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Another moan. This time longer and louder.

Where was the bell? She looked all over and then ran back to Jimmy’s room and started ringing the bell as she ran. “Doctor!”

As she ran back in her friend’s room, she saw Mrs. Goodman’s eyelids flutter. She was waking up! Praise God!

The doctor bolted into the room and rushed to his patient’s side. “It’s okay. We’ve been waiting for you to wake up. Go ahead. Open your eyes if you can.”

Lillian stood back and watched. “Please, Mrs. Goodman, wake up. Please.”

“Lil . . .” Her eyelids fluttered again.

“Yes, I’m here. I’m here. Talk to me.” Lillian grabbed the woman’s hand.

The doctor pulled out an instrument and listened to his patient’s heart. “She’s got a nice strong rhythm. I think she’s going to fully wake up. Keep talking to her.”

Mrs. Goodman’s eyes popped open. “Ouch, dearie. You don’t have to squeeze my hand so hard!”

Tears raced down her cheeks as Lillian laughed out loud. “You’re awake!”

“Well, of course I’m awake. I’m talkin’ to ya, aren’t I?” She tried to lift her head.

“Whoa.” The doctor held his hand up. “Not so fast. You have a lot of injuries and several broken bones.”

“Is that why I feel like I’ve been run over by a herd of cows?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry to say.” The doctor looked at Mrs. Goodman’s eyes. “They look clear. Can you see me all right?”

She nodded.

Lillian interrupted. “Do you remember what happened?”

Mrs. Goodman closed her eyes. “Remember what?”

Lillian paced the hall. Mrs. Goodman had been awake for two days, and she couldn’t remember the attack. But bits and pieces were coming back to her, so they all prayed for a full restoration of her memory—even as difficult as it was.

The judge wanted to start the trial immediately, but Mr. Van Dyke managed to get a stay in order that Mrs. Goodman might recover enough to give testimony. Van Dyke knew the law, and the judge agreed to the delay. Mr. Van Dyke also told her that the judge seemed to be a fair man, not as prejudiced as they’d feared. For that, Lillian was quite grateful.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor.” The doctor came from Mrs. Goodman’s room. “Come here and join us.”

Lillian followed. “Please tell me she remembers more.” She’d gone to sleep the night before praying in desperation that God might clear away the confusion in Mrs. Goodman’s mind. Each day she knew a little more, but the doctor insisted she not push herself, and while Lillian agreed, she feared for Woody. Now, after being busy with Jimmy all morning and waiting for the doctor to finish his exam of Mrs. Goodman, Lillian was desperate to know the news.

“Now, don’t rush her,” the doctor commanded.

Mrs. Goodman scrunched up her face and then frowned. “Nobody’s rushing me. Lillian, you look like you haven’t slept in a week.”

“I’ve slept.” Lillian came to the older woman’s side. “I’m just desperate for you to remember what happened at the farm and who did this.”

“Well, I can remember enough. The doctor said the town is blaming Woody. I can’t believe it. Just let me go to the judge and set things straight.”

“So you know who did this?” Lillian wanted to shout for joy. “Oh, dear Mrs. Goodman, please tell me his name.”

“I don’t have a name, dearie, but it wasn’t Woody. Of course, you know that.”

“Can you identify him?”

“I sure can. I’ll never forget that evil face. Had eyes like the devil himself.”

Lillian almost asked how the older woman knew what the devil’s eyes looked like but decided against it. What was important was that they get Woody set free. “I’m going to fetch the lawyer. Oh, and the sheriff . . . and the judge. Goodness, I’ll make the entire town come.”

Lillian had all three men there in record time. Word spread quickly that Mrs. Goodman was giving an account of her attack, causing others to gather outside the doctor’s place. Lillian could hear people talking outside the open windows and prayed the truth would be known once and for all.

“So you’re certain, Mrs. Goodman, that your employer, Mr. Colton, was not the one who attacked you?” the judge asked in a gentle voice.

“I’m quite sure. Not only that, but you need to know something that fella said when he was hitting me.”

