Out of the Ashes

by Tracie Peterson

  “Sounds like good friends.”

  “Sounds that way. But wait—after a week they begin to speak. Chapter after chapter of speeches and Job’s responses. My favorite one is where one friend tells Job that he must be suffering because of some sin in his life. So he should examine his life carefully and see what he did wrong and make it right.”

  Heat filled Katherine’s face. “Just like the lady said this morning.”

  Cassidy nodded. “But at the end of Job, we hear God’s response and we see that Job had stood righteous. Even though horrible things happened to him, he stood firm in his faith in God. Job proved Satan wrong. And then God spoke to the friends and said, ‘My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.’ After that, God blessed Job even more abundantly than before.

  “Bad things are going to happen, my friend. Because yes, we all are sinners and we live in a sin-filled world. But—” She flipped to the back of the book. “If we look in Philippians, chapter one, we read, ‘And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel . . .’”

  “I don’t understand . . .” Reading Scripture could be so difficult in the old English language, Katherine felt like she was back in school trying to figure it all out.

  “He’s saying—and this is Paul here, writing from prison, mind you—that even though bad things have happened to him . . . like being thrown in prison . . . he knows that it is for the furtherance of the gospel.”

  “He was thrown in prison for his belief?”

  “Yes, and for preaching the gospel.” Cassidy reached a hand out to Katherine.

  She took it in hers . . . what a lovely thing friendship was.

  “Katherine, listen to me and take a moment to really think about this. Do you see how God has taken the ugliness of your past and how He is making it good now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You and Jean-Michel. Neither one of you knew the Lord a few years ago. Without a relationship with Him you were both condemned to eternal separation from God. But even though God didn’t cause those horrible circumstances to happen, He has used them now to bring you both to Him and to each other again.”

  The sun was high overhead by the time they stopped for lunch. Jean-Michel dismounted his horse and found his leg wasn’t nearly as stiff as he’d anticipated. But it would be so good to walk around for a few minutes.

  He spotted Collette and headed straight for her. She had been an issue this morning. Three times, John, Allan, or Thomas all had to steer her back on the right path. Why she couldn’t just follow along, Jean-Michel didn’t know. Her spirit wasn’t rebellious or mean . . . just . . . frivolous. Thoughtless.

  Now that they were off the horses, he could stick closer to her side and prayerfully find out what was going on with her.

  Their picnic of sandwiches and homemade pickles from the Curry kitchen was phenomenal. Why did everything taste so much better out in the fresh air? Even the simple fare seemed refined. As the meal concluded, some of the others milled about the immediate area, leaving Jean-Michel and his sister alone.

  “I do wish you wouldn’t cause us such worry by wandering off. Try to think of how that makes extra work for the guides.”

  “I wasn’t purposely wandering off. I get distracted and forget where I am.”

  “Well, as Allan told you the last time, you can’t afford to forget. This is a dangerous place, even if it is beautiful.”

  “I’m not a child, Jean-Michel. I assure you that I can take care of myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Collette stood.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Where everyone must go from time to time. Alone.”

  He understood her meaning. “Just don’t go far and keep your eyes open.” He’d tried before they left to convince her that it wouldn’t be easy to take care of delicate matters. But Collette insisted she could do it if he could. He sighed. If they made it back without mishap it would be a miracle.

  Thomas walked over to him. “How’s the leg, Mr. Langelier?”

  “It’s actually doing pretty well. Thank you for asking.”

  “I noticed the exercises really seem to be helping. You’re almost too strong for me to do much good anymore.” The young man laughed. “Can I get you anything?”

  “Non. I believe I am fine. How is the rest of our group holding up?” Jean-Michel got to his feet.

  “Oh, the women are already complaining about not stopping enough, and the men are complaining that the saddles aren’t comfortable enough. It’s normal—we have to deal with the same things every trip.”

  “Well, I think you are doing an incredible job. Magnifique!” He patted Thomas’s shoulder.

  “If we could get that much encouragement from everyone else, it would be a magnifique trip.”

  Jean-Michel laughed at Thomas trying to speak French. The way he tried to form his lips to mimic him was quite hysterical.

  “Oh, it looks like John is rounding us all up.” Thomas stood. “I guess we better get ready to head out. Hey, where’s your sister?”

  Oh no. Which direction had she gone? Jean-Michel shook his head. “I’m not sure. She needed to . . . well . . . relieve herself, but she should have been back by now.”

  “I’ll help you find her.” Thomas ran over to John and said something to him. Probably about how the silly French girl had gone off by herself and gotten lost.

  The rest of the tourists might complain if he couldn’t find her quickly. “Fille naïve.” Foolish girl.

  Thomas and John went north and south respectively, and Jean-Michel headed to the west. Her name echoed over the hills and valley as they all called out her name.

  Jean-Michel cringed when he heard one of the ladies talk about having to wait.

  As he crested the first small hill to the west, he spotted Collette’s blond head and there she was, strolling back to where they’d picnicked.

