Benjamin didn’t know what he could say. When Pearl left Denmark, she knew her ma was near death’s door. “I suppose you’re never ready for the death of a loved one, even when you’ve been expecting it.”
“I’m not ready,” Pearl admitted. “I wish I had been a better daughter.”
“I think you’ve been a wonderful daughter. Probably better than she deserves.”
“I doubt that, but thank you.” Pearl’s voice was just above a whisper, and she kept her gaze on the shattered bottle.
They remained quiet for a time. Benjamin contemplated the broken bottle and everything it had meant to them both. Judging from the faraway look in Pearl’s brown eyes, she shared his thoughts.
Finally, he broke the silence. “Are you going to be all right, Pearl?”
She nodded. “Benjamin, I never thought I’d say such a thing about a broken bottle of perfume, but you’ve made me glad. I feel like you’ve unlocked shackles from around my feet.”
He understood all too well what she meant.
Chapter 8
The next week, Benjamin arrived as usual at the inn, tired even though his body and spirit had grown accustomed to the physical work the ranch required. He had planned to go straight to his room, wash up, and go to bed since Pearl had seen to it he enjoyed a good supper before he left her place. They had lingered over coffee. He treasured those times with her.
When he entered the small area that passed for the inn’s lobby, he halted. Leaning on the counter toward the proprietor was a tall, lean man Benjamin recognized as Owen. Back in Denmark, he’d cheated Owen at cards many a time. He wondered if he was in town trying to get Benjamin to pay back some of the money. If so, was he willing to draw pistols over it? Or maybe Owen’s errand was something else altogether. A terrible thought that Sadie might be ill entered his mind.
Worried, Benjamin debated whether to duck from Owen’s view or to approach him with a warm greeting. Maybe Owen was traveling through town and merely looking for a place to stay for the night. He hoped he was on his way to somewhere else and that somewhere else was California. A long, long way from Benjamin and Pearl.
Summoning his courage, he strode toward Owen. Suddenly he became aware of how loud his heels sounded clacking against the worn wooden floor.
Owen turned toward him, and recognition flickered upon his features. “Benjamin!”
He tipped his hat. “Evening, Owen.”
Owen excused himself long enough to get a key from Dimsbury.
“You two know each other?” the innkeeper asked.
“Sure do. We were friends back in Denmark,” Benjamin said.
“Well, just make sure the two of you stay friendly,” he warned. “I don’t want no trouble around here.”
“You won’t have any trouble,” Benjamin assured him.
Owen nodded, which seemed to satisfy Dimsbury. He’d put up a sign saying he’d be away a spell, then disappeared as he always did at that time of day. Benjamin always assumed he took dinner next door since it was the right time and he was always punctual about leaving for an hour.
Owen turned to Benjamin. The two men walked a few steps away from the counter before resuming their greetings.
“What are you doin’ here?” Owen asked. “I knew you were somewhere in these parts, but I didn’t think I’d find you like this, in a speck of a place out in the middle of nowhere.”
“If this is such a speck in the road,” Benjamin quipped, “then what are you doing here?”
“I’m passing through on my way to California. My aunt died, and she left me a house in San Francisco.”
Benjamin chuckled. “You want to live way out there in a city?”
Owen shrugged. “I figure I can at least go and see the house. At the worst, I can sell it and make some money. Maybe replace some I lost to you.” He folded his arms. “Speaking of that, I don’t have anything to do tonight. I noticed there’s a saloon next door. How about we get up a game of cards?”
Benjamin hesitated. What could he say to Owen that his former gambling buddy would believe?
Owen drew closer. “I’ll bet you already know most of the saloon girls by now and probably have a set of regular card players, don’t you? Just like back home.”
He squirmed for a response. “This isn’t the same place.”
“Of course not. But women are the same everywhere. They all swoon when they see a handsome fella. If I looked anything like you, I’d be married with ten kids by now.”
“You’d be married if Ellie had her way.” Benjamin grinned.
