“What seems to be wrong, Will?”
“Everything. Just when I think I’ve managed to get my heart and mind back on the right track, something comes along to send me careening off the rails.”
“How can I help?” the older man asked.
“Besides praying for me, there’s nothing you can do to fix it or help me.”
He had tormented himself all night, imagining the necklace being torn from his sister’s throat. Had she still been alive when it was taken, or had the thief pulled it away after shooting her in the heart? Had there been blood on the tiny gold links? On the heart-shaped locket?
“I’d say prayer is the best of all we can do for one another, Will.”
“I want to believe that too.” He put his hands on either side of his head and squeezed. “I can’t get the terrible images out of my mind. I keep thinking of how it happened.”
“The death of your loved ones?” the pastor asked.
“Yes. That and ...” He heaved another sigh. “Something happened last night, and it brought everything to the forefront once again.”
“Would you like to talk about it?” the reverend asked.
Will looked at him for a long moment. “Not really, but I suppose it might help.”
After the pastor had gone, Will felt a little better. He knew he needed to speak with Laura’s father. If anyone could answer his questions, it would be that man. Only he would know how he came by the necklace.
But what if he didn’t know the origins? What if the necklace had changed hands many times? What if the Indians had traded the things they stole to someone else, and then that person had brought it to Granite Evans? Or they might have sold it to another store, and Evans, needing a birthday gift for Laura, had purchased it from them.
Laura.
He thought of how frightened she’d looked when she’d run from the woodshop. Will had caused that fear. He knew he hadn’t been able to mask his shock. He had been so happy to see her. He was finally to a place where she stopped reminding him of his mother’s and sister’s deaths, and then the necklace had ruined it all.
A part of him wished he could go to her first and offer an apology, even comfort. But frankly, Will wasn’t sure he had anything to offer. He went to the window and raised the shade. It was a beautiful spring day outside, but even that couldn’t cut through the darkness in his soul.
“Why, Lord? I know I keep asking that question. I’ve asked it since I first got here and couldn’t seem to coordinate with the government. I just wanted to serve You, but nothing would come together. I’ve asked You why over and over these last few weeks, and You remain silent.”
Will’s eyes went to the billowy white clouds overhead. “Where are You, Father? You feel so far away. I thought I’dfound my way back. I felt Your presence when I prayed, but right now I feel alone again.
“I don’t doubt Your existence. I don’t even doubt that You have a plan in all of this. I guess I just doubt ... No, that’s not even the right word. I just feel like it’s all too much. You’ve required too much of me. Given me more than I can handle.”
Give it to Me.It was as if an audible voice spoke in his head.
Will closed his eyes and heard the words again.Give it to Me.
“I want to, Lord. I want to turn it all over to You. I want to trust that You will show me the way—that I won’t bear any of this alone.”
Will leaned against the wall. He felt so weak, so depleted of any real strength. He dropped to his knees.
“Take it, Lord. I give it to You.” He thought of Jesus on the way to His death, carrying His cross through the streets of Jerusalem. Even He had needed help.
“I can’t carry this alone.”
Laura looked at the clock for the tenth time in as many minutes. It was nearly nine o’clock. Soon she’d have no choice but to go to bed and wait until morning to speak to her father.
But she didn’t want to wait. Didn’t feel that she could wait. This was far too important to let another night pass without answers. Where was Father?
She needed to see her father and hear him tell her the truth, but he was nowhere to be found. After the women had finished sewing and went home to get supper on the stove, Laura went to the store, hoping to find her father in his office. But he wasn’t there, and no one seemed to know where he was or when he’d return.
Then she made her way to his men’s club. There she was told in no uncertain terms that women were not allowed to bother the men once they entered the walls of their sacred club, and the doorman could not tell her if Granite Evans had taken refuge there. She gave the man a dollar, at which point he told her that her father had been there earlier but now was gone. She hoped it was the truth but couldn’t be sure.
There had been no other choice but to return home and await his arrival. But what if it turned out to be another late night? What if he decided his business dealings were so important that he couldn’t come home until the wee hours of the dawn?
