A Hope Unseen (Escape to the West Book 2)

by Leigh, Nerys

  For a few moments Sara couldn’t answer. She wiped at a tear rolling down her cheek. “I think that is the most wonderful idea.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Not in the slightest. You can use any of it, all of it. Whatever you need, it’s yours.”

  He found her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm. “It’s ours. I was stupid to think I shouldn’t need your help. I want to build our life together and, with or without my eyes, I can’t do it without you.”

  More tears following the first, she flung her arms around his neck. “I love you so much.”

  He cupped her face in his large, warm hands and kissed her. Then he murmured, “Let’s go inside,” in a tone that made her insides quiver.

  She sighed. “You are just full of wonderful ideas tonight.”

  Chapter 31

  When Sara rushed into the kitchen the next morning, Will was already sitting at the table, finishing off a slice of bread, butter and cheese.

  “I’m sorry, we didn’t realise how late it was,” she said, grabbing her apron from its hook on the back of the pantry door and tying it on over her dress.

  “I figured that might be the case,” he said.

  Daniel sauntered to the parlour doorway and leaned against the frame, a small smile on his face as he pushed his hands into his pockets. Will rolled his eyes.

  Sara smacked the back of her hand into Daniel’s stomach as she passed. “Stop it. And come help me.”

  His smile grew as he pushed away from the door and headed for the pantry.

  “We’ll make a quick sandwich each and eat them on the way,” he said, handing her the bread and butter. “Will can drive.” He grabbed Sara around the waist as she brushed past him, pulling her back against him and kissing her neck. “We’ll cuddle in the back of the wagon.”

  “Do you mind? I’m eating here,” Will said. “You two have five minutes or we’ll be late. I’ve hitched up Ginger and River. You may thank me profusely later.”

  Sara broke away from Daniel and leaned down to kiss Will’s cheek. “Thank you.”

  He lowered his head, smiling. “Worth it.”

  “That better not have been on the lips,” Daniel said.

  She breezed over to him, stood up on her toes, and kissed him briefly. “You’re so adorable when you’re jealous.”

  He grabbed her before she could walk away and brought his lips to hers, this time giving her a lingering kiss that sent heat all the way down to her toes.

  Will rolled his eyes for the second time. “Don’t you two ever stop?”

  Daniel kissed her again before letting her go. “Not if I can help it.”

  She touched her fingers to his bandage. “This has been on for two days, but I’ll have to change it later. We don’t have time now.”

  “No, you don’t,” Will said, pushing his chair back and carrying his plate to the sink. “I’ll bring the wagon round to the front. Don’t want to be late.”

  “Used to be I couldn’t get you to go to church for anything,” Daniel said. “Now you can’t wait to get there.”

  “Folks round here don’t exactly think highly of me,” he said. “Don’t want tardiness to be another item on the list of reasons why I’m a reprobate. Hurry up.”

  Daniel shook his head as his brother walked out the back door. “I can’t believe the change in him.”

  “I think the Lord’s been changing more than one person around here,” she said as she sat him at the table and guided his hands to the bread, butter and cheese.

  He gave her hand a squeeze. “Thankfully.”

  “Three more minutes and I’m leaving without you!” Will yelled from outside as the wagon passed the door.

  Sara burst into laughter.

  Daniel sighed. “Did I really say thankfully?”

  ~ ~ ~

  Eating cheese sandwiches while sitting on a blanket in the back of the wagon with Daniel’s arm around her turned out to be Sara’s favourite way to travel. Much as she wanted to go to church, she was almost disappointed when the journey came to an end.

  It felt like the entire town greeted them as they walked in, everyone telling Daniel how they’d been thinking of him and praying for them both. He thanked them all and told them they were just fine, but Sara could tell how touched by their concern he was.

  Nicky ran to Will as soon as they got inside, tugging at his hand to join him and his mother. Sara waved to Daisy at the front.

