Nothing would stand in his way now.
Not even Miss Whitney Powell.
Ruth moaned, and Whitney wiped her brow. “I know it’s hard, Ruth, but you need to fight this fever. Please.” She lifted a cup to the woman’s lips and tried to coax her to drink. “Just a sip or two. You can do it.”
The frail woman swallowed.
“Think of your kids, Ruth. And how much you want to see them again. Take another sip for me....” She held the cup and waited.God, I don’t know what to do. Please help.Ruth swallowed and relaxed in Whitney’s arms. It took everything out of her to drink, it seemed.
Shuffling at the door made Whitney peer over her shoulder. “Hi, Dad.”
“Any improvement?” His shoulders were slumped. Neither one of them had slept in more than a day.
“Not much. But I did get her to drink a little water.”
“That’s good.” A chair scraped across the floor, and he sat down next to her. “Bethany and Eli are weak, but they’re sitting up and teasing back and forth.”
“What a relief. I’m glad you put them in your room with each other. Laughter truly is the best medicine.” The prodding in her heart to talk to her father wouldn’t go away. “Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome. I wish I could do more.”
The tense set of his jaw, the weary lines on his face ... it showed that the man before her wasn’t anything like the man who’d walked away from his family all those years ago. This man was caring. Giving. Sacrificial.
“She has so much yet to do ... so much love to give. I’ve been praying God would heal her. Not just of this disease, but of her broken heart.” Dad’s voice cracked as he reached forward to take his sister-in-law’s hand. “I would trade places with her in an instant if I thought I could give my life for hers. I owe her so much.”
How should she respond? She understood the feelings he expressed, the ache in her father’s voice. Wouldn’t she be willing to give her life for one of her sisters? It all made sense. “Keep praying for her, Dad.”
He turned to look at her, a sheen of tears in his eyes.
“You really are a different man now.” The last vestiges of ice she’d held around her heart for her dad shattered into little pieces. “I’m so sorry.”
He opened his arms to her and welcomed her into them.
“Please forgive me for the hateful words I’ve said to you or thought about you. I had no right to hold the past against you.” She sobbed against his chest.
“Oh, daughter. I forgave you long ago. I hope you can forgive me as well.”
“I do, Dad. I’m so sorry it took my stubborn heart so long.”
“I love you, Whitney. Always have. Always will. I’m sure I’ll fail you again, because the only perfect Father is the one above, but I hope you’ll continue to forgive and love me through it.”
She nodded against him. Finally feeling free of the chains that had kept her bound for so long. “I love you too, Dad.”
He held her for several minutes and stroked her hair. Just like he had done when she was a little girl. She looked to the ceiling.God, please tell Mama we’re a family again.
If only Maddy and Havyn were with them right now. ButMaddy was fighting a horrible cough, along with her husband, and Havyn was still quarantined from the rest of them.
Whitney took a deep breath. “You know, I just thought of something. As soon as the storm is past and one of us can make it to town, I think I need to send a telegram and offer to pay for Ruth’s children and mother to come up on the first boat. That way, we can tell Ruth about it and try to give her a reason to fight.”
“That’s a great idea.” Dad teared up again. “Thank you for offering.”
Footsteps sounded in the hallway. Rapid. Hurried. The quiet of the moment shattered, and she pulled away from Dad as her heart raced.Please, God. Not more bad news. Whitney turned to the door and saw John.
“Whit, we’ve got a problem.”
“What is it?” She got to her feet and swiped at her face.
“The team of dogs that Peter took to town returned with the sled. But there’s no sign of Peter.”
