Just Above a Whisper (6 page)

Alison’s face filled with compassion. Just then a dish was dropped in the kitchen. It sounded as though something broke.

“Give me just a moment, Reese.” Alison went swiftly that way and gave orders to her oldest son, Joshua, who was watching baby Jeffrey. When she returned to the parlor, shutting the door for privacy, it was only to pass through on the way to Douglas’ study. Both Douglas and Jace joined Reese in the parlor.

“Reese,” Douglas began. “How did it happen?”

“I don’t know. He wanted me to run an errand, and when I got back, he was slumped over his worktable.”

“Sit down, Reese,” Douglas urged.

“I don’t want to,” she stated plainly.

No one debated the point, but neither could they miss the way she shook.

“I wished him dead before I came to Christ,” she told Douglas, “but not anymore. I pray for him every day. He wasn’t an easy man to live with, but I didn’t hate him. I didn’t know who else to tell.”

“I’ll tell you what we will do,” Douglas said, taking charge. “We’ll get Doc MacKay to check on him to be sure. All right?”

“I’ll go get him,” Jace offered, “and meet you there.”

“Thank you,” Douglas said, not even turning when Jace exited.

“Would you like something, Reese?” Alison spoke up. “Water or tea?”

“Maybe some water.”

“Are you sure you don’t wish to sit down?” Douglas asked as soon as his wife exited.

“I don’t think so,” Reese answered, but the hand she put to her face shook.

The next few minutes passed in something of a haze for Reese. She didn’t remember drinking the water Alison handed her or accompanying Douglas out the door, but five minutes later they were at the workshop, entering to find Doc MacKay and Jace.

“You were right, Reese,” the doctor said, coming directly to her. “He’s dead.”

Reese nodded, comforted by his calm presence.

“Did you touch anything or move him?”

“No, but he didn’t answer, and I thought his eyes looked strange. I didn’t think to find you; I just went to the Muldoons’.”

“You did fine. Why don’t you go to the house and make a fire. You look chilled.”

“Would you like tea?” she offered automatically.

“Yes. I’ll come and drink some with you.”

Jace waited only until Reese had left—and they’d moved Mr. Zantow’s body onto the floor—to speak.

“What will happen to Reese?”

“I don’t know,” the doctor answered. “I’m not sure she knows.”

“Will she have to lay out Mr. Zantow on her own?”

“I’ll come and help her with that,” Doc MacKay confirmed. He turned away from the men, heading toward the door.

“I’ll come in with you,” Douglas said before turning to Jace. “Thanks for getting Doc. Can we talk later, Jace?”

Jace was swift to agree, exiting the workshop behind Douglas. He wanted to get home. He wanted it in the worst way. It was getting dark, and Maddie would be worrying, but it was bigger than that. He had things he had to speak to her about, things that wouldn’t last another day.

The doctor found Reese by the fire, her arms wrapped tightly about her body. She didn’t turn but spoke when she heard the door.

“What killed him?”

“Probably his heart. Had he been sick or complaining of anything?”

“No, nothing like that. He had more work than he had time for. That was the only thing troubling him.”

The kind doctor began to make the tea. Reese had put the kettle on but done nothing else. A widower for more than ten years, he was adept at taking care of such things and was laying the table when Douglas entered.

“Does the preparation work have to be done this evening?” Douglas asked of Doc MacKay.

“There’s no need to rush. We’ll see to it in the morning.”

“Why don’t you come and stay with us tonight, Reese?” Douglas offered. “We have plenty of room.”

Reese turned from the fireplace for the first time but only stared at him.

“Reese,” Doc MacKay tried. “Do you feel safe staying here tonight?”

“I never felt safe staying here,” she said quietly. “Not since my father died. Tonight would be the first time.”

“Maybe you should go to Muldoons anyway,” the doctor pressed.

“I won’t sleep much, Doc, and that will only disturb them. I’ll be all right.”

At last her voice sounded normal. The doctor looked to his pastor and nodded, telling Douglas he could take his leave.

“We’ll check on you in the morning, Reese,” Douglas told her.

“Thank you.”

Reese finally sat down. She pulled a teacup close to her and wrapped her slim fingers around it. She was quiet, but the distant stare was gone.

