She wiped her mouth and rose to see Max’s worried expression. “Oh, go away. I’m so embarrassed.”
“You needn’t be.” He went to the water bucket at the back of the room and filled the ladle. “Here, use this to rinse your mouth.”
Evie obeyed, impressed with his casual yet attentive care. She looked up and smiled. “I’m better now. Thank you.” Reaching into her pocket, she brought out her peppermint oil. “A drop of this on the tongue and I’ll be as good as new.” She took some of the oil and gave a nod. “Perfect, and it will soothe my stomach.”
“You need never be ashamed or embarrassed around me, Evie. Your father told me you were quite helpful to him. In fact, he said he had no doubt you could have performed the surgery all on your own.”
“I did what had to be done, and God was gracious. I still don’t like the way it affects me. My stomach started rolling the moment Father pulled out his scalpel.”
“Still, you endured and made his job easier. You should be proud of yourself.”
Evie rolled up the dirty sheet and saw there were only a couple of places where the canvas needed to be wiped down. She reached for the cleaning sponge and found Max was already working on it. She let him go ahead with the work and took up a towel to dry the cloth.
“Father’s the amazing one. I never fail to be impressed by his abilities. During the war, officials from all over the battlefield would send for him. He was often able to save an arm or leg that most field doctors would have just hacked off. We still get letters from men telling him how grateful they were for his skills and kindnesses. He always took time to listen to them.” She dried off the tarp as Max finished wiping it down. “Just like you with the children. Sometimes listening to someone is what matters most.”
“I know I’m comforted to learn that God really listens to us.” Max dropped the sponge into the bucket.
“Me too. I remember the first time I read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It’s in the eleventh chapter of John. Jesus prays before He calls for Lazarus to come forth. He says, ‘Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always.’ It spoke to my heart and convinced me that God does really hear us when we pray.”
She finished drying the tarp, and Max helped her to fold it. “Where does this go?”
“The back of our wagon. Father uses it to cover supplies.” Evie took off her apron and put it with the sheet.
“I can take it back for you.” He moved to where she stood. “By the way, I talked to the scarred man. His name is Stubbs.”
“Yes, Mother and I met him in town, and she gave him food.”
“I talked to him about the fire. He doesn’t think it was purposefully set. He said the men likely to be hired to do the job were the same people he kept company with and no one was bragging. I paid him to ask around, nevertheless.”
“Do you think that’s safe? I mean, what if someone is offended at your curiosity and afraid you might do something to them if you learn the truth?”
“They should be afraid. I want justice in this matter. If someone purposefully set the fire, I want to know the truth and reveal it to the authorities. I won’t rest until I know.”
Evie met his determined gaze. Goodness, but he was handsome. “I understand.”
Before she could move, Max reached out with his good arm and pulled her close. She would never get tired of his affections and wrapped her arms around him, being mindful of his sling.
“Hmm, peppermint.”
She giggled. “It was always a favorite of mine.”
“You’re a favorite of mine. I love you, Evie Turner. You are an amazing woman, and I will always cherish having you at my side.”
Her heart skipped a beat at this whispered praise, and as she let go, she found herself wishing they could just remain in each other’s arms.
“December,” she barely managed to whisper.
“What was that?” He looked at her oddly.
Evie straightened and met his gaze. “I said December. That’s as long as I’m willing to wait to marry you.”
For a moment Max was silent, and then he began to laugh. Evie couldn’t help but smile. He hadn’t officially proposed, but she didn’t care. She was going to move ahead full steam in planning a December wedding.
21
By the middle of September, all the houses were framed up and roofed. Most of the interiors were finished and painted as well, with a few still needing finishings touches. Evie was glad her father had finally declared it was time to return to the city. Andrew and Jacob had already left for their prospective colleges, and the little ones went home with Mother to begin school. It seemed quiet out here at the farm, even with the one hundred and some people spread around the place.
Max had done an exemplary job heading up the school and was even now going over all that he had covered with the newly hired teacher, Mr. Evanston. Evie had enjoyed their classroom courtship. She found Max easy to listen to as he told tales of history and geography and read a variety of stories. The little ones adored him like they might a fun older brother or favorite uncle. The older girls watched him with admiration and perhaps a bit of romantic silliness. Evie always made sure to stick close at hand after school, given that the sixteen-year-old girls liked to hang back and ask Max numerous questions about their lessons. Remaining above reproach was importantto Max, and he wanted someone present to be assured his lessons were of the proper materials and that he wasn’t showing favoritism. Now with Mr. Evanston at the farm, there was no need for her to continue helping at the school, and Max was spending a good portion of the afternoons with Mr. Evanston as well. Evie felt rather lonely for Max’s company.
