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The next morning, I rose early and prepared biscuits and gravy for breakfast. I still wore my engagement ring, although I knew I had to leave it home for the day. I wanted Caleb and Da to notice it. I still couldn’t believe I was engaged. It seemed to have happened so quickly, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Even as I admitted that, a doubtful thought came to my mind. Was I truly in love with Miles? Yes, I believed I was. But what was love of a man supposed to be like? Was I supposed to feel differently?
Oh, Mama, how I wish you were still around to help guide me! I don’t know what to think or do. My hands froze as a thought hit me. Wilma. Wilma would know. My mind raced. When would I be able to see her? I could go there tomorrow morning before the boys came, I decided.
Caleb came inside from chores and sat heavily in the chair.
“You do that too many times and it’ll break right under you one of these days,” I teased.
“Naw,” he protested. “I built this chair. It’ll withstand a little beating now and again.”
“If you say so.”
“How was your walk with Miles?” Caleb asked as Da stepped in the house and sat down to eat.
“Good,” I said, not meeting his eyes as I dished up the biscuits, gravy, and sausage.
When I gave him his plate, Caleb took my left hand off the gravy and sausage bowl. “What’s this?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye.
“A ring,” I answered, fighting off the grin that threatened to break out on my face.
Da’s fork stopped midway to his mouth. “He really did it, then, did he? Miles asked me daughter to marry him?”
I turned to him. “Yes, Da, he did.”
Da grunted and returned to his food. After taking another bite, he said, “He does know what he is getting himself into, doesn’t he?”
“What do you mean, Da?”
“He knows how short-tempered you can be, how much you like to control things, how stubborn you are, and that you ain’t really pastor’s wife material?”
I nodded. “Yes, Da, he knows that is how I used to be. Now that I am a genuine Christian, I have changed though and he thinks I will make a good pastor’s wife. I’m not quite sure I believe him, but he thinks it is so.”
Da grunted again, but didn’t speak.
“I think you’ll make a wonderful pastor’s wife,” Caleb said. “Though, I bet there’s a few women in church who won’t like it one bit.”
I groaned as I sank into my chair. “I’m sure you’re right about that last one.”
The rest of the meal was silent as we all ate. Da left as soon as he had finished and Caleb mopped up the last of his gravy with another biscuit. After gulping down his milk, he slid his chair back.
“Congratulations, Anna,” he said. “I’m happy for you.”
I smiled up at him. “Thank you, Caleb.”
Caleb nodded and followed Da out the door. I cleaned up quickly and started planning out the day. Glancing up at the clock, I was surprised by how late it was. I looked at the sink full of dishes and decided to leave them until tonight. I rushed to my room, took my ring off, and hurried out the door and down the road.
I was out of breath by the time I got to the parsonage. By the look on Miles’ face when he stepped out on the porch to greet me, I knew things were already going sour this morning. “What happened?” I asked.
Miles raised an eyebrow. “How did you know?”
I grinned. “Your face, Mr. Jenkins, told me something wasn’t going well today.”
Miles sighed and closed his eyes. “Good luck with them today, Anna. I don’t know what to do anymore. They were getting a little wild and disobedient before you stepped in. Then they had a few months when they were doing so well. Now this. I’m not sure what to do. I’ve been praying about it, but I feel like God isn’t answering my prayers. I’ve talked to them, used lack of food, switchings, everything I can think of, and none of it has curbed their rebellion and outright disobedience.”
My breath caught in my chest and an odd sensation came over me. As Miles spoke, something asked me, “What did you read this morning?” When he finished talking, I said, “Do you have your Bible?”
Miles looked confused, but handed me his Bible. I took it and flipped toward the back of the Bible. “Here it is. ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ Could it be Satan feels threatened by you and is attacking you by using your sons?”
The look on Miles’ face was indescribable. I couldn’t tell if it was shock, amazement, or revelation. Whatever it was, it took him a minute to get out of his stupor. “I never thought of that.” He looked off into the distance. “Thank you, Anna. I am constantly amazed how God has used you in my life and the lives around you.”
