He shifted again and grunted. Pain was still his constant friend. But he could feel the healing happening, especially in the small stab wound. The doctor had told him he was fortunate the knife hadn’t been large. It had missed important organs.
He’d had no idea he’d been stabbed.
The kicks and punches had held his focus.
The bruises on his stomach and chest would linger for a while, and his black eyes would take some time to heal, but all things considered, he’d fared better than other men who’d been attacked and outnumbered in the wild city of Denver.
Only the Lord could have spared him. Each trial seemed to be worse than the one before. And though he didn’t always understand the ways of the Lord, he needed to trust Jesus. Trust His Word. He looked down at the worn Bible on his lap. His fingers brushed over the pages, and he read out loud, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed....”
He sighed as the truth of God’s Word washed over him. Some of the mess he was in was of his own making. But Jacob had been taught as a young man, and now understood, that, through faith in Jesus and walking with Him, trials came to strengthen his faith. He smiled faintly.I can see I needed to learn to trust You, Lord. This is hard, but I know You’re withme.
A tap on the door interrupted his prayer and he glanced up.
Martha’s face appeared in the small opening. A bright smile curved her lips and her blue eyes shone in the afternoon light. “Well, hello there.” Her tone was bright. “Are you up for a visit?”
Jacob closed the Bible and shifted. “Martha! Come in.” Placing the black book on his small side table, he then shimmied into a sitting position. Thankfully, the doctor had helped him clean up and look presentable during his visit earlier in the morning.
Martha left the door to his room open enough for propriety then settled on the hardbacked chair by his bed, placing a wicker basket on the floor. She was a vision in a pretty light pink day dress. The ease in her smile and the light in her eyes did Jacob’s heart a world of good. Certainly better than those foul powders had done for the pain.
“How are you feeling?” Her light laugh accompanied a nose scrunch. “That’s probably a silly question.”
He grinned with the side of his face that didn’t hurt as much. “I’m better. In fact, I was thanking the Lord I could get a deep breath again.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Her fingers brushed his shirtsleeve, then his wrist. With a shy look, she took his hand in hers. “Your face is still quite the sight. But I’m glad to hear you can breathe. I’ve brought you some treats, fresh from our chef. His desserts are delicious. But I thought his chicken soup would help you feel a bit better.” Pulling the basket up by the handles, she set it on the end of the bed and then started pulling outitems. A snowy white napkin was spread across the blanket on his lap, and a soft hunk of bread, cheese, and apple slices followed. But it was the pretty blush in Martha’s cheeks that had his rapt attention.
Warmth bloomed in his chest. He was touched by her thoughtfulness and told her as much.
She waved his thanks off. “You need to get strong.” She smiled. “We still have so much to do together.”
Together. That word meant more to him than she could ever know. The time he’d had in bed, after coming to consciousness, had been full of thoughts of her. Prayers for her. Seeking the Lord as to what He was saying regarding their relationship. Jacob loved Martha. He was in love with her. Could he tell her? He knew the Lord didn’t care about class or station.
But Martha did. Though she tried to hide it, it mattered more than Jacob thought she realized. Still, they could be happy together.
“...I still can’t believe how forward I was in speaking to the museum director.” She shook her head after relaying the story. “But I received word that he will be visiting and inspecting each dig site every week—personally. Without warning and unannounced, so that should keep everyone on their toes and honest.”
One thing was for certain, Martha was used to getting her way. A force to be reckoned with, as his mother would say.
“That’s quite the look.” Martha’s words broke through his thoughts. “Are you in pain?”
He glanced at her and shook his head gingerly. “No. I mean, well, yes. But I’m thinking. And praying.”
“About?”
Jacob took a steadying breath. “Us.”
Martha’s hands stilled in the basket on her lap. She looked down, as if she was refusing to meet his steady gaze. “Us?” She echoed the word with a squeak.
Fighting a laugh—and the pain it would bring—he nodded. “You see, I’ve been praying a lot about us this last week. Asking the Lord what He wants for us. If there can even be an us.” He cleared his throat and picked a small slice of apple from the plate on his lap. He popped it in his mouth and chewed slowly before speaking again. Even that small act hurt.
“I know there is a world between us. You’ve grown up in a wealthy household with servants and had a wonderful education granted to you.” At her sharp glance he held up a hand. “I am not jealous of it, my dear”—the endearment slipped from his lips naturally, but he continued, unsure if she caught it—“I’m grateful for all I’ve learned from you. I know I come from a poor background. A big family and a small house. I’ve pinched and scraped and saved to get where I am, by the grace of God.”
She placed the basket on the floor and gripped his hand with both of hers. “Those things don’t matter to me. I’ve told you that.”
Jacob glanced down. Her fingers looked so delicate compared to his, yet their hands fit comfortably together. “I know that. And getting to know you has been a joy. Learning with you and from you, talking about faith and science, digging up dinosaur bones ... Martha, these last few months, even with their ups and downs, have been precious to me. I’ve come to care for you ... dare I say ...loveyou.”
Her smile filled the room. “Oh, Jacob. They’ve meant so much to me too. Even though you didn’t tell me about working for the other team, I’ve forgotten about that. I know you’ll keep showing me that I can trust you again. I’ve ... come to care for you—love you—too.”
Those words should have lit up his heart. Instead, they gave him pause.Lord, give me wisdom. “What do you mean, show you that you can trust me again?”
