of course, but right now I can't recall it."

Travis nodded. The Fontaines were not the perfect family, but Travis was still fascinated with them. Maybe it was because he'd never had siblings of his own or a happy home, but so many people in one family tumbling around that huge house just seemed like tun to him.

"Have I lost you?"

Travis grinned. "Just for a moment. What time on Christmas Day, and what can I bring?"

"I know we're eating at 1:00, but I'm not exactly sure what Eddie has planned for us to
eat. Would you happen to know where we could get some nice beef roasts?" The question was asked so innocently that Travis roared. Robert felt free to laugh at his own joke, but then Travis accused him of only wanting his company that day for the meat. Robert admitted sadly that it was all too true, and it was all the more humorous since Travis saw it for the lie it really was.

Pine Grove

"Merry Christmas," Rebecca said softly as the boys came down the stairs. They were still half asleep, but the sight of the tree, gifts spilling out from underneath, was enough to wake them in a hurry.

"Look!" Garrett shouted and began to run, but Rebecca caught him.

"Not so fast. We're going to do this quietly."

She soon found that it wasn't that simple. Wyatt shot around both her and his brother, went right to the tree and began to open a gift.

"Wyatt," Rebecca scolded him. "Put that down!"

But now both boys were digging under the tree as if mining for gold.

"Mine!" Garrett proclaimed.

"Boys," their mother tried again.

"No, mine!" Wyatt argued.

"Give it!"

A fight broke out, and if Rebecca hadn't been on hand, they'd have knocked the tree over. She ended up grabbing each son by the arm and literally dragging both of them, kicking and screaming, into the kitchen. They were completely out of control, howling in rage, by the time she tried to put them in their chairs. Only by blocking the door with her body and shouting to be heard did she manage to get through. When they stopped and looked at her, she went on more quietly, saying the words again.

"You're not going to get any toys if you don't stop."

It amazed her that it worked. The threat of spankings never did because she didn't follow through, but this was not something she'd tried before.

"Now, we're going in by the tree, but you will
not
touch the gifts or tree, do you understand?"

They nodded very solemnly—anything to get back in the living room.

"Sit on the davenport," she instructed as she stepped aside and they shot in the door. They made a beeline for the tree, but stopped when she said their names sternly. They didn't sit on the sofa, but stood looking at the tree. It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but Rebecca thought she had their attention at last. She knelt down in front of them and spoke gently.

"Christmas is not just a time for getting; it's a lime for giving. Won't it be special when you can shop for Mama?"

"When are presents?" Garrett whined at her.

"I want mine," Wyatt whined as well.

"You'll get them, but first I—"

"Now?" Wyatt pleaded.

"Yes, now!" Garrett was more demanding. A moment later they'd scooted around her to attack the gifts. Rebecca moved to the sofa, defeated. The boys had eyes only for the gifts. A sadness stole over her, but as she watched their antics, even their fights, she laughed a little, reminding herself that they were only three. In the minutes that followed, she convinced herself that she couldn't expect too much.

It was a little harder when she tried to tell herself that she was happy living alone with her boys and working 12 hours a day, but she managed. After all, she'd been able to buy them the toys of their dreams. Indeed, right now they were playing and laughing to their hearts' content.

Eighteen seventy-six was a week away. Rebecca couldn't help but ask herself what it would bring. For the first time in months, she let herself think ot Travis. Had he settled very nicely without her? Did he ever think of her? It played in her mind that she could at least write to him and
see how he was doing, but she dismissed the thought almost immediately.

A moment later, Rebecca stood, her chin going in the air as it did every time she felt determined. Eighteen seventy-five had seemed to fly by in an instant. Eighteen seventy-six would be the same way. So would 1877 and 1878, she told her heart. She hadn't needed Travis Buchanan this year, and she wouldn't need him in the future. Her mind thoroughly made up, and amid the sound of her sons' noisy play, Rebecca went to the kitchen to fix the boys
some breakfast.

"Do you realize how much you've grown, Travis? Do you see the changes God has made in your life?"

Travis nodded, but he was feeling discouraged. It must have shown on his face because Robert tracked him down right after church. The men stood by the Langley coach. There was snow on the ground, but the sun was shining.

"God may have made changes, Robert, but nothing I've ever said to Lavena or my men has ever had an effect on them. I've taken your advice and tried to live my beliefs before them, but they're a worldly group. Lucky and I are close, and he's a fine foreman, but all he sees is the here-and-now. I was just like him, Robert. I never thought of eternity. But just like you with me, I want more for my men than they even want for themselves."

Robert nodded; he remembered feeling that same way. He was about to comment, when Travis cut in.

"What kind of a friend am I, Robert?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you've got your sister-in-law so heavy on your mind, and I'm dumping on you when we're barely out the door of the church."