I looked away. “I should probably go in and see what kind of trouble they are getting into.”
Miles put a gentle hand on my arm as I brushed past him. “I’ll be praying for you and the boys and for Satan to stay away today.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
Miles let go of my arm and walked across the yard to the church.
I took a deep breath and opened the door. I thought I was prepared for everything, but I found out I wasn’t. John held a pile of blankets and was already headed for the back door which James held open for him. “Thank you, Jesus,” I prayed.
By the time they came back inside, I had a smile on my face and my sleeves rolled up. “What’s the plan, boys?” John and James looked over at me, blinking their eyes in confusion. “Okay, fine, I guess I’ll have to tell you. The plan for today is to get the mattresses and bedding aired out. After that is done, we will wash the windows. Sound good?”
My statement was met with silence. I raised an eyebrow and gave a sharp nod. “Okay, then. It looks like you’ve already gotten started, so how about we start by getting the mattresses outside. Then you two can have fun whacking the quilts and mattresses.” Still no response from them, either negative or positive. I heaved a silent sigh. It appeared they had decided to use the silent treatment.
Together, we walked upstairs and, with me on one end and the two boys on the other, we maneuvered the mattresses out of the rooms, down the stairs, through the kitchen, and outside. We rested one mattress on its side against one of the clothesline poles and another mattress on the other pole. Miles’ mattress was leaned against the side of the house. It was too big and heavy to move any further. When the mattresses were outside, I sent the boys off to find some good sized sticks.
While I draped the blankets over the clothesline, I compared this work day with the first one we’d had. The only thing that was the same was that we were all three hard at work in the same house. “God, please help me get through to these boys today.” I began to hum some hymns. As I finished hanging the last blanket, my humming turned to low singing. After I got some water warming up to wash windows with, the volume of my singing went up and I was singing at full volume.
When the boys came in from beating the bedding, I was singing Miles’ favorite hymn, “And Can it Be?” Without looking back, I told the boys, “There’s a rag for each of you in the bucket.”
I heard water splash a little and knew they were listening again. As I moved on to “Amazing Grace” I looked over at them and knew I had to say something.
“John, James, come here please.” I waited until they stood in front of me. “I know what you are trying to do by not saying anything, but you do know that you aren’t really punishing anyone except yourselves, don’t you? Your subtle rebellion, while it does affect me and your father, it only frustrates us. But with you, if you allow your anger to fester, it will affect you for the rest of your life.”
I took a deep breath and crouched down to their level. “It was festering anger that caused Da to lash out at Jed. It was festering anger that got my youngest brother killed for the crimes he had committed.
“If you continue on the way you have been and reject what God has clearly told you in the Bible and through your father’s words, your anger will turn you into young men you would never recognize.”
I turned back to the window I had been washing to let my words sink in. As I washed, I prayed God would use my words and Satan would leave this house and these two young boys alone.
There wasn’t much of a change in them that day except they did eventually start talking and signing. I prayed things would be better the next day when they were cleaning out the chicken coop.
***
As I had left the night before, Miles had promised he would have the boys out the door no later than half past seven. If all went well today, Miles would announce our engagement tonight at supper. Before they arrived I had to gather a few tools.
The wheelbarrow, shovels, and handkerchiefs were ready for use by the time they arrived.
“Lads,” I said with a dramatic gesture toward the coop, “this is a chicken coop. Not only is it a chicken coop, it is a chicken coop that is in desperate need of unburying, cleaning and scrubbing.” At this point, I heard two stifled giggles. Trying not to join in, I continued my grand tour. “This,” picking up a shovel, “is the implement that shall be used for the daring task. These handkerchiefs will be put over your mouths and noses to keep you from suffocating while you work. And this barrow is for transporting the vile substances from the coop to the manure pile. Any questions?”
John raised his hand.
“Yes, Sir John?”
“Who’s doing what?”
“An excellent question. Methinks we shall have both of you shoveling the vile substances out into the wheelbarrow. After it has been filled, I shall transport it to the manure pile and bring the wheelbarrow back for refilling. While I am away, you can each clean out a nesting box of the hay. Yes, Sir James?”