  “Daisy’s little boy seems to love Will,” she said as she and Daniel took seats towards the back of the congregation.

  “Children always love Will,” he said. “Probably because he’s so much like them.”

  She laughed and swatted his thigh. Looking past him, she saw Pastor Jones approaching along the aisle.

  “Good morning, Daniel, Mrs Raine,” he said when he reached them. “It’s so good to see you both today. How are you?”

  Daniel took her hand, entwining their fingers. “We’re good. Actually, we’re very good.”

  The pastor nodded, a smile on his face that made Sara think he wasn’t surprised about that. “I’m real happy to hear it. Um... I have something I’d like to ask you, Daniel, but if you’d rather not, just say so. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable at all.”

  “Fire away, Pastor.”

  He sat on a vacant seat across the aisle and rested his elbows onto his knees, leaning forward. “It’s been coming to me for the last few days that the church should pray for you, for your eyes. So if you’re agreeable I thought you could come up to the front and then me and the deacons would lay our hands on you and the entire church could be praying for you at the same time. What do you think?”

  Daniel lowered his head. Sara tightened her fingers around his.

  After a few seconds, he nodded. “I think I’d like that.”

  Pastor Jones smiled and stood. “Good. I’ll call you up to the front after the first hymn.”

  “Are you really all right with it?” she whispered to him after the pastor had left.

  “If Pastor Jones feels like God wants everyone to pray for me, then who am I to say no?” He rubbed her hand. “Yeah, I’m OK with it. Will you come up with me?”

  “Of course I will.”

  Following the opening hymn, the pastor stepped to the front of the platform, looking out over the congregation. “I know you’ve all been praying for Daniel Raine and his family after the terrible accident which took his sight. It says in the Scriptures that if any of us are ill we should go to the elders of the church who will pray for them. But it also says in Mark that God can heal through every one of us, so I’m asking now that we, together, pray for healing for Daniel and the restoration of his sight.” He looked at Sara and Daniel. “Daniel, Sara, would you come up here. And would the deacons come up too.”

  She took Daniel’s hand and together they walked to the front of the church, followed by the Emmanuel Church’s eight deacons.

  As they stepped onto the platform, Pastor Jones looked at Will. “Will, would you join us up here in praying for your brother?”

  Will’s eyes widened and a murmuring started in the congregation. He glanced around him and back at Pastor Jones. The pastor smiled and gave him an encouraging nod. Clearly uncomfortable, he nevertheless lifted Nicky from his lap and passed him to Daisy then joined them on the platform, taking a place next to Sara as the group surrounded Daniel and the pastor began to pray.

  “Father God, thank You for Daniel and his faithfulness and contribution to this community, and thank You for Your promise that we could lay hands on the sick and they would get well. We know that You are the God of miracles. So, Father, we are praying now that You would heal Daniel’s eyes and restore his sight. We also ask that You would give him and Sara your peace and strength and bless them abundantly in their new life together. We pray in the Name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.”

  A responding “Amen” murmured through those on the platform and expanded through the rest of the peop
le gathered in the church.

  A feeling of peace settled over Sara. She didn’t know if it was from the Lord or if it was a result of the knowledge that these people truly cared for them, but for the first time since Daniel had lost his sight she truly knew without a single doubt that everything would be all right.

  Next to her, Pastor Jones was speaking quietly to Will as the group broke apart.

  “I know that wasn’t easy for you, Will, so thank you for coming up. You belong here as much as anyone else.”

  “Thanks, Pastor,” Will said.

  He touched Daniel’s shoulder, gave Sara a smile, and returned to his seat where Nicky immediately climbed back onto his lap.

  It might have been Sara’s imagination, but it seemed to her that her brother-in-law was sitting a little straighter than he had been before.

  ~ ~ ~

  It was some time after the service finished that Sara and Daniel were finally able to leave. Practically the entire congregation seemed to want to wish them well.

