A Place Called Home (A Place Called Home 1) Page 6

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  watched her walk up the street, he realized why Grandma Em and Julia liked her so much: They were three of a kind.

  After nearly three weeks in Baxter, Christine was settled and content. Much of the time she was too busy to think of Spooner and its troubles.

  Three weeks with the Cameron family was bringing changes to Christine’s life. She was very aware that they were something special. At first she attributed it to a big family and many friends, something she had never had. But as time went on it was obvious there was something more. Not having heard from Mrs. Hall, Christine could only hope she would be around long enough to find out what that something was. But for now she was at peace and was more than content to stay where she was.

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  Luke Cameron shifted his weight on the train seat. Why did the last 50 miles to Baxter always feel like the longest? Deliberately taking a night train out of Chicago, it had given him one more day with Paul, and he figured he could sleep on board.

  But he had figured wrong. Luke had only dozed, and now he felt achy and irritable. The train was due to arrive in Baxter before breakfast. He realized as he sat there, that it would be hours before he could crawl between the sheets of his own bed. His own bed! The thought brought a smile to his lips. At his height he really missed the length of the specially made bed. It had belonged to his parents, Joseph and Kathrine Cameron, who had both been very tall.

  As usual, whenever Luke thought of his parents and the wonderful marriage they had, it brought a painful ache to his chest over his own single state.

  He and Mark were both 28 years old. God had seen fit to give Mark a wife. He had also been blessed with Emily, and now another baby was due very soon. Luke felt a bit envious, but had decided long ago that God’s will was best. With this acceptance came the desire to live to the fullest, alone or not. This submission, nevertheless, did not deter Luke from praying for the desire of his heart.

  At one time he prayed simply for a wife. But the years passed and no feelings of love developed for any of the young women at church. This caused Luke’s prayer to change, and he began to pray for preparation. Daily he prayed for growth and wisdom, asking God to help him be ready if ever God chose to give him a wife.

  Another thing Luke did over the years was to observe. The two marriages he was closest to were those of his brother and sister. After much time watching Mark with

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  Susanne and Mac with Julia, Luke was sure that God would give him a wife like Susanne. Sue was sweet, gentle, and submissive. Luke loved his sister Julia, but she certainly had a mind of her own. He wondered at times if Mac had any control over her at all.

  Luke remembered back to a time when Julia was 12 years old. She had put on a pair of boy’s jeans, sneaked out of the house, and gone riding astride. She had gotten in trouble for it, but it had never stopped her. In fact, she was still doing it. Why, just a few days before Luke had left for Chicago, Julia had ridden over, in blue jeans, astride her horse. Luke had stared at her Jean-Clad legs in tightlipped disapproval, causing the happy smile on Julia’s face to vanish.

  That she had come over especially to have a quiet visit with him before he left for his trip only occurred to him after, without dismounting, Julia handed him a basket of his favorite cookies and then with a quiet “I’ll miss you, Luke,” pulled her horse around and rode away.

  Luke, awash with guilt, knew he had to see her and make things right. So after supper he rode over to the MacDonald farm, only to be told by Mac that Julia had gone to bed early with a headache.

  Mac stood watching his brother-in-law run long fingers through dark curly hair in mild frustration. Mac was reasonably sure that Luke was the reason Julia had come home from her ride with red, swollen eyes. As strong-willed as Julia was, Luke’s approval had always been important to her. Luke was also a bit too stern for his own good.

  Luke had not been able to see Julia to apologize until the night of her birthday party. Smiling, she told him it didn’t matter, but Luke could see the hurt she was trying so hard to hide.

  Luke’s hand went to the bag on the seat next to him. He hoped Julia would like the book and small glass dish he had found for her in Chicago. He planned on telling her again how sorry he was, and hopefully they could then have the

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  talk they were cheated out of because of his thoughtlessness.