“Why can’t we transport the wheelbarrow?” he signed.
“It would be awfully heavy,” I said.
“We don’t have to fill it all the way,” James protested.
I nodded. “Would you like to do that? The two of you could take turns pushing the wheelbarrow and filling it then.”
James nodded his head vigorously. John looked between the two of us and shrugged.
“This way you can get other things done,” James signed.
I smiled. Lord, is James starting to come back? “Thank you, James. If you need help, I will be in the garden preparing it for winter.”
That day went much smoother than the day before. There was actually some banter and even a few joyful noises. Ever since I met them, I had wondered how there could be banter when one boy couldn’t speak but James made up for it somehow. They even got into arguments once in awhile. I still hadn’t quite figured that one out.
They were still hard at work scrubbing the chicken coop when Miles came in the house to find me. “How did it go?” he asked.
“Look for yourself,” I said, nodding toward the open back door.
Miles looked out the door. “Is that John singing?”
I grinned. “Yes, it is. He’s been doing that all afternoon. James makes a suggestion and John sings it.”
Miles looked at me with wonder in his eyes. “Thank the Lord! Does this mean we can finally announce our engagement to them?”
I got suddenly shy and nodded.
“You don’t know how hard it has been the last couple of days not being able to tell them,” Miles said. “It seems like there is always an opportunity when I could, but I couldn’t because they weren’t deserving of knowing yet.”
A grin played at the corners of my mouth. “We could always make them wait another week.”
Miles’ eyes grew wide. “No! Please don’t!”
Our laughter must have reached all the way outside because next thing we knew, there was a shout, “Pa’s here!” and the patter of running feet. Miles was practically tackled to the floor, but he somehow managed to stay upright.
“What is this?” Miles asked.
“Pa, James and I have something to say to you and Miss Stuart,” John said in a serious voice.
“Oh?”
James nodded and signed, “We’ve been very bad the last week. I am sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too, Pa and Miss Stuart. I know we’ve been nearly impossible to deal with and I know that having to stay home from school and do all this cleaning was part of the punishment. Even if parts of it were fun, I still think it did what you wanted it to do.”
James clapped his hands, interrupting his brother. He signed, “What Miss Stuart said yesterday helped the most though, I think.”
“What did Miss Stuart say?” Miles asked.
“That our rebellion would only hurt us in the long run, not you and her,” John answered. “And that we were rejecting what you and God had clearly told us to do.”
Miles nodded and gave me a smile. “You are both forgiven. I am very grateful that you realized your mistakes.”
“I also forgive you both,” I said, tears threatening to spill out of my eyelids.
James ran to me and gave me a big hug while John gave his father a hug.
“You boys finished with the chicken coop?” Miles asked.
“Not quite,” John answered.
“Then how about you go finish it?” I said, wrinkling my nose. “Besides, you two stink. When you’re done, go take a rinse in the creek.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they both responded with a grin.
***
“I’m glad they still had more to do,” Miles said after they were out of earshot. “We need to at least talk about when we want to have the wedding. Because I know those two will want to know how long they have to wait.”
I laughed and cubed potatoes. “They certainly will. Since Christmas is coming up so fast, I think we should definitely wait until after Christmas.”
“Plus we need to find someone to officiate for us and to take the pulpit for a Sunday. I intend to take you on at least a short honeymoon trip.”
I paused in my cutting and turned to look at Miles. “You do?”
Miles smiled a bit shyly. “Yes, I do.”
I turned my back on him again to hide my flaming cheeks. “How about early February?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm and even.
Miles was quiet for a minute and I was about to turn around to find out why when Caleb’s voice cut in, “Unless you wanted to do a double wedding when Maggie gets here.”
I spun around. “When did you sneak in?”
Caleb grinned and shrugged. “The door was wide open.”
“And anyway,” I continued, “When is Maggie going to be here?”
“I don’t know for sure. I told her about four months which would be the end of February or beginning of March,” Caleb replied.
“I think early February would be better for us,” Miles said. “Now that I’m engaged, I’d kind of like to hurry it up. I like Anna helping take care of the boys, but I think it will be better once she is my wife and legally their step-mother.”
