The day passed slowly. Every time he heard the sound of hoofbeats, Lucas went to the door to see if Samuel was coming with the medicine. Every time he was disappointed. There was no sign of the man.
Margaret was tired - more than tired after her efforts that day. She slept through most of the afternoon, and Lucas noticed her face taking on a grayish pallor. Margaret, I can't lose you…I can't raise our boy alone, he thought. He reached under the covers and took her hand. It felt small and weak in his big strong one, and he wanted to fight off the death he feared was coming for her. If he could hold on to her, she wouldn't die. If he held on to her, maybe she could absorb some of his strength. If he held on to her…if only her Pa would come with the medicine.
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It was night when Dr. Baker returned to the McCain farm. The house was dark, and he called out, "Lucas?" There was no answer, and he dismounted. He went to the door and knocked. No one answered, and he entered. He knew there was a lamp in front of the window, and he lit it before going back to the bedroom Margaret and Lucas shared. It was empty and the bed was stripped.
Dr. Baker went outside, taking the lamp with him. The yard was empty and he went to the barn. The cow was lowing, needing to be milked again, but he didn't stop. He went back outside and looked around, finally spotting a tall shape in the moonlight. Lucas was at the top of the hill behind the barn. The doctor took his time as he climbed, knowing that Lucas was digging a grave. A bundle lay on the grass beside it. "Lucas? Hold on there, boy."
Lucas stopped digging. "He never came back, Doc. He never brought the medicine. She held on as long as she could, had me take her out for a walk…read to her…she just wasn't strong enough…he was her Pa, and he never came back." His voice broke, and he dropped the shovel.
The doctor put a comforting hand on his shoulder."Give me the shovel, boy. I want you to sit down and rest for awhile. I'll finish up here."
The sun was rising when they buried Margaret. Lucas stared down at the grave, tears running down his cheeks. Dr. Baker bowed his head and prayed, "Almighty God, we remember your faithful servant, Margaret Gibbs McCain. We pray that You will receive her into Your joyful service that she may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen."
Lucas echoed "Amen" in a whisper. Dr. Baker put an arm around his friend's shoulders and walked him down to the house. He settled Lucas on the porch while he went to the barn, milked the cow, and saddled a horse. When he came out, Lucas was sitting where the doctor had left him. "Come on, boy. Let's go see Mark."
As they rode towards town, Lucas' grief turned to anger and then rage. What was he doing? Leaving Margaret behind while he just rode away? He pulled the horse to a stop. Dr. Baker turned, "What's wrong, boy? Why'd you stop?"
Lucas shook his head. "I can't see Mark just now. Not while his mother is crying out to me from her grave…not while her father is drinking up our savings while she's dead because he didn't get medicine for her." He turned the horse away from Enid. "I have to find him. I'm going to kill him."
The doctor reached out and grabbed the reins. "You have a six-year-old son, Lucas. If you shoot Samuel down in revenge, what happens to him? The boy has just lost his mother - do you want him to lose his father, too? Think, man. Is this what Margaret would want? For you? For Mark? Even for her Pa?"
Doc Baker's words struck home, and Lucas remembered Margaret's last prayer. He sat still and silent in the saddle as he considered her words, "I entrust my husband and son to Your care…"
Mark…I have to make a home for Mark…" He turned his horse back towards Enid. "Let's go, Doc. I need to see my boy."
Rachel was preparing breakfast when she heard the sound of hoofbeats. She went to the door and opened it to find Dr. Baker and Lucas McCain dismounting their horses. She started to greet them with a smile and a "good morning" when she realized that Lucas' presence meant Margaret was gone. She moved to hug Lucas and pulled him inside. "You'll want to see Mark," and she led him to the guest bedroom.
Lucas opened the door quietly, and saw that Mark was still asleep. He went over and sat down on the bed, pulling his boy up and into his arms. He held him close, dreading the moment he would have to tell Mark about his mother but longing to see Margaret's eyes in Mark's face. The child stirred, and woke up. "Pa?"
"I'm here, son."
"Is Ma…" Mark pulled away and looked up at his father. Lucas shook his head. "Your Ma is in Heaven, Mark. She's well and strong at last."
Tears filled the boy's eyes and he buried his face in his father's shoulder. Lucas lifted him from the bed and into his lap, and held him while he cried. There was a noise at the door, and he looked around to see Rachel coming in with a cup of coffee for him and a glass of water for Mark.
Lucas shifted his son, and held the water for him. "Here, son, drink this for me."
Mark hiccuped and took a sip. He looked up at his father. "I don't understand why God took her, Pa. We need her here. Why did He take her?"
Lucas rocked him for a minute. "I don't know, Mark. There are some questions we just don't have the answers for. But your Ma…she'll always be with us. Her last words were about us, her love for us."
They sat together quietly before Lucas slid the boy off his lap. "Let's get you dressed, boy."
Will, Rachel, and Dr. Baker were eating breakfast when Lucas and Mark came to the table. Lucas sat down and Mark climbed in his lap. Will got up to pull another chair to the table. "Here's a chair for you, Mark."
"No. I want to sit with my Pa." Mark remained in Lucas' lap.
"It's all right, Will," Lucas said. "We're fine as we are."
Rachel placed two plates and a glass of milk in front of Lucas, and Dr. Baker passed a platter of eggs, bacon, and biscuits to them. Lucas served their plates. Mark drank the milk but made no move to pick up his fork. Lucas handed it to him. "We have a long day ahead of us, boy. You have to eat."
"I'm not hungry, Pa," the boy complained and put his fork down.
Lucas turned Mark to face him, gently but firmly. "Son, I'm going to need your help today. You have to eat."
Mark turned back to the table, picked up his fork, and began to eat.
