Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: CABIN (09/08/22)
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TITLE: Knitting Lessons | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terry R A Eissfeldt
09/15/22 -
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Caroline pressed her face against the lone small frosty window. Her pale blue eyes frantically scanned the bleak horizon for any sign of her husband, Daniel. Her browed furloughed at the thought of their last conversation.
“I don’t want you to go, Daniel,” she knew she was being unreasonable and pouty.
Daniel’s arms encircled her tiny waist from behind.
“Now, Caroline, you know I have to make one more trip for supplies before winter really takes a hold.” He kissed her neck gently.
Caroline sighed, “I know….I just hate being alone.”
“I’ll be back before you finish that blanket,” Daniel twirled her around to face him. “And I’ll pick up that ginger you’re hankering after for holiday baking.”
Caroline couldn’t resist his crooked smirk and flashing eyes. She let him pull her closer for a long kiss.
That was four days ago. It was normally a two day trip to town. Did he make it?
Caroline turned and grabbed the broom. She swept in fierce short strokes. There was no reason to sweep. The floor was as clean as a dirt floor could be, as was the rest of the cabin. She just needed something to do to keep from going crazy.
Hope had filled the year till now: married in April, claiming land in May, working all summer on the cabin and garden.
Daniel was so proud of the cabin: twelve foot square, door and window on the south wall, field-stone hearth on the north.
Caroline stopped sweeping for a moment and glanced at the the fireplace. She smiled remembering the first meal cooked over it: rabbit stew…heavy on the vegetables and light on the rabbit.
Another thing Daniel was proud of: bringing home the meat. Caroline shook her head chuckling. It surely was a scrawny thing.
She set the broom aside and picked up her knitting. Mamma always said knitting eased the mind and soothed the soul. Caroline certainly needed soothing.
The needles clacked rhythmically as she thread the wool in and out. Another square was almost done. She was working on a blanket. Caroline hoped it would be for a baby but so far no little one was expected. She sighed heavily and kept knitting.
Momma also taught her to sing the psalms as she knit. One, it was a good way to memorize scripture and it also helped keep a good rhythm going.
Caroline didn’t feel like singing just now. She was mad at God. No baby and now maybe no husband either. If the weather didn’t let up soon and someone didn’t show up to dig her out she would run out of wood in another day or so and …….
Tears streamed down Caroline’s face. Her heart was racing, her breath quick and shallow. She felt her throat closing up, choking out the last strand of hope.
Suddenly she threw the knitting across the small cabin screaming “NO!”
She ran to the bed, dove under the quilt momma made for their wedding, and cried herself to sleep.
Some hours later Caroline awoke to a strange sense of peace. She couldn’t figure out what was different until she realized the sound of constant wind was replaced by a drip, drip, dripping. The weather turned!
Caroline slowly crept out from under the quilt. Sunshine streamed through the small window now clear of frost. She pressed her face against the pane as if to absorb every drop.
She scanned the horizon once more. The snow sparkled on the field like millions of diamonds. The trees, bowed under the weight of their burden, looked reverent. It was truly beautiful.
Caroline turned away, picked up her knitting, and began to sing:
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Caroline paused and looked around the cabin.
She was safe. God was good. Daniel would return.
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The only thing I would change is to add a little about the setting, like maybe the year and where.
Otherwise, good story.