  Will walked up to them when they got outside. “I’m staying in town for a while.”

  Daniel opened his mouth.

  “And before you ask, Dan, I’m not going to the saloon. Daisy’s invited me for lunch as a thank you for the work I’ve been doing on her porch.”

  “I was just going to ask you how you’re planning on getting home,” he said with a smile that suggested it might not have been all he’d been going to ask.

  “Yeah, right. Daisy said she’ll give me a ride back when I’m ready.”

  “Have fun,” Sara said.

  As he walked away she saw Louisa, Lizzy and Jo approaching. Jo was watching Will leave and as they reached Sara and Daniel she blew out a breath through her pursed lips and winked at Sara. Louisa rolled her eyes and nudged her with her elbow.

  “We’re going to see Amy and Adam,” Lizzy said. “Do you two want to come? We thought it would be nice for them to see some friendly faces. It must be so awful for them, locked up in a jail cell.”

  “Oh yes,” Daniel said, smirking. “I’ll bet Adam just hates being trapped like that with her. It must be torture.”

  Louisa’s eyes widened and Sara did her best to hide her smile behind her hand.

  Jo erupted into gales of laughter. “Oh, I like you, Daniel.”

  Chapter 32

  Amy’s trial was on Monday morning and Sara, Daniel and Will went to show their support for her and Adam. Afterwards, Will stayed in town to do more work for Daisy.

  Sara took the opportunity to do some shopping, picking up material for a new dress and ordering a new pair of boots from Isaiah Smith, the cobbler who had a store a few doors down from Adam’s post office. She also paid a visit to the bank to open an account for the money she’d brought with her. She would have been happy to simply deposit it into Daniel’s account, but he insisted on her having her own. She was served by Mr Vernon, the owner of the bank himself. After the scandal the bank had suffered in the past few days he was evidently eager to reassure any new customers, and most of the old ones, that the bank was absolutely secure in every way. Sara didn’t trust him after the way he and his wife had treated Adam and Amy, but she did trust Jesse, so she left her money in the bank’s hands. Besides, it being the only bank in town it was either that or hide it under her mattress.

  As she and Daniel walked back out onto the street, Sara came to an abrupt halt.

  “What is it?” he said.

  She looked around, uncertain what had made her stop. “I... don’t know. I just have a feeling...” She trailed off, not knowing how to finish the sentence. She felt uneasy, without having any idea why.

  He placed his hand over hers where it entwined with his arm. “What kind of feeling?”

  She shook her head. “It’s nothing. I don’t know why I even stopped.” A sudden desire to get out of the town swept over her. “Let’s just go home.”

  When they arrived back at the farm Sara cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast and started preparation on lunch, while Daniel unhitched the horses from the wagon and got them fed, watered, and settled in the pasture.

  She marvelled at how, in only the few days since he’d been working again, he’d begun to adapt and learn to cope without his sight. The horses even seemed to understand, patiently waiting as he ran his hands over their tack and slowly worked out what he was doing.

  Her husband was an incredible man. She couldn’t have chosen better.

  “I’m proud of you,” she said as they relaxed on the settee together after they’d finished their chores.

  “You are?”

  “The way you’re learning how to do things without being able to see. I know how hard it is for you, but you’re doing so well. It makes me realise what an amazing man I married.”

  “Once I got past my stubbornness and spending a week feeling sorry for myself, you mean?”

  She touched one hand to his jaw. “I mean I married an amazing man who’s always been amazing for every second I’ve known him. You had every right to feel like that. Anyone else would be the same.”

  He cupped his hand over hers and pressed a kiss into her palm. “I’d still be like that if it wasn’t for you. I married an amazing woman.”

  “The two of us are clearly an amazing couple.”

  He laughed, drawing her closer and kissing her forehead. “I guess we are.”

  She brushed her fingertips across the material over his eyes. “I should get to changing your bandage.”

