Chapter Eight

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A Sunday Traveling Together
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On the train to Regina, Nathan awakened first as the sunlight shone through the gap of the window blind. He laid there praying his morning prayers, giving thanks for Allie and for his mother and father, for his dear friends, Gabe, Bill, Joseph and Minnie, Lee and Rosemary. He prayed for Elizabeth, asking the Lord to help her recover from the grief she had expressed yesterday at the schoolhouse and for those who had come alongside to help her. Nathan prayed for the new opportunities ahead for Allie and himself, giving thanks for the Commissioner and his family, for the cottage, the school and the job. He asked the Lord for good friendships and that he and Allie would continue to heal and forgive those who had wounded them.

As he began to quote a favorite Psalm, Nathan heard Allie stir and a small whispered voice, "Dad? Are you awake?"

Nathan whispered back. "I am. Are you?"

Giggles ensued and Allie climbed down from her bunk and sat on the edge of her father's bed. "Hi!"

"Hi back! How did you sleep, Sweetheart? Rocked to sleep like a baby?"

"I guess that's a good description. I was nervous in the beginning, up so high and on a moving train. But then I realized you had tucked me in really tightly and that was probably to keep me from falling. I slept great after that. How about you?"

"Slept great as well, although I wasn't afraid of falling out of bed." He grinned.

"I would hope not. You have a bed made for two people and you are stretched across it diagonally." Allie laughed as her father scrunched his nose at her. "So what's on the agenda for today? Do we go to the dining car for breakfast or eat scones or?"

Nathan stretched and yawned. "Let's see. First we get up and get dressed. Then, we need to go to the dining car for coffee and milk. We can eat a fancy lunch in the dining car if you would like and then maybe a sandwich for supper or vice versa. What would you prefer?"

"Sandwich for lunch and fancy supper in the dining car! Let's get dressed up tonight, Dad. I can wear one of my good dresses and you can wear a tie with your suit."

"Oh no, really? A tie?" Nathan snickered at Allie's look. "Okay. A fancy dinner with a suit and tie it is. I can probably skip the socks though, right? I don't need those…"

"Daaaaddd…" Allie's eye-roll gave Nathan one of his morning joys.

"Okay. Let's get going? You first in the WC. Then I'll shave." His eyes twinkled as he looked at Allie. "Or maybe I can stay scruffy since we don't know anyone on the train, right?"

Allie scrunched her nose this time. "Uh uhh. No scruff, Dad. Cleeeeean shaven for you!" Allie laughed. "For me actually!"

"Hrmphhh." Was Nathan's teasing reply.


In the dining room, Nathan glanced at the menu and pointed to something with his eyebrows raised.

"Oh, let's!" Allie replied.

They found a window table and waited for the waiter to take their order. "Two orders of waffles with fruit. Syrup and cream on the side. A plate of bacon, milk for my daughter and black coffee for me? Thanks so much." Nathan sat back and watched as Allie began to fold the menu.

"Wait. Maybe we should figure out our sandwich order for lunch now?" Allie suggested.

"Good thinking. We can pick it up later. What's your selection?"

"Turkey and cheese on sour dough bread. Oh, and an apple because that's what Mrs. Minnie makes in the Café. She slices the apple in the sandwich and it's really good. May I get a soda for a treat?"

"Sure. I'll double the order and ask for a knife to slice our apples. We have Clara's molasses cookies in the basket still."

Allie tilted her head as she looked at her father. "You are always so easy to live with, Dad!"

That comment woke Nathan up as it was a first. "Easy to live with?" He sat a little straighter.

"Yeah. You don't complain about food. You just eat it and are happy. I guess really you just like to eat, eh?" She grinned at her father who was grinning back.

"You know me well, Allie-girl. I like food. So is food the only thing that makes me easy to live with?"

"Oh no. There are lots of things. You like to read and do quiet things. You never yell. Even when you are upset with me you speak quietly. You always have my best interests at heart. I know sometimes you were so tired you just wanted to fall on the sofa and skip dinner, but you always provided what I needed. You're a lot of fun too. I don't think some fathers are as funny or teasing or thoughtful as you are. I've heard children talk about their fathers and I couldn't believe how mean they sounded. I'm thankful for you, Dad."

