Maddy went over and closed the window and then put her hands on her hips. “Whit, I’m not very strong yet, but I think it’s time you headed into town to check on the good doctor.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Calling to her dogs to go faster, Whitney leaned forward on the runners, pushing off with one leg to help them get momentum. The sooner she could get to town, the sooner she could see Peter.
And shewouldsee Peter. When she closed her eyes, she could see him. Bent over one of his patients. Giving that ever-understanding smile and encouragement.
The trek into town had never seemed so long. The storm had dumped several more feet of snow, and the dogs struggled in some of the areas where it drifted and swirled. “You can do it. Let’s go!” Her voice rang out across the wide-open expanse.
She gazed out around her. This was home. To think that a few months ago, she’d thought of leaving with Maddy and that wild man with his follies and frolics. All to escape the horrible rumors a bad man had spread.
She swallowed against the tears that formed a lump in her throat. Just this morning, she’d found a note from Mama shoved in her Bible at the book of 1 Peter. It had been too long since Whitney had picked her Bible up and read it. Theirmother had been great at leaving them notes here and there. And there’d been no better time for Whitney to read 1 Peter than this morning.
In her loopy script, Mama wrote about the encouragement she’d gained from reading the epistle that focused on joy through suffering. How her mom must have suffered the last few months. Struggling with asthma and not wanting to worry anyone ... then succumbing to whooping cough. Yet, she’d always been full of joy for them.
Always.
Whitney had decided this morning to try to memorize a few verses Mama had underlined. No time like the present to put it into practice. She lifted her voice to the sky. “‘Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory...’”
That was what she could remember at the moment, but it was enough. Actually, it was exactly what she needed. Regret poured through her that she hadn’t held fast like she should have. That she hadn’t rejoiced with joy unspeakable ... but Christ didn’t expect her to be perfect. He wanted her to come to Him with her burdens––all the hardships, all the filth and junk that weighed her down––and lay it at His feet.
Forgiveness was a beautiful thing. She was a long way from where she needed to be spiritually, but she’d made the start back in the right direction. Maybe God would let Mamaknow that all her hard work, everything that she’d poured into her girls, was not in vain.
Thank You, God for giving her to us.
The dogs yipped as they reached the outskirts of town. “Whoa.” She slowed the team to a stop. Where to? The hospital? Peter’s office?
The streets of the town were much quieter than usual. Was it the storm or the sickness?
Mr. Norris had sent word to them about Peter, so maybe she should head to the Roadhouse. She turned the dogs toward the beloved building, keeping their pace slow as they meandered through the streets.
A sign on the door of the Roadhouse said it was a hospital.
“Haw, haw!” She turned her team around and then parked them in front of the Roadhouse. After she set the hook, she ran up the steps and into the familiar building.
But there was nothing familiar about it.
Pallets lined the floor. Pallets filled with men. Many resting. Some propped up. Several coughing.
She wove through the maze and searched the faces. So many she knew from the times they’d played and sung on the very stage in front of them.
What a nightmare. So many sick!
For the next several minutes she walked among the men and yearned to pray over each one of them. God knew. He knew her heart. Knew each of the men lying there.
She ached to find Peter, but she hadn’t seen him anywhere. Maybe he was at the hospital?
“Miss Powell.” Mr. Norris’s voice stopped her, and she turned around. “What are you doing here? Is your family well?”
“We are, thank you. I came looking for Dr. Cameron.”She swallowed past the dry lump in her throat. “Have you seen him?”
“He’s in the back resting. Poor man hasn’t slept or eaten much in days.” Mr. Norris held out an arm. “I’ll take you to him.”
Her heart had almost stopped its pace when Mr. Norris said Peter was there. Then she let out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. At this point, a nod would have to suffice, because she couldn’t speak.
She wanted to run but walked behind the owner to the back.
Norris tapped on the door and then opened it an inch. “Dr. Cameron, I’ve got someone here who wants to see you.”
