Bella woke to the sound of boys giggling. Mark was sitting up playing horses with his brother. His cheeks had a rosy glow. Both boys had dressed and their hair had been combed.
“Mark’s better this morning, Aunt Bella.”
She looked about but saw no sign of Philip and sat up. “I see that. Do you feel sick or anything, Mark?”
“No. Philip said he should tan my hide but is too happy that I’m not sick to do such a thing.” He grinned. “I’ve never had my hide tanned. Have you, Aunt Bella?”
Bella frowned. “No, but I can guarantee you it probably isn’t a pleasant experience. So I’d wipe that grin off my face if I were you, young man.”
Mark’s smile faded. “I’m sorry, Aunt Bella. Philip said I scared you real bad. I didn’t mean to.”
“I know you didn’t.” She pulled him into a quick hug. “But if you ever do anything like that again, I’ll do worse than tan your hide.”
She stood up and started folding their blankets and quilts.
“Philip saved me,” Mark told her.
The awe in his voice touched her heart. “Yes, he did. Where is he, anyway?” She wondered if he had left her and the boys alone. Bella refused to believe that he had deserted them because of what she’d told him, even though it was what she feared.
“I’m here.” He stepped through the closet door and grinned at her. “I was beginning to think you might sleep all day.”
Her gaze moved to the kitchen window. Sunshine flooded the kitchen. “I guess I did sleep longer than most days.”
Caleb hugged her around the waist. “It’s all right. You helped save Mark, too.”
“So did you.” She smiled at him. Bella thought about scolding him for not telling them sooner where Mark had gone, but she decided the little boy had suffered enough watching his little brother recover from the cold ice and water.
A knock sounded on the front door. Philip motioned for Bella to step back. He opened the door.
Bella sighed when she heard him say, “Well, hello, Josephine. Come on in.”
Josephine stepped inside. She carried a basket. Her gaze jumped from Philip to Bella. “Is everyone all right? Thomas said you didn’t come over this morning to help with chores and I didn’t get my bread.” She smiled to take the sharpness out of her voice.
Philip looked past Josephine into the yard. “Did Thomas come with you?”
“Of course. He’s putting the horses away.” Josephine frowned. “What’s going on here?”
Bella looked to Philip. He answered, “Bella can tell you all about it. I’m going to see what Thomas is up to out there.” He turned and looked at the boys. “Either of you want to come?”
“I do,” Caleb answered, hurrying to put his boots on.
Mark shook his head. He crawled up in the rocking chair with his horse. “Aunt Bella, can I have a cookie?”
Josephine’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sick, Mark?” She walked over and put her hand to his forehead, then looked at Bella. “He feels all right.”
Philip and Caleb shut the door behind them when they left. Bella smiled. “He’s fine. Probably just tired.”
Mark nodded. He set the chair to rocking and pretended his wooden horse was galloping on the arm.
“And no, you may not have a cookie. I have to fix breakfast first.” She headed to the kitchen with Josephine following close behind.
“Breakfast? Don’t you mean lunch?” She plopped the basket on the table. “And tell me about what? I bet you thought I’d forgotten, didn’t you?”
Bella laughed. She was glad to see her friend and even happier to finally be able to tell her about the previous day and the shenanigans of Marlow Brooks. While she cooked, Josephine helped. Bella retold the story of Mark almost drowning, and then when it came time to tell Josephine that Marlow said she was wanted by the law, Bella stopped speaking.
Josephine set plates and silverware on the table and then turned to face Bella. “How come I have the feeling you aren’t telling me everything? You can tell me anything.”
Bella swallowed hard. “Really? What if I told you that I’m wanted for murder?”
“Did you kill someone?” Josephine placed her hands on her hips and waited.
She shook her head. “No, but my ex-fiancé, Marlow, says that the sheriff is looking for me because they think I killed my boss at the bakery.”
Josephine walked over to her, put her arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “If you said you didn’t do it, you didn’t do it.”
“Thank you for believing me.” She wrapped her arm around Josephine’s waist and hugged her back.
“We’re sisters.” She leaned her head against Bella’s. “I’ll always believe in you and I’ll always believe you. Nothing can take that away from us.”
Bella missed her sister but was thankful that the Lord had seen fit to give her a new one.