She picked up her napkin and settled it on her lap. It seemed impossible to describe all she was feeling. “I ... enjoyed it very much. It brought back a great many memories of my mother.”
“When I was a boy, I loved the story of David and Goliath.” The Judge passed Ellie the platter of bacon. “I used to ask my mother to read it to me every night, and then I would imagine standing there before the giant and knowing without a doubt that God had already won the battle. That gave me great courage to trust in God no matter what obstacles I had to face.”
Ellie let out a laugh, picturing the Judge as a little boy going to battle. Of course, she couldn’t imagine him without his bushy eyebrows and mustache. “Yes, I can see how that story would give you great courage to slay your own giants.” She put two pieces of bacon on her plate and passed the platter to Marvella.
Ellie could hardly sit still, but this morning it was a joyful kind of struggle. Like she had a secret that was ready to burst from her. She’d been so eager to tell Marvella about what happened last night, but Father wasn’t home yet. Before she made any public declarations, she wanted to talk to him first.God, I hope he understands.
She started. The prayer flowed through her mind as though she’d never stopped talking to God.
“My dear, let’s not overtax the young woman.” Judge Ashbury’s voice broke through her thoughts, and he offered her a sympathetic smile.
“Oh tosh.” Marvella waved her hand. “Ellie is perfectly capable of answering my question.”
Ellie suppressed a laugh and turned to Marvella. “I appreciate your interest, but before I say too much, I want to talk to my father. I want him to hear from me where I am with Jesus. With the Bible. How my heart has changed.” There. That was as close as she would get to telling Marvella. For now.
“How wonderful.” The older woman reached for the jam. “We will eagerly await the full story.”
The Judge smiled, his eyes twinkling. He knew. “Yes, indeed, my dear.”
Marvella sipped her coffee.
Ellie gave her a smiling nod. The peace that had fallen over her last night hadn’t left. So this was what Mama meant about the comfort of the Scriptures. Ellie couldn’t wait to dig in and read the Bible for herself. She might never fully understand why her mother had been made to suffer, but after reading about what Jesus went through on His journey to the cross, she believed God Almighty knew her sorrow and pain. He hadn’t spared His own Son the pain and suffering of death! And that it was allowed on behalf of the world whom God did not want to see perish from their sins ...
What an incomparable love.
Maybe life wouldn’t always bring the answers she wanted. Maybe the Bible would give her insight, but not necessarily complete understanding. Perhaps that only came, as Sarah had said, by growing deeper in her love of God.
The Judge glanced at the clock. “It’s nearly time to pick up the men from the station. I’m going to have Jim drivetoday. I’ll send him back with the luggage, and then he can drive you to the park, Ellie.”
“Oh, I had thought to go with you to the station.”
The Judge stood. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting, I need a short time of meeting with the men and thought we might be able to talk at the depot.”
She forced a smile. “I understand. I can wait.”
“The Judge is going to drop me off to meet with my ladies on the final touches for the luncheon.” Marvella gave her husband a sweet smile. “I’d like to make sure the girls have everything they need.”
Ellie helped herself to scrambled eggs and toast, then held out her cup when the footman brought coffee around again. It would be a long day. She doused the dark liquid in cream and put sugar in as well before sampling it. Coffee had never been her favorite.
Marvella held her delicate teacup in her hands. “Is Louis planning to stay with us?”
“No, my dear. He’s coming in his private train car so that he can attend today’s festivities and then go up as far as the tracks will allow to inspect the route to Whitefish. He’ll have his accommodations with him.”
“Well, we can still invite him to join us for dinner each evening.”
The Judge shook his head. “No need. He’s only staying the day and then moving on.”
That was good. Father had been busy with Mr. Hill last time. She was eager to have time alone with him.
“We should probably be on our way, Marvella. I don’t want to be late picking up our guests.” The Judge tossed back the rest of his coffee and got to his feet.
Mrs. Ashbury dabbed her lips with the napkin. “I’m ready.”
And without further ado, they bid Ellie good-bye and were gone. She remained at the table looking down at her breakfast and feeling almost as if the encounter had never happened. The Ashburys seemed to be in constant motion.
Ellie finished her breakfast and then made her way to the parlor.
The minutes seemed to creep by and then the hour was gone. Had something happened? After another half hour, she was just about to call for her bicycle when she heard the carriage wheels crunching on the gravel drive.
