much as He blessed Gladys’s with Mr. Keller.”
A story lay behind those short sentences. Jeremiah started to ask for more information, like what could a rich man need from this young woman? But before he could voice his curiosity, they reached a corner and Gladys paused her horse. “My house lies down this street. It’s been my pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Arnold. I’m praying for God to bring revival to the fort.” She said good-bye to Annie and turned her horse down the crossroad.
Jeremiah found himself alone on the street with Annie, subject to scrutiny by any passersby. They had reached the main street. At any moment, someone might appear and start rumors about him or, even worse, about Annie. “Is your house nearby?”
Annie pointed across Main Street. “Straight ahead a couple of blocks.” She flicked a glance down the street before urging her horse forward. Her horse picked up the pace as if he knew home was only a short distance away. Jeremiah’s mount followed. On the way back to the fort, he would give her free rein to stretch her legs in a long, loping gait. He did some of his best thinking while on horseback, and he had plenty to talk over with the Lord after the events of this day.
They came to a stop in front of a house painted a cheerful yellow that reminded him of Annie’s hair as well as her personality. Even the tulips blooming around the front of the house were yellow. Yeasty aromas floated through the open window, teasing his taste buds. Jeremiah followed Annie to the barn, where they settled their horses. Back outside, he hurried forward to open the door for her.
Annie flashed a grin at him and called through the doorway. “Mama, I’m home, and I brought company.”
“Come on in.”
Jeremiah followed Annie through the door and spotted a woman who must be her mother. Aside from the silver mixed in among her golden strands, they shared the same wide smile and merry blue eyes. Her gaze took in his uniform. “Lieutenant, welcome to our house.”
At her word, his shoulders straightened and his back stiffened as if at attention. His one vanity was the success he had made in the army. It was one of the reasons he kept reenlisting, although that decision was looming again before the end of the summer. He was impressed that Mrs. Bliss could differentiate the various ranks in the cavalry. Maybe her son’s service had prompted her recognition of his insignia.
“Mrs. Bliss, it is my pleasure.”
Annie bustled around the kitchen. Without any verbal communication, he found himself at the table with two thick slabs of bread and butter and fresh-brewed coffee. Better than anything Shorty the cook had served in the canteen anytime recently. Mrs. Bliss added both sugar and milk to her coffee, took a sip, then turned her pleasant face in his direction. “So what do you think of Annie’s idea? Do the men need socks and mittens and such?”
Jeremiah wished he could say no. That would alleviate the problems presented by Annie and her winsome ways. Half the young men in the regiment would vie for her attention, and the other half would wish they could.
But every winter he heard grumbling among the men about the bone-crunching cold of Kansas winters. More than that, Jeremiah saw God’s hand in Annie’s mission. He wouldn’t say no to God, not even when a woman was involved. “The men will welcome the knitted items. Even now, in April, we get an occasional cold spell. My greatest concern is for your daughter’s safety.”
“I can’t think of a safer place for my daughter than among the men sworn to protect our country.” Mrs. Bliss smiled.
As if wondering where the food had gone, he stared at the empty plate before him. Annie whisked it away and returned with a slice of dried apple pie with a wedge of cheese, as well as the coffeepot. She topped off his cup before sitting again, this time with paper and pencil in hand. She looked at him expectantly. “How many soldiers are at the
A story lay behind those short sentences. Jeremiah started to ask for more information, like what could a rich man need from this young woman? But before he could voice his curiosity, they reached a corner and Gladys paused her horse. “My house lies down this street. It’s been my pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Arnold. I’m praying for God to bring revival to the fort.” She said good-bye to Annie and turned her horse down the crossroad.
Jeremiah found himself alone on the street with Annie, subject to scrutiny by any passersby. They had reached the main street. At any moment, someone might appear and start rumors about him or, even worse, about Annie. “Is your house nearby?”
Annie pointed across Main Street. “Straight ahead a couple of blocks.” She flicked a glance down the street before urging her horse forward. Her horse picked up the pace as if he knew home was only a short distance away. Jeremiah’s mount followed. On the way back to the fort, he would give her free rein to stretch her legs in a long, loping gait. He did some of his best thinking while on horseback, and he had plenty to talk over with the Lord after the events of this day.
They came to a stop in front of a house painted a cheerful yellow that reminded him of Annie’s hair as well as her personality. Even the tulips blooming around the front of the house were yellow. Yeasty aromas floated through the open window, teasing his taste buds. Jeremiah followed Annie to the barn, where they settled their horses. Back outside, he hurried forward to open the door for her.
Annie flashed a grin at him and called through the doorway. “Mama, I’m home, and I brought company.”
“Come on in.”
Jeremiah followed Annie through the door and spotted a woman who must be her mother. Aside from the silver mixed in among her golden strands, they shared the same wide smile and merry blue eyes. Her gaze took in his uniform. “Lieutenant, welcome to our house.”
At her word, his shoulders straightened and his back stiffened as if at attention. His one vanity was the success he had made in the army. It was one of the reasons he kept reenlisting, although that decision was looming again before the end of the summer. He was impressed that Mrs. Bliss could differentiate the various ranks in the cavalry. Maybe her son’s service had prompted her recognition of his insignia.
“Mrs. Bliss, it is my pleasure.”
Annie bustled around the kitchen. Without any verbal communication, he found himself at the table with two thick slabs of bread and butter and fresh-brewed coffee. Better than anything Shorty the cook had served in the canteen anytime recently. Mrs. Bliss added both sugar and milk to her coffee, took a sip, then turned her pleasant face in his direction. “So what do you think of Annie’s idea? Do the men need socks and mittens and such?”
Jeremiah wished he could say no. That would alleviate the problems presented by Annie and her winsome ways. Half the young men in the regiment would vie for her attention, and the other half would wish they could.
But every winter he heard grumbling among the men about the bone-crunching cold of Kansas winters. More than that, Jeremiah saw God’s hand in Annie’s mission. He wouldn’t say no to God, not even when a woman was involved. “The men will welcome the knitted items. Even now, in April, we get an occasional cold spell. My greatest concern is for your daughter’s safety.”
“I can’t think of a safer place for my daughter than among the men sworn to protect our country.” Mrs. Bliss smiled.
As if wondering where the food had gone, he stared at the empty plate before him. Annie whisked it away and returned with a slice of dried apple pie with a wedge of cheese, as well as the coffeepot. She topped off his cup before sitting again, this time with paper and pencil in hand. She looked at him expectantly. “How many soldiers are at the
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