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“In about a week. We’re learning about the chemical make-up of various drugs. I’m fascinated by all of that and believe it may well be the aspect of medicine that I want to work with. There are quite a few pharmaceutical companies in America, and I could work at developing new drugs, particularly ones that would fight infection.”

“That sounds quite fascinating.”

“Indeed, it does,” Erik said as he joined them in the front room. “Micah, I hope you will go into pharmaceuticals. There is a great need for developing medicines that really work. Many on the market these days are compiled of little more than alcohol and opium.”

“Finding ways to kill pain has always been at the forefront of people’s minds. No one wants to hurt. They need to realize that killing the pain does little to get to the root cause of that pain. Often it’s an infection out of control in the body.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“Come join us, Erik,” Leah suggested. “Micah just braved the snow to lend us a hand. It will take him a while to thaw.”

Erik pushed a wing-backed chair up closer to the fire before he sat down. Settling in, he looked most content. Leah couldn’t help but think he looked quite natural there at her side, enjoying the company of her brother. These days she thought more and more about Erik. She told herself it was because of his relationship to Turner House, but deep down she knew there was a lot more to it.

“I find your interest in the production of medicines to be quite interesting,” Erik continued. “My father keeps a book of old-fashioned remedies his grandmother used and her mother before her. They are usually quite helpful, amazingly enough.”

“I believe it. Most of the medications being developed were based on natural herbal treatments and then reproduced in a chemical compound,” Micah replied. “I’d love to see your book and if you didn’t mind even jot some of the treatments down. I’ve made it a sort of study of mine this last year to get old remedies on paper.”

“I don’t think my dad would mind at all. He’s all about sharing whatever is beneficial. I think he’d love knowing that something his ancestors created would live on to help modern mankind.”

Leah listened to them talk on and on about medication and developing new remedies for every kind of sickness. She found it fascinating enough to consider, but her mind kept wandering to other things. Her developing feelings for Erik. Starting over with God. Running Turner House properly. And of course, there were her concerns regarding Randolph and what he was up to.

She couldn’t blame him for involving himself in such dangerous and ambitious plans. Were her family in peril, she might well do the same. Randolph had told her of underground groups who came together to fight against oppression, sneaking food and medicine to Belgium and other occupied areas. They even managed to get people out of the country. Randolph had hoped to get his mother and grandmother out, but these attempts had failed, leaving him more desperate each time. She worried that these issues would drive him toward more dangerous activities.

“You’ve got no opinion?” Erik asked her.

She startled and glanced from Erik to her brother. “I’m sorry. Once again, I wasn’t paying attention. Somehow my mind went to the war.”

Erik leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankle. “It’s hard not to think of it. I read just yesterday that several loads of supplies from America to the Allies were captured by German ships.”

“And there are still concerns about Pancho Villa and Mexico. With Pershing ordered to disengage, folks are up in arms about what kind of retaliation will come. Will Villa attack America again?” Micah added.

“It seems the entire world has gone quite mad.” Leah hated the state of things. She frowned. “Do you suppose we will go to war in Europe as everyone thinks?”

“I don’t know how we can help but get involved,” Micah said with a shrug. “We can hardly allow things to go on as they are. The evil being perpetuated is outrageous. How can godly Christians allow for it to continue?”

“Randolph is so worried about his family.” She started to tell them about what she’d overheard but stopped. She’d already mentioned it to Mother. There was no sense in gossiping about it.

“One of my professors says that war is always useful to the development of better weapons and medicine.” Micah shook his head. “I would imagine such things are true, but I find it tragic at the same time. Such a waste for doctors to spend their time knitting men back together only to put them back in the battle.”

Erik shrugged. “As Thomas Paine wrote in the 1770s, ‘These are the times that try men’s souls.’”

Leah frowned, thinking of all the sorrows that might still descend upon her family. “Women’s too.”

Micah left shortly after warming up, but not before bringing in a lot of wood. Meanwhile, Erik shoveled snow once again. Leah had already spoken to him about staying the night, and Erik found no reason to refuse since the weather showed no sign of improvement. He rather liked the idea of more time in her company. Perhaps he’d come to better understand the elusive Miss Garrison.

With duties done and lunch consumed, Nurse Foster then called them all together. She opened her Bible and began reading and speaking on the Scriptures. Erik found her knowledge of Scripture equal to that of any preacher. She spoke on the importance of forgiveness, in particular about Jesus sacrificing His own life for the sins of the world.

“Forgiveness is never easy,” Nurse Foster declared. “Still, it is necessary for our souls to find peace. In Matthew chapter six, Jesus tells us, ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’”

“That’s not fair!” Natasha’s anger was quite apparent. “Why should I be punished if I refuse to forgive the monster who took me by force? God surely doesn’t mean someone in my situation has to forgive that.”

“Well, it doesn’t say that there are exceptions,” Nurse Foster replied. “And perhaps you are misunderstanding the concept of forgiveness. It certainly doesn’t mean that you are saying what happened is acceptable or approved. It doesn’t even mean that you hope they don’t face the consequences. No, forgiveness is something more beneficial to you than to them. In forgiveness, you are giving God the matter and letting Him decide how it will be resolved.”

“The man who did this to me doesn’t deserve forgiveness,” Natasha countered, still enraged.

“What he did to you was definitely wrong, and he deserves the worst a man could know. However, giving it to God is the best way to dismiss that man from your life. It will free you from any remaining chains he has put upon you. You needn’t give him even a second thought.”

“Until this”—she put her hand on her expanding belly—“is gone, how can I help but think of him and what he did?”