“Afternoon, Jacob.” Joe’s voice. “I hear you’ve retrieved twice as many bones as any of the other men since you started.” The man’s voice was all too ... chipper.
Jacob stopped and turned. Sent them a forced smile. “Just doing my job, sir. I need to get some water so I can get back to work.” His throat was tight. Here was the chanceto confront them. Tell them he’d heard everything. Remind them about their promise to be fair. Truthful. Instead, he kept walking.
“I don’t like him.” One of the men’s words floated over to him. “He’s religious. Caught him praying over his lunch.”
Sick to his stomach, Jacob pressed up the trail. But it wasn’t only because of what those men were planning. He’d ignored his conscience. Ignored the Lord. Where was his faith? His sense of right and wrong? This should have been over days ago. He should have done something about it. Reported it. And yet ... he’d let it go. Selfishly wanting to continue on the dig.
Now? Their foreman was sending three men to spy on the other dig site.
The thought of them going to such lengths was disgusting. Hadn’t paleontology gotten a bad enough name when people found out what Cope and Marsh had done to each other? What they werestilldoing to each other? It had made them the laughingstock of the scientific community. This cutthroat business of stabbing each other in the back and destroying other people’s work was downright abominable.
He had to do something about it. Good people could make a name for their field of science by doing things with integrity.
Who could he go to? Perhaps the museum director. But would he stop these guys from doing anything horrible to Martha’s team? Panic clawed at his chest. He found a large rock to lean against and tried to calm the racing of his heart.
The best thing for Jacob right now was to quit. To continue in a job like this when things weren’t on the up and up went against everything he stood for. He missed the opportunity to speak up just then. He wouldn’t do it again.
He couldn’t put Martha’s team at risk. He’d simply wait a few days and then quit. That would give him a little time to find another job and figure out an honest reason for quitting when he’d signed a contract.
The mess that he found himself in was overwhelming.
One fact remained. He had to do the right thing. But for the first time in his life, he was afraid.
He rubbed his face. How many times in Chicago had he spoken up about injustice? Confronted bullies who picked on his younger siblings. Stood for biblical truth when talking with classmates about science and faith.
Now he was alone. His support system was hundreds of miles away. And where was his faith in God? Where was that backbone that he’d been praised for by his family and friends?
He was a coward. It burned to admit it.
Lord, you know how scared I am. Why is it that the right thing isthe hardest thing to do when I’m alone? I need Your strength. I didn’t speak up when Ishould have. I choked on my words. Please forgive me. I really do think I should quit. But I don’t have another job, and You know how much my family needs the money I make here.
Jacob looked up and watched the clouds tumble through the sky. The Lord held every cloud in His hand. Surely, He held Jacob in those same hands. Peace began to inch its way into his heart.Thank you, Lord, for the reminder that You know every one of my days. Please give methe courage to quit this job. And help me tofind a new one in the meantime. I trust You, Jesus.
He stood and let out a breath. He felt alone without his father or mother to talk to, but the truth was he wasn’t alone. God was with him. He would not be afraid.
SATURDAY, APRIL20, 1889•JANKOWSKIMANSION, DENVER
The words on the page in front of Martha blurred. How many times could she attempt to read the same page before she gave up?
She closed the book and stared at her father. Bruises covered his face and arms. The doctor said that his back and legs were covered as well.
The grand staircase in their foyer spanned two stories. Apparently, he’d tripped on the top step and tumbled his way down the twenty-five steps.
Mother’s words haunted her. Had she seen the whole thing, tried to save him, and been traumatized by it?
Martha couldn’t imagine what it had been like.
Though in shock and speechless, her mother showed more emotion than she ever had before. There was hope that she cared more than her prim and proper manners allowed her to convey.
Martha shook her head. It was amazing her father was still alive. Thank goodness for the plush carpeting Mother had insisted on last year when the carpets had been replaced. It must have saved his life.
Each day, she’d come in here to sit by his side and each day, the same thoughts tumbled through her mind. Her mother and father had never been overly affectionate. Toward each other or anyone else for that matter. So it wasn’t surprising that Mother didn’t come by the sickroom often. She’d hired a nurse to attend to him twenty-four hours a day and would chat with Martha over dinner about her father’s condition.
But deep down, Martha was convinced that her mother was struggling. She’d seen a shimmer in her eyes more than once. Even though she’d tried to keep it hidden. Perhaps it wasn’t proper etiquette for a lady of her position to show how she felt, but they were alone much of the time.
Even so, Mother’s manners were impeccable. One of the things that consoled Martha over the years was understanding that her parents were the same in front of her as they were in front of anyone else. So it wasn’t like they were fake or putting on a show. This was simply who they were. All the time.
The door creaked open and she gazed up.
