Ruth was taken aback and she frowned, considering how to answer him. “How should I act, Dr. Grant? The Lord tells us in Proverbs that a matter handled wisely will find good and those who trust in the Lord will be happy.”
“I see.” He considered her words of encouragement and scripture for a moment and found that they bothered him. Did she preach the Bible to everyone?
Ruth looked at him and he saw compassion in her eyes, “Dr. Grant, I don’t know if I should bring this up, but it’s on my mind. I heard about your wife and I’m—”
Daniel’s countenance changed in an instant. It was as though he froze, and anger welled up from deep within him. He spoke with icy precision and finality. “My wife is not a subject for discussion. It is no concern of yours and has no impact on your employment here.” He pushed his chair back and stood looking down at her. His manner was cold and controlled, very different from his anger the previous evening.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to convey my sympathy, that’s all,” her head was bowed, her hands folded in her lap.
Daniel heard the pity and sadness in her voice, and he despised it. He wondered who told her about Mary Jane? No one but those close to him knew about her and the circumstances of her death. As quickly as his anger rose it disappeared. What was the point in blaming Ruth for something she knew nothing about? He knew she was just trying to be polite, and he forced himself to drop the matter. His reaction just showed that he was still grieving. There was nothing more to be done about it.
“I’m leaving for the clinic now,” he said to Ruth, who remained silent in her chair. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. I know you were just trying to be polite. It’s not your fault. I’m still not over it—don’t know if I ever will be.” He turned and left the house soundlessly. Ruth was glad he never saw the solitary tear she dashed away after he turned and left.
Spark was saddled up and tied to the hitching post. Usually, Jimmy would see him off and Daniel was too upset to care. He mounted Spark and as he was about to give a gentle kick, he heard Ruth call out to him. She hurried toward him carrying a wrapped parcel.
“You forgot your apple pie,” she said, out of breath. “Elizabeth was sure you’ll get hungry later on.”
Daniel was surprised. “Thank you. I don’t usually take lunch, but I appreciate the thought.”
He reached out to take the parcel from her and pulled back quickly when her hand brushed his. and packed the parcel in one of the saddlebags.
She gave him a tentative smile as he gave a light kick and a click of his tongue, which sent Spark on his way to town.
Daniel contemplated what it was about Ruth that occupied his thoughts and seemed to make his head spin—or could that be the whiskey? His emotions were a thorny ball of pain, that exhausted and confused him. He wondered if Ruth would be the one to save him from drowning in his swirling grief. She was gentle, kind, and full of compassion. Just like Mary Jane, Ruth always saw the brighter things in life, trusted and prayed, and was faithful to God. He himself had forgotten most scriptures. A verse from Ephesians chapter two came to mind. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
How did he remember that? How long had it been since he’d read his Bible? Did he even remember where he’d last seen it? His father’s Bible was still in his office where it had always been.
Daniel pondered the concept of faith. Was Elizabeth right, had he lost his faith? But faith in what? Was Ruth’s faith strong enough to guide him back to his own faith again?
The thought of Ruth was comforting, giving him a feeling of ease that he craved. He could admit to himself that he did feel lost and alone, he did need to be saved. Perhaps she would agree to help him if he asked her. Would she know how to help him find faith again? He flirted with the thought of asking her to help. His mind flitted to the moment that morning when her hand brushed his, her dimpled smile, those dark coffee eyes. He contemplated the warmth those things made him feel. Such things felt like love. The thought startled him out of his reverie.
He couldnotbe falling in love with Ruth. She was lovely and kind; he enjoyed being in her company. But love? No, it could not be love. It was not possible, was it?
Chapter Nine
From the time Matthew woke from his morning sleep he had been difficult and irritable. Ruth tried everything she could think of to console him before he threw a tantrum and began to holler.
She tried to console him and entreat him into playing with his toys rather than throwing them, but he showed little interest. All her best efforts resulted only in a look of defiance and a race to the corner of the nursery to hide.
“Are you hungry, Matthew?” Ruth cajoled. “Come on, let’s go and see if lunch is ready.”
She held out her hand to him, expecting him to take it as he usually did. However, he stayed firmly in the corner without budging.
Ruth bent down and spoke gently with her arms open wide. “Come, Matthew. Let’s see what we can find downstairs.”
He peeked at her with bright watery eyes, his plump cheeks stained with tears, and Ruth’s heart melted. She picked him up and hugged him tightly.
“You miss your daddy, don’t you?” She felt his little arms squeeze her in return. “He’ll be back later today, I promise.” She felt the warmth of his small body as his head lay on her shoulder, his face in the crook of her neck. She smiled and rubbed his back.
They went downstairs and found Elizabeth in the parlor cleaning the windows. She must have heard their footsteps. “Ah, there you are,” she said, turning from drying a shining window. “I was wondering when you two would come down. I’m sure that by now Matthew is hungry. I’ll go and fix a tray.”
“Elizabeth,” Ruth called after her, “it’s such a lovely day, I was thinking it would be nice to eat out back.”
Elizabeth smiled in return. “Alright,” she agreed “It is a lovely day, and the fresh air will be good for Matthew.” She turned just before leaving the parlor. “You know, Ruth, you shouldn’t hold the boy too much. If you carry him everywhere, he’ll get used to it and become spoilt.”
Ruth was surprised. She knew Elizabeth was just as sweet on Matthew as she herself was becoming. “I enjoy carrying him and he likes it, too. Love and warmth can only make a child stronger and more secure.”
“You’ll make him soft,” she cautioned. “He shouldn’t be coddled.”
