Sunday dawned bright and clear. She’d told Bonnie not to expect them over for meals, insisting the woman deserved time off from cooking for them. Instead, she had brought over food from the evening meal.
They ate together at the tiny table. As they cleaned up afterward, the beat of horse hooves grew close. She peeked outside. Blue sat astride his horse. He pulled the animal to a halt and met her gaze, then touched the brim of his hat and continued on his way.
She stared after him. How long would he be gone? Likely all day, for he had no reason to hurry back. She sighed. Why should it matter to her? Her plans did not include him. Yet the hours suddenly stretched ahead of her—a long, lonely day.
The girls called for her attention, and she returned to them. “I’ll braid your hair, and then we’ll go over to the church.”
Eleanor stood quietly as Clara did her hair but Libby twisted and turned. “Will Blue be there?”
“No. I told you that last night.”
“Well, maybe you’re wrong.”
“I saw him ride out of town a few minutes ago.”
“Oh?” She grew quiet a moment. “Where was he going?”
“Libby, I’m sure I don’t know. Perhaps out to the ranch.”
Eleanor watched Clara finish Libby’s hair. “Maybe we should wait for him.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” She fixed her hair, handed the girls their coats, put on her own and picked up her Bible. “Let’s go to church.”
The girls followed without arguing. When they entered, the church was still warm. Blue’s bedroll was stashed neatly in one corner. The tools had been cleaned and put away, the wood neatly stacked, the floor swept clean. Plenty of evidence of Blue’s presence. Everything but the man himself.
Not that she missed him. She was only used to seeing him here. She pulled her thoughts back to her plan and indicated the girls should sit in the front pew. She sat between them and opened her Bible.
“You have to stand in front,” Libby said. “Or it isn’t church. It’s just our mama reading to us.”
Clara nodded and stood before them. “I’m going to read from Exodus chapter fourteen.”
“Don’t we need to sing first?” Eleanor asked.
“What song would you like to sing?”
Eleanor beamed as she answered. “‘A Thousand Tongues.’ It makes me smile.”
Clara cleared her throat and sang the words, “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.”
Eleanor knew most of the words, and her voice rang clear and certain.
Libby’s voice was equally clear, though the words were a bit muffled.
Clara’s heart swelled at the joy of their united voices.
“Let us pray,” she said when they finished. She smiled as the girls folded their hands and bowed their heads. She had much to thank God for—life, health, peace and, most of all, God’s love and protection.
Then she read from her Bible, the words catching in her throat as she read how Pharaoh thought the Israelites were entangled in the land, shut in by the wilderness.
It echoed her own thoughts. She felt entangled and lost, but God was in charge. She would trust His guidance.
She continued on until the fourteenth verse, when she had to stop. The words had hit her with such assurance she couldn’t speak.
“Mama?” Eleanor’s brow wrinkled with worry. “What’s wrong?”
“Girls, listen carefully to this verse. ‘The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace.’ Isn’t that a wonderful promise that God will take care of us?”
They nodded obediently.
She reached the part where Moses held out his rod, and the waters of the Red Sea parted.
Libby’s eyes grew wide with amazement. “That was exciting.”
Clara nodded. “God can do anything. Nothing is too hard for him. He is our guide and protector.” The words of a hymn came to her mind. “We’ll sing ‘My Shepherd Will Supply My Need.’”
“In pastures fresh He makes me feed, beside the living stream.” The final words calmed her soul. “No more a stranger, nor a guest, but like a child at home.”
She dismissed the girls, then sat on the pew and meditated on the words. A home. Safety. Belonging. Acceptance. The words circled through her thoughts.