Brother's Keeper, LUKE'S SAGA - PART V

Luke woke slowly the day after the baby’s birth with a feeling of wellbeing penetrating his very flesh and bones.  His boyhood was still a place of dream images, fleeting feelings and some facts provided by the army but now he realized it was probably a happy, very normal childhood from the images he did have.  His time in the desert was a blur of silent patrols and killing, poor rations, and then rest and relaxation in some hell hole or another with accommodating bars and women.

Luke’s journey north and his first winter, here in his peaceful valley had been a time of healing and restoration; and then, suddenly, he was faced with the decision to move on or stay and help provide for three new dependents. It was the hardest decision he had ever made and smiling to himself he realized God had had His plan and it was a good plan.  Luke sank to his knees beside the bed and thanked God for his care and provision. 

He felt Martha’s hand on his bowed head and prayed aloud so that she was there before God with him.  He heard Martha laugh softly and looked up to see that Martin had crawled down and was kneeling beside the bed with him.  He hugged the boy and stood up and stretched, then sat on the bed beside Martha with Marty in his lap.

“Sweet Martha how is my wife and the mother of my new daughter?” he asked as he brushed the hair from her face. 

She smiled her peaceful, child in her arms smile that baffled Luke after the pain and danger of the birth experience she had just undergone. The same smile he had noticed the first time he saw her at Left Fork when he watched her rock little Martin to sleep as she crooned to him in front of the fire in the doctor’s cabin. Luke decided that he would have to make a new holiday for after the harvest bonfire and the Thanksgiving feast, to commemorate the wedding of Luke and Martha.

He had already carved a counting stick to determine the new baby’s years. It was much like the one he had made for Ned to know the Sabbath.  This stick had three scales, the thirty days of the month, the twelve months of the year and each year up to the Biblical life expectancy.  Martin’s was there too, figured as best he could from Martha’s memory on where to place the peg.  All of the markers were on a special shelf in the main room of the sod house.

He smiled down at Martha and said, “Stay in bed, today, and I’ll bring you tea and broth and a light supper later,” he promised.

“I need to walk around a bit, Luke,” she said.

He took little Martha and placed her in Martin’s old cradle and carried it behind Martha as she navigated to the main room and the table that Luke made.  She sat on the bench and Luke realized that this winter’s first project would be a rocking chair for Martha.

Luke showed Martha the baby’s calendar stick and they marked her birth by placing the peg in the proper day of the month.      

“Papa, my stick,” Martin said with a question in his little voice. 

Luke finished pouring Martha’s tea and then took Martin’s hand and led him to the shelf with the calendar sticks.  He lifted the one he had carved for Martin right after he and Martha were married. He sat there on the bench with Martin and they counted off his year and months together. He would have to discuss this with Martha as soon as the new baby excitement quieted down because it was almost time for Martin’s second birthday. 

Luke knew he would have to tell Martin someday about his birth and parentage because it was the truth and that was important. He and Martha talked about it and it was still under review.  Luke smiled at the nature of this killer soldier’s family dynamics, the purest democracy, he hoped. He looked down at his new, little daughter and wondered at what new lessons he would learn from being her father.

Luke and Martha looked forward to the Sabbath so that they could show the new baby off to Ned.  They prepared the meal together because Luke didn’t want Martha lifting or doing any heavy work until she was completely healed. They sat waiting for Ned’s holler but it didn’t happen that Sabbath so Luke read from the Bible and Martha told the story of David and Goliath to little Marty.  The following Sabbath Ned again failed to show up for the celebration and meal. 

After putting the kids to bed Luke and Martha talked late into the night and decided that Luke would have to set out early the next morning to check Ned’s house.  He hated to leave Martha so soon but it had been a little over two weeks and they were both worried.  There was already an early snow on the ground and Ned could be lying somewhere in the cold unable to get home. Martha was nursing the baby when he left and he kissed them both and slipped out into the early morning darkness.

Luke lay in the first snow watching his brother-in-law’s sod house for some sign of life. Luke was there for half a day before he began to move in slowly and carefully, stopping to watch and listen.  When Luke reached the cabin it was a grim sight and he went out and was sick in the snow. Ned and Shadow were both dead from knife wounds. Dead for several days or a week, Luke decided, and the supplies were pilfered or gone.  He went out and found one set of tracks leading away from the sod house. The tracks of dead man, Luke decided.

Luke had to track the killer down before the snow melted and erased his tracks.  He would come back to bury Ned and tell Martha when it was done. For Ned and the safety of the valley he asked for God’s help and set out to follow the tracks. 

The killer’s passage was evident through Right Fork and then Left Fork where the killer stopped for the night at the site of the doctor and preacher’s cabins.  Luke wondered how the killer had gotten this far north with so few wilderness skills. As Luke began to notice how fresh the tracks had become he slowed and watched more closely, stopping often and listening more intently now that he was closing in on his prey. 

That night he didn’t sleep but lay listening in the dark. The killer was near and Luke became predator, anticipating the man instead of following his crashing course through the brush and trees.  The next afternoon Luke heard a commotion and closed in to see a huge bear swipe at the killer Luke was following. Luke stayed long enough to make sure the man was going no further and then he took a deep breath and backed slowly out of the area. He hurried back to his valley glad that God had settled the issue without Luke. We sow our own seeds of destruction Luke decided and hurried back to Right Fork wondering if it was one of the cubs that Ned had pleaded for. 

He stopped at Luke’s place and went in and removed a medallion from Ned’s neck for Martha and took the Sabbath Day counter he had made for Luke and then burned the sod house.  He spent the night in the woods nearby and the next day he covered the site with soil and brush. He would do a better job later if the snow didn’t come soon and cover the cabin site.  He prayed silently for Ned the man/boy and set out for home and Martha wondering what he could tell her.

Luke watched his own sod house for a while from the vantage point of a ridge over his valley until he felt it was safe and then he hollered out for Martha to let her know he was coming in.

An exhausted Luke trudged toward his home, the bearer of bad news for his wife. He needed sleep and quiet time to come to terms with what had happened to Ned but he knew Martha would need comforting too. He watched her come out of the sod house surrounded by the flower beds he had planted, and carrying his new baby daughter while Marty followed her until he saw Luke and then he broke away from Martha and ran to his papa as fast as his little legs would carry him.  Luke dropped his pack and picked Martin up and hugged him close telling Martin how much he missed him and they stood waiting for Martha and his baby girl, little Martha.   

Luke’s eyes met Martha’s as she came closer and she saw the sadness and tiredness in his bearing and the lines in his face.  He hugged her with one arm and they started back to the sod house.   