  “It’s fine, the burns have healed over anyway.” He tangled his fingers in hers and rested his head on the back of the settee. “Maybe it’s time to stop wearing it.”

  Sara pulled back to look at him, worried. “But the doctor said you need to keep it on to protect your eyes so they can heal. So you can see again.”

  He ran his hand up her shoulder and neck to the side of her face. “It’s been almost two weeks. If God is going to heal me, He can do it with or without the bandages on. But I’m making my peace with it.”

  He may have been, but she wasn’t. “No, you can’t give up, not yet. The whole church prayed for you.”

  “I’m not giving up. I’m just trying to accept that it’s possible I’m going to stay this way.” He slowly caressed her cheek, his calloused palm warm against her skin. “Believe me, it’s the last thing I want. More than anything, I want to see your face again, but I need to look forward to what is, not what I wish could be. It’s the only way I’ll get through this.” He frowned as a tear slid down her face to touch his fingers. “Please don’t cry. It’ll be all right.”

  She placed her hand over his, holding it against her face. “I can’t help being sad when the man I love is hurting.”

  A small smile touched his lips as he wrapped his arms around her. “I’d rather have you than be able to see a thousand miles.”

  He could always make her smile. She didn’t think she’d smiled so much in her entire life as she had in the past two weeks.

  He ducked his head, his nose brushing hers.

  “I’m supposed to be changing your bandage,” she protested without enthusiasm.

  “It can wait,” he murmured as his mouth found hers.

  Barking erupted outside, interrupting the fledgling kiss.

  “Bess probably just saw a ‘coon or something,” Daniel said. “She’ll stop.” He leaned towards her again.

  Sara pushed him back. “I’ll go check. And I’ll bring back new bandages.”

  He heaved a sigh. “You’re killing me here.”

  Laughing, she pushed herself up from the comfort of the settee and Daniel’s arms and walked into the kitchen. Bess was still barking but Sara couldn’t see her from the window so she opened the door and walked outside.

  “Bess?” she called as she descended the steps into the yard. “What’s wrong, girl?”

  The barking ceased for a moment and then started again, even louder. Sara walked in the direction of the sound and found Bess to the side of the house, focused on som
ething around the corner.

  Sara stopped, suddenly wary. What if there was a wild animal there, a bear or a coyote or something?

  She glanced back at the door to the kitchen, wondering if she should go back for the rifle. But concern for Bess prodded her onwards. She started forward again, intending to find out what had her attention and get back inside with her if it was anything dangerous.

  But it was probably just a raccoon, like Daniel said. She’d been at the farm for more than two weeks and hadn’t seen anything bigger than a possum, which Bess had also barked at.

  Chastising herself for her nerves, Sara reached the corner and peered round.

  Her heart slammed into her throat.

  Mr Pulaski stood in the shade of the huge oak tree that grew there, a revolver pointed at the angry dog.

  “Get it away from me or I’ll shoot it,” he snarled.

  Bess lowered her head and growled, taking a step towards him.

  Sara rushed to grab her and pull her back from danger. “Don’t hurt her.”

  He moved his aim to Sara. “Shut that mangy mongrel up.”

  “It’s all right, Bess,” she said, trying hard to keep her voice calm and soothing. “Come on.” She patted her skirt for the dog to come, lead her to the bunkhouse and shut her inside.

  When she turned back to face Pulaski he had followed her and was only ten feet away. She glanced at the house. She wanted to call for Daniel, but she would die before she’d put him in danger. He couldn’t do anything against a gun.

  But Pulaski hadn’t actually threatened her, as such. Maybe he was just there to say goodbye. With his revolver.

  “What do you want?”

  “I’d have thought that was obvious by now.” He narrowed his eyes. “You really don’t remember me, do you?”

  Maybe she could somehow get back inside and grab the rifle from the kitchen. All she needed to do was distract him, keep him talking. “Remember you? From the train, you mean?”