We talked until long into the night, and by the time we were finished and had prayed together, Pastor Walking Horse was convinced that Smoke Lake was the place where the Lord was leading him, especially with LaMeche already a believer. He would try to be ready to leave as soon as the road was fit to travel.
Two days later Wynn came home from the office with a telegram in his hands. The Force had sent his new orders.
Much to the surprise of both of us, we were told we would be staying on at Athabasca Landing for the present time. The young Mountie at Smoke Lake would continue there at his post.
It came as a surprise to me, and yet it shouldn’t have. I committed Henry to the Lord because I thought He would need me to care for the Indians. God had answered by preparing and sending a qualified young minister to the Indians and leaving Henry with me. I smiled. One should never try to outguess the Lord, I reminded myself.
“Well,” I said to Wynn, “I guess God took care of it all in His own way. We wouldn’t have needed to fret about it at all.”
Wynn smiled and then kissed me.
“Do you mind, Elizabeth?” he asked.
I thought about that. I would miss our people. I had been counting on going back—expecting to go back. But when I thought about it, I could answer honestly, “No, not really. It does seem best to stay for the present, doesn’t it? The church needs us here. The Sunday school children need us. Then there is Henry. I expect great things from that boy someday, Wynn.”
In a reflective moment I went on to answer Wynn’s question.
“No, I don’t mind. I guess I am quite content with God’s direction in this.”
I thought again about the village people.
“I will write a letter to Louis LaMeche and Silver Star,” I said, “and send it with Pastor Walking Horse. I will tell Silver Star that she can have my garden. I will give them both our love and best wishes. Can I send her a few things—and Kinnea and Kinook, too?” I asked.
“I’m sure the pastor would be willing to take a few small gifts,” said Wynn.
“You know,” I pondered, “I might even write a short note to Chief Crow Calls Loud. Just a short note of introduction, telling him that he might be very interested in what Pastor Walking Horse has to say.”
Wynn smiled again.
“So you will manage to run the village even from a distance, will you?” he teased.
I brushed aside his remark with a wave of my hand.
“Run it? No. But I certainly will continue to pray for those in it.”
Then I turned to my cupboards.
“But right now I’d better get busy,” I said, and there was love and joy in my voice. “I’ve a young boy due home from school in a few minutes, and he’s always half-starved.”
Children’s Books by Janette Oke
www.janetteoke.com
(for girls ages 10-14)
The Bluebird and the Sparrow
The Calling of Emily Evans
Drums of Change
A Gown of Spanish Lace
Heart of the Wilderness
Roses for Mama
PICTURE BOOKS
(for all ages)
I Wonder... Did Jesus Have a Pet Lamb?
JANETTE OKE’S ANIMAL FRIENDS
(full-color, for young readers)
Spunky’s Diary
The Prodigal Cat
The Impatient Turtle
This Little Pig
New Kid in Town
Ducktails
A Cote of Many Colors
A Prairie Dog Town
Maury Had a Little Lamb
Pordy’s Prickly Problem
Who’s New at the Zoo?
Table of Contents
Books by Janette Oke
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
ONE - Uprooted
TWO - Smoke Lake
THREE - A New Home
FOUR - Getting Settled
FIVE - Lonely Days
SIX - Blueberry Pie
SEVEN - Winter
EIGHT - Neighbors
NINE - Spring
TEN - Planting the Seed
ELEVEN - Introductions
TWELVE - Summer
THIRTEEN - Panic
FOURTEEN - Reversal
SIXTEEN - Difficulties
SEVENTEEN - Counting the Days
EIGHTEEN - The Gift
NINETEEN - Misunderstanding
TWENTY - Relief
TWENTY-ONE - Reunion
TWENTY-TWO - Starting Over
TWENTY-THREE - Adjustments
TWENTY-FOUR - Change
TWENTY-FIVE - Leaving
TWENTY-SIX - Athabasca Landing
TWENTY-SEVEN - Involvement
TWENTY-EIGHT - Service
TWENTY-NINE - Winter
THIRTY - Sunday Dinners
THIRTY-ONE - Answers
Children’s Books by Janette Oke