  The dish he had bought for Julia brought his thoughts back to Chicago and Caroline. Caroline Chambers. Luke had been staying with Frank and Lily Chambers. Their massive ranch housed more than 200 head of horses. The same day Luke decided which horses he wanted, Caroline, the Chambers’ 17-year-old daughter, returned from a visit to her cousins.

  Luke had liked her instantly. She was small and blonde, with a bubbly, talkative personality. The two had gone riding and for walks. When Luke was ready to go and stay with Paul, Caroline had talked him into returning for her eighteenth birthday party that weekend.

  Luke had had a wonderful time at the party, feeling more drawn to Caroline as the evening progressed. But the next morning, when Luke attended church with the Chambers family, he felt terribly let down. The church was large, but only about half the pews were filled. Luke listened as the minister read a single Bible verse, shut the Book, and never once referred back to it. His monotone voice droned on and on about the sinful state of the city, but not once did he mention the fact that Jesus Christ died for those sinners.

  Frank Chambers slept through the entire service. Each time Luke glanced at Caroline she was looking at him, making him wonder how much of the sermon she had heard.

  Later Caroline begged Luke to write. Luke had not committed himself and had only smiled at her, even when she grabbed his hand, pressing her address into his palm, Luke wondered a bit at the mixture of relief and regret he felt as he left.

  Luke’s visit with Paul had been wonderful. Paul’s natural speaking ability was popular on campus, and even though he was still in school, he had already been asked to fill the pulpit at several small churches. His enthusiasm was catching, making it even harder for Luke to leave. The men had

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  embraced for long moments, knowing that it would probably be Christmas before Paul got home again.

  It was getting light out now, and Luke could see the countryside. He guessed the train to be within 20 miles of Baxter. “It’s beautiful up in our neck of the woods,” Luke had told Frank Chambers one evening. Frank decided then and there that he and the Mrs. needed a little time away and that they would deliver the horses together. They would be up in a few weeks; Luke was to wait for a wire.

  As the train pulled into Baxter, Luke stood and stretched his cramped muscles. He couldn’t keep the smile from his face as his long legs carried him toward Grandma Em’s. It felt so good to be home!

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  “Okay, Caesar, you’re all set.” Christine patted the rump of the big horse and moved toward the high-pitched bleat of Chester, wondering as she did why she never fed the goat first just to keep him quiet. As usual, the din came to an instant halt the moment Chester got his food.

  The chickens were happily pecking at their meal as Christine headed around the barn to Belle and Betsy’s pen. Both were overjoyed to see her, crowing near Christine’s legs as though they were starved. Christine filled the trough and turned to go. Betsy, in her eagerness, rushed to the trough and bumped Christine on the back of the legs. She reacted quickly, dropping the pail and reaching for the fence. Catching it kept her from going facedown into the pig muck, but her knees buckled and she felt them sink deeply.

  Having struggled out of the pen, Christine stood and surveyed the damage. The front of her dress was ruined. She watched as the slime dripped onto her boots, and she had to put her hand down to hold the dress away from her legs. She knew she had never smelled worse. Christine shot an angry look at Betsy, but the sow was head and ears into the slop, oblivious to all else.

  Muttering under her breath about the tasty dishes
made from ham, Christine retrieved her pail and stormed toward the house. Rounding the barn, she ran headlong into a tall, solid body. Christine gasped in surprise and stepped back. Her eyes shot downward and saw boots and pants liberally smeared with muck before looking up to the surprised face staring down at her.

  “Oh, Mark, it’s you! I’m sorry,” Christine wailed. “Look at what I’ve done to your pants and boots. What a mess!” Christine plucked at the ruined skirt. “It was Betsy. She bumped right into me. I tell you, sometimes those pigs

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  make me furious.” Christine’s anger made her speak quickly and gesture wildly with her arms, the pail in one hand swinging as she spoke. “Well,” she said with an angry shrug, “the damage is done. Come up to the house and I’ll try to clean up your boots.”

  Christine then stalked off with a determined stride, pail still swinging, leaving the confused man to follow in her odorous wake.

