Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Travis pulled the covers tighter around himself as chills coursed through his body. Weakness weighed him to the point he could barely lift his eyelids, feeling as if they were made of lead. Suddenly, warm fingertips brushed against his face.
“Travis? Travis, can you hear me?” a sweet voice asked.
Travis attempted to move his arms to grasp the woman’s hand, seeking more warmth, but his limbs were heavy and unresponsive. He tried to open his mouth to speak, but a fiery pain stung his throat, rendering him mute. A cold rag laid upon his forehead, making his chills rise.
“I know it’s cold, but your fever is too high. I need it to cool down.”
The woman left the cold towel resting on his forehead before quietly slipping out of the room, her footsteps fading away.
Travis lay on his back, utterly unable to move, his mind swirling with confusion.
The more he thought, the dizzier he became.
After a while, he sensed another blanket being draped over him, and with each layer, the shivers began to lessen.
Moments passed again, and heat rushed from the foot of his bed to his legs. Each time he moved his feet farther down, the heat grew stronger.
“Don’t move too far down. They are hot bricks.”
The space beside him sank as the woman’s warm body settled close to him. She gently dabbed the cold cloth over his face, her touch soothing against his fevered skin.
After a few minutes, Travis summoned the strength to slowly open his eyes.
As his vision cleared, he recognized his children’s room.
He turned his head toward the woman, a soft glow surrounding her.
A smile crossed his face as he took her in.
He never thought he would see the woman he loved more than life itself again.
“Sophie,” he whispered.
She hesitated then smiled, taking hold of his hand in hers. “Yes, Travis?”
“I-I can’t believe you’re here.”
Sophie continued dabbing the cool rag on his face. “I’m here, but you must rest. You must get better.”
“B-But I-I want to be with you, Sophie. P-Please don’t . . . go again.”
Sophie’s grip tightened on his arm. “I’ll be here. Just rest.”
Travis’s eyes filled with tears, hot, stinging tears.
He had so many things he wanted to say, but his voice was too hoarse.
Still, it would be worth every word to endure the pain.
He wanted to lift his arms and embrace her against him.
He wanted to kiss her until his lips turned blue.
Oh, Sophie. A year without her had been unbearable.
Sophie adjusted the covers to his neck and kissed his forehead. “Rest, Travis. The children need you. You must get better for them.”
Travis closed his eyes. He had to rest and get better for the children, but he wanted to see Sophie one last time.
Hearing Travis’s words brought Josie back into reality.
After playing the caring and loving wife for the past two days, she was abruptly put back into her place.
How foolish of her to think Travis could suddenly stop loving his late wife and love her instead.
After Josie and Travis married, he made it clear he couldn’t love her.
The best thing he could do was provide for her and the children.
How could Travis throw away a decade of marriage and just start over with someone new?
He barely knew Josie, and there was nothing to love about her.
She was a damaged young widow who sought to deceive a poor farmer into marrying her and keeping her baby safe.
She was a murderess who could be discovered any day and sent to the gallows, only to shame the sweet family and town.
She was nothing like the Sophie he and everyone else in town described.
That woman would never do what Josie did.
Sophie was loveable, and Josie was a disease who was unworthy of it all.
Travis avoided her like the plague for months, and trying everything in her power to nourish him back to health wouldn’t change a thing. Josie was just a mail order bride—nothing more. Even his delirium confirmed so.
Rising from the bedside, Josie stood tall and pulled her shoulders back.
She wouldn’t cry about this. More serious matters demanded attention.
Jonas was in the bed next to Travis, still feverish.
She needed to pull herself together and focus on others’ problems rather than her own.
Josie removed herself from Travis’s presence and sat next to Jonas.
He was sleeping soundly, but when she placed her hand on his forehead, she noticed he wasn’t as hot as usual.
Her thrumming pulse slowed to a normal pace.
Jonas would be all right. This marked the first improvement she noticed.
“Thank you, Lord.”
Josie kissed the top part of Jonas’s head. His eyelids fluttered open, and his eyes weren’t as cloudy as they had been.
“Josie?” he said, his voice hoarse.
Josie ran her fingers through Jonas’s plastered curls. “I’m here. How are you feeling?”
“A little better.”
Tears ambled down Josie’s cheeks as she smiled. “Your fever broke.”
Jonas’s blue eyes widened. “It did?”
Josie grabbed some pillows to prop behind Jonas. “Can you sit up? I’m going to fix you some broth. Aunt Polly is here. She’s been taking care of you, too.”
Jonas’s little body straightened against the pile of pillows.
He had lost a few pounds the past few days since he hadn’t eaten, but Josie was confident he’d gain it all back soon.
Josie went to the kitchen, seeing Aunt Polly sweeping the floor.
Josie smiled with delight, standing before her aunt-in-law.
Aunt Polly turned, dropping the broom upon noticing Josie’s expression.
“Jonas’s fever has broken!”
Aunt Polly gasped, immediately embracing Josie. She trembled in her arms, her tears dampening Josie’s dress. “Thank God! Thank our wonderful God!”
Josie stepped back, gathering her petticoat as she scurried towards the stove where a pot of broth rested. “I’m going to take him some broth. The boy must be famished.”
Aunt Polly took off down the hallway, not bothering to respond. Such a joyous time. Their Lord had not abandoned them. If she could have faith He’d heal Jonas, then He could heal Travis too. That be, if it was God’s will.
Josie poured the broth into a bowl, hardly able to wipe the smile from her face.
Jonas’s recovery had been the light of the day thus far.
She sighed, pushing away the event from earlier.
She had more pressing concerns than her husband loving a woman far too perfect for Josie to compete with.
Josie brought the broth into the bedroom, where Aunt Polly sat at Jonas’s bedside, brushing his hair with her hands.
Jonas glanced over at Travis; fear etched across his brow and in his eyes.
“Is Pa gonna be all right?”
Josie didn’t know how to answer. Jonas was never as bad as Travis. Travis’s illness progressed rapidly, bringing different symptoms—delirium and dehydration. His swollen tonsils made it nearly impossible for him to drink.
Josie dipped Jonas’s spoon into the bowl and gently blew over it. “I have faith God will take care of Pa like He did you.”
Jonas opened his mouth, sipping some of the broth.
Josie glanced over at Travis, who shivered and muttered Sophie’s name.
His head shifted from side to side as he wrestled with the covers.
Aunt Polly rose from Jonas’s bed and moved to Travis’s side.
She placed a hand on his forehead, then turned to Josie.
Her bottom lip quivered as she slowly shook her head.
Josie pressed her lips together. She was right about one thing—only God could take care of Travis now. Her job was to surrender it to Him. There was only so much she could do.