“I’m doing all right. How about yourself?”
“I’m fine. Why don’t you join us for Sunday dinner, Travis?”
“Yes,” Robert put in. “Do come, and we can continue our conversation.”
“All right,” Travis accepted. “I usually let Lavena know, but it won’t hurt to let it go this time.”
“Good,” Eddie proclaimed with a smile. “Come right now, and I’ll have it on just as soon as I can.”
It was an offer Travis could not pass up. The three of them went directly to the Langleys where they talked and ate and then talked some more. When the meal was over, and they were comfortably settled in the living room with coffee, Travis asked Eddie how she was doing. Tears threatened, but she still shared.
“I simply find it impossible to believe that Jackie can’t see. It’s not that I haven’t accepted it; it’s just that I can’t picture her blind. So much is communicated through the eyes, and as sisters so close in age we did a lot of that. I can’t imagine it otherwise.”
“And you said that Jackie hasn’t tried to write to you or anything?”
“No, nothing. According to Mother she won’t do anything unless she’s forced. I think we told you that Mrs. Munroe is helping out, but Jackie fights her every attempt to help. The family is exhausted. I know we might be taking on more than we bargained for, but in some ways I can’t wait to get Jackie to myself.”
“She’s never been to Boulder, has she?”
“No,” Robert put in.
Travis shook his head. “I can’t imagine not ever seeing the mountains here or the flowers in the spring.”
Tears did fill Eddie’s eyes this time, and Travis’ heart clenched in regret. “I’m sorry, Eddie.”
“It’s all right, Travis,” she spoke softly. “I’ve learned a lot since we got the news, and one of the things is that this blindness is like a death in the family. I’m in mourning for my sister’s eyes. For a time I tried to squelch the grief, but it was making me ill. It feels as though I’ve cried more in the last seven months than I have in a lifetime, but I know God understands.”
“I think He does too,” Travis encouraged her. “I was just reading about the way Jesus welcomed the children into His presence. I think He must have such a tender heart, especially when His children are hurting.”
“I was just reading at the end of Matthew 23 about the way Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, mourned for them actually,” Robert added. “He certainly understands grief.”
The discussion went along on that topic for a time, but it wasn’t long afterward that Travis realized how much of the day had slipped away.
“When do you leave?” he asked Robert when he was led to the door.
“This week, if the weather holds.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Lena will be in a few times, but if you’ll just keep an eye on the place, that would be a help.”
Travis shook Robert’s hand and told him he and Eddie would be in his prayers. He didn’t see either one of them that week, but when the next Sunday rolled around and they were not in church, Travis knew they’d gone to Georgetown.
“I don’t want you to be such a stranger,” Robert told Travis. He and Eddie had been home with Jackie for several weeks, but the young rancher had seen what a stress it was for Eddie’s sister when they were at church and only shook his head.
“I can’t do that to Jackie right now, Robert. I can see how hard it is for her, and my presence is only going to make things worse. I can tell that she thinks everyone is staring at her.”
“Well, many of them do,” Robert admitted, “but it’s not in the pitying or negative way she imagines. She and Eddie came into town to shop today. We went to lunch. I could tell she was terrified, but Eddie plans to take her every week until she’s more comfortable.
“She should enjoy that once she gets used to it.”
“I hope so, but now we’re off the subject. Why don’t you come for dinner tonight?”
Travis began to shake his head, but Robert put a hand up, his voice at its most persuasive.
“It’s already after 4:30, so there’s no need for you to go all the way home, and you don’t have to stay long after we’ve eaten. I know Eddie would like to see you.”
“All right, I’ll come. When are you going to head home?”
“Around 5:00, but don’t wait for me. Go on to the house and keep Jackie company. She needs to get out of herself.”
“All right.”
The men stood. “By the way, how are things going with Lucky and the ranch?”
“I’m not any farther along with Lucky, but things at the ranch are running well. Maybe I’ll have a chance to tell you about it tonight.”
“All right. I’ll see you at the house.”
“I can’t remember what color your eyes are,” Jackie admitted shyly.
“Blue. Light blue.”
“Do you wear a hat, Travis?”
“Yes. A black cowboy hat.”
“Felt?”
“Yes. Here,” he lifted it off the seat beside him. “Feel it.”
He pressed the hat into Jackie’s hands and watched as she studied it through her fingertips.
“What color is the band?”
“Black. Black on black. Not very exciting.” His voice was kind.
“It’s so soft.”
“Here now.” Travis rose and came to her. “Try it on. You live in Boulder now, and you have to look the part.”
A small smile pulled at the corners of Jackie’s mouth, and when he put the hat on her head, she asked, “How’s that?”
“You look fine,” Travis told her, but a small spark of pain hit his chest. A seeing person would have moved it back as it nearly covered her eyes.
“Robert just came in,” Eddie announced from the doorway. “Why don’t you come into the dining room and sit down?”
“Okay. May I offer you my arm, Jackie?”
