The stillness of the room woke Heaven. It was too still. Angel. Ice sheathed her veins. Her own heart beat in her ears. She threw aside the quilt. It landed in a puddle on top of her feet. She took a step, but the quilt clung to her feet like lint to cotton, slowing her.
She crossed the room to the bed. Angel lay there still, her hair around her like an angel’s halo. Was she? Heaven’s hand went to her throat. Please, God. She bit her bottom lip to keep the cry of anguish from bolting. She laid her palm against her sister’s head, expecting to feel the ice cold of the dead.
It was cool, normal cool. No fever remained, and her sister was alive. As the joy of life expanded in her, laughter exploded. “Angel, wake up!”
Her sister stretched her legs under the quilt and then opened one eye. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong! Everything is right, wonderful! Your fever is gone! You’re going to be okay!” Heaven couldn’t stop the happy tears—and the snot that came with them. She tugged a hanky from her apron pocket and blew.
“Ew. That’s not very proper.” Angel sat up in the bed.
“I don’t care. I don’t care if we are ever proper again as long as you are alive.” Heaven crawled into bed next to her sister and gathered her in a hug. “I love you, Angel. Don’t you ever scare me with another fever as long as you live. Promise me.”
“Okay, but I don’t know how to keep that. I’m hungry. Can I have some green beans and taters? I don’t want any chicken broth ever again.”
“Yes, I’ll run down into the root cellar right now.”
Angel was awake, and her fever had broken. Heaven couldn’t sing enough praises to God for weathering the storm of sickness with her. She’d come out stronger, and she could take care of Angel no matter the circumstances. As soon as she could, she would tell Annabelle that she and Angel would go with her. She loved Travis, but unless he loved her, she couldn’t marry him. Despite his kind ways toward her sister, it wouldn’t be enough for her. She wanted to be loved the way God loved her. And she had His love now and for always.
She climbed down the ladder to the root cellar. Maybe she should take what was left of the green beans with them to Memphis, because, as her uncle had said, they were life-sustaining even if they weren’t appealing after so many days of eating them.
The lamplight flickered and illuminated the jars she’d set aside when the women came the day after the tornado. She might as well take those upstairs and empty them before someone ended up eating them by mistake. She slipped them into the basket she carried.
Once upstairs, she took the jar of beans she would cook and placed it on the table. “Angel, I’ll be right back. I want to dump out the jars with the spoiled beans outside.”
“Don’t take forever. I’m really hungry.”
Right now Heaven didn’t mind her sister’s orders. She was grateful Angel was giving them.
Mr. Jackson waited on the porch. He’d been there since Travis left. Her very own guard goat. “Stay here, and come get me if Angel calls.” She laughed. “Now I’m talking to a goat as if he were a living breathing person!”
At the back of the cabin, she popped the lid of the first jar and poured it out. Something chunky landed in the middle of the beans. She held back a gag. The beans were rotten. She opened the second jar and poured. Again something fell out, only this time it clinked against the other thing in the pile. It sounded like metal on metal. What had Great-Uncle put in these beans? She scooted the pile with the edge of her boot. The sunlight streamed into the gray-green mess of beans and sent shots of light back at her. Gold? Could it be? Is that what the message her father had left her meant? What Great-Uncle joked about? She dropped to her knees and slid her hands through the slimy beans and plucked up several gold pieces. Her heart beat rapidly as she opened the other jar and more pieces fell to the ground.
Here was her answer to all of her worries. She might have the means to stay on the farm. If the gold weighed enough, she could buy back her home from Travis.
Or she could take Angel to Missouri to the school.
With the hem of her apron, she wiped the pieces one by one and dropped them into her apron pocket. Sure she had found them all, she stood. The world around her looked fuzzy, as if she were dropped into a fairy-tale land. Even the colors looked brighter to her. Is this what it was like to live in the moment free of worry? Is that what Pa had discovered at some point? It must be why he wrote that message in the Bible. He had no idea that one day she would read it. But God did.
