Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke

Author:Janette Oke [Oke, Janette]
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-07-04T16:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

Thoughtful and Caring

Clark did return in time for the chores, much to Marty’s relief. By then the snow was falling, swirling around angrily as it passed the window. Clark went right on down to the barn to take care of Dan and Charlie.

“He be settin’ more stock on them horses than on his own self,” Marty murmured to herself as she watched from the kitchen window. “He’s been out in the weather as long as them two.”

She moved to the stove and pushed the coffee closer to the center of the firebox so that it would be sure to be hot.

Missie had been playing on the floor, but when she heard Ole Bob’s joyous bark of welcome, she jumped up, eyes shining.

“Daddy comin’,” she said excitedly.

Marty smiled, noting again the fact that Missie often said “Daddy” even though Clark referred to himself as “Pa.” Ellen must have preferred “Daddy,” Marty decided. Well, then, for Ellen’s sake, she would talk about Daddy to Missie, too.

Clark was soon in, arms full of bundles and face red from the cold wind. At the sight of her pa, Missie danced around wildly.

“Daddy here—Daddy here. Hi, Pa.”

Clark called to her and, when he had rid himself of his parcels, swung the little girl up into his arms. She exclaimed over his cold face as she patted his cheeks.

“Best ya be warmin’ up a bit ’fore ya start the chores,” Marty suggested as she poured a cup of coffee.

“Sounds like a right good idea,” he responded, taking off his heavy coat and hanging it by the fire to let it warm until he had to go out again. He stood for a moment with his hands over the stove and then crossed to the table. Marty poured cream in the coffee and placed it before him.

“Thet there fair-sized bundle be yourn,” Clark said. “Mrs.

McDonald was right excited ’bout fixin’ it up. Think she was a mite confused. Seemed to think it was my young’un. It bein’ none of her business, I didn’t bother none to set her straight.”

He swallowed a few more gulps of hot coffee. Marty’s thoughts whirled.

His young’un? How could it be his young’un, us not even bein’ true man an’ wife? ’Course, Mrs. McDonald wouldn’t be knowin’ thet. She felt her face coloring in embarrassment.

Clark put down his cup and calmly continued, “I got ta thinkin’ later, though, thet maybe I should’ve said somethin’, so I went back. ‘Mrs. McDonald,’ I says, ‘true, my missus be havin’ a young’un, and true I’ll be a treatin’ it as one of mine, but also true thet the pa be her first husband an’ thet bein’ important to her, I wouldn’t want folks gettin’ things mixed up like. ’”

Clark finished his coffee. “Well, I best be gettin’.”

He shrugged into his coat and was gone before Marty had time to get her scrambling thoughts in order.

He understood. He’d gone back to the store to set Mrs. McDonald straight because he knew, as Ma Graham had told Marty, that her tongue was the busiest part of her anatomy.

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