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Tuesday afternoon, I made some of Jed’s favorite meals hoping John and James would either like what I made or not be picky. I was about to check on the biscuits when a knock sounded on the door.
I hurried over and opened it. “Pastor Jenkins, John, James. It is good to see you. Come in. I hope you will excuse me, I need to check on the biscuits before I become a decent hostess.”
Pastor Jenkins smiled and waved me into the kitchen. “Don’t worry about it. We wouldn’t want burnt biscuits now, would we Boys?”
James grinned and shook his head while John wrinkled his nose.
“Is there anything we can help with?” Pastor Jenkins asked as he followed me into the kitchen. “Ah, it looks like the table needs to be set. James, would you like to help set the table?”
I turned around in time to see his head bob up and down. I smiled. “I’ll tell you where things are as soon as I get these biscuits out of the oven.” I bent over the oven and pulled the sheet of biscuits out, putting them on top of the stove.
John came over and was about to hand the basket to me, then changed his mind. “I’ll get the biscuits off the sheet. You can go help James set the table.”
I laughed. “Yes, Sir! You know, I normally don’t allow guests to help in the kitchen, but I knew you wouldn’t take no for an answer. Right, Pastor?”
“Correct,” Pastor Jenkins said. He seemed less stiff and formal than usual. Maybe it was the homey feel. “And please, while I am a guest in your home, you can call me Miles.”
I gave him a sharp look and he must have somehow read my thoughts. Calling him by his first name when we hardly knew each other seemed so irreverent and bold.
He gave me a sheepish smile. “Pastor Jenkins seems too formal for such a casual setting and you said yourself a few months ago that your father and brother don’t like to talk about the things of the Lord.”
A mischievous grin played across my face. “Okay, I will call you Miles, but only,” I pointed a finger at him, “only if you call me Anna.”
Miles took a deep bow and answered, “Yes’m, Miz Anna.”
John and James burst into laughter and it was only then I remembered John and James had heard every word we had said. My face grew hot as I blushed straight to the roots of my hair.
My only consolation was the look on Miles’ face. His was at least as red as mine and his shy, sheepish grin was too endearing. I almost burst out laughing again. Then our eyes met and our embarrassed grins turned into smiles which changed very quickly into contagious laughter.
Everybody stopped laughing abruptly when the back door slammed shut and Da’s voice was heard loud and clear, “What’s th’ meaning of all this caterwauling? Ha’ ye gone daft, Anna?”
My spine stiffened and I closed my eyes and mouth against the retort burning in my throat. “No, Da. We were laughing at the fun we were having.” I turned to John and James who stared at Da with wide eyes. My heart wept for them. I was sure they had never seen or heard such a reaction from their father. For that matter, they had probably never known anyone who would react in such a way. Lord, is it right to expose them to Da?
Turning my thoughts away from Da, I spoke to James and John. “Are the biscuits all in the basket?”
John nodded as he tore his eyes away from Da. The back door opened again and Caleb stepped into the kitchen.
“Ah, our guests arrived before we were done in the barn. So sorry for our inhospitality, but cows and horses wait for no man.” He turned to Miles. “You must be Pastor Jenkins.” Stepping closer and moving around Da, he held out his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Sir. I’m Caleb Stuart. I’m sure Anna’s told you all about me.” He winked at John and James. “Just like she’s told me all about you and your two boys.”
Miles shook Caleb’s hand. “Please call me Miles.” The corners of his mouth acted like they wanted to smile. “And Anna has told the boys some things about you, though nothing too terrible as of yet, from what they have told me.”
The ever-serious Pastor had a mischievous side to him? I never would’ve guessed that. I checked the table and saw it was set. “Dinner is served, Gentlemen. Please take your seats.”
James touched my arm to get my attention. He signed a question to me, but I couldn’t read it. I looked at John to see if he had caught what his brother had said, but before John could open his mouth, Miles came to his rescue.
“That is a good question, James. Do you have assigned seats, Anna?”
I smiled. “No, we don’t. You may sit on any of the chairs.” I looked up at Caleb and winked at him. “I don’t suggest sitting on the table, though.”
James grinned and signed something else.
“Where am I sitting? Wherever there is a seat available, I suppose,” I replied to his question.
His hands moved quickly again while I watched intently.