“I know it. Maybe if I like this house out in San Francisco and I don’t see no other woman that looks better, I might send for Ellie. She’s not the best-looking woman in the world, but she’d make a good enough wife.”
Benjamin didn’t want to agree that Ellie was one of the homeliest women in Denmark. Considering the likelihood Owen would find another woman in San Francisco, Benjamin visualized Ellie’s slim chances with Owen evaporating.
A sly grin covered Owen’s features. “Seeing as how we don’t got any women to worry us, what about that card game?”
Benjamin shook his head. “I’d better not.”
“Aw, come on now. You must know a few men who’d like to play a hand or two.”
“Nope. I haven’t visited the saloon but once since I first got here.”
Owen’s mouth dropped. “Come again?”
“You heard right.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Benjamin shrugged. “I can’t help whether you believe it or not. It’s true. I’ve been working on a ranch.”
Owen whistled. “You’ve been getting your hands dirty? That’s a switch for you.”
Benjamin knew he deserved Owen’s disdain. “It’s about time I started to make an honest living, don’t you think?”
“Men who make an honest living during the day often don’t mind a little bit of what they call ‘recreation’ at night. Time’s a-wasting. Let’s go get up a game.”
As much as he hated to admit it, even to himself, Owen’s offer tempted Benjamin. He hesitated. “I’ve changed since I’ve been working on Pearl’s ranch.”
“I can’t imagine you lifting a finger outdoors.” Owen eyed him. “But I have to say, you do look a mite tanned. But that don’t mean you can’t play cards.”
Benjamin shook his head.
“What’s the matter?” Owen scoffed. “Scared Pearl might find out? Pshaw, she’s no better than we are.”
Such words sent Benjamin’s blood raging. Without thinking, he laid his fist into Owen’s jaw. Owen reeled but recovered.
Benjamin heard chair legs on the front porch shuffle, wood meeting wood, making a scratching sound. Two men rushed into the front room.
“What’s wrong, Benjamin?” inquired a boarder Benjamin knew only as Harry. “This here stranger bothering you?”
“We don’t take much of a hankering to that kind of thing here in these parts,” Harry’s friend added.
“He’s not bothering me,” Benjamin rushed to explain.
“More like he’s bothering me,” Owen said. “Laid a mean punch on me over a misunderstanding.”
The two would-be rescuers regarded Benjamin, then glared at Owen, then returned their gazes to Benjamin. “You sure about that? ’Cause we can beat him up pretty good if you need us to.”
“I’m sure,” Benjamin confirmed. “But all is well here.”
Owen looked whipped, but Benjamin wanted to be sure a sour word about Pearl never again crossed Owen’s lips. He spoke to the man in a lowered voice. “Pearl has more goodness in her little finger than you and I have in our whole bodies and souls put together.”
Owen rubbed his jaw and stared at Benjamin. “Whatever you and your friends say.”
Benjamin wanted to point out that the two men were always looking for a fight and weren’t really his friends and he could have taken care of himself. But he decided to omit all three statements. The fact that he had resisted Ow
en’s suggestion to go back to his old ways—an easy way to make money, to be sure—was victory enough.
Benjamin smiled at his friend from Denmark. “Look—I’m sorry I flew off the handle like that. Punching someone never solves anything. And I know you wouldn’t even be standing here still if we hadn’t known each other a long time.”
“You got that one right,” Owen said.
“How about I get you a cup of coffee?” Benjamin offered.
“No, I’m not in the mood for coffee. I think I’ll go to the saloon and try my luck there to find a night’s entertainment.” Owen studied Benjamin. “You really have changed. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Like Preacher Giles said in church last Sunday, with God all things are possible.”
Owen put his hands on his hips and looked at Benjamin cockeyed. “Is that from the Bible?”
“I think so. I’m not entirely sure. But if Pastor Giles said it, it’s pretty close.”
“So you’re a pew-sitter now? Either you’ve gone crazy, or I have.”
Benjamin laughed. “Maybe you ought to try it sometime. Maybe you’ll find yourself a pretty girl.”