Once inside Martha placed little Martha in her cradle and kissed Luke on the cheek, “Do you need to sleep first or are you hungry, Luke?” she asked, concerned about his troubled countenance. 

“I need to bathe,” he told her, “And pray for a bit,” he admitted.

She smiled and handed him a small stack of clothes from the bench near the fire along with a towel for drying himself that she already had ready for him. 

Martha busied herself with cooking some of Luke’s favorites while she worried about his news.  He had set off to check on Ned when Ned didn’t show up on two Sabbath’s in a row. She could tell something awful had happened and tears coursed down her cheeks as she imagined that Ned was gone. She knew that there was more to it because Luke had been gone over a week on a half day trip.  She was glad Luke had taken Marty to bathe with him. She had prayed with Marty while Luke was gone but she knew that while Marty loved her and his little sister, Luke was his papa.

She decided that now might be a good time to introduce the new berry beverage she had been preparing.  It was something uncle had made for himself that was a wine-like beverage.  She hadn’t tried it herself but hoped she had gotten it right.  It smelled right and would taste good even if it didn’t have the other wine qualities and it would keep longer. She hoped it would help Luke sleep tonight and they could use it on holidays like the harvest bonfire and the Thanksgiving dinner and their Christmas celebration. 

Luke was back sooner than she expected and he needed a long hug from her when he came in. Marty was quiet and sat near the fire with his sister his eyes on papa and mama sensing their sad closeness.

Exhausted Luke sat at the table across from Martha and said, “Ned’s gone Martha,” and he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out Ned’s medallion and chain and gave it to her.  He fished in his pack and got the Sabbath counting stick he had made for Ned and put it on the shelf with his other calendar sticks and went back to Martha at the table.

He sat and held her as quiet tears coursed down her cheeks and slowly the story came out as Luke could put it into words. 

“Ned must have invited him in, Martha,” Luke said, “He was killed in his bed along with the wolf pup and there was evidence that the man had stayed there for at least one night.”

“He was always too trusting,” Martha said.

“Yes, he didn’t understand evil but he apparently did know not to tell the killer about us,” Luke responded. 

They talked quietly until Luke had told Martha everything and the baby woke up fussy and occupied Martha’s full attention while she nursed her.

Luke fed Marty and talked with him as Martha’s attention was drawn to the baby’s needs.  Luke took Marty out and they relieved themselves and when they got back to the fire Martin fell asleep against Luke and Luke carried him into his alcove and settled him in his new bed for the night. Marty was a quick boy and had already learned to go outside to pee because Luke took the boy with him for the ritual from the time he learned to walk.  Martha would do the same with their little girl Luke decided even though it might be a bit more complicated for a girl baby.

Later that night Martha brought Luke a taste of her wine and she told him about uncle’s recipe.  He wanted her to share but she said no, not while she was nursing the baby. 

Luke enjoyed the sweet beverage and finished the tin cup while Martha put the baby down again.  He was feeling the effects of the wine when she came back to the main room and he pulled her down on his lap to cuddle her. 

She giggled and tousled his hair and kissed his tired face.  He knew it would be a while before they could love each other again but he wanted her close so he could smell her and feel her soft, warm, curves against his hard body.

They played for a while and then Luke turned serious again, “That man who killed Ned might just be the first of the refugees from the south, Martha, and you’re not well enough to travel even if we knew where to go.  Right now all I can do is make a blast to create a bigger rock slide into the neck of our canyon and seal us in better here at Right Fork.

“Luke, I don’t want to do it but maybe I should learn how to shoot,” Martha said.

“I’m glad, Martha, we’ll start tomorrow while I plan a place to set off the blast.”

Martha knew it would make Luke feel better if she learned to shoot so she would learn to shoot she determined grimly.

As soon as she was well enough he planned on teaching her some of the tricks he had learned in desert forces.  He could take down a man twice his size and strength just by using his head and so could Martha if she or the babies were threatened.

Luke had a couple of revolvers, a shotgun, and one rifle that could be used for sniping or hunting. He now had Ned’s pistol and several of his knives.  He wanted to make some kind of knife holder for Martha to strap to her leg under her skirt.  She should always carry it and have a gun nearby and that meant training Marty the danger, care, and handling of guns and what he could and could not touch.  Luke knew he would have to be stern about this thing and knew it would be hard in the face of Marty’s boyish sense of fun. The boy would just have to accept Luke’s rules in this case with no discussion. 

Martha proved to be a quick study and soon had all of the mechanics of each gun memorized and knew how to clean and care for them.  She began to target practice with each arm and Marty shed a few tears when he was left out of the activity but his father was very strict and he soon caught on to the seriousness of the tools as his father called them.

He made Marty sit with his sister when they shot or Luke was showing Martha how to throw a knife.  He wanted her to be used to handling the knives before he taught her anything about hand to hand combat.

Luke walked up to the ridge behind the cabin each day and studied the tops of the canyon coming into their valley.  The last time he had dislodged boulders on the lower side of the canyon he thought this time he saw crevices on the higher side that might hold enough of a blast to cause a heavy avalanche and really seal them in.  He didn’t think anyone would go north and then turn back south and cross the bare ridges from Left to Right Fork.  It was much too difficult a passage and people would keep moving north and west he decided or they would stop in Left Fork first and he would start scouting that area a couple of times a week for signs of human activity. 

Luke left early one morning with all of his gear already packed and headed for the high side of his canyon.  It took all day to decide where to plant the devices in the rocky cliff top.  He chose the narrowest point again to make the blockage as effective as possible.  After deciding where each charge would be placed he spent the next day placing them and set up the detonation point and his escape route.  On the third day he was ready and set off the charges and high tailed it to high ground. He watched as a huge chunk of rock broke off and then splintered and filled the canyon below.  As he surveyed the results he felt the wind come up and a few snowflakes hit his skin.  Even better Luke thought it would soften and cover evidence of the blast and even explain the avalanche to those less knowledgeable.

Luke hurried home knowing they were as safe from outside intrusion as they could ever be realistically. All was well at home and he started training the wolf to protect Martha and the children. She was a good dog and was now getting old enough to earn her keep with her puppy days behind her. Luke did his best to avoid killing predators because they might discourage refugees. Besides he didn’t like to interfere with the natural balance in his valley. 

This time when Luke was up on the ridge he saw what he thought were mountain sheep or goats, it was too far to be sure but he was interested in getting some kind of milking animal.  Next spring, after birthing time he would go up and study the animals more closely. He told Martha and she expressed interest in a wool bearing animal for stuffing mattresses and cold weather leggings and jackets. 

