Lord, should I say something? Have You brought me here to tell them of You?
Of course the Lord had. Maybe this was only part of His purpose in guiding her and Naomi to this land, but Scripture said toGo into all the world and preach the Gospel.She should share of Him with everyone, using every opportunity.
As Two Stones turned from Jonah and left the bed chamber, Dinah stayed out of his way and took a deep breath. She kept her voice kind and curious. "Can I ask what you were saying just now, when you touched him?"
He dipped his chin. "I pray for my brother."
"Praying…to who?" Or perhaps she should have saidto what. Best she understand what she was dealing with before telling him of the Truth.
The corners of his mouth curved the smallest bit. "To God."
She hesitated. To the sun god? Or the moon? How could she ask what kind of god without sounding silly—or worse, insulting him? Again.
But Two Stones seemed to understand her hesitation. "The one God. The Creator of all things."
Dinah's heart skipped a beat. Was he saying he believed in the God of the Bible?
Before she could ask him more, Jericho cleared his throat. "Two Stones is a Christian, if that's what you're wondering."
Two Stones nodded, his grin no longer hiding. But it held kindness, not like he was laughing at her. "Jericho's father told me of Him many years ago. My life is not the same since I believe."
She returned his grin, breathing out her relief. "That's wonderful." Once more, things in this territory were not at all what she expected.
But this time, she could be more than thankful.
CHAPTER9
Weariness tugged at Jericho as he rode into the ranch yard with Miles and Sean. This wasn't simply the exhaustion of a hard day's work.
The churning in his mind had consumed far more energy than the animals had worked in his body. He'd not realized how many of their family's traditions he'd let fall by the wayside after Mum and Dat's death. Sitting at the table for meals was the most obvious, and Miss Wyatt's reminder that morning had stung.
But then Two Stones speaking of how Dat had so freely shared his faith. Jericho had stopped trying to please God years ago, but that didn't mean his brothers should lose their faith too. Dat read a chapter from the Bible each night, and he’d prayed before every meal.
Meals they ate around Mum's table.
Mum was always singing hymns as she worked and insisted her boys spend an hour each Sunday singing with her.Raising praise to the Father, she'd called it.
Jericho couldn't carry a tune, but some of the other boys weren't half bad. Maybe they could sing a hymn or two on Sundays. And reading a chapter at nights would give them all time to settle in the evenings. Jericho only had to make it happen. He didn't have to be the one to read. The same with a prayer before meals.
As they dismounted and began unsaddling the horses, Sampson came over to help.
Jericho kept his voice even. "We're going to start eating meals at the table again, beginning tonight. Sampson, you can say the blessing before we dig in. Miles, help me move the table out so we can all fit. Sean, go tell Jude and Gil to come in and eat." He'd seen them unhitching the wagon team as they rode in.
All the boys eyed him, but Miles raised his brows more boldly. Best put a stop to what that look insinuated.
He met his youngest brother's gaze. "I'm not doing this because of our female visitors. It's something Two Stones said today about how Dat taught him to pray. I realized we've stopped doing some of the things that were important to them."
All three of the boys sobered, and Miles nodded. "It's a good idea."
Once they finished settling the horses for the night, Jericho followed his youngest brother to the house. The main room was empty as they stepped inside, but a rich aroma filled the air. Not just fried meat either. Something sweeter.
He glanced through Jonah's open doorway but couldn't see anyone in there with his brother. The other bed chamber door was closed, as usual. Was Lillian in there with both sisters? He'd barely seen the one who was in the family way. Her name was Naomi, he was pretty sure. Once she'd gone to bed that first hour, the door had stayed closed.
Which was the way things should be with her in bed and so many men around, but…
He turned away from the closed door and his unending questions. Miles had already pulled the chairs back from one side of the table and positioned himself at the short end.
As Jericho took up the opposite side, a sound drifted from the closed bedroom door. A sound he'd not heard in years. Not in this house at least.
