The Visions of Ransom Lake by Marcia Lynn McClure Page A

brother, and his wife, Margaret. This family had three young children as well as a new baby. Though Vaughn Wimber owned the massive pumpkin patch outside of town and Vaden admired him for it, it was Selma and Raylin’s family Vaden favored.
    “ Well, I gotta get goin’, Myra,” Dan said, folding his napkin and placing it on the table next to his plate. “I told ol’ Ransom Lake I’d deliver those supplies he ordered today.”
    Everyone jumped as Vaden’s fork fell from her hand, clanking loudly as it hit the edge of her plate and tumbled to the floor.
    “ Why don’t you take Vaden with you, Uncle Dan? She’s been a bit edgy lately and needs to get out,” Yvonne suggested, winking at her sister.
    “ Could ya do without her for a couple of hours, Myra?” Dan grinned at Vaden. He knew Vaden desperately preferred the out-of-doors to being inside.
    “ Of course. I know she’ll come back all rosy-cheeked and ready to work like the dickens afterward. Right, sweet pea?” Myra grinned, for she too knew how much Vaden needed fresh air to motivate her.
    “ I promise!” Vaden squealed.
    Vaden could hardly believe her Uncle Dan was actually taking her to see Ransom Lake. Of course, he wasn’t actually taking her to see the man, but she would see him, and that was all that mattered.
    
    “ You take after your daddy, Vaden,” Dan commented as he and Vaden rode along in the wagon. “And after me. I hate bein’ cooped up in the house all the durn time. Gets me fidgety and irritable. You’ve been workin’ hard since ya been here, and I knew ya needed to get out.”
    Vaden reached over and linked her arm through her uncle’s. “Look at the beauty of that patch, Uncle Dan.” The pumpkin patch was on either side of them now, and the beautiful squash seemed to glow orange from beneath the leaves. “Doesn’t it just give you all the more reason to appreciate God’s creations?”
    “ That it does, sweet pea. That it does.”
    They rode in silence then, for they were alike. Both enjoyed the beauty of nature, the autumn scents in the air, the cool, crisp breezes. Before Vaden knew it, Uncle Dan was reining the team in before a small, white, cozy-looking farmhouse. A large black dog barked and ran to the wagon, wagging its tail and panting happily.
    “ Hey there, Ragamuffin. How ya doin’ today?” Dan climbed down out of the wagon and scratched the dog’s belly. As Vaden climbed from the wagon, she too crouched down to pet the dog.
    “ He certainly seems happy,” she said as the dog licked her hand.
    “ Mornin’, Dan.” Looking under the wagon, Vaden saw a pair of familiar-looking boots approaching from the direction of the house. The sound of Ransom Lake’s voice as he uttered a greeting sent a thrill traveling through her.
    “ I’ve got your supplies together, Ransom. Ya sure are stockin’ up thorough for winter. It looks about like what ya take when ya winter in the mountains. You are plannin’ to stay out here all winter, aren’t ya?” Vaden looked up at her uncle as he spoke but remained crouched down petting the dog. For some reason, she was uncertain as to whether she wanted to face Ransom Lake again.
    “ I am winterin’ here. Just like to be prepared, ”Ransom Lake replied. When he walked in front of the team and came to stand before her uncle, Vaden noticed his eyes narrowed with a frown when he glanced down and saw her. Instantly, she was startled, for he wore only his boots, trousers, and suspenders—no shirt! Vaden was unsure if she could keep her composure under such a circumstance. It was obviously no fault of Ransom Lake’s that he should appear in such a state of undress. He would have had no reason to think anyone other than her uncle would deliver his supplies. Still, it was the first time Vaden had had a view of a man’s bare anatomy.
    “ Good morning, Mr. Lake,” she managed to sputter at last, standing and offering her hand. The man continued to frown, making no move to