That evening after dinner and the babies were down for the night Luke and Martha went through her father’s books looking for anything on looms or wool or on milk and cheese products. The doctor had books on any possible use in the wilderness, at least in his eyes, Luke thought.  The doctor hadn’t fancied himself a farmer so any of Luke’s genetic experimentation with his crops would have to be instructional for Luke as well as informational about his specific crop.  Luke laughed at himself. About all he could remember about genetics from his schooling was something about a monk and peas.  Not too helpful.

“What do you remember about genetics, Martha?” he asked his wife.

She thought for a minute and said, “Mendel and peas,” she said.

“Mendel, more than I remembered,” Luke said.

She was engrossed in her own research on wool but she said, “Actually, the name is not too useful,” she said, “His conclusions are more important,” she said, “Remind me of that when we teach our children.”

Luke looked at Martha and realized what an assets she was in their relationship. Luke thought that he lived almost exclusively in the moment but that Martha was generations beyond him. Martha’s biological attributes seemed to provide her with brain functions that he never used.  They must discuss that sometime.

He pulled out one of the tablets the doctor had given him and started writing.  It snowed heavily for three days and Luke wrote for three days and brought his journal up to date particularly the latest events with Ned and all of his feelings about his new daughter and Martha’s birthing.

When he finished he thanked Martha and Martin for putting up with his silly hobby and Martha said, “I have the same silly hobby.”

Luke was surprised, “When,” he asked, “Your hands are always full with some chore or another or one of the babies?”

She smiled knowing it would be o.k. with Luke that she wrote daily, “Usually right after you go out for the day and I get the kitchen cleaned up and the kids settled down.”

Luke hugged her and said, “As soon as Martin can write we should start him journaling too.”

She agreed and said, “I tried to get him to write his name the other day but his motor skills aren’t developed enough yet,” she told Luke, “But it won’t be long.”

“Yes, I noticed the same thing when I tried to show him how to use a cup.”

“He needs toys to develop those skills,” she said.

Luke happily began drawing up some toys he could make for Martin and their other children, and realized that he could make something for Martin’s birthday.  He started with a design similar to his calendar sticks but larger and sturdier.  He carved a hammer and cut holes of different shapes in one of the rounds from the tree he hadn’t used for Martin’s bed.  He made pegs with different shapes to fit the holes he had carved and hoped it would help Martin develop his motor skills.  He found a box for the game and had it ready for Martin’s birthday.

While Luke worked on the new toy Martha was sewing for Martin and she drew up a design she asked Luke to make for Martin.  It was a simple pencil holder that made it much easier to handle for little hands.  Luke was impressed and it inspired him to use one of his large, sturdy reeds to make a three hole flute for Martin to play. 

Luke laughingly told Martha that they would both be stir crazy by spring between the pounding and flute playing if the presents went over well.

They used some of their precious honey to make a honey, berry cake for Marty and had a special dinner planned with his favorite foods.

The morning of his birthday Luke went in and woke Martin up and took him to the kitchen where he and Martha sang “Happy Birthday” to the grinning boy.  Luke showed him his birthday on the calendar stick and told him he was two years old today. They ate a hot cereal made with a local grain that Luke was now growing and for the birthday boy they added a little honey.  They made it his day and that evening after his favorite dinner they gave him his honey, berry cake and sat him at the table and gave him his gifts.

He loved his new shirt which was exactly like his papa’s and he was intrigued with the pegs and hole game.  Luke knew it wouldn’t be long before he had mastered that game but the flute and pencil would take a little longer.  Martin finally got a sound out of the flute but it wasn’t too musical. He put the exhausted little boy to bed that night and he and Martha sat and talked over the day.

Martha came and hugged Luke after he put Martin down for the night.  “Thank you for being such a good father to my son,” she said.

He hugged her close, “Our son,” he told her.

“Do we have to tell him?” Martha asked.

“If we want him to understand that truth is important,” Luke told her, “But not until he’s much older,” he comforted Martha.

He hugged her and told her, “Thank you for our son and daughter, Martha.”

She kissed him softly and said, “I think it’s time for us to love again,” she told Luke.

He made sure the fire was banked and picked her up and carried her into their bed and they spent the night renewing their love life and enjoying one another and even little Martha cooperated by sleeping through her midnight snack.    

Fatherhood, Luke's Saga Part IV

One morning Luke came back to the sod house for something he’d forgotten and found Martha sick, drained, and in a cold sweat near their cabin.  He tried to lift her but she stopped him and said it would be all right.

She pushed him away and sat on a rock, “It’s just morning sickness, Luke, it means that I am going to have our baby,” Martha told him. 

Luke stood there in total ignorance of the subject, “How long will you be sick?” he asked her, and then he said, “I don’t like it.”

She was feeling a little better and laughed, “I don’t like it either.”

He frowned, concerned, “Will you be sick for the whole time?” he asked.

She pulled him close, loving him more than she could ever believe and then she cried. 

He knew that sometimes Martha cried when she was happy so he didn’t panic right away but when she kept crying he held her close and began to gentle her down some. 

She looked up at his face and laughed again. 

He gave up his day’s plans and sat down on the grass, “Martha come and tell me what is going to be happening?” he ordered, needing to get a grip on every nuance of the process.

That day Martha told Luke what to expect as time for the baby neared.  He held her in his arms and was amazed that she would even open herself to such a process.  A man wouldn’t have the guts Luke thought to himself.  When she began to describe the birth process Luke paled but she told him he might have to help so he bit his tongue and paled further as she explained it as well as she understood the process from her own experience and from the books her father, the doctor, had in his library.  That night she would show him where the baby would come from. 

He stroked Martha’s belly through her clothes and wondered that woman’s faith was so much stronger than a man’s.  He laughed at the picture of himself reading the Bible in the mornings and evenings and wondered who decided it would be a man who would read.  He decided if they had a girl he wanted her to be a strong leader too.  She would read and be strong and know how to fight he decided.  Now, he had the guns from the uncles so when she was old enough he would teach her to shoot so she could protect herself.  He would teach her to fight with the knife and all of the tricks he had learned in special services; and Martha too, after she had the baby he would teach her to fight and shoot. 

He had cached the doctor’s books before he torched the two cabins and now he wanted to go back and get the medical books in case there was trouble with the birth.  Should he ask Ned to come and stay with his sister?  He didn’t want to even leave Martha for the full day the trip would require.  He would take Ned with him and guide him to the place where the books were hidden and have leave Luke to retrieve them and bring them back to Right Fork.

He laughed at himself, I don’t have anything to do with the rest of Martha’s pregnancy, and he realized that it was clearly a woman’s accomplishment and man played very small part in the miracle.

