From Mourning to Joy

and you’d be perfect.” He needed to keep busy before he lost self-control and claimed her luscious rosy-red lips. “I’ll get some icy snow for you to hold tight against your face. Might have some bruising tomorrow.” He chuckled. “Purple will match that pretty pattern in your dress. You can tell folks you painted your face to match the gown.”
Janelle giggled. “Won’t that be a sight?”

Chapter 12
The next morning Bernie walked into the cabin about the same time Davey and Janelle were having a tickle-fest. He grinned at the picture they made tumbling on the braided rug. Janelle had him pinned down and the boy was in near hysterics.
When he saw Bernie, Davey yelled while continuing to hold his stomach. “Help me, Mr. B. She’s making me half crazy.”
“Who’s making who crazy,” said Janelle as she struggled to her feet. “This boy has ridiculed me all morning. Even called me clumsy as a newborn calf before he smothered his laugh. Well, I just gave him something to laugh about is all.”
“I gather you slept well?”
“The warm bath and tea put me out for the entire night. Thank you for suggesting it.”
“Glad to be of service.” He removed his outdoor clothes and hung them on the hook by the door. “Is that eggs I see over there?”
Janelle rushed to the stove. “It is. And they’d be cooked if Davey hadn’t sidetracked me with our little skirmish over there.”
Bernie was pleased to see the puffiness receding and a healing color replace the purple welts from yesterday. Davey had accepted the excuse of clumsiness for his mother’s bruises and teased her mercilessly with fits of laughter. For Bernie, it still nagged his conscience that he’d been missing when Janelle was abducted and needed him most. With the slightest encouragement, he’d never leave her side again.
He sat at the table. “I can wait. Give my bones a chance to thaw out. Mighty cold outside.” He looked at her back as she busied herself at the stove. “Was wondering if you had any jobs you wanted done in the cabin?”
She sighed. “I have a wish list but nothing that should take you from more important tasks.”
“Phooey. After I take Davey to school, I’ll stop at the café and let Joseph know you’re a bit under the weather and won’t be in the rest of the week. Give you lots of time to nurse your face back to its healthy glow and work on that dress.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Drysdale,” Janelle said. “I was wondering how best to display these shiners for all of Belle to see.” She put a plate of fried bacon, diced potatoes, and three large eggs sunny side up in front of him. “I hope you like the yolk runny. I always think the best part is swiping the plate clean with fresh toasted bread.”
“The eggs are great but your toast is a tad underdone.” He flipped the limp slice of bread in the air and make a sound like a fish slapping a rock.
“Did I mention I had a wish list?”
“A toaster – you don’t have one?” asked Bernie. “I have one in my travel bag. Folds up when not in use and I set it up over the fire like a teepee”
“I won’t take your camp supplies from you, Bernie.”
“I can make you one of your own.” Bernie’s eyes lit up. “But I do have another item to scratch off your wish list.” He looked at Davey and winked. “Seems a couple horses followed us home last night – one a birthday gift from an old recently deceased admirer,” this time he winked at Janelle, “and the other a contribution to the Rimes farm from Sheriff Knight who didn’t want to house an extra horse at the town livery. Said to tell you the animals were a reward for your hardship.”
“Two horses! Davey, how could you keep that secret from me this morning?”
“Was waiting on Mr. B to come for breakfast.” His face beamed. “Told him I could keep my mouth shut. Mr. B says a person needs to be able to count on a man’s word.”
“And you passed the test with flying colors, Davey,” said Bernie.
“I got to ride on the brown one all the way home from town, and Mr. B pulled the other one behind us with a rope.”
“I don’t know what to say,” said Janelle.
“You can thank the Almighty, Janelle. He definitely worked all things out for good in the end. Blaze was mighty grateful for the company in the barn,” said Bernie. “Now I have three horses for roommates and no pigs. Must admit, it’s feeling right homey in the barn now.”
Janelle laughed. “First man I ever heard suggest that a barn could feel like home.”
Bernie offered a weak smile. “Maybe if you’d lived under the same roof with my father in Texas, you might think differently.”
“You had a rough childhood, Bernie?”
“Not as rough as some. Won’t hear me complaining.” Bernie looked at Davey. “Now this here boy of yours is going to get a better start even if I have to fight his mother tooth-and-nail to give me half a chance.”
“Mr. B is teaching me lots of stuff about animals and building, Ma,” said Davey his voice bubbling over with enthusiasm.
“We both appreciate it, Bernie. A season of growth for all of us.” She stood and went to a side table where she’d gathered her sewing supplies. She hugged the material close to her. “I can’t believe I received yardage for a new dress on my twenty-fifth birthday.”
Bernie pushed away from table. “Reckon that’s our signal to skedaddle out of the lady’s way. She’s on a mission.”
“Charlie and Stan will be at the schoolhouse on Saturday night. They’re bringing allies for us to