Chapter Six #2
Daniel exchanged a glance with Mary before looking back at Edith. There was a resilience in her voice that he hadn’t noticed before, as if being left alone was nothing new to her.
“Still,” Mary said, her tone softening but remaining firm, “being alone in the wilderness is different from being in town, Edith. You may have managed before, but this is a different kind of isolation.”
Edith shrugged, her eyes dropping to the floor. “I’ll manage. I don’t need anyone looking after me.”
Mary placed a gentle hand on Edith’s shoulder as she set the plate in front of her. “You’ve been through a lot, Edith,” she said softly, her voice warm but firm. “It’s not easy to trust again after everything that’s happened. But you don’t have to carry all of this alone, you know.”
Edith glanced up, her brow furrowed. “I’ve always had to manage on my own,” she replied quietly, her voice tinged with the weight of old wounds. “I don’t expect anything different now.”
Mary’s gaze softened as she sat down across from her. “Maybe you’ve had to be strong on your own before, but there’s something bigger looking out for you, Edith. It’s not just about managing or surviving—it’s about trusting in something greater than ourselves.”
Daniel remained quiet, watching the exchange, but his eyes flickered with curiosity as Mary continued.
“I know it’s hard to believe sometimes,” Mary said, her tone growing a little more resolute. “But faith isn’t just about showing up to church on Sundays or saying the right words. It’s about knowing, deep down, that God has a plan for you, even when everything seems dark.”
Edith’s hands stilled as she held the fork, her expression guarded.
She wasn’t used to people talking about faith or God so openly, and the thought of relying on something she couldn’t see or touch made her uneasy.
But there was a gentleness in Mary’s words that made her listen, even if she wasn’t quite ready to believe.
Mary continued, her voice soft but unwavering. “You may feel like you’re alone, but you’re not. God’s been with you this whole time, even in the worst of it. He’s here now, offering you a way forward.”
The words hit Daniel hard, the underlying sadness in them unmistakable.
Edith had been alone for so long that she expected it now—expected to be left behind, expected to fend for herself.
He could see the weariness in her eyes, the way she spoke as if she had already accepted whatever came next, no matter how hard it might be.
“You won’t be alone the whole time,” Daniel said quietly. “I’ll be back often, and I’ll make sure everything’s in place before I go. You’ll have everything you need.”
Edith gave a small nod, though the resignation in her posture remained. She wasn’t asking for reassurance, wasn’t asking for anything at all.
Mary gestured to Edith. “Come on, now, eat.”
Obliging, Edith sat down opposite Daniel at the table, and Mary set a plate in front of Edith, laden with eggs, bacon, and biscuits. She picked up a fork tentatively and lifted a tiny bite to her mouth.
“You all right with that?” Daniel asked gently, watching her look down at her hands, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “I’ll make sure you got plenty to eat, whatever you need.”
“That sounds all right,” she replied, and Daniel thought he could almost detect a pleased tone in her voice.
Daniel felt a pang of sympathy for her. She had been through so much, and now she was being told to go somewhere unfamiliar with a man she didn’t trust. He understood her hesitation, but he also knew that the cabin was her best chance for safety.
“We’ll take it one day at a time,” Daniel said, his tone firm but not unkind. “You don’t have to decide everything today. Right now, you just need to focus on getting better.”
Edith nodded slowly, though the worry didn’t leave her face.
“Go on, eat something,” Mary encouraged, waving at Edith. “You’ll need your strength for the journey. If you’re thinking you’ll get in trouble for eating, I’d say you’d get in trouble for not eating. Eat.”
Edith hesitated for a moment, then finally picked up a full bite with her fork, her movements slow and cautious. Daniel watched her, noting how she still glanced at him every now and then, as if expecting something from him that he wasn’t offering.
He turned his gaze away, giving her space, though his mind remained troubled. He didn’t know what the future held for Edith or for himself, but he knew one thing for certain—he had made a choice the night before, and now, for better or worse, he had to see it through.
“We’ll leave in an hour,” Daniel said, his voice breaking the silence. “I’ll check on the horses.”
He pushed his chair back, the legs scraping against the wooden floor, and rose to his feet. He wasn’t sure if Edith was ready for the journey, but they couldn’t stay here any longer.
As he walked toward the door, Mary called out after him, her voice soft but filled with concern. “Take care of her, Daniel. She’s been through enough.”
Daniel paused, his hand resting on the doorknob. He didn’t look back, but he nodded, knowing that Mary was right. Edith had been through more than anyone should, and now it was up to him to make sure she stayed safe.