Luke brought flowers home for Martha the next day after spending the morning hoping she wasn’t too sick.

Luke and Martha had Ned to supper every Sabbath.  Luke had whittled a branch for Ned with one peg and seven holes so he could keep track of the days.  The peg was attached by a long grass braid Luke made so Ned wouldn’t lose the peg.  Ned moved the peg up one hole each morning and when it reached the last hole he got up and went to Luke’s house.

They heard Ned’s big holler that morning and Luke hollered back.  They all decided that hollering was a good idea for privacy; at least until that morning, when Martin was in fine voice and got the hang it and then just wouldn’t stop.  Ned thought it was the funniest thing he had ever seen and encourage little Marty. 

When Luke saw that Martha was getting impatient with the noise he shushed them and went to her side and said that they had an announcement to make.  Luke differed to Martha and let her announce that their next baby would be coming probably at next harvest time.  Ned was happy and wanted another nephew but Luke was holding out for a little girl and Martha didn’t care.        

Martha loved her husband now and no longer had the bad nightmares and fears she once had.  Luke was a gentle, good man who loved her and her baby and just wanted to be happy in a world away from killing, rape, and robbery.  She hoped and prayed each day that their valley was safe from other people.   

Luke didn’t know why he wanted a girl so much, he would worry more about a girl and there was nothing to offer her – no husband, no education,  no place of her own in the fabric of the valley.  He would take what he got and be grateful, Luke decided.

After Sabbath dinner Luke told Martha he would walk Ned a ways and he and Luke and the two young wolves and Molly set out just before sunset. 

“Let’s sit for a minute, Ned,” Luke said. 

“O.K. brother-in-law,” Ned said, proud of his grasp of the relationship, “Let’s sit.” 

Luke grinned and put his hand on Ned’s shoulder, “I need a big favor from you Ned,” Luke said seriously.

 “O.K. Luke,” Ned said, equally serious.

“Your sister will be having my baby,” Luke said.

Ned smiled, “I know and she told me that you didn’t hurt her like everyone else,” Ned said happily, “Just like you promised.”

Luke smiled at Ned, “We’re very happy together, Ned, that’s why I need your help. Neddie, do you remember when Marty was born?”

Trouble crossed the man/boys face, “It was awful, uncle kept yelling about whores and hell and my dad was trying to help Martha and I ran away,” he dropped his head in shame. 

Luke put his arm around Ned’s shoulders, “Ned, that’s in the past, it’s over and you were just a boy then,” Luke paused, “But you can help me now so it doesn’t hurt Martha so bad this time.”

His head raised and he smiled at Luke, “O.K., I’ll help, I’m a man now,” he said, “I have my own house and dog.”

Luke grabbed his Ned’s bicep and said, “We need to go back to the cabins on Left Fork.”

Ned frowned and kept shaking his head no.

“Can I tell you why, Ned?” Luke asked.

“First, the cabins aren’t there anymore, Ned, I burned them.”

“What about daddy and uncle and aunt?” Ned asked.

“Ned, I had to make a decision about the bodies and leaving any clues about Right Fork behind.  I wanted Martha and Marty and you to be safe.”

“It was a bad place,” Ned said, “Does Martha know?” he asked.

“Yes,” Luke said firmly, “But now I need your father’s medicine and books so we can take care of Martha properly,” he said.

Ned’s leg was swinging, a sign he was nervous and in an unwanted situation – feeling cornered. 

Luke put his hand on Ned’s shoulder and started to get up.

Ned said, “You helped my sister and you helped me so I will help too.  I’m a man now,” Luke told him.

“I’m sorry Ned but it’s hard for me to leave Martha alone right now.  That’s my baby in her belly and I want to get back as quickly as possible to take care of her so I need help doing this,” Luke said.

Ned nodded, “Then,” he said, “Let’s go tomorrow.”

Luke stood and gave Ned a big, bear hug, “Thank you, brother-in-law,” he said.

They set out the next morning with packs prepared by Martha.  She had tears in her eyes when she kissed Luke good-bye and tousled Ned’s hair.  Ned looked to Luke and they hurried on their way before Luke changed his mind and stayed home with his wife and the mother of his son, Martin, and if Luke had his way a little baby girl named, Martha.

They traveled quickly and Luke remembered the way from his training in the service and a natural ability to absorb directions and geography much as the wolves and Molly would remember the route if they ever traveled this way again.  Luke felt his senses sharpen as he again became a predator safeguarding his territory. 

Luke put his hand on Ned’s shoulder and whispered, “Wait here while I look around, Ned, and don’t say anything.”

Luke reconnoitered the area and found the tree where he had stored the books and other important necessities when he had pulled Martha, Martin, and Ned out of the hell hole they called home.  He whistled the signal he had given Ned and soon all of the dogs were around him and then he heard Ned stumbling toward them and called to him. 

He had planned to leave Ned to empty the hollow about half way up the tree and carry everything home to Right Fork but he wasn’t sure Ned would ever make it on his own, even with the dogs so they began emptying the hollow and packing up everything that they could carry.  They both carried two gunny sacks tied together and draped around their necks and even the dogs did duty as pack animals as they finished emptying the hollow.  It was a heavy load for both of them but Ned’s brute strength enabled him to carry more than Luke and Luke showed Ned his pride and gratefulness.

It was well past nightfall went they reached Luke’s place.  Luke set his pack down and put his finger to his mouth to let Ned know he was going to check out the sod house before they went in to Martha.  He approached the sod house and heard Martha call out to him.  He found her nearby under a tree all bundled up in the dark with little Martin. 

 “Martha, why aren’t you in the house asleep?” Luke asked.

She hugged him close, “It was scary without you, Luke, it felt safer out here in the dark,” she said.

He pulled her close and whistled Ned and the dogs in while he enjoyed the feeling of her soft warm flesh and then he reached down and felt his baby in her womb and hugged her some more.  She had told Luke that soon he would be able to feel the baby move and he thought he did; at that moment, but it was too soon to feel the baby move she told him.  Luke would always believe that he felt his baby that evening when he and Ned returned from Left Fork.

They stashed the gunnies from Left Fork and went into the sod house where Luke built up the fire and made his strong bark tea for all of them including little Marty who was up and running through the house as soon as he saw Luke.  Luke grabbed him and tried to show him how to use a cup after the tea had cooled but he still wanted to suck the tea dipped rags and have Luke give him the beverage.  Luke enjoyed it as much as Martin so he gave the cup to Ned and fed his little son as they all celebrated the successful trip and being together.

