Havyn and Madysen stepped forward. “We packed you some food. Please give Amka our love.” Havyn’s hair was still braided from sleep, but she wiped at her eyes and came forward to hug her.
“Of course.” Whitney attempted to swallow the lump in her throat. She couldn’t exactly tell her father now that he couldn’t come with her. Had they planned this?
Maddy petted the dogs. “I love you, Whitney. Promise to be safe.” The cheeriness in her voice was a bit much, even for Madysen.
So that was how this was going to be. Everyone ignoring the fact that she’d yelled hateful words at their father last night.
Well, that was better than another confrontation. She wasn’t sure her heart could take it at this point.
So she hugged her sisters and got Dad situated in the basket. Lifting the hook, she sent them a smile and then gave the command for the dogs to run.
Once they were away from the farm, she urged them into a steady speed and wrapped her scarf up over her nose and mouth.
Then Dad turned around in the basket in front of her and stared at her. “So ... you want to tell me why you tried to leave without me this morning?”
Sleep eluded Judas for the third night in a row. He took the stairs down to his study, lit a fire in the fireplace, and poured himself a generous glass of bourbon. He downed the contents and poured another.
This wasn’t like him. Normally, he slept like a baby. Never had a guilty conscience. Never worried about money. Never concerned himself with anyone else, really. With a shrug, he sat in a leather chair that had cost him a small fortune. As he ran a hand over the buttery leather, he smiled. Worth every penny.
His eyes darted over to the table beside him. Just as he’d suspected, it seemed Cain was writing every day. Judas had brought the letters home so he wouldn’t have to deal with them at the office. But they called to him even more here. Haunted him. Distracted him.
He ran a hand down his face. Was that why he couldn’t sleep? Those stupid letters? They were nothing but foolishness. The drivel of a cranky man whohadnothing and woulddiewith nothing. No one would remember him. No one would mourn him.
Sad, when he thought about it. But why should he care?
He lifted the page that lay on top. Scanned it. Huffed.
You need God, Judas. He’s the only true need you have, and yet you’ve pushed Him away like an angry child throwing a tantrum.
The words rang in his mind. Howdarehe presume to tell Judas what he did or didn’t need? The man was judging him as if he had any say whatsoever. Cain was powerless. He held nothing over Judas. Nothing. Judas was wealthy—wealthier than anyone could imagine—and he was influential, strong, formidable. A man without equal. That’s whohewas.
He’d proven Cain wrong countless times. He was in control of his own life. Not some invisible deity in the sky.
Heat flushed through his body as his pulse sped up. If someone were standing in front of him right now, he’d pound him with his fists.
No one told Judas Reynolds what to do. No one scolded him.
Hewas in charge.
Hewas the master of his own destiny.
He didn’tneedanyone or anything.
With a final swallow, the contents of the glass were gone. He threw the glass into the fire as hard as he could, relishing the explosive shattering and the surge in the flames.
Cain’s words held no power over him.
SIXTEEN
Peter stepped out of a hut and breathed in the crisp air. The villagers were finally beginning to improve. Three of the families this morning showed no signs of fever.
While there were more reports of the sickness’s spread elsewhere, he could leave this place knowing that Amka’s village was at least equipped to deal with the sickness a bit better. They understood now how to keep things clean, how to prevent spreading. And most important, they knew he would come if they asked him to.
That was a giant leap in the correct direction.
The yapping of dogs in the distance made him turn toward the sound. It wasn’t even light yet, and Whitney was returning with supplies for the village.
His heart swelled with an emotion he refused to name. But one thing was certain, he was anxious to see her again. As the sled approached, he shortened the distance between them and went to greet her.
