Milk Maid in Heaven Read online

  “She had this beautiful white horse named Cameo. Just after my mother died, Cameo gave birth to my horse and I named her Daisy—after my mother. Those rides with my mother were very special to me. She would ride with Susan and me on summer afternoons and she would always pack a picnic. We’d sit with our feet dangling in the creek while eating strawberries and rhubarb that my mother grew in her garden. We’d pick flowers from the field and bring them home to dry. My mother loved flowers. Every time I would bring her flowers when I was a little girl, she would get a very thoughtful look on her face and make me promise that I’d never get too old to bring her flowers.”

  “You grew up, though.”

  “Yes, I did. But I still take her flowers. Only now, I have to take them to her grave.” Emily steered Daisy toward the barn.

  They dismounted the horses and led them into the barn.

  “I’ll take care of the horses, Emily. Go up and check on your father.”

  Emily smiled. “Thanks, Mitch.”

  He watched her leave the barn, taking his heart with her.

  ****

  Emily looked at the clock on the microwave as she entered the kitchen. It was nearly eleven o’clock. She could hear Mrs. Manney in the laundry room starting the washing machine. Eager to see how her father was doing, she walked down the hall toward his room. Just short of his bedroom door, she could hear the familiar, comforting sound of his gentle snoring. She was almost glad that he was asleep, except that she knew he had most likely been waiting on Mitch to return an hour ago from his morning ride. Would he suspect something? Would he find out the two of them had spent the morning together? She pushed her worries aside for the time being and went to her room to check her e-mail. There were several letters from fellow students, but she was only interested in what Susan had to say.

  Dear Emily,

  Forgive me for taking so long in responding to your last two e-mails. How exciting to help Mitch deliver the calf—I’d have been scared to pieces! It sounds like the two of you are quite close now. Have you told him how you feel? I don’t think you should tell him unless he’s taking the job—then you’ll know he isn’t planning on leaving. Does your father know yet? He’ll probably get angry when he finds out—he might even ground you until you’re thirty! How many weeks until Mitch gets out of prison?

  Finals are going to be tough. We got the study material for the exams today and I’m worried. I miss you so much, Em—the dorm room isn’t the same without you.

  How’s your father’s health? Is he getting any better? Has he accepted Jesus yet? I wish we were in the same time zone so I could call you—will you call me? Call if you can, or write back.

  Love, Susan

  Emily wiped a tear from her eye before it fell down her cheek. She missed Susan and part of her resented having to stay home and take on so much responsibility. She struggled within herself to uncover a reason for the events that were presently wreaking havoc on her life. She could find none.

  ****

  Mitch worked steadily to move the cows through the milking process as quickly as possible. He was tired and eager to get some much needed rest. In addition to his regular workload, he was working as closely with Ethan as possible. The two talked nearly every day and his training took a few extra hours. He glanced at his watch—nearly seven o’clock. Where had his day gone? He hadn’t even had the chance to check in with Ethan yet.

  The sun hung low across the horizon, leaving crimson streaks that blended with amber and lilac. Birds chirped in the branches high above Mitch. He closed his eyes and listened to their song—such a simple thing, but very soothing. Listening to them intently, he did not hear Emily approach.

  “Are you okay, Mitch?’

  Startled, he nearly lost his balance as he tipped his head back down in front of him. “I—I’m fine. I was listening to the birds.”

  “You had your head tipped back so far, it almost looked painful.”

  Mitch chuckled. “I like to point my face Heaven-ward sometimes so I can hear when God has something to say to me. I think he might have been relaying something to me through the bird’s song. I know it sounds silly, but I think God uses many different forms to talk to his people.”

  “I wouldn’t argue with that. Last week, I believe he used a rainbow to get my attention.”

  The color drained from Mitch’s face. “Was it a double rainbow?”

  “Yes! Did you see it too?”

  Mitch swallowed hard. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I believe God blessed me with that rainbow to ease my burden and as an answer to some things that were weighing heavily on my mind.”

  Emily looked at him, unable to comprehend what was shuffling through his mind at the moment.

  “Me, too.”

  ****

  Ethan called to Mrs. Olson, the new night nurse. His bedside clock read seven-fifty-five and it had been less than an hour since his last trip to the bathroom. Feeling somewhat disoriented, he struggled to remember if he had seen Mitch during the day. In his sleepy state, he called the office.

  “Stuart Dairy. This is Mitch.”

  “Oh good, Mitch, you’re still there. Do you have time to stop at the house for a visit before you leave for the day?”

  Mitch hesitated, looking wearily at the schedule of unfinished tasks in front of him. “Yes, I can make it up your way after I finish tagging the new calves.”

  “Great, I’m looking forward to it.”

  Mitch hung up the phone and put away the paperwork he’d been trying to sort through for nearly an hour.

  Emily pushed back her chair and turned to Mitch.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “I never got a chance to work with your father today. He wants to see me before I leave.”

  “He’s been doing better the last few days. I wouldn’t be surprised if he weren’t back out here working by the end of the week.”

