Plump snowflakes floated down in a gentle curtain. Nothing like the blizzard that had raged for days. He looked at his watch. It had only been half an hour. No wonder his body was begging for more sleep. But God had given him the gift of the storm passing. Now he could send word to the farm.
“Everything all right?” Norris spoke from the doorway. “I heard a noise and came to check on you.”
“I had been praying for the storm to clear and woke up to see that it had.” He rubbed a hand down his face. Exhaustion and relief fought to be foremost in his mind. “I need to get word to Miss Powell that I’m all right.” Norris was the one who’d found him staggering into town in the storm.
The man obviously understood. “I’ll send someone as soon as I can. But you look like you could fall over any second. Get back to sleep, Doc. I’ll take care of letting her know.”
“Thank you.” In that moment, weariness overtook him. He lay down on the cot and tucked the pillow up under his head. The sound of a door closing registered in his mind, but his eyes were already shut. His thoughts drifted back to Whitney. If he hadn’t been so busy with the sick, he’d be beside himself with concern for her dogs. When he fell off the sled in the storm and they took off back toward the farm, he’d prayed they would make it home safely. It had been a wonder that he even made it to town on foot.
Whitney.
She was sure to be concerned. Hopefully she wasn’t sick.Lord, please heal that family. Then there was the news about Martin ... but how could he tell them at the farm? With Daniel sick, it was best to keep the news to himself for now. Otherwise, he’d try to get into town and argue with Judas.
Faces of the different men inside the Roadhouse—men whose names Peter didn’t know—flashed through his mind,and he prayed for each one, until he no longer had the strength to fight the sleep that overtook him.
The days had blended together. How long had it been since her dogs returned without Peter? There’d been no word from him, and she’d prayed with every ounce of her being that he’d made it to town. Dad prayed with her each chance he had.
This new relationship with her father sure did seem like a miracle to her. Something she couldn’t have ever dreamed would happen. Especially with how she talked to him just a few weeks ago. But God was the God of miracles and second chances. She shouldn’t be surprised. But she was. Each moment.
“Whit!” Eli came into the kitchen, where she was stirring a pot of soup. It was so good to see the boy up and on his feet, but he definitely needed fattening up after days of the fever. “Yutu just came in to help John. He said that he came from town first and had a message from Mr. Norris that Dr. Cameron made it in safe, and he was the only doc that wasn’t sick.”
“Really?” Her breath left her in a great whoosh, and her legs felt like they wouldn’t hold her any longer. She grabbed a towel and wiped her hands on it. He’d made it to town? She closed her eyes and went to the nearest chair.Thank You, God.
“Yep.” Her younger brother took a slice of bread. “Can I eat now? I’m hungry.”
They laughed together, and she put a hand to her heart. “Of course. Eat as much as you want.”
“Come on, sis. Eat with me.” He pulled her to her feet.
Wrapping her arms around him in a great big hug, she smiled over the top of his head. “I’d love to.”
Peter was all right! She couldn’t wait to see him for herself.
And find out what happened. What sent the dogs running home without their driver? It didn’t make sense. But she was so thankful. For days, she’d had such worried thoughts. What if he’d taken ill and ... died?
She banished the negative thoughts. It was time to rejoice and be glad.
Today was a new day.
As she delivered soup to everyone, her heart soared. Peter was alive! And little by little, the household was coming back to a state of normalcy. Maddy and Bethany were on the mend too.
Poor John. The man must be running ragged trying to keep the farm going. The adults who contracted measles seemed to have it the worst, and most of them ended up with the respiratory sickness too.
Whatever this was, it was no wonder it killed so many people back in 1900.
Peter had taught them well, though. He’d taken precautionary measures and shown them exactly which tea and poultices would help.
Thank You, God, for Peter.
Though Ruth was still sick, she hadn’t gotten worse, which Whitney counted as a blessing. The woman simply didn’t seem to have the will to go on. And that broke her heart. She’d told her friend several times that she was sending a telegram to her family. But no response.
She entered the sickroom with a tray of soup and bread. Not that she expected Ruth would eat much of it. Whitney had managed to spoon only a few scant bites into thewoman’s mouth the past few days. But she was determined to try. Again.
She took hold of Ruth’s hand.
Lord, how can we reach her?
How many times had she poured out her heart to the Lord the past few days? It seemed like a constant conversation was taking place with her heavenly Father. Something she didn’t want to give up once this trial was over. She’d promised herself she would keep her focus on the Lord, but that was harder to put into practice than simply saying it.
