They joined together in singing a hymn, then closed in prayer. Laura felt so happy to be a part of this wonderful congregation of believers. She was here with friends that she knew she could trust. Friends who loved God as much as she did and would stand beside her no matter what was learned about her father’s activities.
Still, it hurt to know that she would never have the father that she longed for. She had endured all of her years away because she was confident they would one day be together and all would be right once again. Now that would never happen. If her father had done all of those terrible things, he would go to prison at the very least, and she might never see him again. The aching deepened. Only God could see her through this second loss of the man she had loved so dearly.
“Well, that was certainly a wonderful service,” Granny said, turning to Laura. “Sometimes I get so overwhelmed when I remind myself that as good as this is, heaven will be even better.”
“That’s a very hopeful way to think of it.” Laura fought to corral her emotions.
“It’s so glorious that we cannot even begin to imagine it.”
Laura drew a deep breath and finally looked up to meet Granny’s gaze. “I don’t know. I can imagine a lot.”
Granny patted her arm. “Child, just remember, these are light and momentary troubles.” She raised a brow as her expression grew most serious. “Troubles that God has already seen and provided for. Rest in Him and find your joy again.”
“Oh, Granny, thank you. You always know the right thingsto say.” Laura gave her a hug. “I just know it will be so wonderful to have the world set to rights ... to have no more sickness or heartbreak, wrongdoing, or evil. There will just be peace and goodness all around because God will be all around.”
“Granny, would you please come talk to my wife and remind her that she’s supposed to be taking these last few days easy?” Edward Vogel asked as he joined them. “I can’t get her to stop working. I even hired a woman to come clean up and cook.”
“My, I wish I could have had that kind of help when I gave birth. When I had my first baby, we were fifty miles from the nearest town. I was completely reliant on a friend who lived about three miles to the south to help me deliver the baby. I’d helped deliver hers, and it was only fair.” Granny laughed. “I waited until Jed finished breakfast, then told him he’d best ride and get her because I’d been having pains for most of the night.”
Laura was fascinated and horrified all at once. “Oh goodness, Granny. That must have been hard to cook breakfast and wait while being in such misery.”
“It’s just the way it had to be. When you’re a rancher’s wife, things are done in a different way.”
“So what happened?” Edward asked, looking at Jed. “Did you get back in time?”
“Barely,” the old man replied. “Granny was in the bed bearing down when we got back. She’d already set up everything that needed to be there. Had her hot water and blankets, baby clothes, and diapers. She probably could have taken care of everything by herself, but I was mighty glad she had someone there besides me.” He chuckled. “I think she was too.”
“I was,” Granny admitted, “but I knew the good Lord was watching over me.”
Edward shook his head. “I need you folks to pray for me. You know what I’m up against, given the past.”
Granny took hold of him. “We do know, and we’ve been offering up powerful prayers for you every time we pray for Marybeth and this child. Trust in the Lord, Edward.”
“I trusted Him last time,” Edward replied, “and the worst happened.”
Laura felt terrible for him. She had heard Marybeth speak of his fears and had often prayed for them both.
“The worst would be to face it without Him,” Granny said. “Son, you need to remember that no matter what, God will never leave you. He didn’t abandon you then, and He won’t abandon you now. Marybeth belongs to Him too, just as your first wife did. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow or the next day. I’ve seen good people collapse and be gone when their heart gave out. My own pa went that way. We just don’t know how much time we have on earth, but we know the character of the God we serve.”
“And even when we don’t understand why He allows the things He does,” Jed said, “we can trust in Him. We don’t have to understand. We just need to put our hope in Him and hold on to the love He’s given us.”
Edward nodded. “I know you’re right. I’m doing all I can.”
“Maybe it’s time to let Him do all He can,” Jed said, grinning. “I’ve never known my best to be better than His.”
Laura felt Will’s presence before he even spoke. She turned and saw him joining their little group.
“May I talk to you for a moment?” he whispered in her ear.
Laura nodded and excused herself, giving Granny a kiss on the cheek before following Will outside. “What is it?”
“I wanted to tell you how things went with your father on Saturday.”
“You don’t need to. He told me that you’re going to start working for him tomorrow.” Her smile faded. “Will, I am afraid. Etta and I were searching his bedroom this morning—trying to find anything that might give you evidence against him. We didn’t find anything, but he came back unexpectedly, and we were both sure that he’d catch us at it. Thankfully, he didn’t.”
“Don’t put yourself in danger. We have this under control.” He touched her cheek. “Please just stay out of it. I don’t want to lose another person. I don’t think I could bear it.”
Laura knew he was right. Will and the others were more than capable of doing whatever needed to be done.
