He glanced around, saw nothing to alarm him and no one watching. He pushed open the door. It took less than a second to see the place was empty. His heart banged into his ribs hard enough to make him flinch.
They were gone.
He clattered back outside and looked around. He could detect no tracks. Had Bonnie or Claude seen anything?
A sharp noise caught his attention. Like a child yelling in play. Was it them?
He stilled his ragged breathing and listened. Yes. Down by the river. He jogged down the path and saw the girls and Clara. His breath whooshed out. They were safe.
For a moment, he didn’t move. How had he let himself care so much? He shook his head. It was only concern about their safety. Nothing more. Almost convinced, he made his way down to the river.
“Hello, Mr. Blue,” Eleanor called.
Libby grinned from ear to ear. “Hello, Mr. Blue.”
“Hello, you two.” Only then did he allow himself to look in Clara’s direction.
“Hello, Blue.” She smiled, and his heart threatened to melt. He sucked in air and stopped the notion.
“I thought you’d be at the ranch longer.”
“I was only out riding.” He went to her, and they sauntered along the rocky shore.
“It’s good to be outside. The girls are really enjoying it.”
He could think of nothing more to say.
“I thought you intended to go to church at the ranch.” She sounded concerned. “Would you go if you were there?”
“I go when I’m at the ranch.” She already knew he didn’t have much faith left, so he felt no need to explain further.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I took the girls over to the church and we had a little service by ourselves.”
“I don’t mind.” In fact, if he’d known, he might have joined them.
Clara stopped and tipped her head back to study him.
He forced himself not to blink before her intensity and knew she’d tell him soon enough what was on her mind.
“I read Exodus chapter fourteen and was very encouraged.”
“How’s that?” If anyone else had said the same thing, he would have closed his mind to what they had to say. Yet he wanted to know exactly what had provided encouragement for Clara.
She told him about the children of Israel being up against the Red Sea. “The sea or the desert. It looked hopeless, but God led them there so He could show His power and they would know He was God. I feel like I am between the desert and the sea, but I know God has brought me here to show me the way through. Isn’t that wonderful?”
He nodded, glad she had found such courage through reading the Bible.
“Do you ever feel against the sea or lost in a desert?”
Her gaze demanded honesty, and he couldn’t stop himself from giving it. “I’ve been in the desert since my family perished. A hot, dry, burning desert.” He tried to contain the way his voice crackled with emotion. He failed.
Her hand came to his arm, and she rubbed gently, soothingly. “Blue, did you ever think that God could bring you out of the desert into a land flowing with milk and honey?”
He shook his head. “I figured to live in the desert the rest of my life.”
“Oh, I hope not. God says He will fight for us that we may go forward. Maybe it’s time for you to go forward.”
Forward? His heartbeat thudded in his ears. Did he want to move on? How could he? “How can I leave the past behind?”
“Maybe you don’t. Maybe you take it with you and make it part of your future.”
He rocked his head back and forth. How was it remotely possible? “I can’t forget the past, and I don’t see how I can take it into the future. Seems I’m stuck.”
“I wish I could help. After all, you’ve been so kind to us. I’ll pray you find a way to come unstuck.”
A shriek rent the air, and they spun toward the sound. Eleanor stood on the bank screaming her lungs out. She pointed, and Blue saw what upset her.
Libby had fallen into the river. She floated away, weighed down by her wet clothes.
His whole body tensed. Ice filled his veins. He shook away the sluggishness and rushed past Clara. “I’ll get her. You stay with Eleanor.” Please don’t try and get Libby yourself. I don’t need to try and pluck both of you from the waters.