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Joseph trained his vision on Jacob’s expression as he reached for the arm of the furniture and slowly sat, resting his crutches beside him. Not the slightest grimace of pain. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t become adept at hiding what ailed him.
Kitty’s smile deepened. “Your company during these months will be a godsend, Jacob. Having a man in the house will ease my spirit greatly, I can assure you.”
Mouth tight, fingers knotted, Jacob attempted another smile, but it died the second it touched his lips.
Kitty glanced at Joseph, sympathy in the slope of her eyes. She bent to the table, her clear voice singing through the room as she prepared a steaming cup of coffee. “I should like to talk to your uncle for a moment.” Offering it to Jacob, she smoothed her hand over his shoulder. “I shan’t keep him long.”
Jacob looked up, cheeks rosy and eyes hesitant. “Of course. Thank you.”
Kitty grinned and turned toward Joseph, motioning back to Nathaniel’s study. Once there, she turned to face the parlor, her voice riding a whisper. “How is he doing?”
Joseph’s insides churned, and he stared at the nephew he had come to care for as his own son. Matching his volume to hers, he sighed. “The pain in his leg seems to be fading, though I fear somehow the pain in his heart grows.” He shifted his feet, swallowing away the rising concern he’d battled to suppress for days. This boy had no parents or siblings, and now he, the only family Jacob had in the world, would leave as well? “I wonder if I am doing the right thing?”
“Do you really wonder?”
He met Kitty’s gaze, struck with a courage that
seemed to reach from the depth of her blue-green eyes to the center of his wearied spirit.
“He is not a child, Joseph. He knows the significance of what you are willing to sacrifice.” She extended her arm and touched his wrist, the gentleness in her smile surpassing the vines of worry. “You must join the militia—join my husband and the others. You have waited long enough. Eliza and Anna and I shall keep Jacob well occupied until you return.”
Would he return? Would any of them?
A dense fog crept through him, and he lowered his tone even more to avoid the waver that rose in his throat. “Should anything happen to me—”
“I’ve prepared a room for him.”
Kitty’s abrupt words cut past the unpleasant thought, as if she knew speaking of such would bring too much gloom upon them both.
“’Tisn’t much, but I did worry…considering what happened…” She pursed her lips and glanced to Jacob before she turned to the open doorway behind her. “’Twas the only space I had. Going up stairs would be too much for him of course, but do you think he…do you think I should offer it to him or not?”
Joseph stared at the room only a few paces ahead from where he stood, shocked at how the memory of what had happened there made his insides harden. Stepping forward, he looked over what had been Nathaniel’s surgery room. The smell of blood and the gruesome sound of the saw cutting through bone filled his senses, but he shoved them aside. “I should think he would be grateful for a place to call his own. But I cannot know for certain how it…how it would be for him.”
Kitty hurried in from behind. “I’ve removed the surgery table, as you can see.” Her expression was sweet but edged with apprehension as she sat on the bed and smoothed her hands along the quilt, as if to prove its worthiness. “You remember Anna Donaldson, Henry’s wife? Her father made the bed especially for Jacob. Anna and Eliza made the quilt.” She stood and motioned to the cabinet in the corner. “I’ve replaced all the medical supplies with books, paper, quill and ink—you said he enjoys reading and art?”
“Aye.” He nodded, grinning, and continued to take in the room that resembled nothing of his last visit there. Though ’twas pleasant, to be sure, how would Jacob feel?
“I suppose ’twould be best to have you ask him.”
Kitty’s sudden words interrupted Joseph’s thoughts.
“If he cannot…that is, if he wishes another place to sleep, I will do whatever I can to make him comfortable.”
Joseph glanced toward Jacob. “I shall speak with him.” He stopped just through the doorway and turned. “I cannot properly express my thanks—”
“Not at all.” Kitty grinned sweetly and started toward the kitchen. “I believe the turnovers are just about done. I shall check on them.”
She hurried through the study and past the parlor, disappearing into the kitchen.
Joseph neared the couch, pulling the rocking chair in front of Jacob, who still held his drink and sat motionless as the snow fell harder outside the window. Joseph rested his elbows on his knees. “Jacob, I—”
“I want you to stay.”
Jacob looked up, the ache in his eyes reaching across the small distance to strangle Joseph’s already pained longing.
“I know I shouldn’t think such a thing. I know your efforts are needed for the cause, but I cannot help it.”
His chin quivered, and he looked down, the small thread of sound hammering Joseph’s heart to his ribs.
