Page 23 of Montana Bride By Christmas
Nothing.
“The fox?”
The slightest twitch of his shoulders.
“The fox it is, then.” She read a story about an inquisitive little fox who liked to run ahead of his mama fox. The mother fox was always warning him to wait for her, but he was in a hurry and rushed onward, never looking to the right or the left for danger. One day, he ran right into a trap. The hunter would have gotten him, except a kindly little boy came and set him free.The moral of the story is that we do things that trap us in sin, but Jesus sets us free.
Annie didn’t think the moral applied to Evan’s situation. Please, God, give me the right words for him.
She thought of something her mama had said a long time ago. “My big brother Dawson once teased me and made me so angry I took the china doll he’d given me and smashed its head.”
Both Hugh and Evan regarded her with shock.
“I was immediately sorry, but I couldn’t undo what I’d done. Mama was not happy with me, but I told her it was Dawson’s fault because he teased me so much.” As she looked back, she wondered how she could have been so upset. As far as she could remember, Dawson had only said she was too little to go with him and her other brothers. They didn’t need a little tagalong sister following them.
“You know what my mama said? ‘Dawson is hurt that you destroyed something he gave you, but you hurt yourself much worse than you hurt Dawson.’ She went on to say, ‘You can’t control what others do, but you can trust that God cares for you and sees how much your brother’s teasing hurts you. When things like this happen, remember what God says.’”
She let the comfort of her mother’s advice fill her thoughts before she finished. “‘I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.’”
She spoke directly to Evan, pleased when he didn’t turn away from her. “God helped your papa find you. Now you are safe. You’re free from bad people who treated you wrong. You don’t need to be afraid.”
Evan ducked his head, but she knew he heard each of her words and prayed they would begin a healing process in him.
One wordfrom Annie’s story stood out in Hugh’s mind. Trapped. A certain, sure warning to him. Annie was eager now for this position. It was new, exciting, challenging. How long before she felt trapped? He couldn’t find an answer. Didn’t care for the one that said it wouldn’t be long. But for now, he appreciated her attempt to help Evan see he didn’t need to be afraid any longer.
“I’ll say our bedtime prayers.” He uttered a simple prayer, though inside, where God alone heard, he asked for Evan to be normal and for a woman who wouldn’t feel trapped in his life.
And then it was time for the dreaded going-to-bed routine.
Annie pushed to her feet. “Bedtime, Evan.” She gave Hugh an encouraging smile.
Evan crowded into his corner and began to pump his legs in an attempt to keep Hugh away.
Knowing he must do so, Hugh scooped the boy up, restraining his arms and legs and holding him so he couldn’t bite.
Annie stayed at Hugh’s side. “You’re safe, Evan,” she murmured. “You don’t need to be afraid. No one is going to hurt you.” She followed to the bedroom, crooning words of comfort and encouragement all the way.
Hugh lowered Evan to the mattress, and he scurried into the corner, his gaze wary.
Annie started to sing softly. “The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.”
Evan shifted his attention to her, openly watching as he pulled the quilt around him.
She sang the song through three times as Evan’s eyes slowly drooped.
“I think he’s almost asleep,” Hugh whispered.
“I’ll tiptoe out.”
Evan’s eyes jerked open, and he watched her, but before she made it out the door, his eyes closed again.
Hugh stared at him a moment. This was a vast improvement over the last few days. It was all due to Annie, and for a moment, wishing and warning warred in his heart. It was too early to go to bed. Besides, he had things he needed to say, and he tiptoed after Annie.
She turned at the sound of his footsteps. “Is he okay?”
“Almost asleep. I’ll be able to watch the door from the sitting room. Are you anxious to go to bed, or do you want to visit for a while?”
“Visit? That sounds nice.”
