Sean had been desperate for a bath that night, so husband and wife decided that when they returned from Sadie’s they would go to bed early to talk about Witt’s news. Neither one had taken the time to open the mail, so when they were finally snuggled in bed, Charlie started with the letter from Aunt Maureen, and Sean read a letter from Katie. Kate’s letter ended with news about Father.
“Don’t be concerned if you don’t hear from Father for some time. He wrote that he was so busy with the work there, he didn’t know which way was up. He said that God is moving in mighty ways throughout the villages. He also asked us to pray with him that God would burden other families to come and join the work there, and of course for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ.”
When it was time to trade, Sean hesitated. Charlie looked at him with some surprise.
“Bad news?”
“No, but Katie reports something Father said, and I really want us to talk before you read it.”
Charlie looked at Sean for the space of a few heartbeats, her brows raised in surprise. Sean suddenly realized he was selling her short and handed her the letter. His desire not to pressure her about moving wasn’t even valid. She could just as easily have been the first to read Kate’s letter and know what Father had said.
Sean also realized it was unfair of him to believe that God would pressure them at all. He was, most likely, giving them some direction. A few minutes later the letters were put aside and Charlie used that very word.
“This is what I’ve prayed for, Sean,” Charlie began. “This is exactly what I’ve prayed for.”
“What is that exactly?”
“Direction. I’ve prayed that God would show us what direction He wanted us to go and in a way that we could never doubt. I think we know that now.”
Sean was speechless and for some reason, fearful. “Charlie, when we were first married, I could tell that you wanted desperately to please me. And now I’m just a little afraid that you’re doing it again and—”
“I’m not,” Charlie said with a smile. “I mean, pleasing you is important to me, and you don’t fear moving because you’ve been where we’re probably headed, but none of what I’ve said stems from any desire other than to follow God’s will.”
Sean’s heart overflowed with praise to God. He realized then that his wildest dreams were coming true. Charlie saw the emotion in his face and moved close to hold him.
“Oh, Charlie,” Sean’s voice was breathless, “I thought my life was over, and then you came forward and rescued me. Then I thought I would have to live forever with an unsaved wife, but God brought you to Himself, and now this. My darling Charlie, I can’t tell you how I’ve dreamed of our going to see my family, and then going to Hawaii to work with Father.”
“I know,” Charlie whispered softly. “Did you think we could live together as husband and wife without me learning to read your thoughts?”
This caused Sean to laugh deeply, and he wrapped his arms fiercely around her. They prayed together, surrounded by each other’s embrace. It was a prayer of surrender for the future, near and far. They both fell quickly asleep, their hearts filled with prayers that God would be glorified in their lives.
The next morning they made their way to the bank. In the space of a few minutes, their hearts at peace, they told Witt they were willing to talk about the sale of the livery.
forty-six
You’re really leaving, aren’t you?”
Charlie nodded and bravely fought the tears that threatened. She knew Sadie had wanted to tell her she couldn’t go anywhere, but the fact was, they were leaving in two days and the time for facing reality was at hand.
“What about the baby, Charlie? Should you be traveling when you’re so far along?”
“The doctor says I’m in great shape, and we’re taking the train for most of the journey.”
“You’ve changed, Charlie.” Sadie sounded almost despondent. “I’m not saying it’s a bad change; it’s just that I don’t understand it.”
Charlie couldn’t bear the dejected look on Sadie’s face. Gently grasping her aunt’s arm, she led her to the sofa in Sadie’s small parlor.
In the minutes that followed, Charlie learned a great deal about her aunt’s knowledge of the Bible. She hadn’t realized that her late Uncle Harry had read the Bible regularly.
“Your Uncle Harry was a good man, Charlie. He deserved God’s love.”
“And you don’t think you do?” Charlie asked softly.
Sadie let out a small sigh. “I’m nearing 60, honey.”
“You’re only 56,” Charlie replied, wondering why Sadie believed her age mattered.
