“You are quite welcome.” Edward lifted her up and took her to her chair. “Now it’s time to celebrate with cake.”
“Cake, pease,” Carrie called out from her feeding chair, getting more and more excited. “Cake! Cake!”
Marybeth turned back to the little girl. “I suppose cake is more exciting than a bed.” She sliced a small piece and presented it to Carrie. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
“Tanks.” Carrie grabbed the piece with her hands, not even bothering to try to eat it with a fork.
Marybeth couldn’t help but laugh at her antics. Sometimes a gal just had to do what a gal had to do. Carrie devoured the piece and pounded the top of the wooden tray. “I like cake.”
Both Edward and Marybeth laughed at that. Edward reached over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek despite the frosting that remained. “So do I.”
“More pease.”
“Just a little bit.” Marybeth sliced another small piece and gave it to Carrie.
“This is mighty good cake, Marybeth.” Edward was nearly finished with his first piece, and Marybeth knew he’d want a second. She sliced him another large piece and brought it to him. He didn’t hesitate to take it.
“I’m going to have to eat fast and get down to the jail. Time’s getting away from me.” He went to work on the cake and followed it with a big swig of coffee. “Now, that’s the way to finish a meal. Cake and hot coffee. We ought to have that every day.”
Marybeth laughed. “It was hard enough just to get this cake made. Having cake everyday would be a little difficult.”
Their life had been surprisingly peaceful and pleasant since the Christmas morning disaster. Marybeth had gone out of her way to be of good cheer. She loved making the shed a home, and she was determined to give Edward nothing to regret.
It didn’t stop her from thinking about him almost constantly,however. She couldn’t help but wonder exactly when her feelings for him started to deepen, but they had, and she was clearly in love with her husband. The only problem was, he couldn’t return that love. She had prayed about it, asking God to show them what to do. She and Carrie had a good life ... well, at least a decent life. Marybeth didn’t want anything to interfere with that or cause Edward to regret taking them on.
“I’ll be heading out,” Edward said, getting his holster and gun from atop one of the crates that they used for a cupboard.
“Gun,” Carrie said, pointing her tiny index finger. “No, no, no.”
Marybeth might have laughed at the little girl’s serious expression and waggled finger, but she didn’t dare. She and Edward were working hard to teach Carrie the dangers of even touching the weapon.
“Very good, Carrie. The gun is a big no. You mustn’t ever touch it. It will give you bad ouchies.” Marybeth started to clean up the tray. Cake crumbs and frosting were everywhere it seemed.
Edward came to Carrie after he strapped on his gun. “You’re a good girl, Carrie.” This time he avoided her sticky face and kissed the top of her head.
Marybeth watched him with a tenderness that made her heart ache. “Be careful tonight. I’ll be praying for you.”
“I’ll be careful.” Edward ran his hand through the little girl’s silky blond hair. “You’ve got cake and frosting in your hair, missy.” He glanced up at Marybeth. “Looks like she’s gonna need a good cleaning.”
“I had it planned. Water is already heating.” Marybeth used her damp rag to wipe a big smear of frosting from Carrie’s dress. “By the time I finish with her, I’ll need a bath.”
“Be nice if we could get a tub. I’ll keep my eyes open forsomething of use to us in that department.” He took up his hat and headed for the door. “Oh, I’m meeting Dr. Scott in the morning. We’re gonna talk about the upcoming revival, so I’ll be late coming home.”
“I’m so excited about our revival. Dr. Scott’s wife seems to think there will be a great many folks converted if we can just get them to attend.”
“The Spirit of God will guide folks. We just need to extend the invitation and our friendship. I remember my pa sayin’ that folks need a Savior, but they also need a friend.” He smiled. “Pa also said we need to be careful and not try to be both.”
“Out here they do need both. I can’t imagine getting through the days and nights without the comfort of Jesus. It must be a terrible loneliness to be without God. It’s hard enough with Him.”
Edward frowned. “Are you havin’ a rough time of it, Marybeth?”
She hadn’t meant to say anything to cause him to question their arrangement. “No. There are days that are harder than others, but since we came to the shed here ... well, things are much better. I didn’t mean to suggest they weren’t. It’s just that this is a difficult part of the country. There are dangers everywhere, and that won’t go away anytime soon.”
“Come spring it will change a lot. Fred said it’s almost an overnight difference when the train moves on down the tracks. Most of the heathens, as he calls them, pack up fast and move on down the line. It’s not called ‘Hell on Wheels’ for no reason.”
“It would be nice if all the bad and negative could leave with them. I’m not fool enough to believe that, though. Even back in Indiana we had our bad folks and difficult days. Still, to have most of the west side load up and go ... well, I think that will benefit us more than anything. And hopefully we’llhear something by then from George about my house. I think I’ll borrow some paper and write him a letter. I can let him and Inga know how we’re doing. After sending them that first letter, we’ve really been poor correspondents.”
“True enough. Well, include my love in it and tell Inga I’ll try to write to her soon. Give her my love and tell her to keep praying for us.”
