Saving Grace: A Novel (Healing Ruby Book 3) by Westall Jennifer H

Author:Westall, Jennifer H. [Westall, Jennifer H.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Jennifer H. Westall
Published: 2016-06-09T04:00:00+00:00

Sergeant Watters closed the Bible and looked around at those gathered before him with a sad sort of smile, placing his fist over his heart. “Young men and women, you are in the midst of great persecution, both of body and spirit. Do not lose heart. Your Father in Heaven knows of your pain, your hunger, and your fears. Give your cares to Him daily, and He will guard your soul. I cannot stand before you and ask you to be glad over your sufferings, but God tells us to rely on His strength when we are at our weakest. And we can know that we have a mighty warrior on our side.”

“Amen,” resonated around the chapel, accompanied by several nodding heads. I hadn’t yet felt the suffering many of the patients here had; especially those too sick or injured to make it to the chapel. But I had a strong suspicion that my time was coming. And I had to wonder if I had what it would take to keep my faith intact in such circumstances.

As everyone stood to leave, Ruby turned and once again made eye contact with me. She glanced around before making her way through the benches to the back where I still stood. I could see she’d been fighting off tears, perhaps from the chaplain’s message. I ached to wrap my arms around her. Why was she still so distant?

“I was surprised to see you,” she said. “Are you staying for a while?”

I shook my head. “Just came for the service. I’m heading back to Cabcaben in a little while.”

“Oh.” She looked around again. What was with her nervousness all the time? It was like she was afraid someone was watching her.

“Ruby, why can’t you talk to me? Why can’t we work this out?”

She rubbed her hands together. “I promise, it’s nothing to do with you. I just…”

“Just what?”

She looked around again. “I better go. I have to report back to my ward in a few minutes.”

I sighed and rubbed my palms against my eyes. “All right. I’ll be back again next Sunday. Can we please talk then? We can go somewhere quiet. Just the two of us.”

“M—Maybe. I really do have to go.”

She scurried away before I could say any more. I was about to turn to go, when I caught Joseph’s eye from across the chapel. He raised his hand toward me and began walking in my direction. “Hey, Matthew,” he called. “Wait up.”

“I have to get over to the truck,” I said. “It’ll have to be quick.”

“I’ll walk with you, then,” he said.

“All right.”

We walked a few paces, and at first he seemed unsure of what he wanted to say. But he didn’t take long to get pretty direct about things.

“It upsets Grace when she sees you. Why is that?”

“Maybe you can tell me. She isn’t really saying much to me.”

“How do you know Grace?”

I eyed him sideways, deciding caution was best. “We know each other from back home.”

“Then you know her? I mean…you actually know her?”

The tone in his voice gave me pause.

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