Something nudged her behind. Mr. Jackson tilted his head to her and back to the green beans. “You’re right. It’s not about the money; it’s about what is life-sustaining. I need to remember what I read. Worry will not change anything. God knows my troubles and my happiness.”
She turned and ran into the house to tell Angel about the find in the green beans they’d grown to detest. She’d never look at green beans the same way again.
Chapter 31
Travis let Charlie have his head as they rode toward the farm. The horse was as tired as his rider and didn’t race to the barn. Travis wasn’t sure how he was going to tell Angel about her friend’s death. He hadn’t been home since the night he told Heaven he didn’t want her in the manner she’d offered herself. He hoped that Angel was okay. He should have come sooner or at least sent someone to check on Heaven and Angel.
His head nodded to his chin. He jerked awake just as Charlie entered through the barn door. Pride and Joy nickered when he saw Charlie. Travis dismounted and unbuckled the saddle. He slid it from the horse’s back and tossed it over his shoulder. He carried it to the vacant sawhorse next to the one holding Pride and Joy’s saddle and plopped it down.
He wished there was someone else who could take care of Charlie for him tonight. As much as he loved brushing horses, it was the last thing he wanted to do. He made quick but careful work of it, put Charlie in his stall, and gave him some grain. The kitten, Miss Simmons, wove between his legs as he walked to the door of the barn. He bent down and picked her up and scratched behind her ears. “Did you miss me? I’ll be back as soon as I check on Heaven and Angel, and you can sleep on my chest.” He set the kitten gently down on the ground and pulled the barn door shut just far enough that he could squeeze through it when he came back to sleep.
There was one light flickering through the shutter cracks, creating dancing shadows across the porch as he walked the beaten path. At the door, he knocked gently. He waited. No one came. Scared, he flung open the door, hoping that Heaven wouldn’t be aiming her father’s shotgun at him.
The door shuddered against the floorboards, but he didn’t hear anything. No cries of alarm. No shouts of “Get out!” Only quiet. He tiptoed inside, and by the firelight, he could see that Angel lay very still on her bed. Heaven was surrounded by chickens on the floor, and her head was resting on Angel’s chest. Travis’s heart lifted at the sweet scene and then plummeted. Had Angel died?
“Heaven!” His feet propelled him across the room, and he dropped to the floor next to the woman he loved. He touched her hair softly, stroking it so he wouldn’t scare her as she woke. Her eyes fluttered for a second and then opened wide as she realized Travis knelt beside her.
“Travis, Angel is fine.” She hastened to stand while putting her finger to her lips. He followed her to the door, and they went to the porch. “I thought she was going to die. I really did. But I remembered what you told me, and I did my best to keep her cool despite her asking for more covers. And then this morning—early this morning—she opened her eyes and she wanted to eat something. Green beans! It was a miracle, Travis. God blessed us—He let me keep Angel.”
Travis pulled her into his arms, and she nestled into them. She felt like home. He hugged her tighter, wanting to tell her how much he loved her and missed her. “I am so sorry that I couldn’t get back here to help you. I wanted to. Every time I tried to leave, someone else came needing me, asking me, pleading with me to help them save their family member
s.”
“How many died?” Heaven peered at him with eyes of blue.
Could she read that in his face? “Not as many as I feared. But one death nearly broke me.” The words that tried to follow clogged in his throat.
“Who was it?” Heaven brushed the side of his arm with her hand. Her touch comforted him. “You can tell me.”
He shook his head and then realized she would find out anyway. “Cassie, Angel’s new friend. I tried so hard to save her, but there wasn’t anything I could do.” He drew from his professional doctor attitude and pasted a calmness he didn’t feel across his face. Right now, he didn’t want to be a doctor. He was on the edge of shouting he only wanted to be the husband that held her and comforted her.
Heaven wavered like cotton in the wind in front of him, and he noticed the circles the color of eggplant under her eyes. Concerned, he reached out and steadied her. “Have you slept at all since I left?”