  Grandma Em stepped out of the house just as they approached the back steps. “Oh, no, Christine, your dress! Which one was it?” Her voice sounded resigned.

  “Betsy,” Christine answered with disgust.

  “Oh, Christine, I’m sorry. Betsy is always so pushy.” Grandma Em looked at the man standing behind Christine. His confused face and mud-spattered clothing greatly amused her. Her voice told him as much when she said, “Welcome home, Luke.”

  Christine, who had been wiping ineffectively at her skirt, looked sharply at Grandma Em’s face. Her eyes moved slowly to the man she had just plowed into and covered with pig muck. Her face began to burn as the full realization hit: This was not Mark Cameron. This was not the man who had nursed her back to health, befriended her, found her a job, and then took her lovingly into his own family.

  This was Luke, the brother who had been on a buying trip in Chicago. Only he was no longer in Chicago-he was here, and Christine had welcomed him home by ruining his pants. Christine stared hard at his face. Why had no one mentioned that Mark and Luke were identical twins? It was unbelievable that two faces could be so much alike. She continued to stare rudely until Grandma Em finally broke into her thoughts.

  “Christine?” Still she stared on, and Luke began to feel irritated with her.

  “Christine?” Christine turned with a guilty start. “This is Luke, my oldest grandson. Luke, this is Christine Bennett. She lives here and works for me.”

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  Luke’s eyes widened at this bit of information, but he recovered quickly and offered his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Christine.” His voice was extremely polite.

  Christine’s own hand came forward to return the shake, but upon seeing how muddy it was, she quickly put it behind her back. Luke’s hand was extended expectantly in midair until he finally dropped it to his side. “It’s nice to meet you also.” Christine’s voice was stiff and her face was ablaze once again. Years of training came to the fore as Luke and Christine made an attempt to remember their manners in such an awkward situation. But Christine could take no more and turned quickly to Grandma Em. “I’ll go clean up.” Without waiting for a reply, she nearly ran up the steps and into the kitchen.

  Luke, who was left standing outside with Grandma Em, reached into his pocket for his handkerchief. “Would you care to explain what this is all about, Gram?” Luke’s voice was quiet as he used his handkerchief to wipe his face, his nose wrinkling as the smell from his boots traveled upward.

  Grandma Em took pity. “Let’s get you cleaned up and we’ll talk over breakfast.”

  Nearly an hour later she concluded, “So you see, Luke, it doesn’t matter that I don’t know all about Christine, including why she is so far from home. Although she has not shared with me, she has talked with Mark. But if I learned one thing being a doctor’s wife for over 45 years, you don’t ask questions about patients.” Grandma Em paused and put her hand over Luke’s. “What I do know is that right now I need her, and I hope her need for me will lead her to Christ.”

  Luke was quiet for some time. “I guess the idea takes a little getting used to. All these years of fighting to remain alone and independent, and in the three weeks I’m gone you capitulate and let someone not only work for you but live here as well.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, Mark sounded just like

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  you the day he came and told me his idea for Christine working and living here.”

  This brought a smile to Luke’s face. Luke had, without spoken word, become head of the family when, over four years ago, Joseph Cameron had died. Emily was always a very capable woman, and Luke did not move in and take over. He was simply there when she needed him. Mark and Mac were more than willing to lend a hand, but Luke and Silas, being bachelors, were more available.

  Emily rarely had words with her grandson, but when she did, Luke usually won. In an infuriatingly logical way he stated his case. He preferred to deal in facts rather than emotions, and much to Emily’s chagrin, he could talk circles around her.

  Luke was usually very sensitive to his grandmother’s needs and wishes. Along the way there had been a few times when he had simply put his foot right down on the top of some of her plans.

  Luke now sat on the wagon seat beside Silas. He felt strangely humbled at the thought of how well things went with him not around. He realized that he and Grandma Em hadn’t really finished their conversation when Silas had shown up and offered Luke a ride home.

  Silas hadn’t known the time Luke’s train was to arrive-just the day. But Silas was like that. In his quiet way he seemed to sense when and where he was needed and then just stepped in without pomp or ceremony.

