oldest.”
“You’ve been the best big sister we could ask for. Isn’t that right, Mandy?”
“Sure is.” Both girls hugged Joanna, who started to laugh.
“Still. I don’t think it would hurt us any to read the Bible just as Levi said. Ma would want us to.”
Glory didn’t need to promise Joanna she would. Something deep in her soul wanted to know more about God’s promises. Could He be trusted wholly and completely as Levi said? She sure hadn’t found it easy to trust people. But then God was God. A different matter.
As soon as they got home, Joanna went to their room and lifted a box from the top shelf of the wardrobe. She opened it to reveal an old photo album and a tiny bonnet. “It was Mandy’s. I’ve never been able to give it away.” She set the album and bonnet aside. “Here’s the Bible.” Joanna stroked the worn leather cover gently. “Do either of you remember Ma reading to us from it?”
Glory nodded. “I remember her sitting in a rocking chair while we sprawled on the floor at her feet.”
“I don’t remember clearly,” Mandy said. “I can never seem to remember Ma.” She looked longingly at the photo album. Glory figured with Ma being sick so much when Mandy was little, her sister had learned to depend on Joanna for much of her care, and Ma kind of faded into the background for her.
Joanna sat on the edge of the bed, took the album on her lap, and patted the covers on either side of her. Glory and Mandy crowded close. It had been some time since they had shared a moment like this.
Glory knew what the pictures were. Grandparents she’d never met. Aunts and uncles she couldn’t remember. Cousins no one could remember the names of. And Ma with Joanna as a toddler. Then Pa and Ma and the three girls, Mandy just a baby.
Joanna lingered over that page. “We were a good family.”
Glory bristled. “We’re still a good family. Just the three of us.”
“What about Pa?” Mandy sounded mournful.
Glory didn’t wait for Joanna to answer. She knew her sister would say Pa missed Ma. Never got over her dying. They had to understand that. But they had lost their ma, too. “We don’t need Pa. Let him chase after his dreams. We manage just fine without him, don’t we?”
Joanna stared into the distance as if seeing and wanting things she couldn’t have.
Mandy sighed—a sound as sad as the wind off the river on a dark night.
Glory sprang to her feet. “I’m going to check on my horses.” She sped from the house as fast as she could. But she couldn’t outrun her thoughts. Pa would show up someday with the same empty promise of staying and providing a home for the girls. But they no longer needed him. Or wanted him and his promises—forgotten as quickly as they were given.
Promises. The word made her think of Powers’s sermon. Maybe she needed to consider God’s promises. Might be something there.
She spent the rest of the day with her horses, pleased at how well Blue Boy and Pal worked together.
Later that evening, she sneaked into the bedroom, lifted Ma’s Bible from the dresser where it now held center stage, ducked out the back door, avoiding her sisters and Powers, and found a secluded spot to read from its pages. There were promises galore. Surprised her some to see all the good things God promised to give. And it seemed they were meant for her, too.
Her back to a tree, the setting sun painting the river water violet, she tried to sort out her feelings. What if Powers was only a confidence man, with enough skill to convince them all he was a preacher?
Would that change God’s promises?
No, it wouldn’t. But it would change how she looked at the scriptures. Because, she reluctantly admitted, she heard the words in Levi’s voice. And if he proved false, that wouldn’t work.
Her instinct, her experience warned her to be cautious.
Her heart, her longing wished he could be all he said he was.
She closed the Bible and returned it to the dresser.
Two days
“You’ve been the best big sister we could ask for. Isn’t that right, Mandy?”
“Sure is.” Both girls hugged Joanna, who started to laugh.
“Still. I don’t think it would hurt us any to read the Bible just as Levi said. Ma would want us to.”
Glory didn’t need to promise Joanna she would. Something deep in her soul wanted to know more about God’s promises. Could He be trusted wholly and completely as Levi said? She sure hadn’t found it easy to trust people. But then God was God. A different matter.
As soon as they got home, Joanna went to their room and lifted a box from the top shelf of the wardrobe. She opened it to reveal an old photo album and a tiny bonnet. “It was Mandy’s. I’ve never been able to give it away.” She set the album and bonnet aside. “Here’s the Bible.” Joanna stroked the worn leather cover gently. “Do either of you remember Ma reading to us from it?”
Glory nodded. “I remember her sitting in a rocking chair while we sprawled on the floor at her feet.”
“I don’t remember clearly,” Mandy said. “I can never seem to remember Ma.” She looked longingly at the photo album. Glory figured with Ma being sick so much when Mandy was little, her sister had learned to depend on Joanna for much of her care, and Ma kind of faded into the background for her.
Joanna sat on the edge of the bed, took the album on her lap, and patted the covers on either side of her. Glory and Mandy crowded close. It had been some time since they had shared a moment like this.
Glory knew what the pictures were. Grandparents she’d never met. Aunts and uncles she couldn’t remember. Cousins no one could remember the names of. And Ma with Joanna as a toddler. Then Pa and Ma and the three girls, Mandy just a baby.
Joanna lingered over that page. “We were a good family.”
Glory bristled. “We’re still a good family. Just the three of us.”
“What about Pa?” Mandy sounded mournful.
Glory didn’t wait for Joanna to answer. She knew her sister would say Pa missed Ma. Never got over her dying. They had to understand that. But they had lost their ma, too. “We don’t need Pa. Let him chase after his dreams. We manage just fine without him, don’t we?”
Joanna stared into the distance as if seeing and wanting things she couldn’t have.
Mandy sighed—a sound as sad as the wind off the river on a dark night.
Glory sprang to her feet. “I’m going to check on my horses.” She sped from the house as fast as she could. But she couldn’t outrun her thoughts. Pa would show up someday with the same empty promise of staying and providing a home for the girls. But they no longer needed him. Or wanted him and his promises—forgotten as quickly as they were given.
Promises. The word made her think of Powers’s sermon. Maybe she needed to consider God’s promises. Might be something there.
She spent the rest of the day with her horses, pleased at how well Blue Boy and Pal worked together.
Later that evening, she sneaked into the bedroom, lifted Ma’s Bible from the dresser where it now held center stage, ducked out the back door, avoiding her sisters and Powers, and found a secluded spot to read from its pages. There were promises galore. Surprised her some to see all the good things God promised to give. And it seemed they were meant for her, too.
Her back to a tree, the setting sun painting the river water violet, she tried to sort out her feelings. What if Powers was only a confidence man, with enough skill to convince them all he was a preacher?
Would that change God’s promises?
No, it wouldn’t. But it would change how she looked at the scriptures. Because, she reluctantly admitted, she heard the words in Levi’s voice. And if he proved false, that wouldn’t work.
Her instinct, her experience warned her to be cautious.
Her heart, her longing wished he could be all he said he was.
She closed the Bible and returned it to the dresser.
Two days
Similar Books