“Yes, but I’ve lived those 56 years for myself, and I don’t really think God would be interested in me now.”
“I don’t believe that, Sadie.” Charlie spoke with quiet conviction.
“I know you don’t. You believe that everyone is redeemable—but I just don’t know.”
The conversation continued on in this vein for nearly two hours, and even though Sadie listened intently to all Charlie shared, Charlie could see that she was not convinced.
When it came time for Charlie to leave, however, she did not go under a cloud of depression. She believed that God really would save her aunt in His time.
When Sadie saw how much Charlie loved Sean, and how badly she wanted to go and do this “missionary thing,” as she called it, Sadie was able to send her with her blessing.
Charlie told her aunt, without offending, that she would be praying for a change in her heart. Knowing that this would be their only private goodbye, their embrace was long and tearful.
The church family gave Sean and Charlie a loving send-off. There was a potluck supper, served at the church, the night before they were scheduled to leave. Pastor Miller asked Sean to share his testimony with all present, and Sean praised God for the opportunity to give Him the glory for all that had transpired in the last months.
Most of what he shared regarding his years in Hawaii, his mother and father’s departure, and the way his heart turned from God was a surprise to those who attended. The sincerity they saw as he told how God had changed him gained him numerous hugs when he finished and came down into the crowd.
Pastor Miller quieted everyone so he could pray for their journey, and then presented them with a generous gift of money to help them on their way.
The potluck followed and went quite late into the evening. Though it made it hard to rise in the morning, excitement rode them and they rose with hearts of anticipation for the day’s travel. Once at the train station, they found Duncan, Lora, and Sadie on hand to see them off. Lora gave them a basket of food for the trip.
Few words were said, but all promised to write, and after a round of hugs was shared and tears were shed, the Donovans were on their way. Charlie didn’t cry as Sean had expected. She was very quiet for the first five miles, and Sean didn’t press her into conversation. Sometime after the fifth mile, she fell into a sound sleep on Sean’s shoulder.
At the end of their first day, they were both sticky with perspiration and felt cramped from sitting so long. But on they rode, taking trains and two stages, whatever was needed to speed them on their journey. Charlie was beginning to think they would never stop moving when the stage they were on pulled into Santa Rosa late one evening. It was after 8:00, so the shipping office and all other businesses were closed for the night. The streets were quiet.
Sean thought Charlie looked about ready to collapse, but she told him it felt so good to stretch her legs that she could ignore the fatigue. They didn’t rush their walk, and since they had left their big trunk at the stage office, they had only one small traveling bag each. Once they stood in front of the Riggs’ home, Sean paused.
“This is the place.”
“It’s big, isn’t it?”
“I guess it is pretty spacious,” Sean agreed, but he didn’t speak again or move toward the house.
The last days, as well as the walk from the
stage office, were beginning to wear on Charlie, but she sensed Sean needed time, so she stayed quiet. When he finally stepped toward the house, she moved after him, praying that her legs would hold.
Charlie stood behind Sean and watched as a man opened the door, shouted Sean’s name, pulled him inside, and grabbed him in a bear hug. Smiling at the sight of the reunion, Charlie was making a move forward when the door was shut, almost in her face.
Strangely enough, Charlie did not feel hurt or rejected. In fact she chuckled just a little. Originally they had planned on Sean coming alone for a visit, returning to Visalia before the baby was born and then heading to Hawaii from there. Charlie knew that none of Sean’s family was expecting her.
Charlie mentally counted the seconds before the door was wrenched open. Eight seconds passed before she was once again seeing Sean’s face, which registered shock over what had happened.
“I’m sorry,” he spoke softly, his expression telling Charlie he was slightly aghast over her being so totally ignored.
“It’s all right, Sean,” she smiled to reassure him. “But could I please sit down somewhere?”
Sean ushered Charlie into the living room in time to hear Kaitlin scolding Rigg.
