To all appearances the sun came up in the normal fashion, and the day progressed in its usual manner. After Sarah and Rachel fixed the family breakfast, Luke and Amos left to be about their work in the fields, while a short time later Rachel and Luke Jr. left for their respective schools. Sarah went about her chores and took the baby outside with her as she busied herself by working in her garden.
The flower border around the garden was in full bloom, and she busied herself planting other flowers, which would bloom after the first plants had faded. The official start of summer was rapidly approaching and already the family had fresh vegetables reaped from her small plot. She was very happy with how her efforts were being rewarded and looked forward to continuing to harvest her garden's bounty throughout the summer and into the fall.
She paid a short visit to the barn to make sure that Micah was doing well, before returning to the house to fix lunch. In the early afternoon one of her church friends stopped by to pick her and the baby up to take them to the church for a planning session about the upcoming start of summer party. Just about everything was ready for the church event, including food, drinks, entertainment, and even designated babysitters. For over the past month, after Pastor Howard had finished his Sunday sermon, he would invite everyone in the congregation to the event.
"Make sure that all of you come, because this is going to be something to remember," Pastor Bob would tell his flock, "and make sure to invite your friends that aren't members of the church party. Once they see how much fun we have, I'm sure that they will want to join with us on a regular basis. When they see the joy that we experience and feel the spirit moving through us, they will be beating down the doors of this church to join us."
Sarah returned home late in the afternoon and quickly began fixing supper for her family. She thought about how much fun everyone would have at the upcoming party and how the event would allow Micah to meet people, which would probably help him overcome his reluctance to leave the barn. Luke Jr. returned from school all excited about having received an A on one of his tests. Sarah took his test paper and posted it on the refrigerator.
"Now you just keep up that good work and you are going to grow up to be someone rich and famous," Sarah beamed at the boy as she hugged and kissed him. "You have a good mind and a lot of talent."
Rachel returned from college almost as excited as Luke Jr. had been. She couldn't wait to tell Sarah about how Mark had invited her to dine out that coming Saturday and to go to a movie afterward. Sarah laughed and told her sister that courting could be a lot of fun, but cautioned her, with a wink, not to put the cart before the horse and to make sure Mark behaved himself.
"Sarah," Rachel slyly grinned, "you aren't going to tell me that you and Luke didn't fool around before you got married?"
"I'm just reminding you to watch your step, little sister. You don't want to have big belly when you walk down the aisle, do you?"
"Oh, Sarah!" gasped Rachel. "You should know me better than that!"
"I do, but I also know that sometimes people get carried away and think that being engaged is the same thing as being married, which it isn't."
"Okay, your kind words of wisdom have been taken to heart, and I will be a very good girl and will make Mark be a very good boy. There does that satisfy you?"
"I'm just trying to make sure you don't get hurt."
"I know that," Rachel said hugging her sister, "and I appreciate it. I really do, you don't have to worry about me."
Just before the sun went down, Amos and Luke drove their tractors into the yard and into the barn. A short while later they entered the house. Luke kissed his wife and listened to her describe how the events of her day had gone, while Amos went to clean himself up for dinner. Luke called his son into the kitchen and made a big display of about the test paper hanging on the refrigerator.
"You know, you keep up that kind of work in school and you're going to end up a rocket scientist."
"Aw, I don't want to be a scientist," the boy groaned, "I want to be a farmer like you!"
"Then, I guess if you keep getting grades like that, you are going to be one of the best farmers that ever was in the whole world!"
"Pa, you and Great Grandpa are the best farmers and anyone that says different has got to answer to me."
A few moments later Amos came into the kitchen and Luke went to wash up before supper. Shortly after Luke returned, Sarah said that everyone had better get up to the table because the food was ready.
"I'll take Micah his dinner and I'll be right back," Luke told his wife. Sarah fixed Micah a plate of food and a large glass of cold cider.
Through the deepening twilight Luke walked to the barn where he found Micah closing up the hood to one of the tractors. Micah greeted him and said that the food, which Luke brought him smelled good.
