Love Comes Softly Page #3

with the grain."

You better be worth it.

Huh.

Looks like a coyote

got in there.

More like a wild woman

with an ax.

Good. You're back.

Supper's ready.

You made fried chicken.

Good, 'cause I was

getting awful sick of panc...

[Clears Throat]

Me too.

Sure won't want to

have to wash all that.

I left half my things

at home.

- It's kind of wasteful, don't you think?

- Wasteful?

To have so many.

You can only wear one dress at a time.

Surely you must have

some dresses of your own.

One for when the reverend

passes this way and holds a service...

but like I said,

you can only wear one dress...

At a time.

My mama made

beautiful quilts.

Hers would put this here

pattern to shame.

She made quilts for all the neighbors

when they had their babies.

I'm sure

they appreciated that.

Folks loved my mama,

especially my pa.

That's why his eyes ain't sparkly

like they used to be.

She certainly was beautiful.

She was the prettiest

thing you ever saw.

Eveybody said so.

You must miss her

vey much.

[Shivers]

[Gasps]

Oh, Lord.

[Gasps]

I'm sory.

[Screams]

- [Gasps]

- Oh!

[Groans]

[Murmurs]

[Murmuring]

- Where's your father going?

- On his Sunday walks.

It's his time to be alone

and talk to the Lord.

I'll bet he has a lot

to talk to him about this morning.

- What'd you say?

- I think I'll take a little walk of my own.

Are you all right here

by yourself?

[Missie] I picked this dress

because I know pink is your favorite color.

I love it

when you wear pink, Mama.

You always look so pretty.

There.

Letting in the sun

will make you feel better.

[Sighs]

L... I don't know why

they didn't let me come here, Mama.

[Sighs]

'Cause I would have sat here

just like this...

and I wouldn't have

madeyou tired or sad.

I just wanted to tell you

that I loveyou...

and I miss you.

[Sobs, Gasps]

You were spying on me!

- No.

- You're lyin'.

I saw you. You were watching.

How could you do that?

Missie, I didn't mean

to be there...

but I do know

what you're feeling.

Don't say that.

You don't know nothin'.

I do want to help you.

I don't want your help!

I hate it that you're here.

It was fine before you came.

I wish it was spring

so you would leave.

[Sighs]

I didn't mean to.

I... I was cold. I... I didn't mean to

walk in on her like that.

Well, I know what you mean.

About last night, l... I'm sorry.

- I didn't mean to walk...

- I don't know what I was thinking.

I can't stay here.

- Why?

- Why? That little girl hates me.

You were right.

She does need a mother...

but I'm not

the right person.

She doesn't know it,

but she's still grieving.

- That's why you're the right person.

- It's just not going well.

It's going just the way

I thought it would.

- I knew she wouldn't like it at first.

- Then why put her through this?

Because I love her...

and she needs more

than I can give her.

Seems like an awful lot

oftrouble to go through...

for just a few months of lessons

in letters and sewing.

Nothing's a waste oftime.

It adds to the person that you are...

and I'm counting

on the fact...

that knowing you is gonna add to the person

that Missie will become.

I know you can find a way

to get through to her.

- How do you know?

- That's what I prayed for.

[Sighs]

Maybe I will.

We're ready.

You look beautiful, Missie.

[Chuckles]

Thanks, Pa.

[Mouthing Words]

[Children Chattering]

Whoa.

Whoa.

[Chattering Continues]

[Chattering]

Gonna catch flies

with your mouth hanging open like that.

[Gasps]

When are you expecting?

February.

How did you know?

When Ellen was

expecting Missie...

she'd hold onto her belly

like you just did.

Oh.

I was going to tell you.

The baby won't be a problem...

and I'm sure it won't change the fare

for when I go home in the spring.

You must be thinking

I should have told you.

Actually, I was thinking

I'm glad you're gonna have the little one...

to remember him by.

[Missie]

"In the wa... '"[Groans]

"Wa... Wa...

Wajon... Wagol..."

Keep trying

to sound it out.

"In the... wagon. '"

Good.

I'm tired of tryin'.

It's too hard,

and I don't need to read anyhow.

Okay. Fine.

- You don't care if I do it?

- No, not if you don't like adventures.

Reading ain't no adventure.

Once you can read, you can have

every adventure you ever dreamed of.

In the pages of a book,

you are a princess in a tower...

or the best shot

in the West.

In those pages,

there are no limits...

to where you can go...

who you can be.

No one will ever tell you

you're too young to slay the dragon...

because it all happens

right here where it's safe.

[Sighs]

I guess it wouldn't hurt none

to practice a little bit more.

- I'll be back.

- Okay, Pa.

I think a walk

will do me good as well.

??[Clark Singing]

- ??[Singing Continues]

- [Chuckles]

??[Singing Continues]

[Ends]

[Horse Whinnies]

Aaron.

[Wind Howling]

Pa!

Winter's coming on with

the subtlety of a snakebite.

- It's a whiteout.

- Where's Marty?

- Isn't she here?

- She went walking about when you did.

If I'm not back here in 10 minutes,

you use the gun.

You open the door, two hands,

raise it above your head.

You keep firing

until you see me.

All right?

What ever you do,

you don't leave that door. Come here.

It's all right.

It's gonna be fine.

Gonna be fine.

I'll be right back.

Marty!

Marty!

Marty!

Marty!

Marty!

Marty!

Marty!

Marty!

Marty!

[Horse Whinnies]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gun C*cks]

[Gunshots]

[Gunshot]

[Clicking]

[Whimpers]

Pa?

[Whispers]

She's all right. Go back to sleep.

- Well, what about the baby?

- The baby's fine.

Okay? Go on

and get some rest.

He should never have

gone after that horse.

A man loses a horse,

he goes after it.

It's as simple as that.

[Turkey Gobbles]

Thank you, Father,

for this food...

and this shelter

and this companionship.

And as we come into the season

ofthe birth ofyour son...

please make our hearts

thankful that he came.

Amen.

I love Christmas.

- And I already know what I'm gonna make you, Pa.

- Is it something I can wear?

[Sighs]

He's always tying to trick me into telling him...

but I'm smarter than that.

- Yes.

- So, what do you do to get ready

for Christmas at your house?

Well, about a week

before Christmas...

we go to Franklin's

and pick out a nice pine tree.

There's pine tree

growin' in the city?

No. It's a tree lot.

Someone has already cut them down.

You don't get to

pick your own tree and...

see which one smells the best,

which one looks the prettiest in the snow?

Not exactly.

But we find one we like...

then someone

delivers it to us.

Then we add to our ornament collection

by going to Purcell's Store.

They have the most beautiful

glass balls and red ribbons to put on the tree.

We make hot cocoa,

drink it by the fire.

And then your pa reads you

the Christmas stoy.

- Um, no.

- Why not?

Well, it just wasn't

something that we did.

Christmas without

a Christmas stoy.

Well, when you get back,

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