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CHAPTER SEVEN

H ugh cradled his hands behind his head and stared at the darkened ceiling of his bedroom.

Evan snuffled in his sleep. Hugh listed all the ways the boy had shown improvement.

He could thank Annie for Evan’s progress.

The book she’d given him lay on the table by his bed.

He would turn on the lamp and read from it, except he didn’t want to awaken Evan.

Every one of Annie’s words trooped through his head.

One statement stalled there. Every time I lose someone, I lose a part of my heart.

How many times can a piece be torn off before I have nothing left?

Those words explained why a beautiful young woman would be so insistent on a marriage of convenience.

She feared love because of the risk of loss and pain.

That Rudy fellow must have hurt her deeply.

It didn’t change anything. In time, her heart would heal, and she’d want more than Hugh could offer her. There were many things about her he admired—and he would not list them again—but it would not be fair to chain her to a man like him with a child like Evan.

Yet he fell asleep with a smile on his lips as he thought of the many little joys she’d brought into his life in only three days. And he woke with the same smile.

As he lay in the quiet stillness of morning, he reminded himself of all the reasons he must remain guarded for her sake, his sake, and the sake of a little boy.

He turned his thoughts to what lay ahead for the day.

Sunday services. His sermon. What about Evan?

He couldn’t imagine dragging the little guy to church.

He heard pots rattle, and he bolted from his bed with the question hammering in his head. What was he going to do with Evan?

The boy stirred, opened his eyes, and sat up. He took one look at his papa and scurried to the kitchen.

Hugh took his time getting dressed and followed more slowly. At the smiling welcome on Annie’s face, his worries lifted. He realized he counted on her to help him find a solution regarding his son.

She poured him fresh, fragrant coffee, and he sat across from Grandfather, who held a half-empty cup.

“Today is Sunday,” he said quite needlessly.

“Uh-huh,” Grandfather grunted.

Annie hummed a tune he recognized as “Rock of Ages.” A good reminder that he could trust God for the details of his life.

She turned from the stove and squatted close to Evan. “Evan, today is Sunday. Your papa is the preacher. I’ve heard him. He’s a pretty fair speaker.”

He heard the approval in her voice. She was close enough that he had only to lift his hand to touch her, but, instead, he gripped his cup so hard it wouldn’t surprise him if the china shattered.

“Shall we go hear him preach?”

Evan drew back against the wall, pulling the mat and quilt around him like walls.

Annie rose and faced Hugh. “It’s too soon. I’ll stay home with him today.” She squeezed Hugh’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but it will take time.”

Her hand was gone before he could react. It was only a gesture of sympathy. No need for him to think otherwise, and he firmly closed his mind to other possibilities.

“I suppose it’s for the best. You sure you don’t mind?”

She chuckled, a sound so pure and sweet he wished he could catch it in a jar and keep it in his office to open and enjoy in the weeks after she left.

Was he really so convinced that she would leave?

That it was the best thing? Why was it that he could no longer think clearly?

He downed the rest of his coffee and went to the stove to refill his cup.

His elbow brushed hers and every hope of getting his thoughts under control scattered like chaff in the wind.

He hurried back to the table and hunkered over his cup. He would have rushed through breakfast and gone to his office, but Annie seemed to think the Sunday morning meal should be a leisurely affair. She took her time to dish out the food.

“I remember the first time you preached here,” she said as she passed him the salt. “You were so powerful you had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.”

“Sounds uncomfortable.”

She laughed. “Maybe what you said made me uncomfortable.”

He tried in vain to remember what his sermon had been about.

She continued. “Do you recall how you challenged us all to face the future with confidence? You said you were here, expecting God to answer your prayers. That’s when you told us about—” She tipped her head toward Evan.

Hugh studied his small son, who ate eagerly but with less desperation than he had a week ago.

It was another encouraging sign. “I don’t know how I could have kept going without knowing I could trust God.

When I learned Bernice was dead—” His throat tightened.

“It was one of the worst days of my life.” Seeing the way Annie’s smile flattened, he realized she would think he meant because of Bernice’s death.

“To know my son was missing—” He sucked in air.

