A week passed. The family began to see improvement in Jesse's health. The fever and swelling in his jaws went down. He became more active. He got out of bed and played quietly with Toby during the day while his siblings attended school. Katy and Jim read to him and helped him with homework Miss Bowden sent home. They helped Jesse with his schoolwork, played checkers with him, and kept Toby clean enough to stay inside.
Jesse missed his sister and brother during the day. One morning Leann sat on her chair knitting a new pair of winter socks for Ralph as Jesse played with Toby beside the fireplace. A knock sounded on the door. Jesse immediately stopped playing and Leann rose to answer the knock. She couldn't imagine who would be visiting in the middle of a work day. She opened the door and gave a cry of joy. Her parents stood on the porch.
"Hello, come in. What a wonderful surprise to see you, Ma and Pa." She held the door for them to enter. "Let me take your shawl, Ma." She took the wrap from her mother and gave her a hug.
Ma held a small basket that she wouldn't let Leann take. Pa removed his jacket and hat, then hung them on a hook beside the door. He gave Leann his usual big hug.
"We've come to visit our sick grandson, and make sure he's getting well like he should." Pa gave Jesse a big smile when the little boy ran to him, then lifted him up. Ma kissed his rosy cheek.
Ma took the opportunity to feel Jesse's forehead for signs of fever. "Feels like his fever's gone, Leann."
"He's well, now, Ma. The swelling in his jaws and the fever are gone. I wanted him to stay home from school for a couple more days to get his strength back. He still seems awful weak."
"Well, it takes awhile to get your strength back after a high fever." Pa knew how an illness can rob every bit of energy from a person's body.
"How did you know I was sick, Papaw?" Jesse asked.
"A little bird told me," Pa answered the curious little boy.
"Was he a red bird or a blue bird, Papaw?"
Pa laughed and squeezed his grandson before placing his feet on the floor. "I think this one was a blue bird."
Ma turned to Leann. "Ralph rode over the other day and told us about Jesse being sick. You know how John is about his grandkids. I almost had to hog tie 'im to keep 'im from coming over here until Jesse felt better. I said the last thing the boy needs is company."
Leann said, "Jesse would have been happy to see you, but he couldn't lift his head off the pillow without help until a couple of days ago. I worried about him, but he's a lot better now."
"Praise the Lord," Pa said. "Give Jesse his present, Polly."
Jesse immediately hurried to his grandmother who took a seat in the parlor. She handed the basket to him. He removed the bright red-checkered cloth covering the contents to look inside.
A smile lit his face. "Thank you, Mamaw. I love gingerbread men!" The basket held several little men made from Ma's good gingerbread with raisins for eyes.
"I brought you a whole lot of company, Jesse." Ma's face lit up with a smile when she saw how happy the gingerbread men made her grandson.
Pa walked to his jacket and took three small objects from the pocket. "Here." He stretched his hand toward Jesse. "I made these for you, Jim, and Katy. You can choose the one you want, since you're the sickest."
Jesse hurried to look in Pa's hand. He studied the contents then chose one object.
"Thank you, Papaw. I like it!"
"Well, give me a hug, then." Pa bent down to give the little boy a squeeze.
Jesse took the carving to Leann. "Look, Mama, a little horse."
Leann took the small wooden horse from his outstretched hand. She examined it carefully. "Pa, this is beautiful. Did you make it? I didn't know you could carve wood like this."
He explained, "Most days, my old bones won't let me do nothing but sit on the porch and whittle. It's a shame to get old and can't work hard no more. Glad I still have Stu at home to help with the farm. Polly and me would be in a fix without him and our little Sally."
"Sally isn't little anymore, John," Ma reminded him.
"She'll always be my little girl." He turned to Jesse who was on the floor playing with the little horse. "Give these two horses to Jim and Katy when they come home from school."
"Okay, Papaw, but can I play with them until they get home?"
Pa laughed. "You sure can."
Leann remembered her manners and jumped up to make coffee for her guests when Jesse reached for the basket with the gingerbread men.
"Can I eat one now, Mama?"
"Yes, and I'll make Mamaw and Papaw some coffee. Maybe you will share with us."
Toby came to Jesse, sniffing the basket. The little boy took a gingerbread man from the contents, broke the head off, and gave it to Toby before downing the remainder of the body. Pa laughed heartily, and Ma smiled.
"Jesse sure loves that dog." Her father's voice was soft with love for his grandson.
"Yes, he does, Pa. Toby has been real good to keep Jesse company while he's been sick," she answered from the kitchen.
Leann served coffee to her guests and poured Jesse a glass of milk. The morning snack may dampen his appetite for lunch, but she didn't mind. The gingerbread was a thoughtful gift from her mother, and Jesse needed nourishment to regain the strength he lost during the illness.
"I need to call Ralph in early, so he can visit." She went to the back door to ring the bell.
"You don't need to do that, Leann," her father said. "We'll stay until Jim and Katy get home from school. I wouldn't leave without seeing them."
"Ralph will want to visit while I make lunch. He'll probably show you the new barn. He's really proud of that barn."
"I'd like to see it."
Leann rang the bell for Ralph to come to the house. He was close, so it didn't take him long to wash up on the front porch and come inside. He greeted his in-laws heartily, shaking Pa's hand and hugging Ma. Jesse ran to his father to show him the gingerbread men and the horse. Leann served Ralph hot coffee, and Jesse served his gingerbread men. Leann and Ralph shared one. Pa and Ma did the same. They didn't want to eat the little boy's entire gift, knowing he would share with his siblings when they came from school.