The next morning Ned was heading home and he and Luke hugged and then shook hands before parting.  Ned gave his nephew a miniature hand shake and he kissed his sister on the cheek.  Luke thanked him again for his loyalty and sense of family and they hugged once more before Ned was off to his cabin with his wolf, Shadow, at his heels wiggling like a puppy as Ned turned toward home.  Luke thought that he and Ned had truly become family on this last trip to Left Fork and he had tried in his way to express that to Ned but he wasn’t much good with those kinds of words and he didn’t know if Ned would understand any way.

Luke and Martha lay in bed that night catching up and sharing and Luke asked Martha if she thought Ned understood Luke’s feeling of a family bond with Ned. 

Martha was sitting up in bed looking down at Luke stretched out on his back and reaching up to touch a curl when her head bobbed as she expressed herself, “Not the words,” she told him seriously, “but he has his own way of understanding and sorting things out,” she said. 

Luke let his breath out, “Martha, I want to know something?”

Martha felt her fists clench, as she filled her lungs, and bit her tongue, looking down at him. He wants to know about the rape and uncle, she thought.

Luke frowned up at her, “Do you know what happened to Ned?” he asked.

All of the air rushed out of her lungs as she laughed and cried and struck him on the chest with both fists. 

Luke wrestled her down and wouldn’t let her up until she promised she would tell him why she was so upset. 

When he finally pried it out of her he thought maybe it would be good to talk and maybe not, he couldn’t know.

“Little momma,” he said, “When I was a soldier I did many things I didn’t want to do; mores the shame, I began to enjoy the cycle of combat then R & R, combat then R & R, over and over and over and pretty soon it didn’t even matter what part of the cycle I was in …..,” he held her close and she melted into the shelter of his arms and they lay quietly, content in the moment.  

A little later her rose up and told her, “If we want to talk than we will be together and talk, and if we don’t want to talk, then that’s fine too; for me and for you.   

 

 

Sometime later Luke went on one of his night journeys to watch the skies from various vantage points on one of the highest ridges within walking distance of Right Fork.  He had started the practice after the lights suggested anti-satellite activity in the skies; since that time, he found no satellites evident in the night skies at all.  He hoped they all shot each other down and weren’t interested in dissidents any longer.  Or, he thought, maybe they just turned off any equipment that might be picked up by an enemy.  When he returned home he admitted to Martha why he had gone and what he had been looking for in the skies.  He’d learned that it was better to just tell Martha the truth even if it was about a danger because her imagination could dream up things far worse that the reality. 

Martha was happy to have him home and that night she told Luke that she might be giving birth sooner than she had figured out at first and that she must have gotten pregnant almost immediately.  Luke had been studying the doctor’s books in the evenings and he and Martha discussed the new baby every day.  Even little Martin would carefully touch Martha’s tummy and say his version of baby.  He said lots of words now but still wasn’t stringing sentences together. Mama, dada, and Molly were his three first words.  Dada soon became papa and a butchered version of uncle for Ned which became Neddie as Martin grew older.    

Luke took Martin with him when he split the trunk of a stump that was left after lightning struck a big tree years ago.   Luke brought the splits home and built a small bed for Martin in the evening.  Martha stuffed a small mattress with grasses as Luke constructed the bed and Martin even tried stuffing his own pillow.  Luke and Martha made the bed together and told Martin that it would be his when the baby was born.  Little Marty was excited about his own bed and Luke had even dug out a small alcove for Martin off of the bedroom to get him used to the idea of a separate bedroom someday.   Luke’s dream was to have a girl’s room and a boy’s room someday.  Martha smiled happily as he sketched plans for the children’s rooms.   While he was working he asked Martha to read from the Bible or their other book about the woman, “friend”.  On the next Sabbath Luke was going to ask Martha to read and have a discussion about her favorite Bible story.   

Luke cut the biggest round in half and attached the half rounds securely to the bottom of the cradle so it could be rocked while the baby fell asleep.  He managed to smooth the rounds for an even, rhythmic rock and Martha was pleased with Luke’s design.  He had brought Martha several sets of long underwear from one of his stashes so she could make baby clothes and clothes for Martin. 

That night in bed Luke stroked Martha’s tummy and grinned as he felt a series of flutters and was so excited when he felt a hard kick that he got young Martin up and brought him to bed with them so he could feel the baby.  Martha giggled and said it must be a boy, it was so active.  She was happy that Luke included the whole family in the upcoming birth.  Luke’s ideas about the Bible were very different from her uncle’s theology.  Luke’s God was a loving God who wished his people well and Martha was beginning to open herself to God again after she had closed up when she was raped and her uncle had been so hard and unforgiving of Martin’s origins.  She decided that uncle had been a hypocrite and not a man of God at all. 

Luke asked Martha if she would read and do the homily on the next Sabbath. 

“Why don’t we have two messages, Luke?” she asked.

“Why two, Martha?” he asked.

“I’ve noticed little Martin listens closely on Sunday.  I’d like to have a short children’s lesson before the main adult service,” she said, “Something Ned and the kids will understand, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, Joseph’s coat and other stories in the Bible that are easier to understand.” 

“Great idea, Martha,” and he gave her a big, smacking kiss that made Martin giggle and he wanted to give the baby a big, noisy kiss.  They let Martin kiss mama’s tummy and the baby kicked at exactly the same moment.  Martin was filled with awe and looked at his mama with a new perspective. 

Luke grabbed Martin and said let’s say a prayer Marty.  “Luke said a very simple prayer asking for God’s help with having the baby and raising it properly with reverence for God and his creation.”  After their prayer Luke took Marty back to his bed and he and Martha talked and slept until dawn.  He was glad that Martha was interested in the kid’s education and decided that both he and Martha should be close to all of the children.  Luke needed Martha to catch what he missed.  He decided that God knew what he was doing when he gave each child two parents. 

As the sky turned light in the eastern sky Luke told Martha that he wanted to teach all of their children, girls and boys, how to defend themselves how to shoot and fight. 

Martha was surprised, “You want the girls to shoot and fight?” she asked.      

“Only if necessary, Martha, but yes, I think the girls should have skills to fight off unwanted attention or enemy soldiers,” he answered.

Martha looked surprised at the new idea but she thought about it and it made sense to her, “What if it’s a relative?” she asked. 

“No one should ever touch our girls inappropriately,” Luke said with conviction, “It’s just plain wrong,” he said. 

“It makes a girl feel spoiled,” Martha said, “Ruined for life.”

“We will raise our girls to be as important as boys,” Luke said, “They will read and write and give Sabbath lessons just as they help with everything else.  We will all share in our victories and defeats,” Luke insisted, “They should all respect one another.”

