What had happened? Why had Bess still died when there had not been a fire?
Johnnie sat at the table like a statue, though his eyes had filled with tears and his face revealed the harsh reality he was facing.
Hazel crossed the room to embrace him. She hugged him tight, even though his hands were still resting in his lap. Slowly, Johnnie closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around her, and wept.
They were so young, so naïve and innocent—yet life had taken so much from both of them. Tears stung my eyes as the injustice of it broke my heart. I turned my gaze toward God. Why did He allow suffering in His world? Where was He in moments like this, when life was unfair and uncertain?
“Leave me,” Sam said, his voice breaking with emotion.
I stepped out and closed the door, not sure what to do. There were boarders upstairs, including Father, who would want breakfast, and Johnnie and Hazel would need to eat. I didn’t know the first thing about lighting a cookstove or preparing a meal, especially one on such a large scale. But there was no one else who would do it.
More importantly, I needed to comfort Johnnie and reassure Hazel—
The back door slammed open, and I jumped.
Cole Goodman stood over the threshold, his eyes wild with worry. “Where is she? Where’s Bess? I saw Paddy running down the street, and he told me something is wrong with her.”
It hadn’t taken long to realize Sam didn’t like Cole, and probablyfor good reason. If Cole was having an affair with Bess, it made perfect sense.
I didn’t respond, so Cole stepped over the pallet and pushed open the bedroom door.
Sam was still kneeling next to the bed as he held Bess’s hand. He looked up at the sudden entrance with red-rimmed eyes and wet cheeks. His sorrow immediately turned to rage as he leapt to his feet and grabbed Cole by the throat, slamming him against the door frame. “You would show your face here?” he yelled.
Cole clawed at Sam’s hand, his face turning red. “I loved her.”
Sam’s eyes narrowed, and he shook with fury.
I grabbed the children and pulled them to the opposite corner of the room near the cookstove, drawing them into my arms as fear wound around my heart. Would Sam still try to kill Cole and end up hanging for it?
Johnnie and Hazel trembled in my arms as I attempted to shield them from the conflict.
“You used her,” Sam said through bared teeth. “That’s not love.”
Cole gagged and sputtered as his eyes bulged, but he was no match for Sam’s immense strength.
“You’re not worth it.” Sam let Cole go, and the man crumpled to the floor, gasping and reaching for his neck. “I only wish I had been there that night, and then I would have been justified in killing you.”
Cole tried to get on his hands and knees.
Sam watched him with disgust. “Get off my property.” He rested his hand on the pistol he always wore at his side. “And if I ever see you here again, I will not be so kind.”
Hazel whimpered, and I tried to shush her, hoping we didn’t draw Sam’s attention as Cole stumbled to his feet and left the building.
Sam’s broad chest rose and fell on deep breaths as he slowly lifted his gaze to mine.
Anger and grief mingled in his brown eyes, but it slowly faded and was replaced with sadness.
“Johnnie.” Sam’s voice caught as tears filled his eyes again.
Johnnie pulled away from me and raced across the kitchen.
Sam squatted and captured the boy, lifting him off his feet in a hug so fierce and protective, it took my breath away.
Moments ago, Johnnie had been cowering from fear, but he clearly wasn’t afraid of Sam. The boy loved his father with abandon, and the father loved his son equally.
Sam returned to the bedroom with Johnnie, closing the door behind them without a word.
Hazel and I sat in the corner of the room, silent and unmoving.