“I can’t believe you left her standing on the front porch!”
Rigg was fighting laughter. “Honestly, Kate,” he tried to placate her, “I didn’t see her.”
Kate frowned at the sparkle she saw in his eyes before enveloping her new sister-in-law with her embrace.
“Oh, Charlotte, you must be exhausted! Come right over here to the sofa.”
Kate then proceeded to issue orders to Rigg and Marcail like a drill sergeant, and within the space of a few seconds Charlie was alone with Sean. Sean smiled at the wide-eyed look on her face.
“She’s not always so bossy.”
“I think she’s wonderful,” Charlie whispered as tears filled her eyes. As always, the sight of Charlie’s tears melted his heart. He sat beside her and pulled her against him. She didn’t cry, but her breathing was uneven and her whole frame shuddered with suppressed sobs.
A few minutes passed, and Sean could tell without looking at her that she was no longer sobbing. That she was asleep was not apparent to him until Marcail came in with a mug of hot coffee. He watched his sister stop halfway across the rug, and then tip-toe to set the cup on the sofa table.
“She’s asleep, Sean,” Marcail whispered and Sean nodded. “If you want to carry her upstairs, your room is all ready.”
“Maybe I’d better.”
Kaitlin and Rigg came back in time to see Marc leading Sean up the stairs with his precious bundle. As their feet disappeared from view, Kate spoke.
“I’m so glad they came together, but we didn’t even get to meet her.”
“We’ll have plenty of time for that.”
“I almost ran upstairs to wake the girls.”
“Since tomorrow is Sunday, we’ll all have the entire day to get acquainted.”
“So tell us your plans!” Rigg encouraged Sean as both men, Katie, and Marcail sat around the kitchen table.
“Well,” he said slowly, “I probably should have explained everything to you before moving back, bag and baggage, but—”
“You misunderstand me, Sean,” the older man assured him gently. “I’m not trying to pin you down to any schedule. I’m just excited to have you here and want to know what you have in mind.”
“I guess I just wanted the baby to be born here,” Sean began again. “Everything happened so quickly with the sale of the livery. I know we’d have been welcome at Sadie’s if we had to stay, but we honestly believed the trip would be easier for Charlie and the baby before the baby was born.” Sean’s gaze traveled upward to where his wife was sleeping. “She’s so tired right now,” Sean continued, “I wonder if we made the right decision.”
“I think she’ll be fine, Sean,” Katie told him. “You know that we’ll do all we can to make her comfortable. And we’re just thrilled that your baby will be born here.” Kate’s voice caught just a little.
Sean could only nod, his heart full. It had been so long since they’d been together, and so much had passed. Marcail, quiet as she was, seemed to be having the hardest time. She kept touching Sean as though making certain he was really there.
They talked late into the night before Rigg said they’d better get some sleep. No one argued, and after a few yawns and another round of hugs, Sean made his way upstairs.
“Sean?” Charlie’s voice was heavy with sleep as she felt the bed shift beside her.
“I’m sorry I woke you.”
“What time is it?”
“I’m not sure, I think about 2:00 A.M.”
“Oh, Sean,” Charlie pleaded as she remembered where she was. “Please tell me I didn’t fall asleep before a proper introduction to your family.”
Charlie buried her face in the pillow when he laughed softly. Forgetting the hour, she told herself to get up and apologize, but before she could work out the time or force herself out of bed, she was back to sleep.
forty-seven
Charlie looked around the breakfast table at the people surrounding her and smiled. Marshall Riggs, a man whose frame was even larger than Sean’s, was a big sweetheart. He had taken Charlie’s hand as soon as she had come downstairs and humbly asked her forgiveness for closing her outside in the cold. That he was still amused over what he’d done was immediately evident to her, and they ended up grinning at each other like old friends.