Travis was referring to Jackie Fontaine's accident the year before, which had caused her to go completely blind. The Fontaine family was not having an easy time of it in Georgetown, and Robert and
Eddie were making plans for Jackie to come live with them. Travis knew it was taking a great deal of thought and time, and felt terrible for being an added burden.

"It's all right, Travis. You don't mean any less to me than Jackie."

"How are the plans going?"

"Well. Eddie has put all of her small breakables away and anything that doesn't need to be on the floor, like plant stands and such. There
are no loose rugs waiting to trip Jackie, and her bedroom is set up in such a way that she'll be able to move around very easily. I'm sure she won't be happy about any of it, but we'll make it work."

"You'll be taking on a lot."

"Yes, but Addy is not going to hold up if we don't step in. Morgan has tried to help, as have the three younger girls, but they need a break. Now," Robert spoke encouragingly, "back to you, Travis."

Travis shook his head. "I'm just being tempted to doubt God. I want to see immediate results, and when I don't, I think God has stepped out of heaven and deserted me.
^"

"How many years has it been, Travis?"

"Since I came to Christ?"

"Yes."

"It'll be three years next month. May 23."

Robert smiled, a smile of pure pleasure. "Again, Travis, I have to remind you of the changes. You are a completely different
man. You've forgotten how cold you were toward any and all discussions about the Lord. It's the same way for
Lavena and your men. You can't
l
ook at
their hard hearts and write them off. I don't know Lucky and the others as I know you, but I remember an angry, unsaved Travis Buchanan. There were times when I thought I was going to get myself punched in the mouth, but I had something you wanted. Given time, Travis—God's time, not yours—your workers at the ranch are going to feel the same way."

"I need to keep trusting and believing."

"Yes. It's like you said, when the results are not immediate it's easy to doubt, but you must fight this."

The sermon that morning had been on prayer, and Travis could see where he'd fallen down on the job. Lately it had been easier to worry than pray, and he was anxious all the time. The ranch was doing well—come summer they would be headed out on roundup for a few weeks—but Travis had forgotten to be thankful for all he had.

"Am I interrupting?" Eddie's soft voice cut into their conversation, and the men immediately turned to her.

"Not at all." Travis spoke so Robert would know he was doing all right.

"How are you, Travis?"

"I'm doing all right. How about yourself?"

"I'm fine. Why don't you join us for Sunday dinner, Travis?"

"Yes," Robert put in. "Do come, and we can continue our conversation."

"All right," Travis accepted. "I usually let Lavena know, but it won't hurt to let it go this time."

"Good," Eddie proclaimed with a smile. "Come right now, and I'll have it on just as soon as I can."

It was an offer Travis could not pass up. The three of them went directly to the Langley's where they talked and ate and then talked some more. When the meal was over, and they were comfortably settled in the living room with coffee, Travis asked Eddie how she was doing. Tears threatened, but she still shared.

"I simply find it impossible to believe that Jackie can't see. It's not that I haven't accepted it; it's just that I can't picture her blind. So much is communicated through the eyes, and as sisters so close in age we did a lot of that. I can't imagine it otherwise."

"And you said that Jackie hasn't tried to write to you or anything?"

"No, nothing. According to Mother she won't do anything unless she's forced. I think we told you that Mrs. Munroe is helping out, but Jackie fights her every attempt to help. The family is exhausted. I know we might be taking on more than we bargained for, but in some ways I can't wait to get Jackie to
myself."

"She's never been to Boulder, has she?"

"No," Robert put in.

Travis shook his head. "I can't imagine not ever seeing the mountains here or the flowers in the spring."

Tears did fill Eddie's eyes this time, and Travis' heart clenched in regret. "I'm sorry, Eddie."

"It's all right, Travis," she spoke softly. "I've learned a lot since we got the news, and one of the things is that this blindness is like a death in the family. I'm in mourning for my sister's eyes. For a time I tried to squelch the grief, but it was making me ill. It feels as though I've cried more in the last seven months than I have in a lifetime, but I know God understands."

"I think He does too," Travis encouraged her. "I was just reading about the way Jesus welcomed the children into His presence. I think He must have such a tender heart, especially when His children
are hurting."

"I was just reading at the end of Matthew 23 about the way Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, mourned for them actually," Robert added. "He certainly understands grief."

The discussion went along on that topic for a time, but it wasn't long afterward that Travis realized how much of the day had slipped away.

"When do you leave?" he asked Robert when he was led to the door.

"This week, if the weather holds."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Lena will be in a few times, but if you'll just keep an eye on the place, that would be a help."

Travis shook Robert's hand and told him he and Eddie would be in his prayers. He didn't see either one of them that week, but when the next Sunday rolled around and they were not in church, Travis knew they'd gone to Georgetown.