* * * * *
"What a splendid job the town's people did on this home." Mrs. Browley stated as she helped Hanna prepare the evening meal. Mrs. Browley took a loaf of freshly baked bread from the stove taken from the sod house and handed it to Hanna to lay on the freshly built counter.
Chris and Mr. Browley sat at the newly built table and talked about the completion of the barn.
"It took a bit longer than expected, but we got 'er up." Mr. Browley stated. "We never would have been able to finish without the help of the whole town. I talked with most of them and they were more than happy to do it for you both."
"Even Cale came out." Chris said with surprise in his voice. "I was shocked to see him show up."
"Whether your differences or the fact that I had to reject him, he has been one of my best childhood friends. I would have been hurt if he didn't bother to come." Hanna exclaimed. "He seemed very civil with you and you with him. I appreciate that."
"I have nothing to bicker about with him." Chris replied. "I've let the whole incident go and I hope he's done the same."
"Good for you, son." Mr. Browley added.
Mason and Priscilla ran in the front door, excited and breathless. "I love the new team." Priscilla rang out with animation. "What are you going to name them?" she asked.
"Well, I hadn't really thought of it. They're not technically mine, yet." Chris answered, still feeling a little nervous being in immediate debt with a team and seed for his field. His note stated he was to pay for them with his first harvest but what if something happened to the crop? What if he was the one that messed it up? Not spending enough time with it or doing something catastrophically wrong.
“What would you name them?” Chris asked Priscilla.
Priscilla curved her mouth to one direction and looked up toward the ceiling deep in thought.
“Hmm, I would name the gelding, Gus and the mare, Gertie.” she said with a smile.
“Gus and Gertie it is.” Chris stated, smiling back at her.
“That’s what your rabbits were named a couple of years ago.” Mason teased.
“I still like the names, though and we’ll be able to have the horses longer than we had the rabbits.” Priscilla turned to Hanna. “When are you bringing your chickens over?” she asked.
“When I move in after the wedding.” Hanna replied from the kitchen.
“How come you get to live here before Hanna does?” Priscilla asked turning her attention to Chris.
“I have to live here because all of the furniture from the sod house has already been brought into this house. There’s the stove. The small table is being used as a desk in the bedroom next to the bed that we had to build extra legs for. The two chairs are right here under your pa and me.” Chris responded.
He took another look around the room. The dining table with four chairs, two they had to make since the sod house only had the original two, sat in the middle of the room. The stove and counter were to the left of the table with a large basin sink. They would have to wait until summer time to drill in a water pump, until then the well outside was perfectly fine. The fireplace on the East wall was grand and made of stone. Two rocking chairs were placed in front for them to relax together in the evening.
To the right of the table were two doors. One to their bedroom and another to a spare room, perhaps for guests if they ever get furniture or possibly for a nursery for when they decide to begin a family.
It was all coming together and Chris was finally able to take a breath.
A house, a barn, land, a team, a family and a soon to be wife. He couldn’t have imagined how blessed this place could have made him, how blessed God could have made him. All of the things he’d searched endlessly for in 1998 seemed to hit him in less than one year back in this time. This time of blessings, this time of hope, this time of love and family.
Chris clung onto Hanna as if she’d float away if he let go. “I will miss you.” He stated to her as she was getting ready to head back home with her family.
“You’ll see me tomorrow.” she said back with a full grin. “Only next time you see me, I’ll be walking down the isle.”
“I can’t believe the wedding is tomorrow. It seems too good to be true even though I’ve waited my whole life for this moment.” He said to her.
“I know what you mean. It will be perfect.” She kissed him gently on the tip of his nose and turned to climb into the back of the wagon which held her patiently awaiting family.
“I’ll be by in the morning with Mason to help you get ready and take you over to the church.” Mr. Browley reminded.
“I’ll see you then.” Chris replied, waving.
He stood there until the wagon melted into the darkness and he could no longer hear the racket from the clumsy wheels. He turned toward his new house, stopping to take in the sight. A soft glow floated out of the front window and slightly illuminated the front porch. The silhouette of the barn was barely visible behind the house but Chris knew it was there. He decided to check the horses to make sure they were snug for the night.
The barn was small with only two stalls. They were double stalls, so he kept the horses together while the other side sat empty, soon to be filled with several chickens. Later they could think of getting more animals, perhaps a cow for fresh milk.
The small loft that hung above him had some hay to get him through until the first cut. The horses seemed content as Gertie even gave him a nudge on the shoulder with the side of her head. Chris scratched the front of her face and ran his fingers down her golden mane. Gus pushed his way through wanting the same attention.
After Chris gave in to him, scratching him behind the ears, he turned to walk out taking in the evening air. The days had begun to get longer and warmer and sweeter. The horizon still displayed a line of deep pink even though the rest of the land seemed as dark as velvet.
“This will be the last night I’m here alone.” He whispered out loud. He still could not believe, the next day, he'd be married to the most incredible woman who came from the most wonderful family.
The hustle of the day hit Chris like a locomotive. He trudged into the house, took the lantern from the dining table into his small bedroom. He slipped out of his clothes and snuffed out the lantern. He turned his bed down but instead of climbing in under the snug quilt, he kneeled down onto the chilly floor, folded his hands and looked to the heavens.
“My dear God, I cannot even begin to thank you for sending me here. For helping me find my way by allowing me to become lost, first. I beg for your forgiveness for the attitude I carried for a long while about how and why you sent me here. Even though I will never completely understand your plan for me, I am eager to trust you and follow where ever you guide me for I know you love me and want the best for me. I thank you for giving me a family, a wonderful woman to love who loves me in return and a whole town of amazing friends. Most of all, Lord, I thank you for giving me a second chance, a chance to find myself and my worth. I finally feel like I belong somewhere and that I am significant. I could not have imagined anything more grand than your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray... A-men.”
Chris rose to his feet still exhausted but feeling released. He now had no doubt that God was hearing him and watching over him. He was safe, he was secure and he was loved.
A smile curled onto his lips as he turned his head and drifted off into a deep slumber.