Home's Promise (Oregon Trail) by Colvin Mildred

Author:Colvin, Mildred [Colvin, Mildred]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2012-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Rachel moved aside to allow Ellen room. She’d gotten a cloth from somewhere and dampened it with cool water. Now she knelt beside Rachel and with gentle hands washed Daniel’s face. “I think he’s just knocked out, Miss Rachel. That happened once to my brother, Benjamin.”

Rachel’s throat constricted. If anything happened to her brother—she glanced toward Wesley. He’d thrown the ball hard right at Daniel. It hadn’t been an accident. He sat apart on the ground as if he weren’t paying attention.

Ellen looked up at the boys leaning over them. “Jacob and Tyrone, see if you can turn him over on his back so I can reach the other side of his face. Be careful.”

The two boys knelt and gently rolled Daniel over, revealing an ugly red scrape where his face had hit the ground.

Rachel sucked in her breath. He looked so still and white. She again looked toward Wesley. He stood now on the outside of the circle. An unguarded look of fear sat on his face. Then, he caught her gaze and crossed his arms, defiance replacing the fear.

Daniel moaned.

Ellen clasped her hands. “He’s coming around.”

“Thank you, God.” Rachel took Daniel’s arm as he struggled into a sitting position. “Are you able to sit up? How do you feel?”

A wobbly smile flitted across his face. “Like I got hit with a boulder.” He touched the back of his head then the side of his face that was beginning to darken into an ugly bruise around the scrape. “Ouch. I’m a little fuzzy. What hit me? It wasn’t really a boulder, was it?”

The children shouted their versions of what had happened. Rachel felt pressure against her arm and looked down into large blue eyes swimming in tears. “Susanna, you don’t need to cry. Daniel is going to be all right.”

“It’s okay, Rachel. I’m crying good tears now.” Susanna wiped the dampness from her face. “I didn’t cry before, ’cause I was too busy praying. Jesus heard me, didn’t He? He didn’t take my new brother away, too.”

Without thinking, Rachel slipped her arm around the little girl and pulled her close. “Yes, Suzy, he heard your prayer, and I’m glad.” Lowering her face to Susanna’s soft, golden curls, she blinked against a sudden burning in her own eyes.

Susanna had already suffered so much. Did she think Daniel would die like Karl had? For the first time since Susanna had invaded her home, Rachel felt deep sympathy for her.

She lifted her head and smiled at the children. “I believe we’ve had enough play time for today. Please go back inside and take your seats.”

Wesley swaggered into the building ahead of the other children. Tyrone and Jacob stayed behind to help Daniel. Rachel followed with Susanna in the circle of her arm.

Just before they stepped through the door, she reached out and touched Daniel’s shoulder. “Are you sure you’re able to sit in class?”

He shook off the helping hands. “Of course, I’m able. I’ve got a little bump on the head and a bruise.

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