Nathan's eyes filled with tears at Allie's compliments and comments. He never thought about it himself and certainly never thought Allie would have noticed any of these things. He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief and whispered. "Thank you, Allie. Thank you."

The Steward came to pour the coffee and interrupted their conversation. The waiter followed closely behind the Steward and between the two of them, they set the table with the Grant's breakfast.

"Enjoy yourselves, Sergeant, and you too, Miss Grant." The Steward bowed as he departed.

"Dad!" Allie leaned across the table and whispered. "How does he know our name?"

"Probably the Commissioner let it be known when he changed our tickets." Nathan unfolded his napkin.

"Wow, Dad. You're famous!" Allie grinned. "And since I'm with you… well then I guess I'm a little famous too!"

"Right, Miss Grant." Nathan winked at her. "Shall we pray?" They reached out and held hands as Nathan gave thanks for the food, the train trip and his daughter. "Amen."

"And thank you for Dad, too! Amen." Added Allie. "Hmmm. This looks so good."

"Do you remember when we had waffles in Calgary? I think that was your first time." Nathan poured the syrup over Allie's waffles, then served himself.

As she served him slices of bacon and a dollop of whipped cream, Allie answered, "I do." She lifted her fork and Nathan lifted his to clink together. "Bon appetit!"

The Grants were unaware they were being observed, but the Steward had seen them hold hands, pray and serve each other. He was moved and impressed. 'A sweet Dad and Daughter!' He thought to himself. 'I must pay more attention.'

After placing their sandwich order for lunch to be ready at one o'clock, the Grants returned to their compartment.


"It's Sunday, Allie. Let's read some Bible verses and sing a hymn or two, okay?"

"Sure. Will you play the guitar?"

"Let's just sing a cappella for now. Do you have a favorite Bible story or a Psalm to read?"

"Ummm. Can you find that part that talks about how much God loves us?" Allie explained. "You know the one, how high and how wide and how deep God loves us?"

"Of course. That's a wonderful passage." Nathan opened his Bible to Ephesians, found the place and read from chapter three.

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father… that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ… Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…" (*2)

"What is it about those verses that speaks to you today, Allie?"

"I like the word pictures. Rooted in love. And then understanding the breadth and length, depth and height of God's love. It's all around us and we can't reach the end of it, you know?" Allie opened her arms wide, then pointed to the ground and to the sky. "All around us. Like a hug."

Nathan marveled at the wisdom and faith of this child. This daughter of his and this Child of God. "Exactly like a hug, Allie. Exactly."

"My verse today is from the Old Testament Prophet, Isaiah chapter forty-two. "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not. I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." (*3)

"Isn't that a wonderful reminder? We may not know the path, but God is leading us on a new path. And he promises to turn darkness into light and crooked ways into straight ways. He promises to never leave us too, Allie. To never forsake us. I've been thinking about this verse in regards to our move. God is leading us to a new place, bringing us into light and making our path straight." Nathan leaned back and lifted his head. "Thank you, Lord. You will not abandon us. You are always with us."

Nathan looked back at Allie. "Any word pictures in your mind from that verse?"

"I was picturing Angela, not being able to see. God is leading her on new paths. You know? Not just when she walks with her stick, but also being in school and learning new things. God's turning her darkness into light. You know, knowledge. And God is always with her too." Allie teared a little as she thought of how she missed her friend.

Nathan noticed and reached his hands across the table to hold the sides of her face and wipe her tears with his thumbs. "She is in God's care just like you are, Sweetheart. You miss her though, don't you?"

Allie just nodded.

"I'm sorry, Honey. I'm sorry for this sadness. We'll pray you can see her again, okay? God could make a way for that too, you know. You can ask Him for that."

"Oh, I already have, Dad. I don't know how, but I'm asking God to bring us back to Hope Valley to see everyone."

"Oh! You are? God's will be done, Allie. God's dreams for us be done." Nathan got thoughtful.

"Can we sing, 'Now Thank We All Our God?'" Allie asked, hopeful. "I really like that hymn."

"Of course."