“Sure.” She stood and waited for him to remove the hat. Moving carefully, Travis put the hat back on the chair and then took her hand to draw it through his arm. He was just as careful as he led the way to the dining room, but he couldn’t miss the strain on her face. He wondered what she was thinking. Travis’ thoughts ran in all directions, and he was so concerned that his eyes sought Eddie’s as soon as they entered the room. She only smiled kindly at him. Jackie reached for the table, and Travis forced himself to let her go. He watched anxiously as she felt her way around, but Eddie and Robert, who had now come into the room, took it in stride.
Jackie did not volunteer many words during the evening, but she did need help with certain things. Travis saw for the first time what a great job the Langleys were doing. They were patient and kind, never once showing Jackie any pity. The meal was wonderful and conversation was satisfying, but Travis left with a special appreciation for all that the banker and his wife were doing. They hadn’t had time to talk about the ranch, but that was all right with Travis. He spent the rest of the evening praying for everyone under Robert Langley’s roof.
25
“No, no, I won’t get in!” Garrett kept up his crying for many minutes, but Angel persevered. He had managed to soak the entire kitchen and Angel in the process, but she finally had him in the tub. He repeatedly told her he would not get in the tub even after she had him in place, but at least the job was getting done.
“If you get soap in your eyes, don’t blame me,” Angel now gritted out. For a moment the howling four-year-old settled.
“I don’t want a bath. Where’s Wyatt?”
“I’ve got him locked in the closet,” Angel told him without a hint of mercy as she scrubbed at his ears, and even with the cloth plugging one ear he could hear his brother’s cries of outrage and his booted feet as they kicked the inside of the pantry door.
“I want my mama,” Garrett began to cry.
“That makes two of us,” Angel said, her voice still hard. “Now,” she spoke with Garrett’s head hel
d in her hands, “you get into your pajamas and sit on the bed and wait for me. If you don’t, I won’t give you any supper.”
Looking into Angel’s outraged face, Garrett nodded obediently, but only because he knew she meant it. He and Wyatt had gone without supper just the night before.
“It’s too bad you’re not old enough to go to school,” Angel muttered as she wrapped a piece of toweling around his small dripping frame.
“I’m almost five,” the dark-haired twin told her defensively, his chin jutting forward at an aggressive angle.
“Not until November, and that’s nearly two months away. Now get upstairs and do as I told you.” Angel glared at him until he was out the door and then went to wrestle an insulted Wyatt from the closet. She was twice as wet when she was finished with the second boy, but both were subdued during dinner and at bedtime.
“It’s still light out,” Wyatt complained as Angel finally ushered them into the bed they shared, the bed that had been hers for so many years. “We don’t go to sleep till it’s dark.”
“You will tonight,” Angel told them, but she said it without heat.
“When will we see Mama?” Garrett asked. Angel finished adjusting the covers and sat down against the footboard. The boys sat in front of their pillows, not identical in looks, but clearly brothers. One was as light as the other was dark. Had Angel but known it, Garrett had his father’s dark hair and light blue eyes, while Wyatt was blond and brown-eyed like his mother.
“I don’t know yet,” she told them honestly, without giving any details. “Preston is going to come in a little while and stay with you, and then I’ll go and visit your mother at Dr. Creamer’s.”
“Why can’t Gary and I go too?” Wyatt asked.
“Because your mother is still too sick. She can’t hold you or take care of you, and you might catch what she has and get sick too. I’ll tell you what,” Angel said as she stood. “If you’ll go right to sleep, I’ll tell you first thing in the morning how she’s doing.”
They were clearly not happy with this, but both lay back on the pillows. She leaned over them, pulling the covers high, and kissed both their foreheads.
“Go to sleep now and dream nice things.”
“Is Preston bringing his stick?” Garrett’s voice wobbled as he asked.
“Yes, but he won’t need it if you stay in bed.”
Both boys nodded and watched as she pulled the shade on the room’s single window. The room darkened slightly, but not so much that Angel couldn’t see their faces. They looked like they could worry themselves ill, but sleep was rushing in too fast. Angel left with a small shake of her head. Never had she known anyone like them.
“I’ve never known anyone like her,” Dr. Creamer commented as he and Angel left Rebecca’s sickroom. “As if two boys weren’t enough, she takes on laundry for half the town. Did you see her arm? Skin stretched over bone.”
“I know.” Angel’s voice sounded resigned. “She’s bound and determined that those boys won’t go without a thing.”
“The only thing those boys need is a crack to the backside,” the doctor said grimly.
“Well, Preston has seen to that a few times, and they’re doing fairly well. But they’re too much for Becky.”
“Only because she won’t discipline them. How are you holding up?”
“I’m all right. Getting tired. It’s no wonder that she got sick, and I’m only taking care of the boys. I don’t know how she does it all.”
“Clearly, she doesn’t,” the doctor spoke bluntly. “Although I think she’s out of the worst of it. For a time I thought we might lose her.”
Even having heard this before, Angel was visibly shaken at the thought of Rebecca’s death.
“Why don’t you head back, Angel.” His tone was compassionate. “It will be some time before she’s up and around. Go on now; Preston will be looking for you.”
Angel did as he bade. She was holding up well as she went back down the street but nearly crying when Preston met her at the door.