“Only a little. Every time I drifted off, it seemed her fever spiked higher, so I began to stay awake to make sure I didn’t miss an opportunity to cool her with a washcloth. I am not sure how much longer I could have continued. At one point … I thought … I’d lost her.”
“But you didn’t, Heaven. You saved your sister.” He took her by the elbow and directed her toward the rocking chair. “You need to sit and rest. I’ll take over watching her tonight.”
“But Travis, you look as tired as I feel. You need to rest in case someone needs you.”
“I’m not leaving. Not again.”
“Really? I—I’m hoping you’re not going to give up doctoring because of what I said before you left. I need to talk to you. Travis, some things have changed. I’ve changed.”
“I can see that. Why are the chickens in the house?”
“The door won’t close, and there was a fox inside killing the chickens. I had it trapped, but I didn’t have my gun. I couldn’t leave Angel alone or I would have waited for it to return so I could kill it. I decided rather than lose what little food we have left, I’d bring the critters inside.” She wrinkled her nose. “It wasn’t my best decision. They make a mess, and it smells in here.”
“I’ll fix the door tomorrow, and then I’ll help you clean this up. I have some things I need to tell you as well. If you’re not going to go to sleep, maybe we should make some coffee and talk.” He let go of her but held on to her hand and walked her to the rocking chair. Once she was settled, he snatched up the quilt that lay on the floor and draped it over her lap.
“The stove should still be warm. I made dinner for us.”
“Good, then it won’t take as long to make the coffee.” He headed to the stove to put on a pot. During his absence, he couldn’t wait to get home to her, reinforcing the feeling of love in his heart. He was going to ask her to marry him. He touched his pocket where his great-grandmother’s small gold ring rested. His mother had insisted that he bring it along with him even though Travis was reluctant. His mother was confident God would provide the perfect mate for him, and it seemed He had. But first Travis wanted to be sure Heaven no longer had feelings for Jake.
Travis knelt in front of the chair and looked into Heaven’s eyes. Was this the right time ask her? No. She was exhausted. He would give her the news that he brought from town and then make sure she went to sleep upstairs in the loft while he looked after her sister. Tomorrow would be better. That’s when he would ask her. Things always looked better in the light of day, and he didn’t want to follow bad news with a marriage proposal.
“Heaven, I saw Jake and Annabelle in town. They didn’t stay at the hotel. Jake acquired tickets for Nashville.”
“But Travis, you told them to stay to make sure they didn’t get sick. I need to send a telegram and see how they are.” She threw back the quilt from her lap.
Travis put both hands on her arms and stared at her eyes. “Not tonight. Besides, Annabelle sent you a letter. I have it in my pocket. And Jake asked me to tell you something.” He looked away from her. He didn’t want to see the pain in her eyes when he told her—if there was pain.
“What did Jake say?” Heaven’s voice held a hint of sorrow.
“He said …” Travis could feel the tension mounting across his shoulder blades as he worked for the right words to leave his lips. “He asked me to tell you that he hoped you would understand, but he was releasing you from his marriage promise. He wanted to tell you in person, but he never got the chance and didn’t want to wait until it was safe to come back to the cabin.” Travis thought the man a coward. He didn’t like to say that about another man, but in this case, he felt justified. It wasn’t right not to tell Heaven in person that he wouldn’t marry her.
She didn’t say anything. She sat there quiet for a moment. He looked at her, afraid he’d see tears spiraling down her face. Instead, she had no expression at all. “Heaven? Are you okay?”
She blinked. “Yes. I didn’t think marrying Jake felt right anymore. He wanted me to go west with him and look for gold. And leave Angel with his mother. I couldn’t do that, especially now that I almost lost her again. She will always be a part of my life and will always live with me. No man is going to take her away from me.”
She stared at him as if he were the one who suggested Angel live somewhere else.
The fire crackled and sent a spark in the air. Angel rolled over in the bed, and Heaven’s eyes went to her immediately. Travis jumped to his feet. “I’ll check on her. Stay here and rest.”