“I had no idea where he was or how to find him.”

Annie went to Evan. “I remember when your papa told us he couldn’t find you. He was so concerned and asked us all to pray that God would lead him to you. God answered our prayers, and here you are. We are all so happy.” She patted his shoulder.

Evan did not jerk back, and Annie turned to Hugh, a tear clinging to her lashes as she offered him a trembling smile. “Did you see that?” she whispered.

“I did.”

Grandfather watched them, but Hugh didn’t care if the whole world saw as he reached out and trailed the tip of his finger across under her eyes, wiping away the tears. “God continues to answer my prayers on his behalf.”

“Mine too.” She blinked back the unshed tears and looked at him, so full of joy and gratitude and?—

Love?

She loved Evan? Hadn’t she told him she didn’t want to care about anyone again? That she feared having her heart torn to pieces?

His chest muscles constricted. He should never have agreed to this arrangement. Far too many people were going to be hurt. Yet, seeing the joy on Annie’s face, acknowledging how much progress he saw in Evan, and even having the kindly presence of Grandfather Marshall, he could not regret it.

Not yet.

“I must prepare for the service.” He hurried to his room, changed into his black suit, and brushed his dark hair into place.

He went from there to his office to get his notes and his Bible, taking with him the devotional book Annie had bought for him.

“Come near, and bless us when we wake, Ere through the world our way we take; Till, in the ocean of Thy love, We lose ourselves in heaven above!” The words stirred within him a desire for God’s blessing, and he sat down and turned the pages to the first morning reading.

His heart was stirred with a noble theme.

He would trust God to direct and control his every thought and action for God’s honor and glory.

That especially meant his feelings toward Annie.

God, help me treat her with the care and concern she deserves. Let me not seek selfish satisfaction. If it be Your will, let her presence here help Evan so that he will be strong enough to deal with a change when she leaves.

When she leaves? An errant wisp of thought intruded. Must she leave?

He sat back. That decision wasn’t his to make, but he would not hold her back...not a young, enthusiastic woman like her.

He rose and prepared to go out through the office door then reconsidered and returned to the kitchen. “Grandfather, do you wish to go to church this morning?”

“I’d like to. It’s not far. I think I can bear the cold for the time it takes to cross the yard.”

“Let me go ahead and get the fire going. I’ll come back once the church is warm and help you.”

Hugh told himself he didn’t look at Annie in the hopes of seeing approval fill her eyes.

And it did. He grabbed his cowboy hat from the hook, jammed it on his head, and carried the warmth of her smile with him to the church, where he started a fire in the big stove and glanced about to make sure everything was prepared for the service.

It would take half an hour for the cold to leave the room.

Thirty minutes in which he usually sat close to the stove and prayed about his sermon.

Today, his feet took him to the windows, and he looked through the frost to the manse next door.

He could hardly believe how much his life had changed in the space of a week.

He forced himself to turn his back and make his way to his customary spot, where he sank to the bench and poured out his heart to God, seeking wisdom and self-control.

Guidance in how he would inform the congregation about his success in finding his son and his decision to welcome Annie into his home.

Welcome? It wasn’t the right word. At least not for his initial reaction, but it was the right word for how he felt at the moment.

All he could do was pray for God’s help.

A bit later, he realized how warm he’d grown sitting next to the stove with his outer coat still on, but rather than take it off, he returned to the manse. Grandfather pushed to his feet when Hugh stepped into the kitchen.

“I’m ready.”

Annie held his canes as she helped him into his coat. “Now, you be careful and watch for ice.”

“Yes, my girl. I will be careful.” He brushed his finger across her chin. “I plan to be around to keep an eye on you for a long time yet.”

She leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “I’m counting on it.” She sent Hugh a look that was a little bit grateful and a whole lot warning.

He could almost hear her words. Take good care of him.

Grinning, he looked at Evan and then back to Annie, silently giving her the same message.

Understanding his meaning, she smiled. “We’ll be just fine by ourselves.”

He chuckled. “And we’ll be just fine at church though I venture to say there will be any number of people who’ll wonder at your absence.”