Prayer Trilogy. Kimberly Gordon
and the boys came out of the house. Helen rubbed the aching muscles in the sides of her swollen abdomen. Four more months and there would be a new person in the family. She and Chad had already agreed on the name. Gabriel if it was a boy and Gabrielle if it was a girl. They had not heard from Mister Davidson since he left the day after Christmas. She hoped all was well and prayed for him every day. “Who is it, Chad?” she asked.
“Not sure, honey. Don’t recognize him.”
The man driving the wagon removed his hat and began to wave it back and forth. Chad saw that it was an older boy, maybe fifteen or so. The Jenkins family watched the wagon come closer and pull into the yard.
“Afternoon to you,” Chad greeted.
The young man nodded. “Good afternoon, sir, ma’am,” he greeted in return. “Might you be the Jenkins family?”
“Yes, we are,” Chad answered for them. “How can we help you?”
He reached down to shake Chad’s hand. “Luke Carter’s the name, sir. I’m Gabriel Davidson’s grandson.”
“Oh, welcome, young man. It’s good to meet you. Glad to hear you are well and safe after the winter,” Chad told him.
“Yes, sir, thank you. I’m working for my grandfather now.”
“That’s wonderful. How is he?” Chad questioned.
“He’s fine, sir. He sends you all his best regards.”
“And your brother and sister and parents, how are they?” Helen wondered.
“My brother and sister and I are all living with grandfather now. My parents are still in Dodge City,” he answered.
“I’m sure your grandfather is pleased to have you staying with him,” Helen spoke.
“Yes, ma’am. Purely pleased. So are we. We get to go to church and school now. We couldn’t do that before. And I get to work for grandfather in the summer time. And that’s why I’m here,” the lad explained.
“Well, come down and come inside,” Chad urged him.
“First things first, sir. Grandfather asked me to deliver these goods to you. He knew he could trust me to find my way,” he said with a little pride. Luke locked the brake on the wagon wheel and jumped down. He quickly untied a canvas covering and pulled it down. Underneath was a crate of four laying hens, a rooster, and a crate with two newly weaned piglets. Beside these was a sack of seed corn and hay seed. “That small box there is for you, ma’am,” Luke said to Helen. “Grandfather says it’s flower seeds to plant your own Eden right here on the plain.”
Helen giggled with delight like a young girl. She took the box from Luke. “Tell him I said ‘thank you’.” Naomi walked over to get a look at the seed packets.
“Look at ‘em!” Johnathan squealed at the sight of the piglets.
“Can we name them?” Matthew asked.
“Young Master Carter, I think there’s no end to your grandfather’s goodness,” Chad told him, truly amazed. “He’s given us so much already.”
“Yes, sir. He told me what happened last winter. But he says, without you giving him shelter, he would have died in the cold.”
“And we would all have perished without his food and warm
clothing. We are even. I do appreciate all this, but . . .” Chad began.
Luke butted in, “Sir, if I may interrupt. Grandfather told me to tell you that all these things he gave you at Christmas was from God. Grandfather said he’s been paid back sevenfold already for it. Now this here stuff is from Grandfather.”
Helen started to speak but Chad stopped her with a gentle touch on the arm. “Luke, we humbly accept this gift. Thank you. And I’m sure we will want to write your grandfather a letter to thank him as well. You will stay for a day or two, won’t you?” Chad asked.
Two days later, the young man left the Jenkins farm. A new friendship had been struck between them. It was agreed that their families would visit again in the future. Naomi ran up to the loft of the barn with a sheet of paper and a pencil. In secret she wrote out her thoughts.
Dear Diary. I met a wonderful boy two days ago, Luke Carter. He is so nice and Godly, handsome in the face, too. He is Mister Davidson’s grandson and lives in Denver. That’s not too far away. Papa promised we would go and visit there one day. I hope so. I want to see Luke again. I like him very much and I hope that he likes me, too. We are only six years apart – that is not too much. He would make a fine husband when I am older. I hope and pray that he will not find someone else before I am old enough. Wouldn’t that be fine? Me, living in Denver, helping him manage his grandfather’s store. What a good life that would be. God, I pray for it. Help me to grow up and be worthy of him, for your sake, Lord. We would make a fine pair. Thank you, Jesus, for hearing my prayer. Amen.
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