  With a black bear cub following her like a puppy.

  26

  Sputtering a thousand different names—that weren’t so complimentary—under his breath in French, Jean-Michel walked faster toward his ambling sister.

  She hadn’t even acknowledged him because she appeared to be enraptured by her new pet. Who, of course, was following because she kept dropping pieces of something behind her.

  “Collette.” He tried to remain calm, but he knew enough to know that where there was a baby bear, there was sure to be a mama bear. “Collette, stop that.”

  Her bright green eyes looked up at him and she smiled. “Frère, look! Isn’t he just divine?”

  All around them was the glory and grandeur of God’s creation, but in that moment Jean-Michel could only see his sister . . . and the bear cub. He finally reached her side and tugged on her arm. “You need to stop dropping whatever treat you have and come with me right now. Don’t you realize the danger you’ve put yourself in?”

  She frowned. “What do you mean? I didn’t touch him, I promise. But he started following me, so I gave him some crumbs. He’s awfully hungry.”

  “Oui. Just like his mama will be when she finds us.”

  Thomas came running from the other side of the hill. “Oh, boy.” He stopped in his tracks. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted in the other direction. “John, you better bring your gun.”

  “What?! Non! You cannot shoot the baby bear.” Collette stomped her foot.

  Jean-Michel yanked her arm. “Hush. It’s not to shoot it, it’s only to protect us if we need it. Now stop feeding the bear and come with me.”

  Thomas came forward. “We
need to get back over that rise. Collette, leave all your crumbs over there—away from us. That should keep the little guy occupied. Then we are going to run as fast as we can over that hill and hope the mama doesn’t come until we’re out of sight.”

  “I don’t understand.” Collette pouted.

  “Not another word, Collette. Just do as Thomas said.” Jean-Michel gave her a glare that dared her to argue with him.

  She crumbled up the rest of the cookies she had in her pocket and left a small pile for the bear to munch on. Then they all took off running up the hill. Thomas grabbed Collette’s hand and dragged her as Jean-Michel went as fast as his leg would allow. Thankfully, the exercises had been working.

  A loud roaring growl caused them all to fall to the ground when they reached the hill.

  “What was that?” Collette’s eyes finally showed a bit of sense—and fear.

  “That, my dear sister, was the mama.”

  They watched a large black bear come running out of the copse of trees to the south. She howled and yowled her way toward her baby and scanned the horizon in all directions. Batting her little one on the hind end, she took one last look in the direction of the hill they were hiding on and roared again. She stood on her hind legs and clacked her teeth together, then shoved her little one back toward the trees.

  Thomas rolled over onto his back. “Whew. That was a close one. I’m just glad she didn’t charge us. She knew we were here. Did you see how she voiced herself directly toward us?”

  “Is everybody all right?” John called down.

  “We’re fine,” Thomas replied. “Mama apparently decided she didn’t want to go to the trouble of attacking us on such a beautiful day.”

  Jean-Michel glanced up and saw John standing ready with his rifle. The situation could have been so much worse. Shaking his head, he stared his sister down. “You put every single one of us in danger, Collette.”

  “Je suis désolé, je ne savais pas.” She paused, then repeated it in English. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

  “You didn’t know? It never crossed your mind that you should leave wild animals alone?” He shook his head again. How had Father dealt with this? The girl simply didn’t seem to have any common sense whatsoever. Maybe she had been far too sheltered.

  “He was so precious and . . . hungry.”

  “And you didn’t think. You just jumped right in to whatever fancied you at the moment. John and Allan warned you to never try to approach or feed the wildlife. Honestly, do you never listen to anyone’s counsel but your own?” His anger toward her was stronger than it had ever been. But how could he help her to understand? She hadn’t done anything of malicious intent. She just didn’t . . . think.

  Thomas stood and offered a hand to Collette. “They might be cute to look at, Miss Langelier, but they are wild and capable of tearing your arm off.”

  Her eyes went wide. Then the tears started.

  Jean-Michel reached into his pocket and handed her his handkerchief. “You needed to hear the truth of it, so dry your eyes. We have a long journey ahead, where you are going to be directly beside me the entire time.”

  She groaned.

  “And I won’t hear any argument about it.”

  “I didn’t mean to cause harm. I just saw him there in the grass and I wanted to get a closer look.”

  By now they had climbed to the top of the hill and joined John. Mr. Ivanoff gave Collette a stern look. “You promised to obey the rules we set up, Miss Langelier.”

  His authoritative voice and position were intimidating. Jean-Michel felt his sister tremble. Good. She needed to be afraid. If she wouldn’t respect her authorities, she needed to know there would be consequences.

  “I don’t want to have to send you back early, but if you can’t do as you’re instructed, then we’ll have no choice.” His expression softened a bit. “We only have these rules to keep you safe. Next time you might not be so lucky.”

  Collette looked miserable. “I am sorry. I didn’t think it was so bad.”

  “You didn’t think, and that’s the problem.” Jean-Michel shook his head. “But I am. I think perhaps you should return.”

