Page 38 of Wagon Train Promises
“I liked working as a blacksmith, but one of my best memories is when I was able to shoe a horse that everyone said was mean and warned would bite me.”
Eyes wide with shock, she studied him. “Did you? Get bitten?”
“No. And you know what my secret was?”
“Tell me.”
He leaned close to whisper. “I had a pocket full of carrots. Every time he grew restless, I gave him a carrot.”
One surprised blink and then she laughed, the sound rippling across the clearing. “That was smart of you.”
“Thanks, but I can’t take credit for it. Grandpa did it with a cantankerous horse he had.”
Her attention shifted to the blue flowers at her feet. “I wish I’d had my ma longer. I feel like she could have taught me so many things.”
Her hand rested on the log between them, and he covered it with his. When she made no effort to pull away, he smiled both inside and out. “Tell me what you remember about your mother.”
“Mostly, I remember how patient she was. Even when Eddie started getting defiant, she never got cross. She’d correct him with a gentle tone. One thing she often said to him was she’draised him to be a good person and knew he would be. And he is.”
“Was he trouble for you when you had to take care of him?” A rebellious boy of—what had she said?—twelve would be a handful for a young girl forced to mother him.
The grass at her boot bent over as she shuffled her feet. “He was heartbroken at Ma’s death. But he promised me he’d help me. I never had any trouble with him.”
“That’s good.”
“Ma might have said something to him. She did to me.”
Cecil waited, wondering if she’d explain. He’d sure like to hear. With a start, he admitted he wanted to know everything about her.
She turned, her dark eyes steady.
He didn’t shift away or even blink.
“Ma taught me about God. She taught me to pray, to read my Bible, and to memorize Scriptures. I remember standing at the ironing board as she mended and learning verses at her prompting. John chapter one. Romans chapter twelve…”
When her voice caught, and she didn’t go on, he increased the pressure of his hand on hers and waited.
She continued, her voice strong. “She knew she was dying and called me to her. Asked me for two promises. One, to take care of my brothers until they were old enough to be on their own. Two, to never forget how much God loved me. She gave me two Bible verses she hoped would guide me through the days ahead. Joshua chapter one, verse nine. ‘Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’ And Philippians four, verse thirteen. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”
Another pause.
He had no intention of rushing her.
“I have clung to my faith through thick and thin. I might falter, but God never does. He is always ready to guide and forgive me. Because of that, I can face the future no matter what it holds.”
The way she ducked her head and kept it down made him think she was finished.
“Louise, your mother would be so proud of you.”
Her head jerked up. Her eyes were wide as saucers. “Really? You think so?”
A soft, admiring chuckle eased from his lips. “I’m certain of it.”
The darkness in her eyes faded, replaced by a gleam. “You aren’t just saying that because I said kind words about you?”
“Did you mean them?”
“Every single one.”