“And the girls’ can come to us if there is a problem?” she asked. 

“Yes, Martha, all of the children should be able to talk to either one of us.  And you’re right about lessons designed for the children and Ned.  We’ll see to it,” Luke said.

Luke got Martin up the next morning and let Martha sleep in.  He thought she needed the rest with the baby coming.  He fed Marty and himself and left a note for Martha and they went down to the pond to fish and gathered vegetables that were ready for harvest.  It wouldn’t be long before the crops and Martha would produce, he thought.  They were having another abundant harvest and Luke thanked his God daily for His generosity in providing for them.  The land was fertile and the crops and weather cooperated to give them food enough for him, Martha, Ned and the children.  Some of the books in the doctor’s library were on preserving foods and Luke planned to spend the winter learning more about preservation and storage.  He now shot more game because the winter provided excellent freezing temperatures for preservation and he hung the meat high from nearby trees to use over the course of the winter. 

Little Martin was asleep in the sunshine as Luke thought about the future of his family.  Martha was timid about moving on but Luke was tempted to find land even further north to protect his family from refugees of the war below.  Luke also wanted to avoid the kind of men like Martha’s uncle who preyed on children under the guise of the Bible.  He prayed his children would always be safe from the evil in the world. 

Luke sprang up from his fishing hole and listened closely and heard metal on metal clanging in the distance and thought it was probably Martha so he woke his son and gathered their gear and headed home.  When he got to the sod house Martha had hot water on boiling and was experiencing labor pains.  He put Marty down in his little alcove and went and sat with Martha.  As much as Martha and the books had prepared Luke he wasn’t really ready to see Martha in so much pain as time passed and the baby didn’t come. 

She was exhausted by the middle of the night and Luke would have called the whole thing off if he could have.  He took Martha into the bedroom and lay with her between his legs leaning against his chest.  Martha tried to reassure Luke but he was angry with the whole process and called on God to deliver the baby soon. 

“Do you want some pain medication, Little Mama?” Luke asked. 

“No, Luke, that might slow the birth down and endanger the baby,” she told him.

By morning they were both sweating and despite Luke’s efforts to keep Marty in his alcove, the boy needed to see his mama and be reassured.

Martin crawled up on the bed with them and held his mama’s hands as she experienced her contractions.  Luke fixed tea for Martha and him and fed the boy. 

It was noon before the baby arrived and Luke had to help with the birth but Martha was fine and didn’t bleed too much and Luke held his little baby girl in his arms by the time the sun was at its highest point in the sky. 

He cleaned little Martha up and gave her to her mama and finally relaxed after the almost two day vigil.  Marty was enthralled with the baby and called her ‘sissie’ for sister.  Martha sat in bed with a beautiful smile on her face and Luke couldn’t believe that the baby made her forget all of the pain she had experienced.  He cleaned Martha up too and wouldn’t let her lift a finger.  He told her she needed to rest and brought her some broth to strengthen her.

“Luke, are you sure you want to call her Martha?” she asked him. 

But Luke had fallen asleep on the bed next to her and she brushed the hair off of his forehead and grinned at her two men tangled together and asleep.  It had been a real family affair she thought, just like Luke wanted.  She was glad Luke would name his daughter Martha because it meant he really didn’t hold the rape and her uncle’s evil against her.  It meant everything between them was harmonious and she knew he was serious about his daughter’s being as important as his sons, even Marty she thought.  Luke always spoke of Martin as his eldest son and Martha thanked God for his goodness in bringing Luke to her and blessing her with two healthy children and a good man.     

A Wilderness Wife - PART III by Karen MacEanruig

The girls hand was trembling in his so he led her inside to his bedroom and went back to Ned and the ledge to sleep.  Molly joined each one of them sometime in the night but she seemed to reconnoiter and come back to Luke for approval.  Luke lay there hoping the shooting stars they had seen were just that and not some secret device of some sort being shot from or off of satellites. Maybe they are shooting each other’s satellites down, he thought. Even if the government didn’t find them they could be at the mercy of roving bands of soldiers or mercenaries. 

He lay in the night wondering how he had ended up with three dependents.  Ned was a good worker and had a good short term memory so he could follow directions exactly.  He was also pretty stable as long as he felt included.  Marty was smart and picked up everything he told her quickly but she felt it was her lot to be used by Luke, she would make the best of things if he went to her now and took her tonight but it would start their relationship off on the wrong foot.  He wanted more than fear and compliance from her.  He needed a mother for strong sons, a companion to talk with.  Now that she was here he wanted her to be excited about the new house, about having his children.  He wanted a calm home with clean, clear relationships.

And Martha’s son, the boy she named Martin, after herself, Luke was already fond of the little guy.  He lay there wondering how long until little Marty would be walking.  That was the healing period he had given Martha.  During that time he would try to make her less fearful and more a part of plans and decisions. The boy was already crawling and would make a bee line for Luke whenever he sat down in the sod house.  I guess I’ve decided he thought to himself, we stay here until Martha is healed and the baby can walk and then we’ll rethink the possibilities.   Right now they all needed the stable home to help forge and tune their relationships.  

The next morning he smelled breakfast cooking when he woke.  He pulled on his outer clothes and boots and went into the cooking area whistling a melody he remembered.   She had made the tea he liked out of dried leaves from a bush on the ridges

.  During the cold of winter he boiled the bark itself and the beverage was much stronger and heartier.   He sat at the table drinking the light leaf tea and when the baby began to fuss Luke picked him up and dipped a clean rag in his cooling tea and between his finger and the rag little Marty was sucking up tea from the cloth.

Martha had his breakfast ready and came up with the filled wooden platter.  She set it on the table and started to take the baby but Luke continued to feed the baby until he began to nod off again. 

“Good Morning, Martha,” Luke greeted her, “Has Ned eaten?” he asked.”

“He’s out playing with Molly,” Martha told him.    

“Do you have enough cooked for all of us?” Luke asked. 

She bridled, “Yes, but I’m not wasting, I promise,” she said hurriedly. 

He touched her hand, “Martha, I just think we should all eat together at the table and say grace.”

“I should bath the baby,” she said.

“Why don’t you take little Marty with you to the pool this afternoon when you bathe, I think it’s warm enough?” Luke said.  

He was still holding the baby and grinning down at him and Martha brought the cradle over and called Ned into breakfast. 

When Ned had washed up and Martha had joined them, Luke put the baby in the cradle and opened the Bible and read from a story in the Old Testament about a woman named Ruth and her husband and in-laws.  He left the Bible at the end of the table open at the book he read and said a short blessing before they ate.