  “Please don’t send me away.” She looked from her brother to John and then Thomas. “I promise I will listen to every word and obey. I didn’t mean to cause such trouble.”

  John slung his rifle over his shoulder. “Few people get a second chance after encountering an angry mama bear. God’s obviously given you one, so I suppose it’s only right that I do the same.” He cocked his head slightly to one side. “Do I have your word that you’ll do as you’re instructed?”

  “Oui. Yes! I promise.”

  John smiled. “All right. Then let’s catch up with the others.”

  Thomas and John walked ahead and immediately fell into conversation. Jean-Michel couldn’t make out what they were saying, but he figured Collette was probably at the center of it.

  “Collette, I’m sorry I lost my temper, but I feared you would die and then all of my family would be gone. The thought of seeing you torn apart by a bear was as terrible as the nightmares I suffer.”

  She looped her arm through his. “I can only say that I’m sorry. I cannot take back my bad judgment, but I will do my best to make better choices in the future.”

  He paused and looked at her, his anger fading. “I only want to see you grow and mature into the beautiful young woman Papa hoped you would be. But you seem to be going through some sort of growing pains.”

  She ducked her head.

  “What is it?”

  “Ever since Papa died, I’ve felt lost. Sweet Davey helped me to find God, but I make forward progress and then I struggle with all my selfish ways all over again.”

  “I hear that’s quite normal, my pet.”

  “But don’t you see? If you are to be happy, you’ll marry Katherine and have a wonderful life. You don’t want the baggage of a little sister anymore. And I don’t want you to. I want to be able to take care of myself—prove to you that I will be all right. Yet I have serious trouble breaking my bad habits.”

  “Ah . . . so as the Americans say, we’ve reached the root of the problem.”

  “I’m sorry, Jean-Michel. All this time I’ve wanted to show you that I don’t need you to take care of me. But in truth, I very much need my frère.”

  He stopped and turned her face to his. “I am your older brother and I love you, Collette. I will always be here for you—even if I marry Katherine and we have a wonderful life.”

  “But you won’t try to run my life?”

  “Non . . . I didn’t say that. . . .”

  AUGUST 20

  The room felt hot. Much hotter than it had been.

  Cassidy looked over at Katherine, who was embroidering a baby cap. The movement caused her head to throb. “Does it feel warm in here to you, Katherine?”

  “No, I was actually thinking it might be getting a little cold.” Katherine continued to stitch and then her head popped up. “Are you feeling too warm, Cassidy? I could open a window. . . .”

  “Yes.” She leaned her head back. “In fact, I’m not feeling very well. It just came over me.” She scooted herself lower into the bed.

  Katherine jumped up from the chair. “You’ve gone awfully white.” She raced to the sink and turned the water on.

  Cassidy couldn’t see what she was doing, but the sound of the water made her incredibly thirsty. “I need some water, please.”

  Katherine laid a cool cloth on Cassidy’s forehead, then went back to the sink and returned with a glass of water.

  The cool liquid felt blessed as it ran down her throat, but she hardly felt strong enough to hold the glass. Katherine seemed to sense this and took hold of the glass just as Cassidy’s grip loosened.

  “I’m going for the doctor. I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll come too.” Cassidy tried to push back the covers but found them much too heavy.

  Katherine stilled her hands. “You can’t lea
ve the bed, remember? Please don’t try to move or do anything that might cause you harm. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.” She nodded and remembered her condition. What was going on with her mind? Cassidy stared at the ceiling. What was happening? Why did her head hurt so much? The room began to spin, so she closed her eyes and prayed. Lord, please help. Please don’t let anything happen to my baby. . . .

  A hand was on her shoulder. The slight weight of it made her ache.

  “Mrs. Brennan. Cassidy, I need you to wake up.” The doctor’s voice.

  Her eyelids felt so heavy, but she managed to lift them. “Dr. Reilly. What’s going on?”

  “You’re very sick. But Mrs. Demarchis has promised to stay by your side and nurse you. Is that all right with you?”

  She could barely nod. “Everything hurts.” Laying a hand on her abdomen, she was thankful to feel the baby move.

  “That’s to be expected. Now you need to listen to Katherine. I’m giving her detailed instructions on how to care for you, so you need to drink when she tells you to drink, all right?”

  “Yes, doctor.”

  “Now you rest, and I’ll be back in a few hours to check on you.”

  “Thank you.”

  As her eyes fell shut again, she heard the doctor whispering to Katherine. She focused on the sound of his voice.

  “. . . I’m afraid it’s the influenza. I had two cases yesterday and didn’t think much of it because it was a husband and wife. But apparently another lady had been suffering with it for a day or so prior to that. I now have twelve cases. I’m sorry I can’t be of more assistance to you, but I appreciate you staying with her around the clock. Come find me if anything changes.”

  “So her fever . . . ?”

  “It’s not too high right now, but we will have to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t harm the baby.”

  A small gasp. “I can do this, doctor.”