***
“How did you find your first day?” Daniel inquired as they headed home later that afternoon.
Ruth drew in a deep breath. “I love your clinic. It is very different from my father’s clinic, which is to be expected, I am sure. Alistair, on the other hand, is, well, he is not what I expected. I am not sure what to think of him, frankly.”
“Do you think you can work with him?” Daniel shot her a glance and saw her grimace. “I would not blame you if you changed your mind.”
“No, I haven’t changed my mind,” she replied. “I realize he is just a challenge I must endure.”
Daniel frowned. “A challenge? What do you mean?”
“As believers in Christ, we all face challenges and must trust in Him to help us through those challenges,” Ruth said, her voice like a soft breeze that refreshed him. Daniel thought he could listen to her all day. “When my father passed away, I thought of Job and how he kept true to his faith in God, even though he losteverything,and his friends were not comforting. God brought me to you and has given me a family.” She paused and he thought she might weep as he heard the sorrow in her voice, but she continued.
“I think of David and how Saul persecuted him because God chose him to replace Saul as king. Moses had to face the people of Israel and Pharaoh, his brother. I see Alistair as someone who will test my faith because he is infuriating, and I struggled today when he was nasty to Matthew and the way he spoke to you.” Ruth looked at Daniel in a way that warmed him. “Being obedient to God’s will can be difficult, don’t you think, Daniel?” It was more a statement than a question. “To have a contrite and humble heart is not easy, but that is what God requires from us.”
Daniel nodded, taking in her counsel as he looked down the road carefully to avoid ruts and bumps as they traveled. He reflected on her wisdom and they were silent for a time.
“What of Richard Bloomer? How do you know him?” Daniel asked curiously, wondering about their familiarity.
Ruth explained how she met Richard Bloomer and his family at the depot and how kind they were to drop her off at the ranch. Daniel remembered that day and he felt guilt heat his face. If he had known his father had invited her, he would have made sure to have someone meet her. Maybe he would have met her himself.
The trip back to the ranch felt longer than usual and Daniel felt exhausted. Ruth looked tired, too, after the long day. Matthew’s head lolled to one side as he slept peacefully in her arms.
Jimmy met them on their arrival, helping them disembark and leading Spark and the carriage back to the carriage house.
“I am sure Alistair was mighty happy to see Ruth and Matthew,” Jimmy snickered over his shoulder with a lopsided grin.
Daniel managed a droll smile, “He was happier to see Ruth, and Matthew seems to find him funny.”
“Yeah?” Jimmy chuckled, “well, the boy’s right. I just find Nagle plain odd.”
As Daniel walked past the kitchen, he caught Elizabeth’s disgruntled glare. She didn’t speak, but he knew unmistakably that her silence stemmed from the liquor and glass mess he had left in his bedroom. As he made his way to his bedroom, he bumped into Ruth leaving Matthew’s room, and he apologized for not watching where he was going.
“Thank you for today, Ruth.” Daniel suddenly felt awkward. “I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know that you will be there when we need nursing services.”
“It was an interesting day, Daniel, and I think tomorrow will be just as interesting.” Ruth smiled. He thought she looked a little pale. It surely had been a long day for her.
“Please tell Elizabeth that I am not hungry and will go straight to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Daniel said, pulling his tie loose. He felt his pulse quicken as he met her gaze and quickly looked away. He knew Elizabeth would not be happy with him again.
“Yes,” Ruth said. “I’ll tell her.”
On entering his room, he saw that the smashed glass bottles and liquor spillage had been cleared away. He made a mental note to give Elizabeth a bonus—cleaning up after his temperamental outbursts was not part of her normal duties. He dropped onto his bed, Ruth’s words during their trip home filling his mind, especially Job’s challenges. He knew the stories well and felt guilty because he had not lost what Job lost. Daniel had his ranch, his friends, and most importantly , his son. God had brought Ruth into his life, and he could not deny his feelings for her. He’d surprised himself when a swell of jealousy pricked him at Ruth’s reaction on seeing Richard Bloomer in the clinic that morning, and he felt ashamed. He began to see how maybe, just maybe, he was not alone anymore.
Daniel’s foot kicked against a bottle that must have rolled under his bed last night. He got off the bed and found a small whiskey bottle underneath his bed. It looked inviting and seemed to call him. He remembered the solitude he felt after every bottle he drank. He sat on the bed and stared at it, turning it over and over in his hands.
Lord, he prayed silently,through Ruth, you have shown me that I have hope and a future. I can’t do this alone; I need your guidance and strength.
He stood and went to the window, watching the last of the day’s light disappear behind the horizon. He pulled up the window sash as far as he could, and aiming high, he heaved the whiskey bottle out the window and watched it until it disappeared somewhere into the falling darkness.
Chapter Seventeen
Ruth enjoyed the morning sun and fresh air listening to the clip-clop of the horse hooves and buggy wheels that crunched against the dirt and stones.
Daniel seemed to be in better spirits this morning and she heard him apologize to Elizabeth for something over breakfast. She had been busy with Matthew and didn’t pay attention to their conversation. It sounded to have something to do with broken glass bottles.
His enthusiasm over breakfast seemed to indicate he was over whatever it was that had worried him yesterday. Whenever she reached out for something on the breakfast table, she noticed he kept looking over in a bashful way. Ruth thought he was the most confusing man she’d ever met and wondered if she’d ever understand him.
Daniel made a small sound as the buggy came to a halt at the livery and Ruth saw him peering toward the clinic. She leaned forward and looked past him; the clinic appeared to be closed.