They sang and closed with a brief prayer for their Hope Valley friends, their trip, the new friends God was preparing for them and an opportunity to visit Hope Valley again someday. After their 'Amen' they decided to begin their thank you notes. Allie unpacked the stationery she had purchased at the last minute from the Mercantile.

"This was good thinking, Sweetheart. What we get done on the train frees us when we arrive in Regina. We'll have more time to get settled if our notes are already finished." Nathan opened his journal to the list he had made of those he wanted to thank. "Do you have a list, Allie?"

Allie tapped her forehead. "Right in here."

"Okay then." Nathan noted he would collect her notes to enclose with his and be certain she had remembered everyone. As it turned out, it was Allie that remembered two people that Nathan had forgotten, but by the time the lunch hour came all their notes were completed and they had each begun to write in their journals.


Nathan and Allie both looked up at the sound of a knock. "Hmmm. Wonder who this is?" Nathan opened the door to find the Steward with a rolling cart. Two plates were covered by silver domes, two apples and two sodas were as ordered. There was a plate of chocolate candies as well and as the Steward set the table for them, he mentioned that the chocolates were complimentary.

"This is a lovely surprise. Thank you so much. I didn't expect room service!"

"Happy to serve you both. Now, enjoy your lunch and you can leave this cart in the hallway when you are finished. Shall I reserve a table for you at dinner this evening or would you prefer to eat here again?"

"A reserved table would be wonderful. Half-past five if possible?" Nathan responded.

"Of course. Happy to do that for you."

"We are going to dress up for a fancy dinner!" Allie offered excitedly.

"Are you now? A special occasion maybe?"

"A move to Regina, so I guess it is a special occasion!" Nathan laughed. "Thank you, again, Sir."

The Steward nodded to Nathan and winked at Allie, closing the door quietly.

"Now. Isn't this nice." Nathan lifted the dome to find a beautifully plated sandwich and small glass dish of cabbage slaw. Apples were carefully sliced and laid decoratively on green lettuce which circled the plate, as well as tucked inside the sandwiches. "They must have heard us discuss the apples, Allie!" They grinned at each other, set the covers aside and gave thanks.


"Now what, Allie? The table is cleared and we have the afternoon before us. Any ideas? We could sing or read or play a game or?"

"I'd like to draw. Wait. How about we draw and try to figure out what the other one is drawing. We can take turns and keep track of who guesses first. Sound like fun?" Allie enthused.

"I guess so. You are probably the better artist, Allie so not sure how this will work. But let's give it a try. Slide over. It will be easier if we sit side-by-side." Nathan and Allie got settled with paper and pencils and Allie began.

"A line." Nathan guessed.

"No Dad. Give me a chance to actually draw something!" She giggled.

"A tree? It's a tree. Nice Allie!"

"Well, it is a tree, but that's not what I am drawing. Keep looking…"

Allie drew a rectangle on one side of the tree then drew a rope attaching the object to the tree.

"A swing! Of course. I see what you did there. You kept me guessing by adding things kind of out of order. Good for you." Nathan tapped his pencil against his chin, looking out the window. "Okay, my turn!"

Nathan began with oddly spaced horizontal lines with an oval in the center of the top line. He stopped and asked Allie. "Can you tell what this is?"

"Noooo….keep drawing." Allie instructed.

Nathan added vertical lines to connect with the horizontals revealing a table and two chairs.

"A table and chairs! That's really good, Dad."

"Ahh… yes and no. It is a table and chairs, but that's not all that I am drawing!" He added another small vertical line coming out of the oval, then three other lines below the oval to form a container.

"A glass with a straw! I got it!"

"Nooo…." At the top of the small line he drew petals of a flower and leaned back with satisfaction.

"A flower in a pot on a table in the kitchen at the row house in Hope Valley!" Allie laughed and nudged her father's arm. "I got it!"

"I must be a really good artist for you to see all that!" Nathan chuckled and winked at his daughter. "Does that mean I won?"

"Not a chance, Dad. We are only getting started. Now I really know how to play this game!"


(*2) Ephesians 3: 14, 17b – 20a, King James Version, Public Domain

(*3) Isaiah 42: 16, King James Version, Public Domain