Will met his grim expression and nodded. “Very well. Thank you.”
But his heart wasn’t full of thanks at all. He wanted nothing more than to get up and give the man a shake. In fact, Will would have liked to give most everyone around him a good hard shake. No one seemed to understand how difficult it was to be laid up—to not even be able to attend your own family’s funeral. Forced to rely on everyone else for the simplest of needs.
Will heard the wind pick up outside. The staff had been talking about the possibility of a blizzard, and wind usually came before a storm.
“I see your visitor is gone,” Mrs. Duffy said, coming into the room unannounced. Rosey followed behind her, along with Curtis. Both carried armloads of wood. “The weather’s gone bad on us, and we’re stocking up on dry firewood in each of the rooms. I’ll be sure to check frequently to see that you’re staying warm enough.”
“Is Laura home?”
“She hasn’t returned just yet. She went out to meet with her sewing circle friends,” Mrs. Duffy replied. “I expect her most anytime. The ladies are usually good to keep track of the weather.”
Will nodded. “Curtis, would you help me back to bed? I’m feeling a bit done in.”
“No problem, sir,” the boy replied after depositing the firewood. Mrs. Duffy motioned to Rosey, and the young woman hurried to pull down the covers.
Will found the kitten had burrowed under the covers up by the pillow. He stretched and opened his eyes as Will joined him in the bed, but otherwise had no interest in moving. Will almost laughed as the cat closed his eyes.
“He has no more energy than I do.”
“Probably knows it’s going to storm,” Mrs. Duffy said, coming to tuck Will in. “Animals seem to know. I’m thinking this storm may be a bad one, and all the animals will hole up wherever they can to avoid the cold. This little fella’s lucky Miss Laura found him. Otherwise, I hate to think what might have happened to him.”
Will thought for the briefest of moments that the same might be said of him. Laura was determined to care for him, but since she had been the one to run him down, Will thought it rather ... well ... expected. He knew, however, that it really wasn’t. He was the one who’d paid no attention to where he was walking. Laura had gone above and beyond to ensure he had good care. He really needed to be more grateful.
The staff exited the room, but in a moment, Mrs. Duffy was back, and on her heel was Charlie Decker.
“Mr. Decker has come calling. Are you up to a visitor?”
Will nodded and motioned him in. “A blizzard is about to start as I hear it. You should be home, Charlie.”
The man doffed his hat. “I brought Laura home in our carriage since the snow had already started. I thought I might as well stop in and say hello,” Charlie said as he stepped up to the bed. “I promise I won’t stay long.”
“What about school?”
“Oh, I dismissed the students early. The weather was just too threatening. The wind came up, and the sky is heavy with snow. I told the boys to go straight home, and I pray they did as they were told for once.” Charlie took a seat in the ladder-back chair by the bed.
Will didn’t feel much like visiting. “You need to get back before the storm moves in and you’re unable to find your way home.”
Charlie smiled and ignored the suggestion. “I told Melody I was going to visit with you for just a moment or two. I wanted to see how you were doing. I heard Blevins was back in town.”
“He is, and he’s already been here,” Will admitted, realizing he had no choice but to talk. “The news is that the government is finally settled and ready to take on preachers for the reservations, but I’m not ready to take on a job.”
“You’ll heal up soon enough. Can’t they wait?”
“I guess not.”
Charlie’s eyes narrowed just a bit. “Will, do you even want them to wait?”
Will knew his friend meant well, and frankly, he did need to talk it out with someone. He just hadn’t expected to have to do it at that very moment.
“Truthfully, Charlie, I don’t know if I do. Indians just killed my family. How can I go to them and show the kind of love and encouragement that God expects? I don’t even have a good relationship with God right now. I feel so abandoned and angry.”
Charlie chuckled. “Sounds like you have a lot to work on. Maybe we could start with a little prayer.”
The wind gusted hard against the house, and Will shookhis head. “We don’t have the kind of time needed to pray through this issue. You need to get home, Charlie. Melody needs you there.”
He saw the battle waging in Charlie’s eyes, but finally his friend got back to his feet. “I’ll go for now, but I promise to return, and I’ll be praying about your troubles while we’re apart. I think you’d do well to do the same, even if you are put out with the Almighty.”
Will nodded. “I’ll do what I can, Charlie. But I make no promises. I’m not sure God wants to hear from me anymore.”
