Will was in his church. Since the smallpox had become an epidemic in Enid, school and church had been cancelled. Dust covered the altar, benches, and floor. He'd come to clean it but felt a strong need to pray before he did anything else. He wanted to pray for those who were ill, the ones who cared for them, and those grieving ones they'd lost. He knelt with his head bowed and his hands folded. He was overwhelmed by the needs of the people, and he wept silently.

There was a step behind him, and he wiped his face quickly. He stood and turned to find Samuel Gibbs there. The man looked sad and lost, and Will spoke first, "Mr. Gibbs, can I help you?"

"I went to the farm, and I found Margaret's grave. I waited for Lucas to come, I waited for hours, but he didn't come." The old man sank down on one of the pews.

Will tried to keep the edge out of his voice. "Lucas and Margaret waited for you to come with her medicine."

"I know," the old man moaned. "I killed my daughter, my own child."

"No," Will said, "you didn't kill her. You never brought the medicine that might have helped her." He knew he should speak words of comfort, but, knowing what his friends had suffered, just couldn't manage it.

"I rode steady and I got to Oklahoma City. It was early and the doctor was out. I went into a saloon for a drink, one drink…" He covered his face with his hands.

"Did you stop at one drink?" Will asked, pretty sure he knew the answer.

Samuel shook his head. "I meant to, but….I drank up all the money Lucas gave me for Margaret. Then I was afraid to come back, but I knew I had to." He dropped his hands, and straightened up. "When I got to the farm, when I saw Margaret's grave, I wanted to die." He faced Will. "I wanted Lucas to come and kill me. That's why I waited for him until I realized that he wouldn't be back."

Will stared at the man, unable to believe his ears. "Mr. Gibbs, Lucas lost his farm. He borrowed against it for money to care for Margaret. He and Mark left Enid to start over somewhere else."

Samuel grabbed the minister's arm. "Where are they? I have to find them. I have to-"

Will interrupted him. "You have to leave them alone. You have to find your peace some other way. Lucas will kill you if he ever sees you again."

Samuel sounded desperate. "Don't you understand? That's what I want!" He squeezed Will's arm.

Will shook his hand off. "Stop being so selfish! You want to make Lucas a murderer! Do you want Mark left alone? He's lost his mother, do you want him to lose his father, too? I don't know where they are, and, even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!"

Samuel stared. No one had ever spoken to him that way, and he didn't like it. "You're a preacher! How dare you speak to me - "/p

Will interrupted him again. "Someone should have told you the truth years ago, Mr. Gibbs." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'll pray with you and I'll pray for you. But stay away from Lucas and Mark."

Samuel turned and walked away. Will waited a moment and then followed him outside. He watched as the man mounted Lucas' horse and rode away. When Will realized that he was headed in the direction opposite from the one Lucas and Mark had taken, he breathed a sigh of relief. He went back inside and knelt before the altar. "Lord," he prayed, "I lift up my brother, Lucas and his son, Mark. Place a shield of protection over and around them…" He prayed for the individuals and families of his town. When he finished, he continued to kneel with his head bowed. He was filled with a sense of peace, and he knew that, whatever happened, Lucas and Mark would be all right.