“I’m glad. We often expect perfection from men of God, but they aren’t perfect. No one is. You know, I think when I talked about that at the revival, folks were quite surprised.”
Marybeth nodded. “Goodness, that was right after Edward got shot. I nearly forgot. How did the revival go? I wanted to be there, but then all of this happened.”
Dr. Scott chuckled. “I can give a good hellfire-and-brimstone sermon when called to. I am quite passionate about saving souls. Can’t imagine standing before the Lord and admitting I had the information and ability to tell lost folks about Jesus offering salvation and did nothing. I think about thirty people got saved.”
Marybeth smiled as she reattached a sleeve. “I don’t know how anyone gets by without the assurance that when they die, they’ll be with Jesus.”
“A lot of folks don’t believe it can be as simple as believing in Him and asking Him into their hearts. They want tomake it hard, adding all sorts of other nonsense. Few ever think of the thief on the cross asking Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Jesus didn’t require the man do anything else. He told him he would be with Him that day in paradise. He didn’t have to buy a church pew or tithe a certain amount. Didn’t have to take communion, memorize Scriptures, or get baptized. He just had to accept Jesus.”
“I guess people think that because it is such an important matter that it can’t be that simple,” Edward said, grimacing as he tried to sit up. “These stitches gonna come out soon?”
“Yes, I’ll probably take them out tomorrow. Try to be patient.” Dr. Scott finished washing his hands and dried them on a towel.
“Sorry. I do my best, but I’m not used to just lying around.”
“Well, you’re going to have to promise to do so for at least another week after I send you home. Preferably two. I want to make sure your innards are fully repaired, and that takes time.”
Marybeth was glad to hear that Dr. Scott was thinking about releasing Edward. She wouldn’t feel at ease until he was home safe. Of course, then she’d be the one having to tend his wound, but given that it had already begun to heal, she figured she could stomach changing the bandage and cleaning the site.
“Well, I have other patients to see,” Dr. Scott said, heading for the door. “You can be up for a few hours today. Just remember to get help. I don’t want you getting out of bed on your own.”
“I won’t do it on my own. I promise,” Edward said with a grin.
Marybeth focused on her sewing. How would it be whenEdward returned? So far, he’d said nothing about her declaration of love. She was grateful for that. She didn’t want her feelings causing him worries. Hopefully he just thought it was the same kind of friendship love they’d mentioned before.
“You look deep in thought,” Edward said.
Marybeth glanced up from the shirt momentarily, wondering what she should say. “I guess ... I was.”
“Has it been terribly hard on you?”
She was touched by the tenderness in his tone. “I was terrified that you would die. They told me you’d lost a lot of blood, and then I saw it for myself. Fred didn’t seem at all confident that you would make it.”
“He should know better. He’s seen me wounded before this.”
“That’s right, you got shot in the war. Tell me about that.” She hoped getting his mind on something else would keep him from asking her more about what she was thinking.
“Not a lot to tell. I was wounded in the Siege of Savannah. Shot through the left side. Now I have a scar on each side. Both times I was lucky enough to avoid it hitting the intestines. The doctors told me I would have died if the colon had been hit. Guess God put those bullets right where He wanted them. Bled a lot both times, and field hospitals are little better equipped than what we have here. But I made it through again, and I know it was because of God and the good doctors.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through this. People are evil to try to kill others.”
“Hank didn’t mean to shoot me. At least not this time. The man’s heart is black as sin, however, and I get the feeling it’s just a matter of time with him. Fred said the bad ones are allin mean spirits because of the winter months. But it’s nearly February and not too long before things will start warming up, and besides that, Fred said Hank and Emory have left town. No one has seen them since the shooting.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I wish all the violent ones would just leave.”
Edward shrugged. “That would probably take most of the population. And they’re the ones keeping the money flowing on the west side of town.”
Marybeth didn’t want to think about that. There were far too many rowdies in Cheyenne. For all she knew, every shirt she had repaired could very well belong to one of them.
“You’re doing an awful lot of sewing these days. Everything all right?” Edward asked.
“Oh, this?” Marybeth hadn’t told him about the money situation. She supposed there was no time like the present. “I took on work. Since most of our money went to finishing out Fred’s shed, there wasn’t much left for food and coal. We’re fine now.”
Edward frowned. “I never thought to tell you that I have some money in the bank. I’ve been saving up some of each paycheck. You can go there and get money. I put you on the account even though they tried to dissuade me.”
“Why would they dissuade you?”
“They said women on men’s accounts just complicate matters and lead to no good, but I assured them you weren’t the typical woman.” He smiled. “And you aren’t. I’ve been blessed by the way you’ve been at my side through this.”
