Whispers of a New Dawn Read Free

talked it over, prayed it over, and read through parts of the Bible again and again. We believe we’re supposed to return to Pennsylvania. Perhaps not forever. But for a season. Once we’re there and have been part of whatever it is the Lord wants us to be part of, we expect we’ll get a strong sense of where we’re to go next. We have no idea where that might be.”
    “Why, it could be to return here.” Mr. Thornberry fished a wide-brimmed white hat out of one of his bags and planted it on his barehead as sweat rolled down his pink cheeks. “Think of how welcome this climate will be when winter bears down with frost and snow and wind on Philadelphia.”
    Jude smiled. “No doubt about that. Five years in British East Africa—Kenya—and three here have softened us up quite a bit. If God opens the door, we’ll run back to Turks and Caicos in a heartbeat.”
    Lyyndaya shrugged. “Or maybe we’ll stay in Pennsylvania and give up flying. We could wind up threshing grain for the Lord and cutting hay and milking cows instead of climbing through the skies.”
    Everyone saw the quick flash of green fire that swept through Becky’s eyes. “Not me,” she said.
    There was a long moment when no one spoke and Becky stood with what looked like flames flickering about her blond head as she removed her leather helmet. Then Mr. Thornberry smiled and laughed and said the new pilot would be with them in what he called a fortnight.
    “Two weeks?” Jude frowned, creases cutting into his handsome face. “Why doesn’t he let us pick him up in our plane?”
    “Ah, well.” Mr. Thornberry seemed embarrassed by the conversation he had started in hope of easing the awkwardness of the moment. “He’s one of those types who isn’t comfortable unless he’s at the controls.”
    Becky’s eyes ignited again. “You mean he doesn’t trust women pilots?”
    Mr. Thornberry swiped at his forehead with his handkerchief. “Ah…Denton…doesn’t trust anyone—he might fly with your father—or he might not. In any case, he’ll wait until you three return with it to Miami and then fly it back here himself.” He squinted up at the sun. “I’m fairly cooking. Can we get under some shade, perhaps? Is there a glass of water or a large cup of tea to be had?”
    “Of course, yes, forgive us.” John picked up two of the Thornberrys’ suitcases. “Your house is only a short walk. It’s under the palms and very cool and the trade winds blow right through your windows. Come. Come.”
    Other men picked up the rest of the luggage and Lyyndaya accompanied Mrs. Thornberry off the runway and down a sandy path that ran through the trees. Jude remained behind with his daughter who,despite the heat, continued to stand by the Leopard Moth in a heavy leather flight jacket that was several sizes too big for her.
    “You know,” he began quietly, “you didn’t need to make a scene over it.”
    The green cat eyes blazed. “Over what?”
    “Going back to Pennsylvania. This guy Denton refusing to fly with a woman at the controls.”
    “I love Pennsylvania and I love our family there. I don’t mind that they use candles and oil lamps or don’t have cars or phones and it doesn’t matter to me if they want to spend the rest of their lives riding horses and baking bread in woodstoves. But their God says don’t fly, and my God says soar.”
    “We have the same God, Becky, you know that. They just feel called to a different life in order to honor him.”
    “Well, so do I.”
    “All right. All right. No one is trying to clip your wings.”
    Becky folded her arms over her chest. “Mother sounds like she’s going to give it a try.”
    “Oh, she just misses living close to her family, her sisters and brothers. You know that.”
    “I love them all. Especially Auntie Ruth and Bishop Zook. I take them as they are and accept the life they wish to live. I need them to treat me the same way.”
    “They do. You know they do.”
    “If Mom wants to park