The Write Place

Read Chapter 4 Here

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The sun was pouring its light upon the leafy trees once again.  Red Feather stood in her white colonial dress, leaning on one arm against the tree overlooking the valley.  The trees were now turning a wide range of reds, oranges and yellows.   As she surveyed the beautiful sight, she felt Caleb’s arms wrap around her now growing abdomen.  Caleb wore fresher clothes, and his beard trimmed to a more appealing length; so Red Feather had said.

“A beautiful sight is the valley early in the fall.  Though you are more so all year,” Caleb smiled and felt the delightful ripples of laughter in her body.  “Quite the couple we are if I posit my opinion on the matter.”

“Wouldn’t be expecting a little third to our couple if you didn’t think so I gather,” chuckled Red Feather.  She took one of her two hair braids and played with it as she leaned back into Caleb’s arms.

“The leaves were changing during the wedding too.  Was quite a beautiful sight for a beautiful day.  Not the warmest weather for your baptism.  I didn’t appreciate him giving you an English name.  They are so boring, lack character.”

“Grace is boring to you?” said Red Feather turning her head to look at her husband with a wry eye. Caleb grinned as the light hit his ocean blue eyes.

“Well, fitting I suppose.  I guess I could never merit Grace, could I?”  said Caleb looking down to her with a delighted countenance as he continued to hold her.

“The roof is coming along?” Red Feather asked, smiling and turning to face her husband.  Still embracing her, Caleb nodded.  The pleased look on his face all but wrapped around his head.

“Should be sealed up too.  By the end of the day it’ll be done.  We can start moving some things in then,” Caleb replied to great satisfaction.

“Good, very good,” she affirmed, turning to face the valley again.

“Funny thing to come over to the other side of the world, all to be a blacksmith again,” Caleb said, shaking his head in amused disbelief.

“God works in mysterious ways, often humorous, it would appear,” said Red Feather.

“Perfect in all His ways, humor not excepted. The church is coming along too,” said Caleb looking back over his shoulder.  Within sight he could see several cabins, and not far behind them a church with an incomplete steeple. “About one hundred parishioners attending.  The village is growing quickly.  With increasing speed.”   Caleb turned his head, casting a brief glance upon the church.  “And coming around to finish the church.  A week ago birds could fly in during a worship service.  Now  you can go into the church in a rainstorm and not get wet.  Just as God intended,”  Caleb said as he turned back to rest his head on his wife’s shoulder.

“Pastor Jonathan is a good man, stout of heart, strong in character,” said Red Feather.  Caleb turned to his wife once more.

 “Most certainly true.  We are rather blessed to have him.  Skilled with a hammer too as he is with the word,” Caleb said.  With a gentle hand he rubbed his wife’s abdomen. “Truly remarkable isn’t it.  A new life out of our new life together.  Part me, part you.  Equally ours.”

“Most remarkable, the beauty of being a part of it,” she said.  She looked to her womb, feeling the new life moving within her. “He will know of his heritage, both.  More importantly he will know God,” said Red Feather. She placed her hand on top of his. “You know I cannot fear the future knowing the spirits are powerless, and that our God watches over us.”

Caleb looked up to the tree, noticing the shape of ripened fruit on its branches.  Caleb removed his left arm and dug into his pocket for his knife.

“What is it that is catching your eye?” asked Red Feather, turning her head towards her husband.

 Looking up to the branches Caleb spoke “Fruit.  Looks about perfect ripeness at the present.  Mind your head a moment,”  Caleb found his knife, using his right hand he reached and pulled down a tree branch just enough to reach it.  Cutting the stem off of a richly red colored apple, Caleb brought it down in his right hand in front of his wife.  Putting away the small knife from his left hand, he placed his arm around her again.  “Success my dear,” he smiled, handing her the apple.  Red Feather took a bite from the apple, and while chewing presented it to her husband for a bite. “Thank you my dear,” Caleb replied, taking a bite of his own. “This would make a good place for a bench,” Caleb mused looking to either side.

“Truly a wonderful place for the future,” she said, swallowing a fresh bite of the apple.  Caleb held her in his arms.  She lay her hands on his in firm agreement as the sun, settling towards evening hours, shone on the valley.  Cool in the shade, they enjoyed their fruit and looked towards days to come.