Love's Enduring Promise (Love Comes Softly Series #2) by Janette Oke Page A

she would wear on her first day, going from plaid, to grey, to blue, to plaid again--over and over. Finally she settled on the blue because she liked her blue hair ribbons the best. Her only sorrow was that Tommie would not be there.
    "I'm gonna marry Tommie," she informed Clae. "Yer only five," Clae responded.
    "Almost six, an' I'll grow," Missie retorted.
    "But Tommie's most twenty."
    "So!" said Missie, and that settled it.
    Marty felt that it would indeed be good for Missie to have more contact with other children. She'd be right glad when school was finally in session.
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    Chapter 15
    The New Teacher
    The Saturday before school was to begin was a special day for the whole community. A meeting was called at the schoolhouse for all interested parties. It was a chance for the parents and children to meet Mr. Wilbur Whittle, and vice versa. Marty supposed that there wasn't a home in the whole area that wasn't touched by the excitement.
    The meeting was scheduled for two o'clock and the ladies had decided to serve coffee and cake at its closing. "Eatin' together always breaks the ice, so to speak," observed Mrs. Stern, who still had youngsters young enough to be sent to school.
    At the Davis house the noon meal was hurried through and the dishes quickly done. Careful attention was then given to the grooming of each family member. Nandry and Clae had never looked better. Nandry still looked noncommittal, though Marty did see her glance at Clark for his appraisal. Clae, on the other hand, primped and preened. She was not unattractive and with her eyes shining and her cheeks flushed, she looked downright pretty. The fact that Clae had helped to sew the dress she wore filled her with pride. Marty sensed it and complimented her, making her rosy cheeks turn even rosier. Marty commented on Nandry's appearance as well. Nandry's eyes lit momentarily but she didn't allow herself a smile.
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    Missie pranced around the house, excitement oozing out of every pore. She had Clare and little Arnie doing somersaults and jigs with her. Finally Clark and Marty were able to usher their brood out the door in some semblance of order.
    It was a beautiful day for a meeting of neighbors and everyone seemed to turn out. The teams were tied at the far end of the lot and the folk gathered next to the schoolhouse, there not being enough room for them all to go inside.
    Neighbor greeted neighbor, with good-natured talk flowing all around. The two spring babies were there. Little Elizabeth Anne was radiant with smiles and coos. She insisted on being held upright so that she wouldn't miss a thing, and even tried to sit on her own. A "bundle of wigglin' energy," her proud Grandma called her. Marty took a turn holding her and had to agree with the verdict.
    Wanda and Cam were there with their new son. Everett Cameron DeWinton John--Marty thought it a big name for a small boy and was somewhat surprised to learn that his father had cut it down to plain "Rett." Rett had gained rapidly. He was already a big boy for his age, having quickly compensated for his size at birth.
    "Look at thet, huh," his father boasted. "Look at thet fer a boy, an"im not yet five months. Gonna be a big fella thet 'un." He grinned broadly.
    Marty agreed and took the baby. She held Rett for some time and finally had to acknowledge the little warning signals that shivered up her arms and to her heart. The baby did not move as a youngster should. When she raised him to her shoulder there wasn't the proper lift of his head. Something was wrong with this baby. She looked at his beaming mother, his boasting pa, and prayed that her eyes wouldn't betray her, that she would be proved wrong; but she could not shake the heavy feeling from her heart.
    At ten past two the Watley wagon finally pulled in, bringing with them the new teacher. All eyes were on this man. Marty wasn't sure what any of them had expected, but she was willing to bet that none of them had pictured him as he was. Accustomed to