Free Faith by Lori Copeland Page B

business at hand.
    Faith heard Lilly fussing a short while later and quickly
laid her handwork aside.
    Liza glanced up. "And where do you think you're
going?"
    "The Walters baby is fussy. I thought I'd see if there's
anything I can do to help."
    "Dan's capable of taking care of his children."
    "Dan's busy right now. I'll only be a minute." Before Liza could stop her, Faith darted off, thankful for the break
in the monotony.

    She approached Jeremiah and Lilly. "Can I help?"
    Jeremiah gratefully handed over the squalling infant.
"Thanks." He sniffed the air, wrinkling his nose. "I believe
the infant's soiled her didee."
    Faith smiled, glancing at Dan. "I'm Nicholas Shepherd's
fiancee."
    "Yes, ma'am. I saw you in church Sunday morning."
Dan's ruddy complexion looked like a boiled lobster from
the heat and exertion. "Quite a service."
    "Yes-quite."
    "There's clean diapers in the wagon. Adam, show Miss
Kallahan where they are."
    "Faith," Faith corrected, then smiled. "Please call me
Faith."
    Dan paused, returning her smile. "Thanks. Faith it is."
    Adam took Faith's hand and started toward the wagon.
With each step, he counted. "One, two, three ..."
    It was only then Faith realized that little Adam Walters
was blind.

    Fifteen minutes later the baby was changed and settled on a
blanket, quietly nursing a bottle. Jeremiah and Adam had
gone off in search of other projects.
    Faith sat on the sidelines, shooing flies from the baby as
Dan hammered nails into wooden frames. His quick, effi cient motions confirmed his carpentry skills, although Faith
had heard Nicholas say Dan worked with the blacksmith.

    "Have you built many barns?"
    "A few." Dan glanced up, using a shirtsleeve to wipe the
sweat off his brow. Unlike Nicholas, he seemed happyalmost hungry-for the conversation. "What about you?
Ever built anything?"
    "A shed once, and I helped my father around the par
    "You're a preacher's kid?"
    She nodded. "Papa was the best there is."
    They struck up a friendly conversation that lasted until
the dinner bell rang. Work ceased as men washed up, then
gathered before a long row of tables laden with platters of
fried chicken, boiled potatoes, steaming bowls of turnips,
ears of corn, green beans, and poke greens. Heaping pans of
crispy brown corn bread and bowls of thick, freshly churned
butter were started around. Sitting on nearby tables, fat
apple pies and rich chocolate fudge cakes awaited.
    Levi Johnson gathered the group around. "Father, we
thank you for this glorious day and the blessings you have
given us. Thank you for friendships, family, and for the
bountiful food you've placed before us. Watch over and
protect us this day. We ask in Jesus' name, amen."
    "Amen!" the crowd responded.
    Families and friends broke into small groups to partake of
the noon meal. Good-natured laughter filled the air as the
hungry workers socialized over talk of weather, grasshoppers, and much needed rain. Faith busied herself helping Dan feed the two smaller children. She filled plates with
chicken legs and small helpings of green beans and potatoes,
deliberately avoiding Liza's annoyed stare. Nicholas sat
beside his mother in silence, the Shepherds keeping a safe
distance from the others. Faith knew if she looked their
way, she would be obligated to join them, so she purposely
looked the other direction.

    At one o'clock the bell sounded again. The men
groaned, patted full bellies, then pushed to their feet.
Minutes later the sounds of hammers and saws once again
saturated the air.
    The Walters children refused to let Faith go. Adam, who
Faith had discovered was born blind, and the three-year-old
girl, Sissy, held tightly to her hand as Faith playfully tried
to pull free. Laughing, she agreed to stay, then settled them
on the blanket and told Bible stories about Jonah and the
whale, and David and the giant, Goliath. Clapping their
hands, the children stomped around the blanket, mimicking
tall giants, until