“What?” My eyebrows drew together in confusion.
Miles cleared his throat a few times before interpreting for his son. “He wants you to sit between him and myself.” Miles looked across the room to Caleb and Da. “If that’s all right with you, Mr. Stuart.”
Da stared Miles down for a few seconds. “My daughter can sit where she likes.”
“I guess it’s settled then,” Caleb said, patting his stomach. “I don’t know ‘bout you boys, but I’m starved!”
Chairs scraped against the wood floors as everybody sat down. Before I had a chance to pull my chair out, I got the surprise of my life when James pulled it out for me and held onto the back looking at me expectantly. I sat down and he tried to scoot the chair in, but it was too heavy for the boy. I was about to finish scooting myself in when Miles pushed his chair back, stood up, and scooted my chair in for me.
I sat there for a few seconds, in shock, looking between father and son. I had never been treated this way before.
I suddenly caught sight of Da’s expression. It was something between a glare and admiration. Then he started dishing up his food. I closed my eyes. I had forgotten to warn the Jenkins men that Da and Caleb didn’t say a blessing before their meals. Opening my eyes, I dared a sidelong glance at Miles.
The look on his face was unreadable, almost as if he was trying to decide whether or not to pray. I saw the second he made up his mind. He bowed his head and folded his hands.
“Lord in heaven,” he prayed, “we come to you this evening to thank You for Your bountiful care. Bless the hands that prepared this food and bless those who provided the food for us. Bless this food to our bodies and give us uplifting conversation during our meal. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for us and for giving us a sunny day in which to serve You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
When I opened my eyes after the prayer, I chose not to look across the table at Da and Caleb, instead I concentrated on dishing up the food in front of me.
Miles was the first to speak after the food had all been passed around and dished up. “Mr. Stuart, I noticed on the way here that you have a good-sized corn field. Do you sell it in town or use it all for your animals and re-seeding?”
Da grunted. “Call me Iain. I ain’t been called ‘Mr. Stuart’ for years. I sell some corn, but keep most of it.”
I could see John practically bouncing up and down in his chair. “Do you shell it first?” he asked. “How do you harvest it? When is the best time to plant?”
Caleb laughed. “Miles, do you have a budding farmer on your hands?”
Miles quirked an eyebrow. “It would appear so.” He turned to his eldest son. “I didn’t know you were so interested in farming.”
John shrugged. “Is someone going to answer my questions?”
Caleb’s eyes twinkled. Knowing him, he loved the idea of having someone to talk to about farming. “Sure. We plant in the spring, right after the last frost. Harvesting is best done during the Harvest Moon in September. As for shelling, it depends on who we sell the corn to. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. Da was able to buy a sheller last year, so we no longer have to ruin our hands to do it ourselves.”
I watched as Caleb answered many more questions from John. At one point during the two-way conversation, Miles’ eyes met mine and we both smiled at John’s obvious connection with Caleb.
“I think John has found a new friend,” I said.
Miles nodded. “He certainly has.” He turned to look toward his son. His eyes teared up suddenly and he swallowed. “I had no idea John had an interest in farming.”
I was about to respond when James tugged on my sleeve. I turned to him and was soon lost in a silent conversation with the younger Jenkins boy.
***
Even though it was dark, John and James went outside with Caleb after dinner to look at the farm. I smiled at their enthusiasm. Even Caleb seemed to enjoy having the boys around. Da on the other hand went sullenly about his evening chores and retired to bed.
Miles helped me clear the table despite all my protests. “Don’t you want to go out with your boys and see the farm?”
Miles laughed and nodded toward the window. “It’s dark, Anna. There isn’t anything to see except the animals. I’ve seen farm animals many times in my life. I don’t think I’ll miss much this time. And I happen to know I will get a full report as soon as we head back home.”
I cocked my head and gave a small smile. “I suppose.”
I poured the hot water from the pan on the stove into the dishpan and started washing the dishes.
Miles leaned his back against the counter and cleared his throat. “Besides, I wanted to talk to you without the boys around.”
I cocked an eyebrow while I gave the plate my full attention. “Oh?”
“What are your thoughts for this...” he waved a hand in the air, “...whatever you want to call it?”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well, I thought perhaps they could come out here a couple days a week and I could go to your place the other days. That way your house can get a good cleaning and you three can eat a few decent meals.” I flashed a mischievous grin at him.