He felt her presence behind him so close he could feel her breath on his neck. He should have known she wouldn’t stay, but he wouldn’t send her back. He knelt down next to Angel and whispered her name. “Angel? Are you awake? I’ve come back to see you. How are you feeling?”
Angel rolled over and faced him. Her face was gaunt and white even with the yellow lamplight. She looked so much smaller than when he left, as if she had lost ten pounds even.
“Hi. You were gone a long time. Heaven had to bring the chickens in the house. It smells funny. Are you going to fix the chicken coop door so they can leave?” She rubbed her eyes and yawned. “I’m glad you’re back. Heaven missed you, and so did I. I hope you won’t leave again.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Angel.” He bent over and whispered in her ear so Heaven couldn’t hear him. “Nothing can make me leave you two ever again.”
“Heaven?” Angel’s eyes fluttered open. “I’m hungry. Did you tell Travis about the green beans yet?”
Travis whipped his head around and looked at Heaven. Was Angel falling back into another fever?
“No. I’ll tell him later. First I will get you something to eat. How about a little chicken broth?”
“No! Please, can’t I have something else?”
“Heaven, I think that she could try a little food.”
“I ate the green beans, and they stayed down, but I don’t want any more of those.”
“What about a piece of toast? Would you like that Angel? Does that sound good?” Travis stroked the little girl’s arm.
“Can I have some jam Annabelle brought on it?”
“Of course you can,” Heaven said. “I’ll make it right now.”
“No. You sit with your sister, and I will make it.”
Angel gave a weak laugh. “Men don’t cook.”
“This one does.” He fished in his pocket and withdrew Annabelle’s letter. “You read this while I make a mess of what’s left clean in your kitchen. Those chickens have made themselves at home in there.”
She smiled at him. The sadness he’d experienced in the past days melted away.
“Thank you.” She tore open the envelope and read aloud.
Dear Heaven and Angel,
I hope you recover quickly. Jake has arranged for us to leave by carriage in a few moments. He thinks I am going back with them to Nashville. I am not. I am going to continue on with the plans I discussed with you, providing I can find a way to exchange my ticket for Memphis. I’ll write to you as soon as I am s
ettled. You and Angel are welcome to come to Memphis and live with me. There we can be our own little family and take care of ourselves, answering to no man. Affectionately,
Annabelle
She folded the letter and stuck it in her apron pocket.
“I hope Jake is able to stop her.” Travis feared for the young woman, thinking she could travel alone and not be accosted in these times of restless recovery.
“I’m afraid Annabelle is headstrong, and Jake doesn’t seem to have much strength to fight anything right now. She may get her way unless Mrs. Miles manages to change Annabelle’s mind, and that is very likely. I shall pray that is what happens.”
“You wouldn’t want to go with her?” Travis asked.
“We could. But I don’t think it’s the right thing to do for Angel.”
“Is anyone going to bring me toast with jam?” Angel wrinkled her nose. “Heaven, we really need to get these chickens out of here.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll start making that toast right away, Little Miss. And it’s good to see you feeling better and ordering us around.”
“You see, Travis, Angel is back to being a sweet young lady with all the rules memorized from our book.” Heaven slid a hand over her mouth. Her laugh snuck past her fingers.
Angel fell back against the pillow. “The proper Angel is gone. And she is never coming back.” She struggled back up on her elbows, “Did I miss Christmas?”
Heaven turned and looked at Travis. “What day is it?”
“Tomorrow is Christmas. It’s Christmas Eve.” The crestfallen look on her face told him she wasn’t prepared. “Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure Christmas will be wonderful. We will celebrate Angel being healthy.” And while they were sleeping, he planned to do a little decorating of his own to bring Christmas joy to the house. And as tired as Heaven looked, he was sure she would sleep through the entire process. He only hoped that Angel would as well, since she was downstairs. Unless now that she was feeling better he could convince her to go upstairs in the loft and sleep with her sister.
Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee Page 24