Everyone in the room waited for what she was about to say. Lillian all but held her breath.

“Go ahead, Mrs. Goodman,” the judge encouraged.

“He said he was going to kill me . . . just like he had Rebecca Colton.”

Lillian thought she might faint. She leaned back against the
wall. The truth. The truth of what had happened to Woody’s wife was finally out.

“Are you sure he said that?” Sheriff Hobart asked, skepticism written all over his face. “Did he say why? What’s his motive?”

“Of course I’m sure. We’ve only been telling you it wasn’t Woody since it happened, but you had to get your nose set in one direction, and that left a killer out running around to strike again.” Mrs. Goodman’s response showed her mind was nearly restored to her original snappiness. “I caught the man sneaking out of the attic with a big bag in his hand.”

The judge stared the sheriff down.

Lillian looked back and forth between the two men. Was this enough to set Woody free? It had to be. She chewed her lip and waited.

“Well . . . I guess . . . I was wrong.” Sheriff Hobart gave a sheepish shrug. “I didn’t mean to accuse an innocent man, but you have to admit it didn’t look good.”

“Neither has it looked good for you and most of this town to condemn Woody,” Mrs. Goodman replied. “But I suppose we have to allow for ignorance and stupidity.”

Lillian wanted to cheer. In fact, she couldn’t suppress a giggle accompanied by tears of joy. She wanted to dance and sing and praise God all at once, and had the room not been full of people, she just might have done exactly that.

After hearing Mrs. Goodman’s description and full account of what had happened, the judge admonished the sheriff to release Woody immediately. “And, Hobart,” the judge added with a shake of his finger, “you’d do well to get out there and find this killer.”

The sheriff nodded. “Yes, judge. I will. I’m going right now.”

Lillian leaned down and gently kissed Mrs. Goodman’s forehead. “You have saved the day, dearie.”

The older woman smiled. “No, God did that. He just used a battered old woman to see it done.”

Wiping a tear from her eye, Lillian smiled. “That He did, and for that I’m so very grateful. I know Woody and Jimmy will be, as well.”

The doctor entered with Jimmy in his arms. “I was thinking, you could use another visitor to this celebration.” He set the boy down on Mrs. Goodman’s bed. “Now, neither one of you needs to get very excited, but I think this calls for a little lenience. Jimmy, you mustn’t jostle Mrs. Goodman around, because she has several broken bones. But I think from the smile on her face that just having you nearby is going to hurry her healing along.”

Jimmy smiled but looked hesitant as he reached out for Mrs. Goodman’s hand. Lillian placed her hand over Jimmy’s. “We’ve got more good news, Jimmy. Your pa is going to be with us shortly. Mrs. Goodman was able to tell the sheriff that he didn’t hurt her. Mrs. Goodman saw the man who hurt her. He’s the same man who killed your mama, and now the sheriff will be able to hunt him down.”

Instead of the smile she expected, Jimmy frowned. Lillian couldn’t begin to understand all that the boy had gone through, but she wanted him to be happy. “Now, don’t you worry. Mrs. Goodman is going to be just fine, and your pa will be, too. The most important thing is that God has let the truth be known, and He’s brought Mrs. Goodman back to us.”

A commotion in the hallway drew their attention to the door as Woody burst into the room. The look on his face was one of pure elation. “Mrs. Goodman!”

Jimmy jumped off the bed and wrapped himself around his father. Woody lifted the boy in the air and hugged him close for a moment. Then he reached out and motioned Lillian to join them. Without hesitation Lillian stepped into his arms. It was the one place she truly felt she belonged.

“Where’s my hug, young man?” Mrs. Goodman teased.

He laughed and handed Jimmy to Lillian before he stepped closer to the bed. He leaned over his dear housekeeper to kiss her cheek. “I think this will have to suffice for right now. You’ve got too many bruises and broken bones.”

“Well, I suppose you’re right at that, but when I’m recovered I’ll expect my due.”

“And you will get it,” Woody replied.

“Oh, this is the best of days.” Lillian put Jimmy down and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. “I’m sorry for the tears, but I’m just so happy.”

