He grabbed a towel and dried off his face and then opened the door.
“Dr. Cameron?” One of the nuns who was working as a nurse nodded at him. “Dr. Miller asked for an update on the patients. What would you like me to tell him?”
As he gave the nun the information he knew off the top of his head, a bit of relief flowed through him. Things were looking up. Most of the patients seemed to be on the mend. Perhaps the worst was behind them.
“I’m going to go home, get cleaned up, and get some rest. Can you and your staff handle everything?”
“Yes, Doctor. You definitely deserve a break.” She nodded and left.
The first thing he wanted to do was see Whitney. After herconfession to him, he’d thought of her constantly. There was no denying that he had strong feelings for her as well. But what if he failed her as others had?
No. That was the enemy talking again.
As he left the hospital, he shook off the thoughts. God had been working on his heart a lot lately. He’d shown Peter that he’d built a wall around himself to keep from failing anyone else. And He’d shown Peter how foolish that was. God had ordained his life, and while there would be times when he wouldn’t be able to cure or help, he could always pray.
Watching Whitney work through her own struggle had taught him so much. Her honesty with him was beautiful. Bold. Unashamed. He needed to be more honest as well. Stop putting up facades. Admit to his struggles and do his best for the glory of God. And, just as was true for Whitney, healing wouldn’t come overnight. It would be a journey.
He walked toward his home and office, letting the frigid air in and out of his lungs.
“Peter!”
He turned. Daniel and Madysen stopped their sleigh in the street.
“Come quick!” Maddy waved toward him. “It’s Judas.”
What? He ran to the sleigh and peered in. “What happened?”
“We don’t know. We found him in a snow drift after he left the farm.”
Peter winced. “Was he trying to convince Whitney to marry him again?”
“Worse. He came to tell us that someone else held a deed to our property and then threatened her when she wouldn’t agree to marry him.” Madysen had tears in her eyes. “Wecan’t let him die like this, Peter. He has no one. He needs Jesus.”
In his flesh, Peter didn’t want to help this man that had treated Whitney with such manipulation and deceit. But Madysen was correct.Lord, help me.“Get him inside, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“We need to head over to Granny’s to check on them. Will you send word?”
“Of course.”
An hour later, he walked to the Beauforts’s. Oh, how he needed the fresh air. Madysen opened the door, her eyes filled with concern.
“I’m afraid it’s not good news. We haven’t been able to wake him, and from what we can ascertain, he’s had a heart attack.”
Madysen put a hand to her mouth.
Daniel’s shoulders lifted in a heavy sigh. “What should we do?”
“Pray. There’s nothing else you can do. I’ll keep an eye on Judas, and if he wakes, I’ll send a message out to the farm.”
Watching them go, he looked to the ceiling. He wouldn’t get to see Whitney again today like he’d hoped.
Because he’d be caring for a man who’d threatened her. But Madysen was right. The man needed Jesus. And Jesus could turn life around for anyone.
Even Judas Reynolds.
All right, God. Show me what I need to do to help heal this man.
Whitney dressed in her best dress. When Maddy had returned last night and told the family about Judas, and thatPeter thought he’d had a heart attack, her first reaction had been relief. Then guilt rushed in. Such thoughts were not honoring to the Lord. No matter what Judas had done, Jesus had died for his sins, the same as He had for hers.
