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"Children, stay close," Adelaide warned the next morning as they stepped out into the crisp morning air, "Watch out for poison ivy."
The younger cousins with faces flushed, tumbled outside the open door, not having to be called twice. Gavin was still sleeping, the sisters and the children up at sunrise.
Arlana suppressed her grin - they were just heading to the barn.
"Can you stay forever? You can live here if you want!" Aziel didn't wait for an answer, words tumbling over themselves in his enthusiasm, "I've been trying to build a fort in the barn, ya wanna see it?"
"Is that okay Mom?" Joshua asked, eager to join the kids out back.
Adelaide shrugged, remembering happier times when she too spent hours in the Denney’s barn.
"Keep an eye on the little ones." Turning to her sister she asked, "Can I help with anything, Arlana?"
"I'm planning on making stew and dinner rolls after I finish with the chores. You're my guest, please, just relax. I'm just happy to have you here."
"Oh don't worry, it's been so long since I've been on a farm. Does this place ever bring back memories! Do you remember when we used to visit the Denney’s farm? I miss those days. We were so blessed but took it for granted, looking for greener pastures..." Adelaide's voice grew nostalgic as she leaned on the metal railing, stroking a calf's moist nose. "Seriously, let me help," she insisted.
The sisters worked side by side, Joshua and Sarah returning to help as well.
"What an amazing life you have now," Adelaide helped lead the cattle from the barn to the field, before returning for the horses. "Your home is truly gorgeous."
"Thank you," Arlana sighed. It was picturesque, exuding tranquillity, and yet she wasn't sure of anything anymore. Josiah had changed everything. Would she still be able to live here? Would David and Rose be ashamed of her if they found out what she had done and evict her? Anything was possible, but she kept her troubled thoughts to herself. She'd lain awake for most of the night, her bed now incredibly cold and empty, sleep elusive.
After they'd put the horses out to pasture and fed the goats, sheep and chickens, Arlana was ready to head back to the house. Adelaide reluctantly followed her sister, the children remaining behind to play in the barn.
"Gavin might be up by now," Adelaide sighed, although she highly doubted it.
"Can I get you a drink? We have fresh milk or water," Arlana scrubbed her hands in the porcelain washbasin, then wiped her hands on a plush towel.
"Water would be great," Adelaide watched the children from the kitchen window.
"I hope Gavin will decide to stay a few more days at least," Arlana spoke the truth.
"Me too," Adelaide sighed as they heard his footsteps on the stairs.
"Good morning, did we wake you up?" Arlana turned to her brother-in-law.
"What's for breakfast?" he ignored her question, "Is Lachlan coming over?"
Arlana placed a saucer with homemade bread covered in fresh strawberry preserves in front of Gavin, "I don't know. Shaul and Josiah left last night but Lachlan didn't say anything when they were leaving. Rivkah will probably come over at some point as well."
Arlana couldn't be sure if Rivkah would want to spend as much time as they used to.
"I'm just going to get supper started, then we can sit outside for a while if you'd like," Arlana reached for a paring knife and her basket of potatoes, "Actually, let me bring this outside and we can enjoy the beautiful weather."
Adelaide brought a bag for the peel and an extra knife, Gavin joining them, licking sticky jam off his fingers.
"I wouldn't mind getting a farm out here," Gavin paced the veranda, "This would be an ideal place for the kids to grow up," he looked over at Adelaide who nodded in agreement.
"I don't mind you staying as long as you can..." Arlana nibbled her lower lip, "If you want, you could also leave Adelaide and the children here when you have to go back to work on Monday and then pick your family up next weekend." Aziel would be overjoyed if Gavin took her up on her suggestion.
"Well..." Gavin mulled the idea over before his thoughts were interrupted by the metallic smack of Lachlan's car door. Lachlan smiled as Gavin lit up upon seeing his new friend.
"We were just talking about the possibility of us staying longer," Gavin brought Lachlan up-to-date as Rivkah walked over to join the women.
"What are you making for dinner?" Rivkah asked after greeting the sisters.
"I was thinking of vegetables and barley stew and I'll whip up some dinner rolls as well."
"That sounds wonderful. I'm just going to go inside to grab another knife and the carrots," Rivkah excused herself, pausing to wave at the children playing in the yard. Rosy-cheeked, they returned the elderly woman's greeting.
Lachlan brushed Arlana's elbow, "If you need anything at all, for you or Aziel, don't hesitate to tell me. Josiah asked me to take care of you both."
