[Canadian West 02] - When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke Page A

uncomfortably and Wynn sensed my
restlessness.
    "Something wrong?" he asked, very sensitive to my changing
moods.
    "I was just thinking of all that needs to be done tomorrow," I
admitted.
    "It shouldn't be too bad," he tried to assure me. "Your trunk is all
ready to go and most of the other things are all packed and waiting.
There will just be a few last-minute things to be gathered together."
    "But all those wedding gifts?"
    "Julie and Mary volunteered, didn't I tell you?"
    "I don't recall-"
    "I'm sorry. I meant to tell you, so your mind would be at ease."
    "That's fine," I said, feeling better about it. "I do hope they are
careful and use lots of packing. Some of those porcelain things are very
delicate."
    "Packing?" echoed Wynn. "They won't need much packing. Mary
has volunteered to store them in her attic. They will be careful, I'm
sure.

    "Store them?"
    Now it was Wynn's turn to show surprise. "Elizabeth, you weren't
thinking we would be taking all these things with us, were you?"
    "Well-yes-I-"
    "We couldn't possibly. The Police Force allows so many pounds of
baggage per person. We have already stretched our limit. Besides, such
things would serve no purpose-have no function-in the North."
    For a moment I wanted to. argue. Their function would be to make
a home-to make me feel more like a homemaker. Wasn't that function enough? I didn't argue though. I remembered well my prayer of
three days before and my promise to my God to let Wynn be the head
of the household. I waited for a moment until I was sure I had complete control and then I looked at Wynn and gave him one of my
nicest smiles.
    "I guess that is all taken care of then."
    Wynn put an arm around me and drew me close, even though we
were on a crowded train.
    "Thank you, Elizabeth," he whispered against my hair, and I knew
I had gained far more than I had lost in the exchange.
    As expected, the next day was a busy one. My family was still with
Jon and Mary. They would be staying for a few more days before heading back east. I was glad I still had this one brief day with them before
I would be heading north.
    However, there would be no more late-night chats with my sister
Julie. Her things had been moved from the room I had used for so
long at Jon's, and the room was now set up for Wynn's and my use. It
seemed rather strange at first, but I quickly got used to the idea.
Already, I didn't know how I had ever managed without Wynn, and I
had been a married woman only four short days.
    Wynn was gone a good share of the day, running here and there
making final preparations. He had an appointment at the Royal North
West Police Headquarters for last-minute instructions and took our last
trunks and crates down to be weighed and checked in. We would be
starting our journey by train, then switching to boat, and ending by ox
cart or wagon. Had it been the winter months, we would have also
used dog teams.

    We did not retire early. There was no need to conserve our energy.
We had all the next day to sleep on the train if we wished. It seemed
far more important now to sit and chat with the family. Reluctantly,
we finally went to bed.
    I climbed the stairs to my room for one last time. Who knew when
I might sleep here again? I had grown to love this room. I had always
felt welcomed and loved in Jon's home. I would miss it. I would miss
them. I would miss each one of the children. They might be nearly
grown before I saw them again. And what of my dear mother and
father? Would they still be in their Toronto home when I returned
from the north country? What about Julie? Would she marry while I
was gone? And Matthew? He would be a man.
    I did not dread my future with Wynn in his North. The only thing
that bothered me was that I would miss so much of what went on
here. If only I could freeze everything in place until I came back again
so I wouldn't need to miss so much. But that was impossible. One
could only be at one place at one time.