The visit was very nice for Leann. She had been married and away from her parents' home for eleven years, but still missed them terribly at times. She watched her father and mother at the lunch table. Their hands moved stiffly with arthritis. They had difficulty getting up and down with stiff knees and hips. It made her sad to see her father moving with difficulty. He had always been a stalwart of strength and a refuge in time of trouble for his children and grandchildren. She especially cherished her father's loving care. They all still depended on him to guide them through the hard times.
Ma loved her family, too, with the love of a Godly mother. She and Pa made sure their children were raised in a home where the Lord came first. Leann's parents had the wisdom of living many years. She wanted to be like her mother, gently guiding her children in the way they should go.
***
Ralph took his father-in-law outside to show him the new barn and the livestock. John enjoyed walking around the farm instead of staying inside with the ladies. Jesse walked with them for awhile, and then went back to the house when he got tired.
"I would like to build a new house," Ralph said. "The cabin has served us well with the bedroom additions, but I promised Leann a kitchen pantry after the barn was built. Instead of making another addition to the cabin, I have in mind to build a new house with lumber from our own trees. We have a patch of woods with good, large red oaks that can be cut and milled for the lumber."
"Sounds like a good plan to me, son. You'll have plenty of help when you need it."
"I could live in the cabin the rest of my life, but Leann would like a new house. She doesn't complain, but I can see the light in her eyes when we visit Joe Jr. and Ginger in their new home."
Joe Jr., Ralph's younger brother, married Leann's friend, Ginger Farris. Joe Jr. bought one hundred acres next to his parents' land to raise horses and farm. He grew corn for a cash crop, because tobacco took too much time. His horses were of a good breeding line, and his reputation for fine mounts had spread widely throughout the area. Sonny, now a prominent St. Louis businessman, could always find a buyer for Junior's horses.
His land had been purchased, a new house built, and a good line of horses started, when he decided to marry. Ginger had given up on Sonny and set her cap for Junior. Leann enjoyed having Ginger as a member of her family. They had been friends since childhood, sharing many memories.
Ginger and Joe Jr. began a family soon after they married. They had three children, all younger in age than Jesse. Susan, a vivacious redhead like her mother, was the oldest at five. Joshua, who favored his father in color and fun-loving personality, came right behind her at four, with tow-headed Mark being a rowdy one-year-old.
Leann remarked to Ralph after one of their visits, "Ginger certainly has her hands full with those three. They are rambunctious children."
Ralph agreed. "Junior's too easy going for his own good. He needs to get a handle on his family before it's too late. When those kids get older, he won't be able to control them, but he needs to control Ginger first. She won't let him do one thing to the children."
Leann shook her head. "Katy sure enjoys going over there to babysit. She likes to play mother to the kids, and they love to let her."
"Yeah, Junior wants me to bring her over every weekend, but I told him Katy needs time at home. Ginger's got to learn to take care of her own children."
***
Leann called the men in for lunch. The conversation around the table consisted of crops, livestock, children, and the activities of farm life. Leann noticed Ralph didn't eat much and wasn't his usual good-natured self. Pa met her gaze across the table with a deep crease between his brows.
After lunch, the men settled down in the parlor while the women cleaned the kitchen. Pa played with Jesse as Ralph watched with glazed and listless eyes. Leann wanted to ask how he felt but decided to wait until her parents left for home.
Leann showed Ma her latest handwork, consisting of socks and sweaters knitted from the wool Ralph sheared from their sheep. Leann washed, dyed, and carded the wool, and then spun it on Ralph's grandmother's spinning wheel to make yarn. She enjoyed making her own wool yarn instead of buying it ready-made from the General Store. Her mother seemed pleased with Leann's skill in the arts of homemaking. Ma had trained all of her daughters well.
Katy and Jim arrived from school and were overjoyed to see their grandparents. Pa presented each one with a wooden horse, much to their delight. After a short visit with the older children, he announced it was time to head for home. He needed to help Stu with the evening chores.
While Pa put on his hat and jacket, Ma wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. She gave Leann a hug. "We've had a wonderful time, today, dear. Thank you for lunch."
"We enjoyed your visit, so much, Ma and Pa. Come again soon." Leann returned Ma's hug and then embraced her father.
"Bring these children to see us, Leann. We miss our grandkids," Pa said, and then whispered in Leann's ear so no one else could hear. "Get Ralph to bed. He ain't feeling good and looks real puny. I think he's coming down with the mumps."
"I will, Pa. Pray for him," Leann whispered. "Doc Reynolds said the mumps are real hard on adults."
Pa and Ma hugged the children. When Pa shook hands with Ralph, he put both hands over the one Ralph extended and looked intently into his eyes. Pa didn't say anything, but Leann knew her father suspected Ralph felt bad. Pa knew how hard it is for a man to admit he's sick. If Ralph came down with mumps and had to stay in bed, who would take care of the farm? The tobacco and the corn needed harvesting. She and the kids could help with the chores, but there were some things only a man could do.
The family went out to the porch to wave a final goodbye. Leann relished these rare visits and hated to see them leave. After all these years, she still missed her parents and didn't see them enough for her liking. Ralph put his arm around her shoulder. She could feel the heat radiating from his body. He had a high temperature.
God help us.