  Mitch smiled at her. “I did notice yesterday he seemed quite energetic when we were in the barn.”

  “I hope his energy level keeps up.” Emily smiled back at Mitch, realizing they had been working in silence for several hours.

  ****

  Mrs. Olson let Mitch in through the kitchen door.

  “He’s on the sun porch. Go on in and I’ll bring in some tea and cookies for your visit.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Olson.”

  Mitch walked into the room where Ethan sat. The older man stood up when Mitch entered, offering his hand. Mitch took it and the two men shook hands just as they always had when greeting each other.

  “I’m glad to see you up and around so much in the last few days, Ethan.”

  Ethan shook his head. “I actually feel better. But let’s get down to business—I know you should’ve left here hours ago. I’d like to talk to you on a more personal level.”

  Mitch shifted nervously in his chair. “What’s on your mind, Ethan?”

  “I’m not quite sure how to approach this subject, so I’ll just come right out with it.”

  Mrs. Olson brought in tea and set it on the table before them, while Mitch squirmed. Had Ethan found out about his embrace with Emily?

  “Mitch, something has come to my attention that I feel I need to address with you.”

  He sounded so serious that Mitch began to mentally prepare himself for the worst. He remained silent, waiting for Ethan to confront him about his relationship with Emily.

  “This morning I was out with one of the horses. I happened to go down by the creek and I saw you and Emily there. I didn’t stay long because I was very tired, but what I saw shocked me.”

  Mitch could hardly breathe. “Ethan, let me explain.”

  “Hold on a minute, I’m not through,” Ethan said, holding up a hand to Mitch. “I have to say that the look on my daughter’s face is one that I haven’t seen since she was a little girl—when her mother was alive. I’ve noticed the way that the two of you look at each other when you’re together, and I think your being here
has made my daughter happier than she’s been for some time.”

  Mitch didn’t know what to say. He felt relief that Ethan didn’t seem to be angry with him. “We’ve become very good friends.”

  Ethan chuckled. “From what I saw, I’d say you might be on your way to being a little more than friends. I left after you hugged her. I’m sure she was crying because of me and I’m glad that you can be there to comfort her. I just wish I knew how to get through to her the way you can.”

  “Ethan, all she wants from you is to spend some time with her. She told me this morning that she would like to go riding with you the same way you did when she was a little girl. Take her for a picnic on the creek’s edge the way her mother did when she was alive.”

  Ethan stood up and crossed the room, looking out the tall windows of the porch. “I suppose I never thought it could be that easy to relate to my own daughter. I suppose I’ve been quite selfish since her mother passed away. I’ve been so pre-occupied with throwing myself into my work that I left Emily to fend for herself.”

  “It isn’t too late to make up for lost time. I’ll be honest with you, Ethan, I love Emily and I would like to see her happy.” Mitch swallowed hard, knowing he was taking a risk with his confession. “My first priority is to get out of prison, and with less than a month left, I assure you I’ll keep my focus on my work here at the dairy.”

  Ethan turned from the window and walked back toward the wicker chair he’d been sitting in. “Speaking of the dairy. Are you ready to give me an answer about my offer yet, Son?”

  “I have some reservations still—mostly because of the way the other prisoners have rejected my authority, but I believe when all is said and done, I’ll be staying on.”

  Ethan patted Mitch on the back. “Glad to hear it. And thank you for the suggestion about Emily—and for your honesty. I trust you with the dairy and with my daughter.”

  “You’re very welcome, Sir. Thank you for being so understanding about our friendship.”

  “I only want what is best for her—and you seem to make her happy. She’ll need you when I’m gone and I think I can count on you to fill that void in her life.”

  Mitch stood to his feet and shook the hand of his friend. He hated the thought of losing Ethan, but he felt freer for having finally brought the truth out in the open.

  ****

  In the morning, Emily laid in bed longer than usual. She felt too tired to get up and didn’t want to work at the dairy today. She felt trapped in her father’s choice in life and wasn’t ready to face the responsibility she was about to inherit. How had things managed to get this far out of control?

  ****

  In the office, Mitch was already hard at work. A sudden knock at the door of the office startled Mitch who motioned the prisoner to wait a minute while he finished filling in his report.

  Mitch walked out of the office. “What can I do for you?”

  “We were all talking and we want to know why you don’t do too much of the work around here anymore? Is it because you’re part of the family now? Or do you think you’re better than we are since you’ll be getting out in a few weeks?”

  Mitch felt threatened in a way he hadn’t since he first entered prison. Out of the corner of his eye, Mitch could see the guard standing at the front of the milking parlor. Mitch nodded to him, suddenly feeling a little safer against this prisoner’s anger.

  “I have never treated any of you like I’m better. You have to accept that I’m in training for a higher position that I’ll have when I get out of prison. And yes, my friendship did have something to do with my landing this position—Ethan Stuart trusts me. But understand that I’ve worked very hard to get where I am. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you bring it up with the warden.”

  The prisoner eyed Al who was watching the entire confrontation. “If you aren’t going to help any more, then you need to ask the warden for more prisoners to be out here on our shift because we can’t handle the workload alone.”

