Now? If she thought about it for a moment longer than was comfortable, Martha had to admit she didn’t know what she believed anymore. When she was digging, there was no doubt that evolution couldn’t have just happened. God had to have made the heavens and the earth. It was so clear to her.
But in the silence of her room, in the stillness of the morning, Martha felt alone and afraid. Was God like the reverend at her church said He was? Around, but not interested in her everyday life? Or was he more like what the pastor of the little church she’d visited portrayed? A loving shepherd for His sheep. A Father.
She chewed the inside of her cheek and got up from her dressing table. Fingers trembling, she picked up the Bible.
She sat down on her bed and clutched the book to her chest. Tears pricked her eyes. But the pressure and the loneliness were too much to take. With a tremulous breath, Martha looked up. “God ... are You there?” The words came out in a hoarse cry. “I ... I...” She bit her lip and felt the tears release down her cheeks. “I want to know You. TrulyknowYou. Like Phoebe and Jacob. But I don’t know how. I remember praying ... and I remember that joy. I long to understand. Long to have a relationship with You.”
Still the silence sat, heavy and full. She looked at the Bible and, with a firm nod, opened it. Somewhere in here there had to be a place telling her how she could know Jesus. Sheflipped through the fragile pages—then stopped. What did that say?
Her finger slid across the words: “And this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Her eyes scanned the page. The book of John. A memory came flooding back to her like it happened yesterday....
“Read it again, Phoebe! Read it again!” Martha squealed, her hands clapping together.
Phoebe smiled at her. “I will, my girl. Listen closely though. This is the beginning of the greatest story ever told. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ John 1:1.”
Martha stared at her governess. “In the beginning? There were words?”
Her governess’s delicate laugh rang through the nursery. “No, dear one. In the beginning was one Word. Jesus. He is the Son of God and He came to earth to teach us His gospel and redeem us from our sins.” Phoebe gathered her close. “Let’s start again. Let’s read the book of John together, and then you will see the Lord’s great love for His Father and His children on display.”
As the memory faded, tears fell, dripping onto the pages. Martha slipped her fingers through the pages until she came to the beginning of the book of John. “Jesus, Phoebe said You were real and right here with us. Jacob talks about You like You’re real and his dearest friend. I want to know that for myself.” She wiped at her tears and let out an unladylike sniff. “My anger has exhausted me. And I’m beyond myself in knowing how to handle the situations thrown at me of late. I haven’t handled them well.”
A glance at the clock said it was eight in the evening. Motherwas gone. She was never home these days. And Martha had no clue where Lily Rose was. She was always off on one errand or another of late. Besides, Martha couldn’t take these questions or thoughts to her companion. Not after what she’d said.
She flicked her thick blanket back and climbed into bed, the lantern burning bright enough for her to read. Settling against the pillows, Martha looked at the Bible again. Then, with determination in her heart, she did what she did best.
She started to dig.
SATURDAY, AUGUST3, 1889
Pacing the grand library, she enjoyed the rhythmic taps of her footsteps.
Things had been too tame. Too boring.
That’s why she liked wearing costumes. Pretending to be other people. Traveling to different towns and planning elaborate ruses.
It was time to up the ante. The little dig that had a head start—well, their foreman was sweet little Martha. The poor thing didn’t need all this tension.
So why not throw a nice, big wrench in the works for the other team? They had more workers to begin with. They had no business excavating anyway. It was hers.
It didn’t matter to her because she’d have the dinosaur in the end anyway, but why not let the underdog have a little victory. Martha deserved it.
Perhaps it was time to make matters worse. That should make things a bit more interesting.
The clock chimed.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
Right on time. As usual.
She turned.
When he got close enough, she leaned forward and whispered in his ear.
He grinned. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Good. They already suspect that Duncan fellow and he needs to go away. Permanently.”
It felt good when everything came together. Martha could have her day. Jacob would be gone.