“Are you going to eat something? Is there enough food in the house?”

“There’s enough food to feed the church family,” Reese said, her tone and words sounding the way they always did. “I’ll fix us something.”

The town doctor settled back and carried on a light conversation while Reese worked. They ate companionably, like old friends, which in fact they were. And not until the meal was over did Doc MacKay mention what must be done in the morning. Reese was pragmatic about it; after all, she’d laid out her father. As the doctor left, they established a time for him to return the next day. Upon his exit, Reese didn’t wait long to turn in, not sleepy, but lying in her bed not having to listen for noises for the first time in many years.

“I was starting to worry,” Maddie said to Jace as he came in the kitchen door. She’d heard him come into the yard but waited while he fed the stock.

“I thought you might be. Mr. Zantow died, and I couldn’t get away.”

“I didn’t hear the bells,” Maddie said in confusion.

“Clara and I have never heard the bells out here. We’re just a little too far away. And besides, they probably won’t ring them until morning.”

“Was he sick?” she asked.

“I don’t think so. Reese looked too shocked for it to have been expected.”

“I forgot about Reese. What happens to indenture papers when the holder dies?”

“I don’t know,” Jace answered, thinking about how lost she’d looked. “I was talking to Mr. Muldoon when I found out,” he added, sounding as shaken as he felt.

Maddie put her arms around him, wanting to be close.

“Listen to me, Maddie,” Jace spoke from above her head. “We have to do this together.”

Maddie didn’t need an explanation. She knew exactly what her husband was talking about. At the same time, she remembered she’d wanted this for a very long time.

I’ll go with you, Jace,” she told him, a peace stealing over her. “I’ll go see Mr. Muldoon whenever you want to.”

“Mr. Zantow was gone without warning. Do any of us really know how long we have?” Jace moved enough to see her face. “We have to take care of this, Maddie, and soon. I’m not ready for eternity, and you’re not either.”

Maddie looked into Jace’s face and thought she could easily cry. He was scared. He was excited, but fear was evident as well.

“I ordered a cradle, assuming he would complete it in plenty of time.” Jace’s voice was thoughtful with wonder. “And now he’s gone.”

Maddie didn’t reply to this—there was no need. It was very sobering news. Death was a part of life, but also a sad part.

“Do you want anything to eat?” Maddie asked after a long time. “I’ve got tea ready.”

“Tea sounds fine. How are you feeling?”

“Good,” she told him truthfully, and for the next few hours, they went about their normal routine. Not until it was time to turn in did the discussion return to their eternity again. The timing couldn’t have been worse. It didn’t let either of them sleep until late in the night.

Alison sat in the dark of the bedroom, five-month-old Jeffrey at her breast, her heart praying for Reese Thackery. If she looked out the window and peeked around the tree, she could just make out the Zantow house. There were no lights burning, and Alison hoped that meant Reese was sleeping soundly.

Jeffrey fell sound asleep when Alison wasn’t paying attention, and she bounced him a little to see if he wanted more, but he was completely relaxed, boneless as a cat, and ready to go back to bed.

Alison tucked him into his cradle and slipped back into bed with Douglas, who had learned to sleep through the night feedings. Alison fell back to sleep too, but not before she had time to talk to God about trusting Him. Douglas had been talking about trust in his sermons. Trust was always the issue when she prayed. Did she pray believing God had a plan and she wasn’t the center of the universe? Or was she more willing to lie in her bed and tell God what to do with Reese Thackery’s life?

Sleep came swiftly, but only because on this night Alison chose to pray in belief, knowing that God’s love for Reese laughingly outweighed her own.

The bells rang early. First nine times, and then 48 times for Mr. Zantow’s age. Reese and Doc MacKay certainly heard them, but it didn’t deter the work. They had moved the body into the parlor, where the coffin and a piece of hastily prepared white sheeting were ready for the body.

Doc MacKay sent Reese from the room just one time. Other than that, they worked side by side, doing what had to be done for the funeral the next day. While they worked, they talked. Doc MacKay, a fellow believer, wanted to know how Reese was really doing.

“Are you afraid for the future, Reese?”