There was a stack of dirty diapers and bedding that needed Gloriana’s attention, so she started the process. It would take all afternoon, but she would accomplish what she could. With the weather chilly but nice, she built a fire under the outdoor caldron and then began the process of filling it with water. Before long, she had the water hot enough and put in the soft soap she purchased from one of the local women. Next she put in the wash and began to stir it around and around. The action was second nature, and Gloriana found herself gazing down over the lake and thinking back to other times when she and her mother and Tabby had shared the chore together. How she missed those days. Mama had often told them stories about her parents, people Gloriana had never known.

Now JT and Sally were her only family. Well, there was Luke too. He had made it clear that they would always be a family. She shook her head and left the clothes to soak. They had decided they would marry as soon as possible, but it seemed every time they arranged it, something kept it from happening.

Now Luke’s father was very sick. The doctor was afraid he might die. Mr. Carson was older and not in the best of physical condition. A sedentary life of luxury and rich food had done him no favors. Gloriana hated thinking that if he did die, they wouldn’t have any more trouble from the old man. She hated feeling anger toward him and found it had abated somewhat with her responsibility to nurse him. But in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but remember that he wanted to take Sally away from her.

“Lord, please help me put my trust in You and not fear for the future. I know that You already know what will happen in that future, and I don’t want to hate this man.”

She filled the rinse tub with water and made certain the clotheslines were clean. She went back inside to check on Sally and Mr. Carson a couple of times, retrieving her clothespins on the last trip.

After seeing that all of the clothes were properly scrubbed, Gloriana rinsed them out and began to hang them on the line. She knew the day was getting away from her. She should have started the laundry that morning, but there just hadn’t been time. Now, glancing to the west and south, it looked like it might rain. She shrugged it off and decided to hang the clothes anyway. If it rained, they’d just get an extra rinse.