  With that, he left.

  Mitch let out a heavy sigh, feeling as though he’d been kicked in the stomach.

  ****

  The following morning, at eight o’clock, Mitch went to the barn to saddle Red Thunder. Emily followed him quietly, intending to tag along again.

  “May I ride with you again?” She spoke shyly, with her eyes to the ground.

  Ethan entered the barn just then. “Do you mind if I ride with you today, Em?”

  Emily’s heart caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected her father to be in the barn and she had no idea of the conversation that Mitch and her father had the day before. Somewhat startled by his presence, she lacked the words to answer him.

  “If you’d rather ride with Mitch, I understand. I just thought you and I could take a ride together.”

  Why had he been so calm about her riding with Mitch? She dismissed her worry over the possibility of her father knowing the extent of her friendship with Mitch and decided to accept his offer. “No, Daddy, I’d much rather take a ride with you.”

  If the truth be told, she was torn between the two men she loved, but she intended to take advantage of her father’s ability to ride.

  “Do you mind, Mitch?” Ethan offered a hand to Mitch and he slipped him Red Thunder’s reigns instead of shaking his hand. When Ethan was confidently seated, he asked Mitch to tie up the leather satchel he’d brought along.

  Mitch looked at Emily who seemed to be shocked to see her father in the barn so early and with so much energy. He nodded to Emily and went about the task of saddling Daisy for her.

  ****

  Ethan steered Red Thunder toward the creek and Emily pushed Daisy to follow. So far, they had ridden in silence and Emily wondered if the entire trip would be this awkward. Her thoughts easily became lost in the sound of the horses’ hooves hitting the ground so rhythmically.

  When they reached the creek, Ethan slid carefully from Red Thunder’s back. Emily halted Daisy and planted her feet firmly on the ground. After tying Daisy to a nearby tree, she offered her assistance to her father.

  “Can I help you with Red Thunder, Daddy?”

  “I just have to get this pack undone from the saddle, then, we can sit down on the edge of the creek.”

  Emily raised an eyebrow at him, wondering what he was up to. After Ethan tied Red Thunder, he motioned to his daughter to sit with him. He opened the leather satchel and pulled biscuits, fruit and a thermos from it. He spread out a red-checked cloth between them and placed two coffee mugs on it. Emily watched him closely as he arranged the fruit and biscuits on napkins as though it were a feast fit for a king.

  “What is all of this, Daddy?”

  “Mitch reminded me yesterday of the picnics that your mother used to take with you on the edge of this very creek, and I thought you wouldn’t mind having a picnic with your tired old dad for once. I’m just sorry it took me so long to take this time with you.” He smiled at her with tears in his eyes.

  She wondered if he also knew about her embrace with Mitch, but kept silent about it since he hadn’t mentioned it.

  Ethan cleared his throat.

  “I brought you out here today to talk to you about something important, Em.”

  Oh no. Please don’t have the “I’m dying” talk with me because I don’t think I’m ready for that yet, and neither are you. I haven’t had a chance to discuss your salvation.

  He shifted on the rocks that bordered the edge of the creek. “I called the Dean at your school and discussed with him the possibility of your return to take your final exams so you can graduate.”

  “But Daddy,” she interrupted.

  Ethan held up his hand. “Let me finish, Em. I want you to go back because I know how important this is to you.”

  She couldn’t help but interrupt him again. “But what about my last two classes. I can’t just skip them.”

  He held up his hand again to stop her from continuing. “I faxed them samples of the books you keep her
e, and told them of all the work you do around here so they agreed to give you credit for the class if you can pass the final exam. He said it was something called life credit—for life experiences, I guess.”

  Emily was torn. How could she leave him now when they had no idea how much time he had left? Still, she was so grateful and surprised that he’d arranged everything for her. How could she let him down?

  “I know what you’re thinking, Em. But it will only be eight days. Then you’ll be back home a college graduate. You’re not my little girl anymore. I’m proud of the way you turned out.”

  Emily let a tear fall down her cheek. She could see her childhood slipping from her in the reflection of her father’s weary eyes. “Thank you, Daddy. I’ll cherish this day in my heart forever.”

  FIVE

  GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

  Emily felt guilt rising in her about leaving the dairy farm. Even if it was for only eight days, she wasn’t sure how she would manage to concentrate on her finals without worrying about her father.

  She’d made sure before she left to help Mitch set up an email in the office so they could write to each other. She’d used the excuse of convenience of keeping tabs on her father and the dairy, but she knew writing to Mitch would make it easier to be away from him. She felt guilty over her excitement of her growing relationship with Mitch, but knowing if her father approved, would have made it easier to handle.

  ****

  Emily was happy to see Susan waiting for her at the baggage claim at the airport. Susan had already located her bag, and the two were out the door to catch a cab back to their dorm room. The flight had taken its toll on Emily, who couldn’t wait to get to the dorm so she could get to sleep. She’d taken the latest flight possible, and she would be tired for her morning classes as a result.