Kaitlin, so obviously Sean’s sister, was a model of tenderness. Charlie had apologized about falling asleep, but all Kaitlin did was laugh and hug her again. She then went on to tell Charlie some great stories about the way she had behaved when she was expecting, putting Charlie so at ease that she laughed until she had tears in her eyes.
“Beautiful” was the only word Charlie could mentally formulate to describe Marcail Donovan. Kaitlin was extremely attractive, but Marcail’s exquisite features and huge dark eyes were so fetching that Charlie caught herself staring on more than one occasion. Marcail had a genuine desire to help, and her lovely mouth would draw into a smile at the slightest provocation. Her frame and height were petite. Charlie, who never considered herself tall, found that Marcail looked up to her.
The last to come under Charlie’s scrutiny were Gretchen and Molly. The sight of them caused Charlie to smile. Both girls were darling, with big dark eyes and the coal-black hair that seemed to be the hallmark of this family. They were perfect little ladies at the breakfast table. Since Gretchen was only four and Molly was just two, Charlie mentally congratulated Rigg and Kate for the work that must have gone into the last years.
There was a bit of a squabble in the wagon on the way to church, showing Charlie that the girls were not always so well behaved. But their quick response when reprimanded, and the way they snuggled close to their Uncle Sean and Aunt Charlotte as if they had known them for years, was enough to win over even the hardest of hearts, let alone one like Charlie’s that was waiting to love them.
Charlie desperately tried to keep the names of everyone she had met clear in her mind. So many from Rigg’s family had come to meet her that she was beginning to think that he was somehow related to the entire church.
“We’re all going to Taylors for lunch,” Sean told her as the wagon pulled out of the church yard.
“Rigg’s family?”
“Right.”
“Which ones were they?” Charlie looked very worried.
Sean took her hand and squeezed it. “Don’t try to remember. They’ll understand if you need to ask their names.”
Charlie wasn’t at all convinced, and with Molly trying to get Sean’s attention, he missed the look of distress on his wife’s face.
“It’s all a little overwhelming, isn’t it?”
Charlie turned and found one of Rigg’s brothers smiling down at her. He joined her on the sofa, and Charlie gave him a tired smile.
“I’ve never ha
d any trouble with names before,” Charlie stated apologetically.
“I’m Gilbert Taylor, Rigg’s brother, and please don’t apologize,” Gil forestalled her.
Charlie smiled. “I won’t, although it seems as though all I’ve done in the past 24 hours is apologize. Actually,” Charlie paused, looking a little surprised, “I haven’t been here that many hours.” She looked even more exhausted after realizing that less than a day ago she was on a stage just coming into town.
Gilbert, always sensitive to the feelings of others, talked quietly to Charlie until her lids began to droop. The house was noisy, but she fell asleep beside him, and he stayed close to keep the little ones from disturbing her.
It wasn’t long before Sean came in from the kitchen. He had been talking with Bill and May Taylor, and Rigg and Kaitlin. When he saw Gilbert guarding Charlie, he grabbed the newspaper and with a softly spoken word of thanks took his place.
Charlie was able to catch almost an hour’s sleep before someone slammed a door and woke her. Sean had done very little reading as he sat beside her. He had been praying, and as soon as Charlie’s eyes focused on him he spoke to her in a soft tone.
“I think I owe you an apology.”
“Over what?” Charlie blinked slowly at him, but she had heard every word.
“About taking you out of the house today, even for church.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I mean, we’re going to be here until after the baby is born, so you’ll have lots of time to meet folks. I had no business taking you out today, introducing you to dozens of people, and then bringing you here for lunch, when all you needed was rest.”
“I hope you know you’re being very silly,” Charlie said, her voice still very sleepy. “I wanted to go to church, and you’ve told me how long all these people have been praying for you. Sean, you needed to see them.”
Sean only shook his head and moved close enough to put his arm around her. With one arm holding her close, he reached with his free hand to the roundness of her stomach. It seemed she was increasing daily.