2

Gail was antsy to return to the house, anxious at having left Johnston alone for so long. She was grateful when Charlie said he would take them back to town in his wagon. She climbed onboard along with a number of other folks. The harvest had been a success but now all she cared about was getting back to her ailing husband.

The ride back to town seemed to take forever and Gail was never as happy as when she saw her house come into view. Charlie stopped the wagon and she descended with those who lived nearby.

"Thanks again Charlie," she said as she rounded the front of the wagon. Stopping by the horses, she gave Mac and Major a quick pat on the nose. "And thanks to you guys too." Mac gave a little snort as if to acknowledge the comment.

Nodding to the rest of the departing folks, she hurried towards her home. The Greens lived in a green house. She had never thought about it before. Poetic, she mused.

Bursting through the front door, she started to call out to her husband but then thought better of it. What if he were sleeping? She didn't want to wake him. Instead, she quietly closed the door she had so aggressively opened and peered around. To her surprise, she spotted her under-the-weather hubby sitting on the couch looking expectantly at her.

"Disappointed?" he asked dryly. Johnston hoped he looked better then he felt. It was taking all his stubborn Green willpower to remain upright.

"Why would I be disappointed?" she queried moving to his side and checking his temperature with a brief kiss to the forehead. It was warmer than she would have liked.

Johnston grunted, well aware of what she was subtly doing. "Are you disappointed that I was able to survive for a few hours without your hovering presence?"

Gail playfully swatted him. "You love it when I wait on you hand and foot," she countered.

"Yeah, right." Changing the subject, he asked, "How'd it go?"

Gail sunk down next to him on the couch. It felt good to get off her feet. "Fine, we got all the corn picked and put up in Stanley's barn. Oh Johnston, you should have seen the turn out we got. "

"Would have liked to have been there," he quipped.

Gail ignored him and continued on. "Gracie came. She gave the pesticides to Stanley, no strings attached. The Henk's, the Perry's, even the Hawkins family showed up not," she snorted, "that they knew what they were doing. But it was the spirit that they and the town showed that counted. You know Johnston; we might make it through this. I have hope, more than I have had in a long time. "

Jericho's Mayor smiled wryly at his wife's new found optimism. From her lips to God's ears, he silently prayed.

"And," she persisted, "Jake brought Dale and Shawn to the field to help pick the corn. Dale apologized to me. He's good kid, Dale that is. Shawn, well, that one is on a one-way path to trouble."

"Speaking of boys, where are ours?"

"April and Eric are walking home. I think they are finally going to talk. They desperately need to you know." Gail's face suddenly crumbled. "Oh my God. I don't know where Jake is! He wasn't on the wagon. I haven't seen him for hours!" Gail started to rise from the couch in a panic.

"Sit down, Gail" Johnston ordered reaching out a hand to restrain his wife. "You're not going anywhere. You talk about me. You shouldn't have been out there with that arm of yours in the first place. Jake is 32 years old and he can take care of himself. I'm sure he decided to stay behind and help Stanley finish up. He'll be home, eventually. You need to start worrying a little less about others and a little more about yourself. I'll bet that arm of yours is right sore."

Gail sighed and settled back on the couch leaning against her husband's strong shoulder. Johnston was right; her arm that was injured when the horses ran her over was throbbing. She allowed herself another small sigh. She felt safe and secure in her husband's arms.

They sat, simply enjoying each others company for the moment. However, the mood was spoiled when Johnston, who had been desperately trying to stifle a cough, lost the battle.

Gail snapped back to reality hearing the terrible hacking coming from her husband. She placed a hand on either side of his cheeks. ""I need to worry more about you!" she rebuked. "You are not getting better and I am worried."

Johnston tried to shrug off her concern but he was not very successful or convincing when he was suddenly blindsided by another coughing fit. When the fit was over, he leaned heavily against the cushions, exhausted.

"When is the last time you ate?" Gail scolded. "Well never mind. I am going to go make you some soup and you are gong to finish it all."

Johnston gave a weak wave. Damn, this stupid flu was sidelining him.

"And when Eric and April get home, ask them if they have seen Jake. But don't move off that couch."

"Yes dear," Johnston answered drolly.

Gail wasn't sure which question her husband was answering so she fixed him with a 'don't push me' stare and then made her way to the kitchen. She couldn't believe she had forgotten about Jake. What kind of mother was she? 'A busy one. A worried one. A tired one. One with too much on her plate' her conscience answered. "Please God, bring him home safely," she whispered softly. "I can't lose him again. Not now."

Johnston, whose hearing was still impeccable noted of his wife's prayer and gritted his teeth. He vowed to have a talk with Jake tonight and make the boy understand what he was doing to his mother. Johnston would not allow Jake to hurt this family again.