A week later Pearl and Benjamin had just entered the house when Ma called.
“Pearl?” Ma’s weak voice sounded from her room.
Pearl sighed and sent Benjamin a look and set down the tomatoes she had picked. Just as quickly she regretted her show of impatience. Her mother couldn’t help being sick. But some days she was more demanding than others. On this particular day, she had called Pearl five times in the span of an hour.
Pearl softened her expression and set her voice to a happy pitch. “Yeah, Ma?”
“Can you come here? And bring that man of yours with you.”
So Ma wanted Benjamin? Pearl wondered what could be the matter. She motioned to Benjamin, who was just finishing breakfast. “Come on.”
Without delay he complied.
“We’re here, Ma. What’s the matter?” Pearl noticed that Ma had consumed all the water in the pitcher in her night table. “Do you need more water?”
“I will, but not now.”
Pearl sat on the side of her mother’s bed. Strands of the older woman’s hair clung to the sides of her face, saturated with sweat. Wet droplets marked her forehead. Her cheeks looked flushed, and she was thrashing. Pearl hadn’t seen such a sight since one of Sadie’s girls died of consumption, spreading fear throughout the house. Pearl remembered that was the one time she had asked the Lord to spare her, though she didn’t deserve His mercy after traveling away from His protection for so long. Yet He had seen fit to answer her prayer. In a flash, she wondered if the Holy Spirit had brought that remembrance to her mind. Was it time to pay Him back?
Pearl noticed her mother’s sheets had twisted and turned. “Here. Let me smooth these for you.” She set about her task.
“You would have made a good nurse if you hadn’t of…” Ma regarded Benjamin. “I’m glad you’re here, too. I’m in desperate need of prayer, and I’ll take petitions from anyone with a voice.”
Pearl dried her mother’s forehead with a clean cloth. “Your head is as hot as a branding iron.” Pearl’s throat tightened.
“I know it. And I feel mighty puny.”
It wasn’t like Ma to admit she didn’t feel well. The confession worried Pearl.
“I don’t want to die. Not yet.”
Die! “You’re not gonna die, Ma.” Pearl hoped her words would prove true.
Ma took Pearl’s hands. “Please. Please pray for me.”
“I will, Ma. But first there’s something we need to do.” Pearl turned to Benjamin. “Fetch the preacher. If he’s not at church, try the parsonage next door.”
Benjamin nodded. “Right away.”
Ma’s voice rang out in the room. “No!”
“Ma! Don’t you want the preacher?”
“There’s not enough time. I know there isn’t. You’ll have to do.”
Ignoring her mother’s veiled insult, Pearl dropped to her knees and set her elbows on the side of the sickbed. “Lord, I pray You’ll see fit not to take my ma. I know the mansion You built for her in heaven is much better than anything she can have here, but she’s not ready to leave us yet. She feels so bad, Lord. Can’t You see her tossing and turning, doing her best to sweat out the fever? I know she has a lot of life left in her, and she wants to live it. Please grant her a few more years with us. Please.” Pearl felt tears drop down her cheeks.
She kept praying, not keeping track of time. During that spell, she noticed Benjamin’s presence beside her. He had joined her by the bed and was on his knees, too. Though he didn’t speak, his nearness consoled her. The fact that he had joined her in prayer made her sob.
She felt Benjamin’s arm around her. “Shh. You’ll wake her up with all that boo-hooing.”
“Wake her up?” Pearl studied her mother. Indeed, she had fallen sound asleep.
Ma’s aged features had softened far beyond anything Pearl could have imagined only a few moments ago. Deep wrinkles, brought on by years of toiling in the sun, weren’t as apparent as usual.
Unwilling to rise from her knees, Pearl scooted along the floor until her hand could reach her mother’s forehead and cheeks. When she touched her mother’s face, Pearl was relieved to find that her skin didn’t feel nearly as heated as it had before they prayed. The redness had left her cheeks, leaving in its stead the soft pink color she was accustomed to seeing in her mother. The woman’s breathing had become even. An occasional rattle that could once be heard in Ma’s chest had left. It was as if the years had floated away and a youthful Ma was taking a nap while her little children played.
