Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
Aaron ripped open the letter from his Aunty Bessie. So much was at stake, and if there was no lady prepared to work for him, he didn’t know what his next step would be. The children were getting more and more difficult to handle with each passing day.
My Dearest Aaron,
I received your letter and have taken a great deal of time to ponder on the question you asked. Do I know anyone who would be suitable to look after your three children now that they don’t have a mother?
Had you not expressed your firm desire never to marry, I would have had several young ladies in mind with a view to marriage.
Do I know an older lady who would be prepared to stay in the cabin close to the house that you’ve prepared, a woman to do all the duties you mentioned?
I know a woman who does not have marriage on her mind, and she is an older woman. Her name is Courtney Lewis, and she is a childless widow. She is of good character, and well respected by all in the community. Since she has nowhere to live, she has been staying with Wilma and Peter Yoder. Wilma tells me that Courtney is hardworking and insists on doing all the chores. Courtney is kind, and of an even temperament. This arrangement would suit Courtney as much as it would suit you.
I took the liberty of talking to Courtney about moving to Giles County and working for you. She is willing to make the move even though I shared with her how you’d explained the area to me in your letters. Please reply with haste.
Yours in the Lord,
Bessie
Aaron felt a load spring off his shoulders. Finally, he was going to have some relief from doing everything himself. He fully understood now how hard it had been for his late wife, Ellen, to look after the three young children, do all the cooking, and keep the house spotless.
His aunt had done a great job finding someone to mind the children and keep the house. He was right in telling her that he wasn’t interested in marrying again—he didn’t want the distraction of trying to keep a woman happy—a woman who could possibly draw his attention away from his children. He knew if he hadn’t stated that bluntly to his aunt in his letters, and told her how in love he’d been with Ellen, she would’ve tried to find him a wife and not a nanny. He hoped he’d done enough in his letters to convince her of that.
He closed his eyes and pictured this Courtney Lewis that Aunt Bessie had spoken of in her letters. A kindly older woman with a pleasant face, someone who loved children, appeared in his mind’s eye.
Denke, Gott.
He picked up pen and paper to send a response, which he’d then take to the post office the very next day. He had to tell his aunt that he’d accept Courtney Lewis since she met with Bessie’s approval.
Dear Aunty Bessie,
I hope you remain in good health.
Your letter came as an answer to prayer. I’m in desperate need of a woman like Courtney Lewis. I thank you for finding her for me. She is a blessing and an answer to prayer. I’ve enclosed money for her fare to Giles County. If you let me know the time she’ll arrive, I’ll meet her at the bus station.
One day, I hope you’ll be able to make the journey to look at the progress we’ve made here in our small community.
Give my love to all there,
Your nephew,
Aaron
Aaron jumped to his feet and took an envelope out of the drawer, folded the letter in two and popped it into the envelope. He wasn’t much of a letter writer but had found an outlet for his emotions as Aunt Bessie encouraged him to share his feelings. After propping the letter on the table by the door so he wouldn’t forget it the next day, he headed to the end of the house to look at his sleeping children.
His three children each had their own rooms, but often all slept in the large bed in Jared’s room. Jared was the oldest at eight, Ben was six and Amy had just turned four. It was funny to see them sleeping sweetly and quietly when through the day they were rarely still or quiet. Aaron hoped that Courtney was experienced in dealing with lively children like his. He leaned down and kissed each one of them on their foreheads, risking that one of them might wake. Jared was the only one who stirred when his father kissed him. He half-opened his eyes and then promptly closed them.
It had been hard for his children to adjust to their mother suddenly being gone. Ellen, his wife, had been gone for nearly a year. She’d died while trying to save a calf from drowning in a creek that was flooding. She and the children had been in the house when the rain had been pouring down, and the bleating of a calf caused Ellen to see what was wrong. She’d ordered the children to stay in the house and not come out. When she didn’t return, they went to find her. They saw her struggling in the creek pushing and pulling a calf up an embankment.
As soon as she saw them she grew angry and told them, they must go back to the house out of the rain and stay warm.
Jared had grabbed a hand of each of his younger siblings, and they ran back to the house. When their mother didn’t come home after some time, they knew something was wrong. Aaron arrived home not long after to find them huddled together in tears. He ran to the bank, but she was nowhere to be seen. She was found a day later—downstream.
As soon as Courtney arrived, life would get easier, and the pressure would be off his sister-in-law, Heather, who had taken on a huge share of extra work.