40

Sarah’s back ached. The wagon’s wheels struck every rut, rock, and ravine on the road, and there was another hour’s ride ahead of them. Glancing around, Sarah’s family all looked uncomfortable, but Louise looked as if she was on her last bit of strength. At least the driver made good time in the forty-two miles between Texas City and Houston.

They weren’t alone on the bumpy ride. The driver allowed two other families to join them in the wagon. No one dared complain about the cramped conditions. The wealthiest families were on the same level as the poor. There were none who hadn’t suffered great losses. “Mama.” Sarah reached over and tapped her mother’s knee. “Mama, do you think Uncle Jeremiah will have received your wire by the time we arrive?”

“I don’t know, honey. I just pray they’re there and not in Galveston.”

Sarah slumped back against the wagon’s sidewall. She hadn’t entertained the thought that they might not even be at their Houston ranch. Summer had passed; why would they still be in Galveston? “No. I don’t think they would have been there.”

“I pray you’re right, honey.”

Frederick whispered in Sarah’s ear. “Don’t worry, love. I’m sure they’re fine.”

She put both arms around Frederick’s and squeezed tight. The excitement she felt about seeing her uncle and aunt quickly melted into a puddle of fear in the pit of her stomach. She closed her eyes, refusing to cry, and fell asleep clinging to Frederick’s arm.

~*~

Sarah awakened with a start. She dreamed she was back in the lighthouse. It swayed back and forth so much that she’d fallen out and was trying to swim through rough storm waters. She hugged Frederick’s arm still within her grasp, thankful it had only been a dream.

Uncle Jeremiah’s ranch was up ahead.

The driver whipped the reins, and his team picked up the pace.

Uncle Jeremiah, Aunt Wilma, a half dozen hired hands, and a handful of grandchildren stood in the yard waving at them.

Relief washed over Sarah. She met Mama’s gaze. “They’re all right, Mama.”

Her beleaguered mother attempted to smile. She closed her eyes and raised a hand toward heaven, her prayers obviously answered.

The driver stopped the wagon.

Everyone, including the two families who had joined them, climbed out of the wagon.

Sarah’s uncle and all his family and workers met them halfway.

Mama collapsed into her brother’s open arms.

Louise walked beside Melvin who held their newborn baby.

Aunt Wilma quickly made the connection. She gasped, put her hands to her cheeks, and then made a beeline toward the young family. “The baby has come!”

Before Melvin could protest, she whisked the tiny bundle from his hands. “Come, come now to the house. I need to take care of you.”

Sarah was happy for someone to help her weary sister. She squeezed Frederick’s hand.

Uncle Jeremiah patted Mama’s back before letting her go. He walked toward Sarah and Frederick with his hand outstretched.

Frederick dropped Sarah’s hand and wiped it off on his grubby pants before shaking his boss’s hand.

Uncle Jeremiah put his other arm around Frederick’s back and pulled him in for a hug, clapping his hand against his back. “I’m so glad to see you.” Uncle Jeremiah released Frederick and took a long look at him. “The hat looks good on you, Son.” He chuckled and then caught Sarah up in a bear hug. He kissed the top of her head. “Thank God you are all safe.”

“And I thank God you weren’t in Galveston.”

His eyes revealed the sadness of what happened. He turned to the group of displaced Galvestonians. “You are all welcome to stay for dinner. My men are smoking briskets out back, and my wife is making a washtub full of potato salad. There’s plenty for everyone.”

A rousing round of thank yous and cries of joy came from the weary travelers and the wagon driver.

When Uncle Jeremiah headed toward the back yard, the people followed him.

~*~

Uncle Jeremiah’s men cooked up quite a feast. Everyone ate until they hurt.

Thanking Uncle Jeremiah for the well-known Texas hospitality, the other two families loaded up in the wagon and took off. The driver refused to take the money Uncle Jeremiah offered him, saying the dinner was payment enough and that it was the least he could do after all they had been through.

Sarah would eventually go out to the pasture to see the breed stock she’d sent here months before. But for now, she was happy to sit on the big, wooden porch swing and listen to the birds sing. As long as she had Frederick by her side. He rubbed his thumb lightly across the back of her hand sending a ripple up her spine. The way he looked at her with those green eyes stirred her desire for him.

The screen door swung open wide, and Uncle Jeremiah, Mama, Aunt Wilma, and Melvin stepped out onto the porch. Each one of them held mugs of steaming coffee. Mama, Aunt Wilma and Melvin headed for the table and chairs. Melvin put his mug down and pulled out chairs for the women. Uncle Jeremiah leaned against the porch railing and took a long sip of his coffee.

Sarah sat up straight, hoping the blush on her cheeks would go unnoticed. “Mama, where are Louise and the baby?”

“Your Aunt Wilma took them to one of the spare bedrooms to sleep. Poor things were exhausted.” An oppressive cloud of gloom seemed to surround her mother.

Sarah understood why, they had lost everything. But she couldn’t forget that God had spared their lives.

Uncle Jeremiah looked at Frederick and smiled. “I can’t believe you made it all the way from Beaumont to the lighthouse on Bolivar. The very place where Sarah was! Now that’s true love.”

Sarah took a sideways glance at her beau. He smiled, squeezing her hand.

“Yes, well I’m a man of my word. I told Sarah I would return for her and I did. I’ll never leave her again.”

Mama covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

Aunt Wilma put her arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

Sarah rose from the swing and went to her side. She pulled out the chair next to her and sat. “What is it, Mama?” Sarah took her mother’s hands and pulled them away from her face.

Mama wiped her eyes and sucked in a gulping breath. “What are we going to do, Sarah? We lost everything…the house, the ranch, and everything in it. How much does God think I can handle? I’ve lost my three husbands—divorced one, and buried two. Now I don’t have a husband. I don’t have any money. I don’t have anything! What am I supposed to do?”

Sarah’s heart ached at the devastation in her mother’s words. She took Mama’s hands and squeezed them. “I know, Mama, but it’ll be all right. Uncle Jeremiah said we could stay here.”

“That’s right. You are all welcome to stay for as long as you need to.” Aunt Wilma tried her best to soothe Mama.

“And we have our lives, don’t we? And you have Baby Melvin.”

Mama smiled at the mention of her precious grandbaby.

“Mama, you know as well as anyone that God knew exactly what was going to happen to us. And…He had everything figured out before the storm even formed in the Gulf.”

Mama nodded in agreement.

“He’s still on His throne, and He’s still in control.” Sarah gave Mama a sheepish grin. “You want to know how I know that?”

“What do you mean?”

Sarah stood and turned away from the men so they wouldn’t see her reaching beneath her skirt. She fumbled a moment with the secret pocket hidden between the seams of the tattered garment until she had what she wanted. She sat back down beside Mama and placed the folded piece of paper in the palm of her hand. She closed Mama’s fingers around it and let go with a big smile.

“What’s this?”

“Well, open it up and see!”

Mama unfolded the thick paper.

“What is it?” Melvin asked, craning his neck to see.

Mama‘s hands began to shake. She started sobbing again, but this time they were tears of joy. She reached out her other arm, and Sarah gladly fell into her embrace. The bank note waved to and fro in Mama’s hand. Sarah never had the chance to do anything with the money she’d received from the sale of Papa’s last herd.

Mama whispered in her ear. “You didn’t spend the money.”

“God knew we would need it more now.”

“He has truly delivered us.”

Sarah cried along with Mama, acknowledging the awesome power of God. An old, familiar verse came to her mind. She whispered it to Mama. “But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

“Yes, He does, baby girl. Yes, He does.”