After they ate Luke kept Ned at the table while Martha cleaned up from breakfast and he had a long talk with the man/boy about farming and why it was better than hunting for a stable food supply.  Martha listened too and Luke made sure she could hear it all.  Ned liked the no shooting part and he would get the farming cycles over time as Luke explained where their food came from.  Ned would see this winter how the supplies dwindled and know by spring how important planting was to their year. 

“Neddie, I just want you to know that we’ll work hard here but we’ll try to be happy too,” Luke told him. 

“Maybe, I can have a dog again?” Ned asked. And a little house for me and the dog?”

“If you still want that next summer we’ll try to make it happen, Ned, but only after we have the sowing and harvesting done.  That always comes first, understood?”  Luke asked.

Ned raised his hand, “I promise,” he said.

Luke shook his hand and clapped him on the back, “Good man, Ned.  We have work to do, can you wait outside while I talk to Martha about dinner?”

Ned was happy to escape the confines of the house and Luke turned to Martha, “Come sit for a minute, Martha.”

Her head was lowered as she came to the table to get his instructions.  Luke gritted his teeth.  Why the hell was she so afraid; her fear upset Luke.

“Martha,” Luke said, “I was a soldier but I never raped anyone.”

She looked in his eyes.

“I ran from the army and the government because I want a happy life.  I don’t want to kill or be killed.  I want to be free and at peace with everyone in my home.”

“Do you think you could ever be happy here?” he asked her.

She looked at him openly for the first time, “I wish the soldiers had never happened, except for Martin,” she admitted.  “My uncle was always that way,” she said, “Even when I was a little girl.”

He shook his head, realizing the extent and depth of her injuries. 

He took her hand and kissed it softly, “I’m sorry about what happened to you Martha and whatever happened to Ned and I’m even a little sorry about what happened to me when they took me to be a soldier.”

He turned to her, “I want to try and make the best of what’s left,” he told her.

She frowned and shook her head, yes.  “I’ll try, Luke,” she smiled softly, “I promise.”

“There’s no rush, little mama, let’s plan the wedding for after harvest time,” he said. 

“A wedding?” she asked.

“We’ll have the whole winter to honeymoon and make a new baby,” Luke said. 

“What about Martin?” she asked Luke.

“After the wedding, Marty will be my eldest son,” Luke said with a promise.  A strong boy that he raised would be a good son, Luke decided.  Luke was glad that Ned had asked for his own cabin.  It would be better for his family and he would try to get Ned his puppies. 

They went through the rest of the stores and decided on dinner then Luke went out and joined Ned for a lesson in kitchen gardening. 

“If we have time to make a cabin for you this year we can plant the garden next year and you can be self-sufficient without hunting Ned,” Luke said. 

“No more shooting,” Ned agreed happily.

Luke spent the summer teaching Ned to carry on if something should ever happen to him.  He told Ned that he and Martha would be married in the fall after harvest time.

“Will you hurt my sister too?” Ned asked.

Luke sighed deeply, “No Ned, I won’t hurt her.  I want her to be happy,” Luke told him.  He raised his hand, “I promise,” he told Ned, hoping it was true.

He walked Martha and Martin to the pool each late afternoon and they walked back through the garden selecting dinner and the following breakfast.  He didn’t touch her sexually on those occasions but tried to make his touch more normal to her by touching her affectionately as he did the baby.  She learned to fear him less as time passed and she was preparing some material in her trunk for ‘the wedding’, and mending and sewing for Ned and Luke.

Luke brought her flowers from the fields occasionally and gave her special supplies from his stores.  He noticed that she especially enjoyed the evenings when he read to all of them from the Bible and the other book he read.  It was written by a woman who had lived in early America as a ‘friend.’  It was a particular denomination but Luke didn’t know much about denominations so he just read it as a Christian journey.  He gave it to Martha when Ned told him it was her birthday.

That evening when dinner was finished he told Martha to sit at the table with the baby while he and Ned cleaned up the kitchen and then he presented her with a little honey berry cake and the wrapped book.  Ned gave her some small bones he had that Luke told him could be made into needles if they bored small holes in the very end.  Ned was happy he had pleased his sister and Luke.

That evening little Marty almost walked three steps and Martha looked at Luke with alarm.  Luke laughed and picked Marty up and tossed him in the air making him giggle and drool with delight.  Ned laughed and Molly got excited and barked as he played with the baby.  Without thinking Martha enjoyed it with the rest of them. 

Luke walked her to her room as usual only tonight he entered the room and helped her put the baby down.  It was the first time he had entered the room since he had turned it over to Martha.  He took her hand after the baby was down and walked back to the door.  He put his arms around her waist and softly kissed her mouth, all gentle and soft while running his fingers through her long shiny hair.  He turned and left before she had time to go into fear or flight mode and she was left with his soft, warm kiss.        

The next day they left early for the pool and her bath.  The days were getting shorter and after the bath Luke sat with her on the warm rocks and asked her if she had time to read any of the book he had given her. 

“I thought I should wait until winter when there is less work,” she said.

“Sometimes we need nourishment at odd moments," Luke said, "Read when you can,"  he told her, "and we'll talk about it in the evening."

He took her small hand into his broken fists, “Have you decided, little mama, will you marry me?” he asked. 

“Luke…,” she couldn’t say more.

 She took a deep breath, “Luke, I wish I could promise what you want,” she said.

“Ah, little mama, just promise that you’ll try…,” Luke said, “and keep on trying.  Just promise that we’ll keep trying together for each other and our children.  Until death do us part,” he said.

  She looked straight into his eyes, “I can promise you that,” she promised.  “When should we get married?” she asked with a need to know look.  “There are things that need to be done,” she said. 

Good, he thought, she also had preparations to make.

The next day Luke worked with Ned on his cabin and he took a late afternoon walk to one of the nearby ridges.  His knife took out the mama wolf with barely a whimper and he took two pups, one for himself and one for Ned.  He was sorry and asked for forgiveness after disposing of the mother and her other babies. He knew it was a cruel self-indulgent act, a waste of resources and he mourned for the pack he had destroyed.     

He winked at Martha when he got home and hid the puppies in her bedroom after showing them to her.  After Ned went to bed with his new puppy, a gift from Luke and Martha, Martha came to him and kneaded his forehead and ran her hands through his hair.  He allowed himself to enjoy the care she showed. 

When he pulled her down next to him on the bench at the table she expected the worst.

He turned to her and said, “Thank you, Martha. Thank you for understanding."

“I’m sure you know the way to your room by now,” he smiled at her gently and started outside but she followed. 

