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I in my Savior am happy and blest
The hours passed slowly. Adelaide stayed by Calvin’s bedside reading a Bible the doctor had found for her. Sometimes she read out loud and other times, she read to herself. Calvin had yet to wake back up, but the doctor wasn’t concerned, so she tried not to be either.
Dusk was falling when she heard a raspy voice say, “Could I have a little water, please?”
Adelaide jumped. It took her a couple seconds, but then she quickly grabbed the glass of water and helped Calvin get a sip.
“Thank you,” he said with a sigh.
“How are you feeling?” Adelaide asked.
“Like death warmed over. I’m worried about my brothers. Melvin seemed so close. Would my death drive him away? Vincent isn’t interested in God at all and I don’t think anything will bring him closer to God.”
“God knows what He is doing. If He decides it is your time to go home to Him in heaven, then He can take care of your brothers.”
Calvin squeezed her hand. “Can you tell Melvin something for me?”
Adelaide nodded.
“Tell him I was at peace. Tell him that God loves him and can help him through his grief and pain.” Calvin’s breath grew more labored. “Tell him that Bradley can answer any questions he has.” Calvin’s eyes flew open. “Can you also ask Bradley to help Melvin the way he helped me?”
Adelaide pursed her lips together and tried to stay the tears filling her eyes. “Yes, I can.”
Calvin took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his eyes drifting shut and his grip relaxing. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“You’re welcome.”
Adelaide held his hand and watched him until he drew his last breath. “Thank you for saving me,” she whispered into his ear. She took a steadying breath and wiped the tears out of her eyes as she went to find the doctor.
***
The next week was a blur. Adelaide felt like nothing ever sat still long enough for her to focus on it. Theodore Raskins was caught and put in jail on the testimony of the two living men who had tried to kidnap her. The two outlaws who had died in the shooting were buried on Boot Hill.
Calvin was buried in a small ceremony behind the church a few days later. After the funeral, Adelaide told Melvin his brother’s message.
Melvin broke down and together, Bradley and Adelaide led him to the Lord. Vincent watched with revulsion and hatred. Adelaide saw it, but thought nothing of it until Bradley told her that Vincent had left town and joined an outlaw gang. She prayed that whatever seeds Melvin and Calvin had planted would grow before it was too late.
Edward Harris made it back in time for Calvin’s funeral and was the one who mentioned Bradley’s courtship when he came next. “Now that Raskins is in jail, you don’t really need to come courting anymore if you don’t want to.”
Bradley started. “Oh. That’s right. I didn’t think about that.”
Adelaide forced her face to remain blank. She couldn’t influence Bradley’s decision in any way. At least Mr. Harris had said it toward the end of Bradley’s visit. Bradley left a few minutes later and nothing more was said.
***
Bradley walked to the boarding house. Did he want to court Adelaide or not? He had the perfect opportunity to just get back on track with his plans for his life. But what were God’s plans for him? Did God want him to marry? If so, when and to whom? He liked Adelaide as a friend, but was it more than that?
Once he was in his room, he knelt by his bed and prayed for a couple of hours. He received no definitive answers, but peace filled him as he lay down to sleep.
***
Sunday after church, Mr. Harris invited Bradley for Sunday lunch. Bradley was very thankful since he had been wondering how to talk to them about his decision. During lunch, Mr. Reese and Mr. Harris kept up a steady stream of discussion on the sermon they had heard that morning. After lunch, both of them claimed to be exhausted and went up to take naps.
Adelaide watched them leave, a suspicious glint in her eyes. “Did you talk to them?”
“No, I didn’t. Although I don’t mind being able to talk to you alone since I had wanted to anyway.”
Adelaide started cleaning up the lunch table and Bradley helped her. “Does that mean you wanted to talk about something?”
“Yes, it does.” He took a deep breath. “I know when I first started courting you it was out of necessity and I wasn’t really very interested to do it. It’s been almost four months since you and I first met and I have changed a lot. It’s hard to believe how much sometimes.” He put the dishes on the counter and scratched his head. “I’ve gotten off my train of thought.”
Adelaide smiled. “Take your time.”
Bradley followed her back to the dining room table. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I would like to continue courting you. Only this time because I really want to. I’ve come to see you as a very good friend and I think it might be more than that, too.”
Adelaide ducked her head. “Thank you. I would like that.”
Bradley’s eyes snapped to her face. “You would?”
Adelaide nodded. “Yes.”
Bradley smiled. “Thank you. Now all I have to do is break the news to Mr. Pinkerton.”
“Why?”
“I won’t put anyone through having me gone as often as I would be with the Pinkertons. I know there are men who do it, but I want to be more involved in my children’s lives than my parents were in mine and my sister’s. And I found a job here, too.”
“I thought you already had one.”
Bradley smiled. “I’m almost done with that.”
“And?”
His smile turned to a grimace. “I can’t tell you more about it.”
Adelaide shrugged as she started washing the dishes. “All right. What is this new job?”
Bradley’s eyes twinkled. “The sheriff and some of the other men in town want a town detective.”
“A town detective?”
“Yes. I’ll be available to help with any investigations the sheriff uncovers. If there’s a murder, I’ll be there to help the sheriff find the murderer. If there’s a kidnapping, I’ll be the one to find the kidnapper and rescue the person kidnapped.”
“And the town of Cheyenne will pay you for that?”
Bradley nodded.
“I can tell you are excited about it.”
“Yes, I am. I’ll be starting as soon as I am done investigating the lawyer.”
“Will you still want to come every Wednesday?”
Bradley nodded. “If that is still fine with you.”
“It is.”
“And that is the last dish!” he announced. “Now what do we do?”
“What about checkers?”
He raised his eyebrows. “You play checkers? Isn’t that a man’s game?”
“Dad didn’t have any sons, so I had to play with him.” She sighed dramatically. “It was horrible.”
Bradley laughed. “I can tell. I love checkers and can’t wait to beat you.”
“Ha! Just because it’s typically a man’s game, doesn’t mean I can’t slaughter you in it.”
“That sounds like a challenge, Miss Adelaide.”
Adelaide raised her eyebrows and tried not to smile. “It is.”
“Very well. I accept. Lead on, M’lady.”
