He gulped the last of his coffee and watched the kids across the street playing tag.
A longing for a family of his own rose up within him as their joyful laughter filled the air. What would it be like to have a family? To teach his own children about the land and God’s creation?
A bit of sadness rolled over him and he shook it away. The Lord hadn’t provided an open door in this area yet. Mark’s words came back to him and made him laugh. Yeah, he had been kind of waiting for God to just plop the right woman in his lap. Which was ridiculous. It was probably time to take action. Pray about it. Ask the Lord to guide him and then get up off his duff and do something about it.
So rather than wallowing, he should get out there and play with those kids.
Carter set his cup down and jogged across the street. “Need an extra player?”
“Sure, Mr. Brunswick!”
“Be on my team!”
“Come play with us!”
He laughed at their exuberant welcome. “I’d love to play, as long as you call me Carter.”
“Mama won’t let us do that.” The littlest of the group chimed in. Her hands were clasped in front of her. “You’re an adult so you hafta be a mister.”
“All right. How about Mr. Carter, then? Will that work?”
Each kid nodded.
“Good. Okay, so let me guess ... I’m it?”
Squeals of delight filled the air as he chased the kids. In the slowest motion he could. Which only made them giggle more.
After half an hour of tag, he was plumb worn out. Leaning over his knees, he worked to catch his breath. But the kids just kept on running.
A sweet little girl stood next to him. He smiled at her. “Where’d you get all this energy?”
She shrugged. “I dunno. But Mama said we had to get it all out before we came inside.”
Carter chuckled. “Yeah, I can imagine she did.”
“Look!” Little Charlie waved his hands. “It’s the new lady on her bicycle.”
All the children stopped and watched as Ellie headed down the street toward them.
Carter had never been on a bicycle before and wasn’t sure he would ever want to try it. But she handled it with ease. Seemed pretty good at it, too.
Honk!A horseless carriage careened around a corner right into Ellie’s path.Honk! Honk!
She rang her bike bell several times, but the car continued on its path. Straight for her. Ringing the bell some more, she swerved and barely missed the car, but the tilt was a bit too much for her and she flew into Mrs. Sidler’s bushes. “Ah!” Her strangled cry was muted by the thick foliage.
Carter raced down the street and pulled back the shrubbery in which she was ensconced. “Miss Briggs! Miss Briggs?”
Moaning was her response.
“Miss Briggs ... are you all right?”
The horseless carriage disappeared down the road. What on earth? Whowasthat?
An arm poked out of the greenery. “Help, please.”
He tugged on it, but she was stuck on something. “Is perhaps a piece of your clothing attached in there somewhere?” He couldn’t see through the thick branches, but her stockinged feet stuck out by his legs.
A few unladylike grunts and groans escaped the shrub. “I’m in need of your assistance, Carter Brunswick.” The voice was a bit more agitated this time. She stuck her hand out again. “Just pull as hard as you can.”