"Well, here you go Micah," Luke handed the plate and glass to Micah. "I'll be back after awhile to pick up the dishes."
"You haven't forgotten what we discussed last night have you?" asked Micah.
"No, but I haven't said anything to Sarah about it. You just eat up and I'll have a talk to my wife and see if she wants to sit in on our conversation."
"I can hardly wait to get at that food. I look forward to seeing you later."
Luke returned to the dinner table and dinner followed the normal routine. Much of the conversation surrounded the upcoming church party. After the meal was finished everyone helped clear the table, while Rachel and Sarah began to do the dishes.
"I'll run down and get Micah's dishes," Luke said. "It wouldn't do to leave them for later."
As Luke returned to the barn he felt serious reservations about including his wife in the coming night's talk with Micah. While he couldn't put his finger on any specific thing, he felt uneasy about the entire idea of having his wife accompany him that night. Luke thought that the man's strange insistence on staying exclusively to the area of the barn might be a sign of a serious mental disorder and that having his wife close to a man who might have such a problem would be a mistake.
"Luke, please tell Sarah that the food was excellent, as always," Micah said giving him the empty plate and glass. "That was a wonderful meal."
"I will tell her, but I don't know if she will be back down with me later."
"That would be unfortunate. I was truly looking forward to seeing her and talk with the both of you, but I understand. A farm wife has many tasks, and I am sure she wants to turn in early; however, if both of you can spare me a little while, I am sure that both of you would benefit from it. I can assure you that if anything is said, which makes you uncomfortable we will stop then and there. My friend, I have only your best interests at heart. Talk over things with your wife and let her decide."
Luke suddenly felt that letting Sarah decide whether or not to come down and talk to Micah would be a good idea. It seemed that Micah was really trying to help and perhaps it would be worth it for Sarah to hear what the man had to say. Luke looked at Micah for a moment before nodding and turning to return to the house with dishes.
When Luke entered the kitchen he found Sarah alone drying the last of the dishes. She smiled as Luke entered and took the dirty dishes from him. "You're just in time. I was about to let out the water."
In a few moments she washed Micah's dishes and started wiping them dry. Luke watched her for awhile before getting up nerve to tell her about Micah's invitation to come down to the barn that night.
"Micah has asked me to invite you down to the barn tonight to talk for awhile with us," Luke told her expecting her to refuse outright.
"That would be nice," Sarah's reply came as a surprise to Luke, "I've been wondering what you two have been talking about down there. So when is all this talking going to take place?"
"I guess anytime you want after the children are asleep."
"The baby is sound asleep and Rachel took her up to bed. Luke Jr. will be going to bed before long. He is going to read for a bit and then go to sleep. So, I guess we are free to go anytime. I'll ask Rachel to keep an ear out, in case the baby wakes up, so I don't see any problem."
"Alright, I'll just go and tell Grandpa we are going down to see Micah for a bit and not to wait up for us."
Luke went into the living room where he found Luke Jr. hugging Amos goodnight. The boy ran over to his father, who kissed him and told him to go into the kitchen to his mother. After the lad left the room Luke told Amos that he and his wife were going down to the barn for little while. Amos arched his eyebrows at his grandson's announcement.
"What's up, boy?" Amos asked. "What's the idea of taking Sarah down to talk to this stranger?"
"I just want her to get to know him a bit better, that's all Grandpa."
"Well, why does it have to be in the middle of the night? Something about that man just doesn't sit well on my mind."
"I've talked to him and he is harmless enough. I just want him to get to know us, and I hope to take you down some evening to talk with him."
"I'll do my talkin' during the day time, and that's not a bad idea for you and Sarah to follow. We have to git up plenty early. Don't let this feller go flim-flaming you. I don't trust him a whole lot. Take what he has to say on face value."
"Don't worry, Grandpa," Luke replied, "I'll watch out for Sarah and all the family. There isn't anyone that can pull anything over my eyes, but the only way for Micah to get to know us is for us to talk to him."
