Too early for Carmel to start working again and to have Grace, a name which Ruth had loved, tagging along, Wallace allowed them the use of his horses to go to the revival and this time everyone went with them. The ground was muddy, but it didn't keep most people away. Not only were the benches completely filled, but there was just as many standing up.

"It's a shame that we were rained out yesterday," Ruth said, "but it's good to remember the blessings that come with rain." As she looked at Kids's family, her family now too, she was thinking about more than it just making the crops grow.

"Unless it floods," muttered one old man. "Then it's no blessing." He was remembering when the banks of the Mississippi had overflowed not so long ago. He got a couple of amens as the same flood was still on their minds.

She smiled. "No, brother. There's blessings to be found even in the floods. 'The Lord sitteth upon the flood.'"

She proceeded to give her sermon on finding the blessings in the midst of troubles and afterwards Kid, whose singing and guitar playing was now a regular part of the revival, came up and began with a short message.

"I've learned something more fully recently: that there's grace in forgiveness and nowhere more so than when Jesus gives us that grace. I want to thank my parents for raising me in the Word because even though it was awhile before it took root, they played a part in leading me to the Kingdom. Thank you both."

He sang "Amazing Grace" and the line 'amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me' had never meant more to him than right now. Eleanor and Wallace were practically beaming as he played; they were so proud of Kid. Jed still didn't look content, but at least he was putting up with him better it seemed.

When Ruth gave the altar call, Jack came up to be saved and Wallace came to rededicate himself to the Lord and more bodies were healed.

Jack, Nan, and Mrs. Pearson came up to the Coles after everybody was gone.

"Remember Ben and the pie?" Jack asked Kid. When he affirmed that he did, he went on, "That's how I felt as I was listening. I thought I had been feeding on what was good for me and suddenly I felt horrible and realized I'd had enough. I knew I had to do something about it."

Nan smiled with dewy eyes and looked adoringly at her husband-to-be. "God really does answer prayers."

"He does indeed," Jack's mother said. "Sometimes it takes years to receive an answer, but it's worth the persistence."

After goodbyes and an invitation from Eleanor for the three to come over for a meal tomorrow, which surprised everyone, they headed home. Millie, Ruth, Kid, and Jed were hunched in between the benches in the bed while Eleanor and Wallace rode on the wagon seat.

Millie ventured carefully, "What did Jack mean when he was talking about the pie?"

"Benjamin stole a pie once and snuck off and durn near ate the whole thing," Wallace answered.

"And he got sick as a dog," Eleanor added.

"He never could eat blackberry pie again after that," Kid said with a small laugh.

Millie was amused by this piece of information. "I've always pictured Ben as so saintly, the perfect big brother. I'd forgotten he had his mischievous boy moments too."

"We tend to idealize people after they're gone because we miss them," Eleanor said.

Wallace nodded at that assessment.

Eleanor continued, "He was such a pleasant baby though. Never would hardly cry. It worried me a little at first, but every baby is different that way, at least that's what the midwife told me and I've found it to be so. He had such beautiful smiles when he woke up, always ready to start the day. Of course, I think all my children have lovely smiles."

Millie was beyond happy. It felt good to be talking about Ben again, really talking about him. The season of mourning had come to an end in their house; it was time to stop remembering his death and remember his life.

"You sure you want to entertain?" Wallace asked.

"I was never one to do a whole lot of socializing, but I used to help people. Let them know somebody cared about them. I had no idea that Jack didn't know the love of Jesus before today and he a neighbor. I want to get more involved in the community again."

"I'm glad, Mrs. Cole," Ruth said. "I think that's exactly what's needed here. Good Christian people that care and want to get involved in changing it for the better."

"That's Momma Cole," Eleanor corrected.

Kid smiled to see that his mother truly was coming to love Ruth. He'd known she would given the chance. As for his father, the smile he was giving Ruth was as good as a warm declaration. He felt like today he had stopped disappointing them. That after coming to the revival, they could see that he really had changed and that Ruth was doing good work.

"That was a right nice message you gave," Wallace said. "I hadn't been looking for the blessings in my life for a long time and it's good to be right with God again."

They'd arrived back at the house by this point. The only who hadn't joined in the conversation was Jed and he practically leapt from the wagon as soon as it came to a stop.

Kid got down to follow him and speak with him. He didn't know what it would accomplish. He had tried talking to him more than once and one of those times had ended in both of them looking worse for the wear, in fact they were still sporting the bruises. He wouldn't be surprised if this led to another knockdown-drag-out fight. The revival hadn't even softened his heart, so he didn't know how he could. He prayed for the right words to say anyway because he knew he needed them. Soften both our hearts, he pleaded.