Miles chuckled as he turned around and helped dry the dishes. “Do you want set days or decide from week-to-week?”
I thought while I washed and rinsed the rest of the plates. “Well, Saturdays would probably be a good day for them to be here.” I saw Miles’ head bob up and down. “Maybe you could join us for dinner on Tuesday evenings?”
Miles dried the plate he was holding until I thought he might rub the finish off. “That’s a possibility.”
“Perhaps we could tentatively set up Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays here and Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at your place.” I paused in my dish washing. “Actually, that works well. I do laundry on Monday and my normal baking days are Tuesday and Wednesday. I can bake for us on Tuesdays and at your place on Wednesdays. Hmmm...”
“You sound like you’ve got it all worked out.”
I laughed. “Not even close. I may have some of it kind of figured out, but definitely not all of it.”
“It sounds like a plan to me, anyway. I’ll make sure the boys know what they’re doing.”
I nodded.
Miles dried two more plates before he spoke again. “How has your personal Bible study been? Actually, let me rephrase that. Have you run across anything that you would like me to try to answer?”
I kept my eyes on the dishwater as I swished the rag across the pan. “Bible memorization. How important is it and how do your boys memorize so quickly?”
Miles took a deep breath. “Bible memorization is very important. I wish more of my parishioners would start memorizing. The Bible has many verses about hiding God’s Word in your heart. One of the most well-known is Psalm 119:11, ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’
“As for my boys, they have a natural bent toward memorizing. If they have a special method, I don’t know it, but you could always ask them.”
“I might just do that,” I replied. “There, that’s the last of the dishes,” I announced in triumph.
“Hallelujah!” Miles said with a grin.
I held out the dishrag. “‘Here, you can wash the table off while I put these dishes away.”
Miles took the dishrag between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you always this bossy with your guests?”
“No, not really. You’re just too easy to boss around. And we don’t have many guests.”
Miles gave me a look of disbelief and I laughed.
“What?” I asked. “Nobody’s ever told you that before?”
Miles shook his head. His brown hair brushed along his forehead and almost reached his raised eyebrows.
“Really?” I was incredulous. Was I the only one who was brave enough—or stupid enough—to tease and boss around the pastor?
“Really,” Miles said. “Rebekah, my wife, said I was the bossy one. I was the one who was always teasing others. She also said I never let anyone boss me around or tease me.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m the only one bold enough to do that to a pastor.”
Miles shrugged and washed off the table.
While I put the dishes away, I said, “You really should go see the farm with the boys...”
“And leave you here alone to finish cleaning up?” Miles interrupted. “I don’t think so. You had twice as many dishes to do because we came over.”
“I was the one who invited you, remember?”
Miles shrugged. “I still feel bad that you’ve got extra work because of us.”
I turned away from the cupboards where I had been hiding. “Miles Jenkins,” I scolded, “You have a church to shepherd, you are trying to be both mother and father to two rambunctious boys, and you are doing all of this with no wife or housekeeper to feed you, clothe you, and clean for you. I only have two grown farm boys to cook for, clean up after, and clothe. They can spare me.”
I took a step closer to Miles and looked him straight in the eye. “Ever since I became a Christian, I have been praying for a ministry opportunity. I’ve been praying for some way to serve my community, the church, or any other way possible. When your boys nearly ran me over and I found out they were motherless, I knew God had answered my prayers. Don’t you dare take this away from me!”
Miles backed away from me a step and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He held his hands up in surrender. “I can see you are a formidable woman.” He chewed his bottom lip. “That will be good for John and James.”
I felt the corners of my mouth twitch as I tried not to smile. “What about for you?”
Miles narrowed his eyes at me before letting a grin spread across his face. “Yeah.” He let his hands fall along his sides. “I suppose it might be good for me, too.”
I was about to say something, but the words flew right out of my brain when the kitchen door slammed shut and two pairs of feet came racing through the kitchen.
I stepped around Pastor Jenkins and confronted the culprits. “Rule number one in this house is to never slam the doors. Whether you are opening them or closing them, always, always do so gently. My da is in his bedroom right now trying to get to sleep. But even if he was outside, you should still close the door gently. The rougher you handle the door, the more likely it will be to need fixing. And believe me, you do not want to have to replace, or fix, that door. You hear me?”