“Then let’s add to that happiness.” Woody fixed her with a broad smile.

Before Lillian could ask about the comment, Pastor Seymour entered the room with his wife. Woody nodded and then went to Jimmy and whispered something in his ear. The boy nodded enthusiastically and clapped his hands.

“What’s this all about?” Lillian looked to Jimmy and then Woody before setting her sights on the pastor and his wife. “Do you know?”

Pastor Seymour laughed. “I do indeed, but I figure it’s Woody’s place to make the announcement.”

Lillian looked to Woody, who crossed the room to come to her side. “All right, so what did you and Jimmy just conspire?”

Woody’s eyes seemed to darken as his expression turned sober. “I asked him if he would like to have a new mother.”

Lillian couldn’t have been more surprised. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. This only served to make Woody laugh.

“Miss Porter, I’ve never known you to be without an opinion. Perhaps you feel I should give you a formal proposal.” He dropped to one knee and took hold of her hand. “Lillian, you have turned my world from dark to light. You’ve brought joy not only to me, but to my son.”

“Don’t forget me,” Mrs. Goodman threw out.

Woody nodded. “And you’ve made Mrs. Goodman very happy.” He looked to the older woman, who nodded in approval, and then back to Lillian. “I think we are all madly in love with you, and so it seems only appropriate that you would join our family.”

He got to his feet and continued. “I know this is short notice, although I’ve had this planned for days with Pastor Seymour. And I figure you probably wanted to have a fancy church wedding and a lot of friends and family in attendance, but I thought maybe Pastor Seymour could just marry us here and now. If that wouldn’t be too much of a disappointment, I promise we can have a big church wedding later if you want, but I can’t risk losing you. I don’t want another day to pass without the assurance that we’ll spend the rest of our days together.”

Lillian felt the tears slip down her cheeks but did nothing to keep them in check. She swallowed the lump in her throat and fixed her gaze on Woody’s face. “I would be honored to marry you, Mr. Colton. Furthermore, I cannot think of a better place for our wedding. We’re here with our dearest friends and loved ones. I don’t need anything more.”

Woody pulled her into his arms and kissed her in a long, sweet kiss that Lillian hoped might go on and on.

“You’re jumpin’ the gun and puttin’ the cart before the horse,
son.” Pastor Seymour put his hand on Lillian’s shoulder and pried them apart. “We haven’t said the
I do
’s just yet.”

Mrs. Goodman laughed, which was followed by a small moan. “Oh dear, I keep forgetting about those ribs. But, if you’ll remember, pastor, Woody was always one for rushing ahead.”

Woody put his hand to his chest in surprise. “Me? Why, I’ve always been one to think things out quite clearly. When I know what I want—I go after it. And what I want right this minute is to marry this beautiful woman.”

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
S
EVEN

W
oody. Woody, wake up.”

The sound of Lillian’s voice broke through his deep sleep and he sat up and stretched. Every muscle ached from sleeping in a chair all night long. “I’m awake.”

She laughed. “You don’t look awake.”

“I was dreaming of this beautiful woman.”

She raised a brow. “Oh, really? Then maybe I should just let you go on sleeping instead of giving you this cup of coffee along with some really incredible news.”

He laughed and sat up straight. Careful of the steaming mug, Woody took the coffee and set it aside. Then he pulled Lillian onto his lap and wrapped her in his arms.

“You are the only beautiful woman I’ll be dreaming of. And as for incredible news, you’d have to go a long ways to top our wedding. I still marvel that you would marry me and then spend your wedding night in a clinic tending to my housekeeper and son. You are a most amazing woman, Miss . . . no, Mrs. Colton.”

Lillian blushed and raised her hand to his cheek. “You need
a shave and a clean shirt. I happen to have the shirt ready for you, but you’ll have to tend to the shaving yourself.”

He rubbed his bristled jaw against her cheek. “You sure you don’t want me to grow a beard?”

“Where you’re concerned, I’m only sure of one thing,” Lillian replied. “I love you, and I pray that I’ll make you a good wife.”