Caleb’s grin widened. “It was only an idea.”
“Early February, then,” Miles said.
I checked the potatoes that were frying in butter, garlic, and salt. The chicken had already been frying for almost an hour and I used my knife to check it.
Turning back to the men who were now talking quietly to each other, I interrupted them. “Caleb, is Da about ready for supper?”
“Almost. I’ll go check on the boys and help them finish up.”
“Is there something I can do?” Miles asked.
“You could set the table,” I suggested.
“It looks like we need plates and forks, correct?”
I smiled. “Yes. The cupboard to the left of the sink and the drawer under the counter next to the sink.” I answered his question before he asked it.
When the rest of the men got in, the table was set and the food was on the table.
As was usual for our Tuesday evening meals, Miles prayed a blessing over the food and everybody started eating, but there was no conversation until I asked a question.
“How did the chicken coop cleaning go, John and James?”
“Great!” John exclaimed. “We got it all out of there and scrubbed. We do need to get some hay in the nesting boxes after supper, though. Even with Caleb coming out to help us, we didn’t quite have enough time.”
I smiled. It sure was good to hear some enthusiasm from John again.
“I am proud of you boys for getting it done and for doing it cheerfully,” Miles said.
“It’ll be good bragging rights, too,” John said with a grin. “We can tell everybody at school that we cleaned out a chicken coop.”
The corners of Miles’ mouth twitched. “Just remember what Proverbs says, ‘Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.’ You don’t want to be proud about your accomplishments.”
“Yes, Pa,” John said. “I’ll try.”
Miles looked at me with a question in his eyes and my heart fluttered and a lump formed in my throat, but I gave him the nod he was looking for.
“Now, I know Iain and Caleb already know, but I think it is time for John and James to know and for us to make it official. Would you two like to know what I am talking about?”
John and James were practically wriggling out of their chairs in excitement and Miles was enjoying the suspense way too much.
“What is it, Pa?” John finally asked.
“I don’t know. Caleb, should we tell them yet or should we make ‘em wait?”
Caleb tried to keep a straight face as he looked from John to James to me and back to Miles. He shrugged. “Good question.” He leaned his right elbow on the table and put his chin in his hand. “I think we should make ‘em wait until after we’ve finished eating dessert.”
Miles chuckled. “Okay, we’ll wait until after dessert then.” He took a big bite of chicken and chewed with slow, deliberate movements of his jaw and teeth.
James tried to glare at his father, but Miles refused to look at either of his sons. He finally resorted to clapping his hands to get Miles’ attention.
“Yes, Mr. James?” Miles asked.
“You’re not being very nice,” James signed.
I couldn’t help myself. A big laugh escaped my mouth and Da glared at me.
“What’s so funny, Anna?” Da asked gruffly.
“James is reprimanding his da for not being nice.”
“Humph,” Da grunted. “James is right. Just tell the lads, Preacher. All ye’ll do is get ‘em riled up and I willna have riled up boys in me house.”
A light sparked in Miles’ eyes and his jaw clenched. “My boys don’t get riled up, Mr. Stuart,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “They may get a bit anxious, but they’ll not get riled up.”
I tried to find a way to lighten the mood again. In a few short seconds, the intensity level had risen much too high. My mind went blank when the look on John’s face registered in my mind.
The same light that had sparked in Miles’ eyes was also in John’s, but in John it appeared more dangerous. His chest heaved in quick, short breaths as if he’d had the wind knocked out of him and he was trying to catch his breath. His small fists were clenched and he stared at Da with an intensity that scared me.
“John,” I whispered. “Be slow to anger.”
He looked over at me and unshed tears glistened in his eyes. He pursed his lips and gave a quick nod. He took a bite of potatoes, chewed them, and swallowed them. “These are real good potatoes, Miss Stuart. “
I smiled in spite of the mood in the room. “Thank you, John. I’m glad you like them. Do you like them, too, James?”
James gave me a half-smile and nodded.
“Good!” Miles exclaimed. “Because you’ll have to put up with her cooking until you move out.”
