A Quiet Strength by Janette Oke Read Free Book Online Page A

years before he began to reap returns for his labor.
    But they were pulling together—that was the fact that made the dream not so far away. That was what made Virginia hum to herself as she prepared for work the Monday morning following their marriage.
    In the days that had preceded their Saturday wedding, her time had been taken getting the simple plans quickly in place. She would never have made it without the help of her loving and supportive family. She smiled as she remembered the play of emotions on her parents’ faces when Jonathan had asked for their daughter’s hand in marriage—in just two weeks! But they gamely had pitched in, and now she was Mrs. Jonathan Lewis. Virginia Lewis. She would need to get used to her new name. “Virginia Lewis” sounded wonderful.
    Jonathan had left early for the farm. He had much to do, he had said, but couldn’t wait to be with her again at day’s end. He had held her closely for a long time, as though it was difficult for him to let her go. “I love you, Mrs. Lewis,” he had whispered into her hair, and she had thrilled at the words.
    “It won’t be long,” she had promised, smiling. “I’ll be here when you get home.”
    Already her mind was whirling with plans. She would have a special meal ready for her new husband when he came home at the end of the day. She would shop during her lunch hour and then pick up the meat from the butcher as she passed on her way home. Jonathan liked raisin pie. She would just have time to bake one. And biscuits. She would make a pan of fresh, warm biscuits to go with the fried chicken and milk gravy.
    Virginia left the small back bedroom that she now shared with Jonathan, still humming to herself. Another rain shower was drenching the world outside the living room window, but even that could not dampen her spirits. She smiled softly to herself, sure that it would be as Jonathan had said: Rain would always have pleasant memories for her now. It was in the rain that Jonathan had first told her that he loved her.
    Grandmother Withers was seated at the kitchen table, her Bible spread before her. She smiled when Virginia entered the room.
    “My, don’t you look like a day in summer,” she welcomed her new granddaughter.
    “Good morning, Grandmother,” Virginia responded.
    “Jonathan said you needed a little extra sleep this morning. What with wedding preparations and all, you’ve had a busy time of it.”
    Virginia had to agree.
    “I gave Jonathan his breakfast and sent him off with a lunch. He said he’d try to be home by six.”
    Yes , thought Virginia. Jonathan did not go without speaking with me. I know his plans for the day .
    She leaned over and placed a kiss on the older woman’s white hair. “Thank you,” she said, the joy of the morning still giving sparkle to her words.
    “There is porridge on the back of the stove.”
    “Oh, I don’t need more than a slice of toast.”
    “ Toast? That’s not enough to get you through the day. Best you have a little porridge. It’s damp and cold out there again. You’ll need some nourishment to keep you from the ague. Nothing like porridge to stick to your bones and give you resistance.”
    Virginia chuckled. It was rather nice to have someone fussing over her.
    “Okay, Grandmother. Porridge it will be.”
    She helped herself to a small serving, feeling hard put not to remind herself of just how much she disliked it. Sometime around her eleventh birthday, her mother had finally relented and not demanded that she eat it anymore. Now it was back to porridge once again.
    Well, it wouldn’t be for long. Once she and Jonathan were in their own home, she would gladly make morning porridge for him if he liked, but she would not force down a bowl of it herself.
    It was all Virginia could do to finish the bowl now. She was thankful when the last spoonful was swallowed. One glance at the clock told her that she must hurry. She crossed to the stove and filled the dishpan with warm water