“She’s not—” he said in fear.
“No,” Angel told him huskily. “I’m just upset at the idea of it. Doc says the worst is over, but she’ll not be on her feet anytime soon.”
“Come on,” Preston urged her, and they sat close on the davenport.
Angel’s eyes went to the stairs. “Any noise from up there?”
“No, I’ve checked on them twice. They’re both out cold.”
“Good,” she said softly and let Preston pull her close. She lay against him with her head on his shoulder. The feel and scent of his clean shirt relaxed her in a moment.
“How was she exactly?” he asked at last.
“Resting comfortably, but so thin and pale, Preston. It hurt to look at her.”
Angel fell silent for a time. Preston was only too glad to hold her, although he knew he needed to get back to the Bell. His eyes roamed the room and came to rest on the small, round table that stood at the side of the davenport. With two fingers he lifted a pair of thin spectacles and brought them out for Angel’s inspection. She sat up with a disgusted snort.
“Aren’t those the most ridiculous things you’ve ever seen!”
“Weren’t they yours?”
“Yes, but I don’t know where I got them; they have only regular glass in them. Becky latched onto them when she was at the house a few weeks ago. As if it isn’t enough to scrape her hair back like a peeled grape and wear ugly, shapeless clothes, she now adds those dreadful spectacles to her ensemble.”
“I still don’t understand, Angel. What’s the point?”
“She can’t stand to be attractive, Preston. It terrifies her. Everytime one of her customers shows the least bit of interest, she does something else to make herself repulsive.”
“It doesn’t work, you know. I haven’t seen her with the glasses, but even with her hair pulled back and wearing that shapeless, mud-brown dress I always see her in, her face is still lovely.”
“That must be why she went to the glasses,” Angel guessed. “I wish I could talk some sense into her. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve tried.”
“Have you thought about what we would have done, Angel?” Preston now asked, his voice very soft.
“About what?”
“About the boys if Rebecca died. What in the world would we have done with them?”
Angel looked at him with something akin to horror. She’d been terrified for Rebecca’s life but never once thought about the boys being orphaned. Without saying anything to Preston, Angel knew that she would have had to take them home with her; what choice did she have? However, a few days of obedience from the boys did not set the pattern for the next several weeks. By the time Rebecca was back on her feet some three weeks later, Angel knew she could never do it.
“Well, now,” Rebecca said in surprise when Angel knocked rather late one evening and came through the front door. “Not working tonight?”
“I’ll be going in late,” Angel told her and made herself comfortable in the living room. “One of the small perks of knowing the boss?” Rebecca asked with a cheeky grin.
“He’s in love,” Angel said with a smile.
“So are you,” Rebecca told her, earning another smile.
Rebecca took a chair across from Angel. This was her time to get things done, as the boys were both asleep, but she was glad to be off her feet for a moment.
“Your color is good,” Angel commented after taking a long look at Rebecca.
“I feel like it never happened.”
“I think you’ve even put on weight.”
“I do have my appetite back, and of course Preston got rid of some of my work.” Rebecca’s voice turned dry at this point, and Angel was glad to see she wasn’t angry over Preston’s interference.
“He told me he talked to you.”
“Yes. I wanted to argue, but it feels so good to be back on my feet that I kept my mouth shut.”
Angel continued to look at
her friend, trying to ignore the appalling glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. Rebecca certainly seemed to be in a good mood. Angel hoped so, because what she had to say next was going to hurt.
“You do realize, Becky, just how sick you were,” Angel commented on a serious note.
Rebecca pulled a face. “You’re not going to turn religious on me, are you, Angel? Dr. Creamer’s wife tried to tell me about God and heaven when she was taking care of me.”
“No, I’ve come about something much more practical, but you’re still not going to appreciate it.”
Rebecca only stared at her, so Angel decided to plunge directly in.
“I’ve done a lot of thinking about what I would have done if you had died, Becky, and I’ve come to some sobering conclusions. To put it plainly, I wouldn’t take the boys. I couldn’t. I already told you that Preston had to take a stick to them several times, and that put them in line for a while, but I won’t raise those boys, Becky.”
Rebecca nearly laughed at her friend’s dire tone. “I don’t think it was that serious, Angel.”
“Then you really don’t realize how sick you were.” The older woman leaned forward from her chair. “I saw you, Becky. I watched as your lungs fought for air. You nearly died. I learned in a hurry that there are no guarantees on this earth, Becky. We nearly lost you.”
Rebecca no longer felt like laughing. She was quiet for some time, her face not showing the rush of emotions inside.
“So what’s your point, Angel?” she asked at last.
Angel took a deep breath and said softly, “If you die, those boys will be out on the street. I won’t take them in, Becky, and that’s a promise. Dan would probably want them, but with the way Dahlia has always been jealous of you, I doubt if she would stand for it. I might try to contact their father, but if he didn’t show up, I’d drop them at the nearest orphanage.”
The room grew utterly still. The clock on the wall had not been wound, so there was nothing to break the awful silence.
“I can imagine that you must hate me now, Becky, but I had to tell you the truth.”