They sat in the dark at the entrance to the sod house and talked for hours as they looked at the stars.  They shared things they had never discussed and talked about times before the war and rape and killing.  He brought her a blanket and brewed some winter tea at the small campfire.  He wrapped Martin well and they watched the sun rise together after sharing the night and their childhood hopes and dreams. 

She was a good woman and knew the Bible and other books.  She would never be naive about people he thought and she was a good mother and would be a good wife at least as far as so called duties went.  What they made of the rest of it was up to them both, he thought.  

She laid on her bed knowing Luke would be a better father to Martin than any other man she would ever find and he would be a good father to any other babies she might birth.  He would be a loyal father and husband and even allow her to read and talk with him about the Bible.  He would provide and see to their safety before his own and be kind to Ned.  She just wished she could be the wife he seemed to want.  She didn’t even know what kind of woman that was.  Not like uncle seemed to think, or her father, or anyone else she knew.  Luke seemed to want to start from scratch.  No pasts, no guilt, no whores of Babylon in his mind, just his peaceful valley and what they could make. But would he change his mind once he had her, like all the other men.  She would see, what she saw, Martha decided, it wasn’t something she could know.

Luke caught up with Ned after breakfast that morning. 

“Ned,” Luke said quietly.

Ned turned and listened to Luke.

“Let’s sit down, Ned.  I’m about to get married and I need a man’s opinion,” Luke said.

Ned stopped at that and sat on a rock. 

“Ned, usually a groom gives the bride a ring, but I don’t have a ring.  Usually, the groom has a job and a future, but I don’t even have that,” Luke said. 

“Ned, you’re the bride’s only living relative and you have to decide whether to let me have her as a bride,” Luke told Ned. “And then,” Luke said and paused, “You have to decide whether to stay with us in Right Fork,” Luke said to him.

Ned seemed worried.

“Do you want to talk to Martha?” Luke asked Ned.                      

“Yes, it’s too hard,” Ned answered.

“No problem, Ned, go talk to your sister about Martin and other babies and what you should do,” Luke told the boy/man.

Luke sighed, he had made the options as clear to Ned as he could and Martha too, he thought.  Now he would see what they would decide.  He was digging roots in the kitchen garden when Ned came out. 

He ran to Luke and pounding him on the shoulder.  “She doesn’t care about a ring,” Ned said, “Or the other stuff, and she wants me to stay in the valley somewhere.”

Luke embraced Ned, “I’m glad buddy, I didn’t want to lose you,” Luke said. 

“Ned was happy again and wanted to see his cabin.”

“The harvest was bountiful once again and Luke rejoiced and they had a fall bonfire with thanksgiving and celebration and then on a solemn day after the crops were stored and what little hunting that needed to be done for the dogs was complete, Luke and Martha married and Ned gave her to Luke and moved to his new home with his wolf pup.

Luke just gentled Martha the first night and continued to read to her from Ruth as she prepared his meals and went about her duties.  Luke was gentle and thoughtful and one night he came in from scouting the valley a little late and she was on the bed in the moonlight fully clothed and Marty was asleep near the fireplace.

Luke stripped and lie beside her cuddling but not waking her. She woke slowly and panicked when she found him naked but she was curious and wanted to see the brutal instrument that pounded, attacked, entered, and hurt, her, making babies grow inside of her, and making her a whore, soiled and spoiled forever. 

  She looked and thought maybe he wasn’t as big as other men.  It seemed to be asleep as he was asleep.  She stared and soon touched the shriveled thing.  She jumped as it came to life in her hand.  He opened one eye and grinned at her. 

She scurried off the bed and he laughed.  She looked and it was resting again after her retreat.

She sat on the edge of the bed and peered at his maleness ready to retreat at any moment.  

“You see this?” Luke asked.

Martha shook her head, a bit curious since it was her husband and not a rapist. 

“God designed this to enter you slowly and put sperm in you to make your eggs fertile so that a man and a woman can have babies,” Luke said. 

“Why does it have to hurt so much?” she asked.

“I don’t think it’s supposed to hurt,” he told her, “If anything I do every hurts you we’ll stop,” Luke promised. 

She believed him and told him her periods had started again. 

He smiled and held her close without intent and she let him enjoy her soft, smooth skin.  She liked that he enjoyed her and it pleased her even more when he noticed her during the day when they were both dressed.  She even tried to get his attention when he seemed preoccupied. 

One day at the pool she felt a new sensation when she looked up to find his eyes raking her naked body half submerged in the pool.  He stripped slowly while she watched and sliced the water cleanly before her in the warm pool.  They played in the water and then he lifted her and stepped down from the boulder into the soft grass and laid her there tasting and kissing her whole body while she experience her first desire and lost her fear of him completely in her growing need to complete the sensation she felt.  She grew brave and touched his manhood, wanting it, needing to feel its fullness in her.  He made sure she was fulfilled before he spent his sperm inside of her.  He told her his sperm were swimming a mighty race for the honor of fertilizing her egg and making a baby and they prayed together that it be a strong egg and sperm and teased each other about whether it would be a sister or brother to Martin.

They made love often now and each morning Luke looked at her stomach and sometimes even touched her to see if it was getting bigger.  She smiled peacefully knowing that this baby would be loved.  Luke never stopped his attention to Martin and often would put the boy on his shoulders and walk the land telling Martin that someday it would be his and his and his brothers and sisters.   One afternoon he asked      Martha if she could join one of their rambles and she packed a lunch and they set off for a sunny meadow that Luke loved.  After a picnic in their warm field of wild flowers Luke scooped some of the flowers out of the grasses and put them into a gunny sack.  When they got home to the cabin Martha put Martin down and Luke set out the flowers in beds around the foundation of the cabin.  He sat and enjoyed the flowers until she came out and joined him.  The rock enclosed beds made the cabin feel loved and well kept. 

Luke played his flute and just before they went in Martha told him she had a surprise.  Luke’s eyebrows raised and he smiled in anticipation. 

“I think we’re going to have a baby, Luke.” She said shyly.

Luke let out a big whoop and danced her around the small fire.  “Another baby,” he grinned happily. 

“Maybe a little Martha,” he teased her.

“Or a big Luke,” she smiled back at him.

“When will we know for sure?” he asked.

“I’m two weeks late,” she said, “And I’m usually right on schedule.”

He took both of her hands and said, “Let’s thank, God,” Luke said and they knelt and gave their thanks to the God they both had learned to have faith in. 

That night Luke finished the Bible story about Ruth and she had a fine baby boy with her husband.  They hugged that night in bed thinking it a sign of a happy future for them.