All movement in the room stopped except Da’s fork stabbing another potato chunk and Miles’ mouth turning up its corners.
John flitted his eyes between Miles and me. “Are you really going to get married?”
I nodded and Miles said, “Yes, we are.”
“Yippee!! We get a new ma!” John shouted. He shot a look down the table, daring Da to protest.
James clapped his hands in excitement and the grin on his face proved he was as happy as his brother.
“When’s the wedding?” John asked.
“February at the earliest,” Miles answered.
“February?” John protested.
“Yes, February,” I said. “There are a lot of things that need to be taken care of before we can get married. And we need to figure out who can marry us.”
John gave a dramatic sigh. “Okay. I’ll try to be patient.”
I looked over at James. “I can wait patiently, but I will definitely look forward to it,” James signed. I smiled at him.
“You might be able to wait, but I can’t,” John protested. “February’s still...” he counted, “...almost four months away!”
Caleb chuckled. “Would it help to know I might be getting married shortly after your da and my sister do?”
John’s eyes went wide and he stumbled on his words. “What? To who?”
“Whom,” I corrected.
“That’s what I said,” John protested. “To whom?”
“To a young woman from Ohio. She has a daughter about the same age as you, John.”
John made a face. “A girl? Blech! Why couldn’t she have a son?”
Miles laughed. “If there were no girls, there would be no women. And if there were no women, there would be no children. It’s a fact of life, my boy.”
John wrinkled his nose. “If you say so. But I think God could’ve figured out a different way of doing things.”
Da slammed his fork on the table. “I’m goin’ out to finish the chores. I’ll do yours, Caleb, so you can join in all this religious talk.”
“But we weren’t talking about religion,” John protested.
I put a hand on John’s arm. When he looked my way, I gave a stern shake of my head.
“You most certainly were, Boy!” Da said. “And I don’t hafta listen to it either.”
He stomped out of the room and the room remained silent for a minute until James clapped his hands for attention. “What’s Caleb’s bride’s name?” he signed.
“Maggie McDougall,” I said.
“And her daughter’s name?” John asked.
“Rachel,” Caleb answered.
“I suppose we have to be nice to her,” John stated.
Miles raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you do. Once Caleb and Maggie are married and Anna and I are married, you and Rachel will be cousins.”
“Cousins with a girl?” John was aghast.
I cleared my throat and tried not to laugh. Exchanging a twinkling look with Miles I said, “What if your da and I have a baby girl sometime after we’re married? Would you protest so loud then at having a sister?”
John’s eyes went as wide as tea saucers. “A sister?”
Caleb chuckled. “Sisters aren’t too bad. They can cook and clean and sew clothes for you.”
“I thought that’s what ma’s were for,” John said.
“Ma’s get tired sometimes,” Caleb answered. Then he looked down at the table. “Or sometimes they die. Then sisters have to take over.”
“Really?”
“Or girl cousins,” Caleb said, looking up with a wink.
John groaned.
I looked over at James and barely caught the sparkle in his eye. He was loving this conversation. “I can’t wait to have a girl cousin and possibly a baby sister, too,” he signed.
I grinned at him. “Good,” I signed back.
“Well, boys, I suppose we should head home. You two still have a little homework to do .”
“Okay, Pa.” John said. “When do we get to meet Mrs. McDougall, Caleb?”
“Probably the Sunday after she arrives. I don’t know for sure,” Caleb replied.
“Okay. When is she coming?”
“I don’t know for sure yet as I haven’t heard.”
“Will you let us know?”
Caleb smiled and nodded. “Yes, I will.”
“Okay, that’s enough questions for tonight, John. Say your goodbyes and let’s go,” Miles said.
“Goodbye, Caleb, Miss Stuart,” John said with a wave of his hand. “When can...?”
“No more questions,” Miles exclaimed.
James gave me a hug and the three Jenkins men left our house.
“Are you sure you want to be John’s mother?” Caleb asked.
I laughed and started to clean up. “Yes, I am.”
Caleb shook his head and went outside to help Da with the chores while I cleaned up the rest of supper before going to bed.