Arlana flushed. She was much too shy to ask for anything. "Thank you," she all but croaked, her face crimson.
****
"THERE'S BOWLS ON THE shelf. I'll grab the pot," Arlana slid her hands into thick oven mitts, "If you'd like to serve your family first, help yourself - you know how much they can eat."
"Supper!" Lachlan summoned from the open doorway.
Minutes later, rosy-cheeked children tumbled in the door, eyes glistening with adventure.
"Aziel, please show your cousins where to wash up."
Joshua poured the water in the porcelain pitcher over their outstretched hands as they washed in the basin.
Setting out bowls of stew and the dinner rolls, the family sat down for the meal, Lachlan leading those gathered with a simple blessing over the food.
After supper, Lachlan walked beside Gavin, giving Arlana's brother-in-law a tour of the property. He didn't reveal how Arlana had come to live on the farm. That was her business and she would share it if and when she was ready.
"There isn't as much livestock as there had been at one time. Goats are the latest investment as their milk is apparently healthier and their upkeep is less expensive."
Gavin nodded. He knew absolutely nothing about farming but was interested, still considering seeing if there was any nearby property available.
"The chicken coop is over here. Arlana isn't fond of eating eggs," he chuckled, "so she just uses them for baking." Baby goats bleated, running around their ankles, the parents looking soberly at the intruding strangers.
Lachlan ran his hand through his hair, "I'm away on business for long periods," glancing over at Arlana, "With Josiah away, I will need to readjust my schedule which is one of the perks of being a journalist - I often can get a lot of work done from home."
"How'd you get started?" Gavin toyed with a long blade of grass, pondering a career change.
The children raced past them in a wild game of tag, the wind blowing in their hair. They were a welcome distraction.
"I don't want to go home," Adelaide whispered to her husband when the men returned.
****
THEY SAT TOGETHER ON a blanket Arlana laid out on the ground, surrounded by laughing children and young goats nuzzling their toes, eating fresh strawberries for dessert. Lachlan sat behind Arlana, absent-mindedly twisting a golden ringlet around his finger. Adelaide sat in the shelter of Gavin's arms, watching Lachlan play with Arlana's hair. She preferred Lachlan over the two men, her matchmaking skills, long forgotten, resurfacing. With Josiah away, her sister could learn to love Lachlan. Their family would approve of the Scotsman, Josiah, a completely different story.
Lachlan's hand in her hair was soothing, his fingers brushing against the taut muscles in her neck. Farm work had shown her how very lazy she had been living on ready-made, store-bought comforts all these years in the city. Not anymore, her blistered hands bore evidence.
"Last night, you talked about being the resistance, I cannot get it out of my mind." Gavin motioned with his hand toward Adelaide, "We couldn't sleep all night."
Lachlan nodded, understanding completely.
"God is speaking to you. He will never let you go back to mediocrity until you answer His call." Lachlan's answer was painfully simple.
Gavin wasn't finished, rubbing his forehead as though trying to erase invisible worry lines. "Life hasn't been the same since November. We made a huge mistake and tried to go on with life as normal. Heck, I've been more involved with my church's ministry than ever before. Adelaide and I, we are floundering. When you said last night about being the resistance....it was almost as though God was showing us why we feel so empty. There is more to be done than just sitting here waiting for the end of the world...." His voice trailed off.
"If good men and women do nothing..." Lachlan didn't complete his sentence.
Adelaide squeezed Gavin's hand. She could see it. Taste it.
Purpose.
Timing. Trust. One hasty move could put the entire operation at risk. Instead, Lachlan changed the topic, "Will you stay the night?"
"We'd like to, however, we can't be late for church tomorrow. Would you mind driving us back tonight?" Gavin played in the church worship team so they needed to arrive before the service. He couldn't afford to risk being late.
Lachlan shook his head, reaching in his pants for his keys.
"Thank you so much for having us," Adelaide stood, waiting as Lachlan helped Rivkah stand. "We'd love to come again sometime. Gavin, can you get the kids please?"
Promises were made to see each other again soon.
Arlana and Aziel stood in the door waving as Lachlan pulled out of the driveway.
"Do you have a phone number I can give Mom?" Adelaide called out the window.
Arlana shook her head no, but Lachlan assured Adelaide they could call his cell phone any time and he would get the message to Arlana.
Satisfied, they drove back to Ottawa, hearts full.