The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nahum 1:3
After Courtney had brushed off the small pangs of doubt about coming to Giles County, she unpacked her clothing, and then took a better look around the cabin.
Tomorrow she would write to Bessie, Wilma and Peter, to let them know that she’d arrived safely.
When she walked to the house just before dinnertime, she saw three small heads looking out the window of the main house. When she stepped up to the front door, it swung open and she saw Jared’s smiling face.
“Denke, Jared,” she said as she stepped inside. Amy immediately held her hand and smiled up at her while Ben stayed close by Jared. Aaron appeared at the end of the room wiping his hands on a towel.
“Ah, there you are. Are you ready for the meal?”
“I certainly am.”
“Come through; it’s ready. I just have to serve it up.”
Courtney sat down at the table with the children.
“I feel strange sitting here while you serve the food, Aaron. Are you sure I can’t help?”
“Nee, you can do it from tomorrow forward. Tonight you are our guest.”
“Well, I will make the most of that.” She looked at the children. “And who set the table?”
“All of us did,” Jared said, “except Dat.”
“You’ve done a wonderful job. I couldn’t have done better myself.”
After Aaron placed all the dishes in the middle of the table, he sat down. They all closed their eyes and said their silent prayer of thanks for the food.
Aaron stood up and dished the food onto the children’s plates. “Do you want me to serve you too?” he asked Courtney.
Courtney smiled and handed him her plate. “Jah.”
When they had food in front of each of them Aaron said to the children, “You can start now.”
“These vegetables look lovely. Do you grow these yourself?”
“We used to grow all of our own food, but lately we haven’t had time. I’m afraid our poor old vegetable patch has become strangled with weeds. These are from the market gardens.”
“We could start growing a vegetable garden again.” She looked at the children. “Would you like that?”
They nodded, and Amy said, “I want to grow things.”
“Me too,” Ben said.
“Me too.” Jared laughed.
Courtney loved to be around children with such innocent and positive energy. “Then that’s what we shall do. I’m fairly certain at this time of year we can plant greens like cabbage, cauliflower and kale. I haven’t had a good look around the property. Where does it start and end?”
After Aaron had told her, Courtney asked where the best place would be to start their vegetable garden.
“Near the fruit trees. I’ll have the children show you where the peach trees are tomorrow.
“We’ll soon have lots of peaches to eat. There are a lot on the trees,” Jared said.
“There aren’t a lot.” Ben laughed.
“There are so.” Jared scowled at Ben.
“Now no arguing at the table. You must be on your good behavior for Miss Courtney.”
“Jah, Dat,” Jared said.
“For dessert we have the children’s favorite and they thought you might like it too.”
“What is it?”
“It’s cheesecake with strawberries, cream and ice-cream.”
“Oh, I love that.”
While Aaron served the dessert, he explained who was who in their small community.
After dinner, Courtney insisted on helping wash up. “I’d love to wash up and the children can help me. Would you like that?” she asked the children who all nodded.
“I’ll help,” Amy replied.
“Me too,” Ben said.
“I’ll do it too,” Jared said.
“Okay if all of you are happy to do it, I’ll sit out in the living room and make that fire nice and warm.
“Would you like a cup of hot tea or a cup of kaffe?” Courtney asked Aaron.
His face brightened. “I would love a kaffe. Jared will show you where everything is.”
Although Courtney knew that Aaron wasn’t altogether happy with her presence, he must’ve had some kind of relief that he didn’t have to look after the children and do his work every day. Now there was someone to cook and care for his children. Once she’d organized the children with the washing up, she put the pot on to boil for a cup of coffee. Once she had it made she took it out to him and placed it on the table beside him.
He looked up at her and smiled. “Denke. How are they doing with the cleaning up?”
“Very well.”
“Why don’t you sit down with me and rest awhile?”
She sat down. “I’ve been doing nothing but sit the whole day.”
“Jah, but sitting on a bus is tiring.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“I am sorry I reacted the way that I did when I saw you. It wouldn’t have made you feel welcome.”
She tugged at the strings of her prayer kapp. “I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t think I could do a good job. I’m not taking advantage of you and neither will I—ever. I believe in doing an honest day’s work and that’s what I’ll be doing for you.”
He studied her for a moment. “I believe it, and apparently so does Bessie although she didn’t know of your condition.”
Courtney looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry about that; I just didn’t think it was relevant.”
He pursed his lips. “I think it would be most relevant, but what’s done is done. I already feel a burden lifted from my shoulders having you here and if Gott wills it things will stay that way.” He took a sip of coffee.
His calm nature and personality had a soothing effect on Courtney’s nerves. She settled into the couch a little more.
“I’m sorry, you don’t have any kaffe. I’ll get you some.”
“Nee denke. I’m not much of a kaffe drinker especially right after dinner.” As her pregnancy had advanced Courtney found she had to eat smaller amounts of food, and eat more often, rather than having large meals. The baby seemed to be taking up all the room leaving her stomach little room for food.
“We’ve finished. Come and see,” Jared said as he approached the couch.
“Jared, you must say ‘excuse me’ when adults are talking.”
“Sorry, Dat. Excuse me.”
“Jah, Jared?” Aaron asked.
“Please come and see the kitchen, Miss Courtney?”
Courtney stood. “I’d love to have a look at it.”
“I’ll come and see too,” Aaron said standing up.
Jared’s face flushed with a huge smile as he led them both to the kitchen. When they entered the kitchen, Ben and Amy were standing, smiling and waiting to see what the adults would say.
“Well, that’s wunderbaar. I couldn’t have done a better job myself,” Courtney said.
“Jah, you’ve done a gut job. All of you,” Aaron agreed.
“I did the most,” Ben said.
Jared clamped his hands on his hips. “Nee, you didn’t.”
“I did,” said Amy with a giggle that made her brothers giggle too.
“You’ve all done good work,” Courtney said.
“Jah, you have.” Aaron turned to Courtney. “After dinner, I usually tell them stories.”
Courtney nodded, wondering whether she should go or stay.
Aaron added, “You’re welcome to stay and listen if you’d like.”
“Jah, stay please,” Amy said taking hold of her hand.
“I would love to as long as no one minds.”
“We want you to stay,” Jared said, and then Ben echoed his words.
“Then I shall stay.”
The three children ran out to the living room.
“We generally sit in front of the fire while I tell them Bible stories and then they go to bed.”
“Okay,” Courtney said while following Aaron to the couch.
The three children were on the couch and they moved over when Courtney approached, to make room for her. When Courtney sat, Amy scooted onto her lap.
“Amy, don’t sit on Miss Courtney’s lap.”
Courtney moved her forward a little. “It’s okay with me if she sits like this, if you don't mind.”
“All right.” Aaron sat down on the lounge chair next to the couch.
“Tell us about the three men in the fire, Dat,” Ben said, leaning forward toward his father.
“Jah, that one,” Jared said with his face beaming.
Aaron chuckled and explained to Courtney, “That’s their favorite.”
“It’s a favorite of mine too.”