Benjamin took her hand and lifted her to her feet. “Let’s go,” he whispered. “There’s nothing more we can do.”
Chapter 9
A few minutes later Benjamin and Pearl returned to the kitchen. “I can’t believe Ma is resting so well.” Pearl kept her voice low. “After the way she was acting so sick before, I can’t believe it, either. Let’s just hope she stays that way. Restful and feeling better.” Benjamin took his usual seat at the table and then looked at the entrance to the sickroom. “God sure acted fast, didn’t He?”
Pearl joined him at the table. “He sure did. Not that He always works that quickly. But I’m glad He did this time. Ma was suffering.”
Benjamin looked back at Pearl. “So you think our prayers had something to do with your ma’s fever breaking?”
“What else could it be? She begged us to pray for relief. As soon as we did, the fever broke.”
“We’ve been here awhile now. Wonder why she picked that moment in time to ask us?”
“I think she was too sick and desperate not to.”
Benjamin was thoughtful. “Maybe God does help people, after all.”
“Of course He does.” Pearl remembered Benjamin’s bitterness over how his brothers had deserted him at Sadie’s. “Just because you had a tough childhood doesn’t mean God wasn’t there.”
“But how could He expect me to find Him at Sadie’s? I didn’t go there on my own. But when I ended up there, I naturally fell into the gambling life. What else could I have done? If I’d had my druthers, I’d have done something else with my life if God hadn’t abandoned me.”
“Like what?” Pearl kept her voice gentle. She wanted to challenge him to think, not to alienate the only man she had ever loved.
Benjamin shrugged. “I don’t know. I might have been a blacksmith’s apprentice. Or worked at a shop in town. Or maybe even been a rancher.”
“You’re a rancher now. Of sorts.”
“I suppose I am.” Benjamin crossed his arms. “But it’s taken me an awful long time to get here.”
“Maybe God had a reason for you to take the long way around.”
“You took the long way around, too,” he pointed out.
“I’d like to think of my time in Denmark as a mistake. I learned a lot from straying off the path. I never will stray a
gain.”
“I’m glad,” Benjamin said. “I don’t mean any disrespect against your ma, but I can see by the way she talks to you that you haven’t always had it easy. You never have had it easy, really.”
“Maybe not. But I haven’t had it as hard as some people. At least I do have a ma, and she does love me enough not to want me to suffer for an eternity out of the presence of God. I don’t want you to suffer, either,” Pearl said. “I want you to know God, but not because you’ve made some sort of bargain or deal with Him. You must seek His face because you want to know the Lord and because you want the Lord to be part of your life through all times, not just bad times.”
“Things have gotten better since I stopped gambling and cheating people out of their money. I feel much better now in my heart. I can see now, by the way things have turned out in my life, that God never abandoned me while I was at Sadie’s. But I sure can see a difference in my life now compared to then.”
“I can see the difference in you. And I can feel the difference in me, too. That was no life for me. Or you,” Pearl added.
“I do want a new life, Pearl. Pastor Giles said I can get baptized. I think I want to do that.”
Pearl gasped and touched Benjamin’s arm. “You do! Oh, Benjamin, I’m so glad to hear you say that. You’ve made me so happy!”
Ma called from the next room. “Pearl!” Her voice sounded strong.
“Ma!” Pearl jumped from her seat and rushed into her mother’s room. “How are you—?” She stopped. “Ma!”
The older woman was sitting upright in her bed without her back touching the pillow. Sickness had melted from her being. A smile decorated her face.
Pearl gasped. “Ma! What happened?”
“I—I feel better than I have in weeks. Why, I do believe the Lord cured me! Hallelujah!” Ma lifted her arms in praise. “Thank You, God, and thank you both for your prayers.” She threw back the covers and started to exit the bed.
Pearl hastened to stop her. “Don’t leap out of bed just yet. You might not be as strong as you think.”
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