Ruth paused, considering her response. She heard the warning in Elizabeth’s voice and remembered that the book of Proverbs said that kind words turn away wrath. “Thank you for your good advice, Elizabeth. I will definitely pray on the matter.”
With an inclination of her head and a softening of expression, Elizabeth headed toward the kitchen to prepare the noon meal.
Ruth lifted her head and looked toward the ceiling.Lord, she thought, feeling conflicted,what should I do?Still holding Matthew, she went out to the porch and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She felt the warmth of the sun touch her face and she wondered if Elizabeth was right or whether she herself was making too much of a small incident.
When she checked, the horses weren’t in the corral, which meant Jimmy had taken them out to the field with Coyte. The faithful border collie had been a ranch dog since her days as a pup, and Ruth knew that the collie was Jimmy’s companion everywhere he went on the ranch. They were inseparable.
“I am going to suggest that Jimmy get another dog,” Ruth said to Matthew, who was beginning to get restless. She noticed he kept looking toward the trail leading to the main road. “Papa will be home soon, don’t worry,” she cooed, stroking his head to comfort him.
She took an easy walk to the small landing just off the ground that extended from the entrance to the kitchen to the other end of the house. Ruth saw that Elizabeth had already placed their lunch on the old oak table underneath the shaded overhang. The simple oak chairs were neatly pushed in at the table. Ruth loved the view of the mountain ranges in the distance. At time she could hear Jimmy whistling to Coyte in the distance.
Matthew was entertained by climbing up and down the landing repeatedly. He looked up at Ruth for approval every time he climbed to the top of the landing. But when it came to eating, he was less than interested, and his stubbornness frustrated Ruth
The kitchen door opened, and Elizabeth came out carrying laundry. Ruth wondered if she should apologize to Elizabeth, but wasn’t sure that prompted that feeling. Elizabeth’s face was drawn, but maybe she was just busy concentrating on the household tasks at hand.
While Matthew tried to catch ants in the grass, Ruth walked over to Elizabeth, who was hanging up laundry on long lines that were tied between two large T-shaped posts.
“Can I help you?” Ruth offered and monitored Matthew, who was still occupied by the ants.
“No, I’m quite alright,” Elizabeth replied calmly. “There is not much laundry today, but thank you for the offer.”
“Is there anything I can help you with?” Ruth felt that Elizabeth ran about the house every day doing the lion’s share of chores, while she sat minding Matthew. Ruth was certain there was something she could do to help Elizabeth.
“No, I am quite capable, thank you,” Elizabeth hung up the last of the laundry that swayed gently in the soft breeze. “Just looking after Matthew is help enough. As you are already aware by now, Matthew can be quite a handful. He loves attention and it always slowed me down.”
“Yes,” Ruth laughed, “He can be demanding sometimes.”
A wail sounded suddenly from Matthew’s direction. Ruth turned her head to see him crying as he held his indix finger in a tight grip.
“I don’t know how he does it,” Elizabeth sighed, “He always finds the biting ants.” Ruth had already set off at a trot as she hurried over to Matthew.
She scooped him up and examined his finger. It was pink and puffy. Just as Elizabeth said, Ruth looked to the ground and saw Matthew had found what looked like the remains of a once perfect anthill.
“Let’s go put your finger in some cool water,” Ruth suggested and kissed his finger as his wails persisted. She took him back to the nursery and poured a bit of water from the pitcher into the washbowl and dipped his finger in it. She wiped his face as well, and the cool touch of the cloth calmed him. Ruth gently sprinkled light drops of water onto his face and soon he was giggling at the sensation.
Her Bible was on top of the chest of drawers, and she put
Matthew on the floor and found him some toys to keep him occupied before she picked it up. She sat in the rocking chair and remembered Elizabeth’s warning earlier about spoiling the boy. Her words disturbed Ruth and she wondered if Daniel felt the same way. Just the thought of him made her pulse quicken. To focus, she bowed her head and prayed silently before opening the Bible.
She turned to 1 Peter 5:5 and read,““Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to be humble.”
Ruth smiled and knew God had given her His answer. As much as it might take some effort, Ruth knew she needed to humble herself and listen to Elizabeth’s advice about Matthew. Elizabeth had lived at the ranch for many years and had looked after Matthew a long time. She possessed a wealth of knowledge.
“Da-da-da-da …” Ruth’s thoughts were interrupted as she looked up to see Matthew playing with a small red and blue painted train and listened carefully. He enjoyed his efforts and stopped to laugh before continuing with his baby chatter.
Lately, she’d often heard him make early language sounds and had been prompting words with him. A smile spread across her face, and she knew that soon he would be entertaining the family with his first words.
***
Ruth slowly walked down the stairs holding Matthew’s small, helping him to carefully climb down each step as he placed one foot below the other.
They found Elizabeth in the kitchen already preparing dinner.
“Elizabeth,” Ruth began, “I thought about what you said earlier and I prayed about it. I would it like to apologize.”
Elizabeth’s head bobbed up and she looked at Ruth in surprise.
“You’re right,” Ruth agreed. “I will won’t encourage Matthew to expect that I’ll pick him up all the time.”.
