She squeezed her eyes closed, searching for the peace that usually came when she prayed.Give me wisdom, too, Lord. Show me if I'm supposed to do anything.
Yet what could she do? Going after him would be rash, especially since there was no reason to worry. None save the turmoil inside her.
Show me what to do. Please.
CHAPTER 21
The icy morning air bit at Eric's exposed face as he stood beside Jonah outside the livery. Eric had finished saddling his new horse early and come out to say farewell to this man he'd never thought he would consider a friend.
The two of them stood quietly for a minute, watching the handful of early-bird frontiersmen trudge by on the street. Harvey and Silas would step from the livery any minute, so Eric didn't have much time to say what needed saying.
His breath clouded in the morning air as he released it. "I'm sorry I'm leaving you to search the passenger lists alone." The guilt pressed once more. "It's not that I think finding Anna's aunt isn't important..."
Jonah waved the concern away. "Your pa is sick. You need to get there as quick as you can." One corner of his mouth lifted in a sad smile. "If my dat were alive, I'd wanna be near him too."
Eric nodded, the thought of losing his father pressing down on him. “My mother’s reply to my wire made it sound like my father is weakening at the rate the doctors expected. They still think he only has two or three months left.” She’d said they’dcalled in two other physicians too. The situation must really be as bad as Harvey said.
“We’ll be praying for you all.” Jonah’s voice was earnest, his eyes kind.
Eric worked for a smile. "Thank you. I’ll be back to Montana as soon as I can. I just need to take care of things for my parents."
Jonah's gaze shifted to the street. He didn’t say anything for a long time.
Did hewishEric would stay away? That he would hand over Naomi? Not until Eric’s last breath could he ever do that.
When Jonah did speak, his words gave no sign of what he'd been thinking. "Anyway, I'll do everything I can with the search. If there's a record on file showing a Patsy or Patty or Patricia came through here in the last two years, I'll find it." He tipped a friendly smile at Eric.
Eric met his gaze and made sure the truth of his words sounded in his voice. "Thank you. For everything."
Jonah held the look, his eyes impossible to read. Was he weighing Eric's sincerity? He seemed to think about something.
At last, he straightened. "I guess it needs to be said. You don't need to worry about me with Naomi while you're gone. I won't try to step into your place or win her back. She made her choice, and I'll respect that." One side of his mouth tipped up. "Can't promise I won't tickle that little girl o' yours, but I'll make sure she knows I'm just Uncle Jonah."
Was that a flash of pain in his eyes? It moved away so fast that Eric couldn't tell.
Jonah's gaze shifted past Eric to somewhere in the distance. "I knew she didn't love me when I asked her to marry me. I just wanted to give her and Mary Ellen a good life." His focus flashed back to Eric, and this time his eyes turned intense. His voice was almost stern when he spoke. "I sure do hope you'll give her that good life she deserves. Both of them."
Eric's chest tightened. "I will. No matter what." With everything in him, until his last breath.
Jonah's words must have been hard to say, and certainly not many men would have thought them worth the effort. He searched for the best way to acknowledge that. He extended a hand. "You're a good man, Jonah Coulter. One of the very best."
Jonah met his with a firm clasp. "Go with God."
As Eric released Jonah's hand, Silas emerged from the livery, leading a mount and a packhorse piled high.
Harvey straggled behind their guide, leading his horse and looking far too much the dandy in his three-piece suit.
Eric settled into his saddle as the others did, raising a chorus of creaking leather as the horses shifted restlessly.
He raised a hand in farewell to Jonah as Silas started forward. Jonah offered the same, but then Eric's horse started forward behind the pack animal, and he had to turn forward to focus on riding.
As they passed wooden storefronts on the way out of town, he tried to settle into the rhythm of the ride. He was comfortable enough on a horse, and this one seemed mannerly enough.
Yet there was an unsettled feeling in his chest... Was it only the discomfort of goodbyes? It felt like more than that. Like something was very wrong, and he needed to find out what.
But of course something was wrong—his father was dying, according to the doctor. Also, he couldn't stop the worry about leaving Naomi without knowing for sure she understood. Hopefully his letter would explain the situation to her satisfaction. He'd poured his heart out to her. Made promises he would keep if his life depended on it.
He'd done everything he could. If there was anything else wrong, only God could do anythingabout it now.