  As the wagon neared the ranch, the restless night was quickly catching up to Luke. Suddenly he couldn’t quite remember what he had been a bit uneasy about at Grandma Em’s. Oh, well, he would think on it later. Right now the ranch was in view, and he was sure Silas wouldn’t mind if he got in a quick nap. Whatever today’s problems were, they would wait a few more hours.

  .*.

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  “You say you received this letter today?” “Yes, Sheriff,” replied Mrs. Hall, relief and concern evident in her voice. The sheriff turned back to the piece of paper in his hand.

  Dear Mrs. Hall:

  I’m sorry for the worry and pain you must certainly have experienced these past weeks. I am also sorry I was not able to tell you of my plans before leaving. The letter you delivered from Carl Maxwell told me to leave Spooner immediately. I was to meet someone in Fall Creek. When this didn’t work out, I stayed on the train and ended up in a small town called Baxter. I live with and work for an older woman. She and her family are very kind and loving to me. I am physically settled but my heart and mind await answers. Please ask Carl to write me. I need his help. I’ll close by telling you once again that I am fine. I hope this finds you well. I miss you. Take care and please write to me so I know you received this letter.

  Much love, Christie

  P.S. My address: Christine Bennett

  c/o Mrs. Emily Cameron Baxter, Wisconsin

  “Mrs. Hall, has anyone else seen this letter?”

  “No, I brought it right to you.”

  The sheriff nodded and stood still as though in deep thought. When he spoke, his voice was very quiet. “You heard that Carl Maxwell is missing?”

  “I’d heard.”

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  “Without him to question, the only place to go is back to Christine.” He paused. “Write her and tell her to stay where she is. Tell her Carl is missing and that until I can dig a bit deeper, she’s better off where she is. And of course, warn her about talking to people. The less said, the better. You of course understand it is just as necessary here.”

  “Of course, Sheriff.” Mrs. Hall put out her hand to take the letter, but the sheriff held it away.

  “I’d really like to keep this.” He saw Mrs. Hall’s hesitation and then continued. “I’ll copy the address so you can write, but this letter is important.”

  She nodded rel
uctantly and replied, “When you’re done with it, I’d like it back.”

  “Of course, Mrs. Hall; I’ll keep it safe. Now look on the bright side. Christine has written, and you know she’s safe. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Don’t you worry.”

  Mrs. Hall thanked the sheriff and he watched her walk away, wishing he felt as optimistic as he sounded.

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  Christine stood in the parlor before the large family portrait that Grandma Em had just asked her to hang. Twins! Why had no one ever mentioned that Mark and Luke were identical twins? Shaking her head, she wondered how many times she had asked herself that question.

  Yesterday had been awful. Christine could not stop thinking about how foolish she felt while meeting Luke.

  Christine’s eyes moved intently over the portrait. The four Cameron brothers stood in the back. Susanne, Mac, and Julia were seated in front, a child in each lap. Silas stood to the far right of the back row, sporting a beard as full then as it was today. The man next to him could be none other than Paul. Dark hair, boyish good looks, and most of all his height marked him as a Cameron. By simple deduction Christine guessed the next man to be Luke. To the far left stood Mark, his hand on Sue’s shoulder, a small Emily in her lap. Judging from the changes in Emily, Calvin, and Charles, the picture was probably about two years old.

  Her eyes once again centered on the identical men in the back row, glancing quickly back and forth between the two. They were even of the same height and build. Well, possibly not. Maybe Luke’s shoulders were a bit wider. Christine turned away from the picture with an angry shrug. What did she care if his shoulders were bigger? If she never saw the man again it would be way too soon. Deciding to put it behind her, Christine walked into the dining room to dust, unaware of Grandma Em standing in the doorway to the kitchen, watching the emotions play across Christine’s face.

  Grandma Em could feel Christine’s frustration. Yesterday must have been terribly embarrassing for her. The look on Christine’s face when Grandma Em welcomed Luke