A Quiet Strength by Janette Oke

Author:Janette Oke [Oke, Janette]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 1999-07-29T20:00:00+00:00

Sundays were the only days that the farm routine changed. Other than feeding, Jonathan did not work the horses on Sunday. The Lewises slept in a bit later on Sunday morning. At least they attempted it. Mindy usually wakened them earlier than they would have wished. Almost before the sun peeked over the horizon, the door was flung open and Mindy bounced onto their bed.

“I think it’s up time. My tummy’s hungry” was her usual wake-up call.

Virginia was tempted to hide her head under the pillow.

More often than not, Jonathan sent Mindy on back to her room to get dressed, and he crawled out to pull on shirt and trousers. “You sleep,” he’d tell Virginia with a kiss, “I’ll find her something that will hold her until breakfast.” And Virginia often did go back to sleep. She knew Jonathan would call her in plenty of time to get them all ready for church.

What Jonathan and Mindy found to do on those early Sunday mornings Virginia was not sure. She only knew that the house was nice and quiet. She sometimes heard the distant barking of the dog or the welcoming whinny of a horse. By the time she had talked herself into getting up, the fire had been built, the chickens and farm pets fed, and their one cow milked. All things looked to be in order, and Mindy seemed to have either forgotten or else had something put into her hungry tummy.

One thing is for sure, Virginia told herself as she watched the little girl dig into her breakfast. Her appetite has certainly improved.

Along with the appetite gradually had come a more whole-some, healthy appearance. She was still tiny for her age—Virginia supposed she always would be—but she now did not look so pale and thin.

Virginia’s one regret concerning Sunday was that, try as they might, they had not been able to help Mindy get over her shyness with the grandparents. They coaxed and cajoled and even tried gentle bribes, but the little one could not be persuaded to let go of Jonathan’s hand. Belinda baked fancy cookies, Drew offered sticks of fresh spearmint, and Jenny’s father, Mindy’s actual grandfather, came to church with pockets laden with treasures for her. It was especially difficult for him when Mindy clung to Jonathan or buried her face in Virginia’s skirts. She had discovered her own small, safe world, and she seemed still doubtful and hesitant to extend its borders or let anyone else in—even her own grandpa.

Virginia watched Mr. Woods’ disappointment with keen understanding. He had already lost his daughter; now he was unable to make friends with his grandchild. Virginia repeatedly tried to reassure him, “She just needs time. It took us several months to win her over.” She could have added that they still had many days when they doubted that they had indeed won her over. Though certainly they had come a long way. Not only did Mindy love Jonathan, she loved his horses. Especially Molly. She was

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