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family story for years.”
    “That’s just what I was afraid of,” Hannah said with renewed cries.
    “That would be one way to get famous, I guess.” His grin brightened her face a bit. “Maybe I’d better get those husks in the garden before dark.”

     
    When Jake came back, Hannah had the supper plates set out. The casserole and simple additions of bread, jam, butter, and corn were set in the middle of the table.
    “I’m sorry there’s no cake or something sweet,” she said as they sat at the table. “I guess we have to live on love.”
    “One could live a long time on that,” he said, still grinning, “but this is plenty. Let’s pray before I starve.”
    When he had finished and Hannah had pushed the casserole in his direction, Jake said, “Well, Mr. Wesley said logging jobs this winter might be hard to come by.”
    “What does that mean?” she asked.
    “He said that maybe we should best be looking for other jobs during the winter. If his work is cut back, so is mine,” Jake said with a catch in his voice.
    Hannah gasped as Jake passed the casserole back. The smell stirred her hunger, forgotten for so long in the hurry of the day. Jake’s words didn’t take immediate effect, as if she heard them from a great distance. Then they soaked in slowly.
    “But if you lose your job, what will we do?” she asked.
    “I guess we must trust God,” Jake said without much confidence in his voice.
    That’s just what Father would say, Hannah thought, yet it sounds so strange coming from such a young man. Is this how young married life is for all couples? Surely not! But how do we get through this?
    “I guess we must,” she said with a question in her voice. Then she touched his arm and looked for some source of comfort in his eyes. They were as deep and wonderful as ever—and Hannah found her comfort. She wanted to climb inside and hide from the world in a place with Jake where all was safe and secure.
    “Maybe I can find something else,” Jake was saying, “although it is a rough time to be looking for work.”
    “Do you think it’s a bad sign?” Hannah asked.
    “What?” he asked.
    “Me—blowing up the kitchen today. And the grizzly. Are things going to be hard for us? And what about the baby?”
    Jake’s face darkened momentarily, but then he collected himself. “There’s always a way out. Somewhere. Hasn’t God been good to us so far?” Jake gave her a thin smile. “You didn’t marry Sam, remember? We have each other and now a new life coming. Ours. God is good and will always be.”
    “I didn’t know it would be like this, though.” Her voice was hushed. “Is it like this for everyone?”
    “I don’t know.” He found her eyes. “I’ve not been here before, but God will take care of us. We have to know that.”
    She saw his tenderness and let her own face soften. “I guess you’re right. I’m just afraid sometimes.”
    “I think everyone is,” he assured her.

     
    That night in bed, with the moon shining in through the window, they awakened once again to the sounds of the grizzly outside.
    “Just let it be,” Jake whispered in the darkness. “Maybe the game warden will do something about this now.”
    Hannah said nothing, but she found and held Jake’s hand until it was quiet outside.

Six
     
    The next morning Hannah saw Jake off as usual before the sun was up. She watched him walk to the blacktop road for his ride. At breakfast she had again voiced her thought that if Jake were to lose his job, they should consider a move back East.
    “No,” Jake said, “not yet anyway. We shouldn’t make any fast decisions.” After a moment he asked, “Hannah, this isn’t about that bear, is it?”
    “Maybe. Partly. But your job too.”
    Gently but firmly Jake took charge of her fears, “It’ll be okay with the bear. Mr. Brunson will likely go to the game warden especially because it came back. If not, maybe I can run down and report the matter myself.”
    Hannah thought