John and James stared at me with huge eyes and nodded their heads in agreement.
“Good.” I let the stern look leave my face. “Now then, what did you two get into outside?” I looked over their heads at my brother. He had a twinkle in his eyes that could mean most anything, but the smile on his face said he had enjoyed his evening.
“We got to feed the cows and the horses and the chickens. Caleb said the chickens are usually your job, but since you had extra dishes we may’s well take care of it for you.” John took a breath before continuing. “Then Mr. Caleb showed us the corn, wheat, barley and...and...” He turned to look at Caleb. “What was the other stuff called?”
Caleb cleared his throat in what seemed to me to be an attempt at swallowing down his laughter. “The rye?”
“That’s what it was. Rye and hay. They harvest the hay three or four times a year and use it mostly in the winter to feed the animals. In the summer the animals can eat the grass. The rest of the crops are only harvested in the fall since they don’t ripen but the once.”
Miles cleared his throat and gave John a look that should have shut him up, but he kept going.
“Next time we come out...We are coming out again, aren’t we, Pa?”
“Yes, you will be. We can talk about it on our way home.”
John’s eyes lit up with excitement and James came closer to me and gave me a small hug. “Really, Pa?”
Miles smiled. “Really. Now, I think we’d best get home. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”
“Aww, Pa!” John protested. “Do we have to?”
Miles sighed. “Yes, John, we do. Farmers have to get up really early in the morning, which means they have to go to bed earlier than us city folks.” Miles looked up at me and winked.
I fought against a giggle and squatted down to James’ level. We exchanged a short conversation about how he had liked the farm. He had loved it, though he wasn’t quite as much in love with it as his brother was. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t mind helping me with some of the inside work and working in the garden.
As I recalled the conversations I’d had with John and James, I remembered the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob liked staying close to home, while Esau was a wanderer and hunter. Lord, keep John from turning out like Esau did.
It took a combination effort from Miles and me to push John out the door and down the road toward town.
I watched the three Jenkins men until they reached the road and I could no longer see them.
“You’re really going to help ‘em out?” Caleb asked as he leaned against the door frame behind me.
“Yes, I am,” I said. “Are you?” I turned around to look at Caleb.
He took a deep breath. “It was nice having those two boys around. It reminded me of when Jed would follow my every move. Every time I turned around to see John watching me with awestruck eyes, Jed’s face would flash into my memory.” He paused for a few seconds. “Yes, I’ll help ‘em while they’re out here. John anyway. If I wanna help James, I’ll have to learn that fancy hand signing.” He grinned. “I’m not sure I can learn it fast enough for him.”
I laughed. “No, probably not. I don’t think James will be out with you much anyway. Next time he comes, I’ll probably get him to help me inside.”
Caleb nodded. “Of the two, I think he’s the one who most craves a mother’s love. You’ll be good at that.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. “Are you sure?”
Caleb looked startled and stood up straight. “Of course I am. Why would you think you wouldn’t be?”
I hugged my arms to my chest. “Jed ran off despite my care.”
Caleb growled. “That was Da’s doin’, not yours. He probably would’ve run off years earlier if it hadn’t been for you.”
My chest felt tight and I had a hard time getting my breath to come. “You really think so?”
Caleb took two steps toward me and folded me into his arms. He kissed the top of my head. “Yes, Baby Sister, I do. I really do.”
I clenched my fists and tried to fight for control over these overwhelming feelings, but it didn’t work and I sobbed in his arms until there was nothing left in me. When my sobbing slowed, Caleb kept an arm around me and led me back into the house, up the stairs, and to my room.
“Sleep well, Anna. Dream pleasant dreams about little James and John.”
I tried to give a short laugh, but it came out more like a strangled cry. “I’ll try. Thank you for everything, Caleb.”
He tousled my hair. “You’re welcome, Little Sister.”
He stepped away from the door and walked to his own room. I closed my door and leaned against it, trying to collect my thoughts, my grief, my joy, my...everything really.
“God, I can’t do this on my own. Help me to lean on You. I know Da and Caleb must be grieving too, but they hide it so well. I know I can’t do this while I feel like I’m the only one grieving. Help me, Lord!”
