at the unwanted visitors. Perry buried her head lower into his chest, as strong arms came up, shielding her from harm. After several minutes they emerged on the other side of the trees and into a shallow stream. 'My grandfather showed me every shortcut through these woods years ago,' Hunter explained.
His thoughts were suddenly filled with memories of his childhood. The old man had always had time for him. They'd spent many evenings talking of all the wonders of the world. Here, on this farm, Hunter never felt alone, not even after his mother died. Now John Williams was dying. Hunter instinctively tightened his grip around Perry's waist. He kissed her hair softly. 'Thanks for coming with me.' His words were barely heard above the splashing water.
Perry understood. She sensed Hunter's loneliness. He needed to know she was near. His need for her now stirred her far more than his independence had.
They were within sight of the house before he spoke. 'No matter what happens, I want you with me.'
'I'll be there if you need me,' Perry answered. She knew there would be time enough to get in touch with her brother, Andrew. Hunter was alone, and she owed him the favor of standing alongside him.
He rode to the front steps and jumped down. Lifting Perry to the ground, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up the steps.
As their feet rumbled across the porch the door flew open, and Mary Williams hurried into the morning light. Her puffy eyes and hollow cheeks showed the impact John's illness had had on her. She'd aged ten years since Perry had seen her. Now the old lady had eyes only for her grandson as she cried joyfully and ran into his arms.
Hunter lifted her off her feet as she shouted, 'Hunter, my dear Hunter!'
He set her to ground and whispered, 'Grandfather?'
'He's resting quietly, but he's had a hard night. I thought I lost my John more than once.' Mary cried softly, 'I'll tell the doctor you're here.'
Hunter cradled Mary under the protection of his arm. 'Grandma, I brought someone with me.'
Before he could say more, Mary glanced around him and saw Perry standing in his shadow. 'Perry!' she shouted, 'Can it be true? Perry?' Surprise lit Mary's eyes.
The old woman threw her arms around Perry and wept for joy. 'We all thought you were dead.'
'I know,' Perry cooed as she stroked Mary's head. 'But as you see, I'm very much alive. I'll explain everything later. First, I'm worried about John and you.'
'I'm fine, dear, just a little tired. John started out with only a cold,' Mary explained as she led them into the house. 'It settled in his chest and grew worse. The doctor has been here every day, but each day he grows weaker. I'm worried sick.' Tears bubbled over her tired eyes.
Perry wrapped her arms around the old woman and patted her gently on the shoulder. 'Now you just stop your worrying, Mary. Hunter and I are here. We'll take over the worrying while you rest. You can take care of John when he wakes.'
Hunter watched as Perry coaxed his grandmother over to a comfortable sofa. Her gentle concern touched his heart.
As Perry talked with Mary he looked around the large living area that was so typical of his grandparents. Unlike most farmhouses built forty years ago, it had only one large room. John hadn't wanted his house to be divided into a maze of little rooms, so he'd built one huge room running the length of the front of the house. The only other two rooms downstairs were a dining room and a large kitchen. Hunter smiled as he remembered his grandfather sitting in one corner behind his desk, trying to work, as Hunter and Mary played checkers by the fire.
He could almost hear his grandmother saying, 'If you'd build a study, John, you could have it quiet enough to think.'
John always replied, 'But I couldn't watch my beautiful wife all day.'
Hunter knelt beside the woman John had never stopped calling his beautiful wife. 'Grandmother,' he whispered, 'I'll sit with Grandfather. If he wakes, I'll call you.' Her eyes were already growing heavy as her head rested back on the pillows.
Perry sat on the edge of the couch, talking softly to Mary, reassuring her that they would do everything that needed doing if Mary would only take a short nap.
Mary mumbled a soft thanks and drifted into sleep as Perry drew an afghan over her. Hunter bent and kissed his grandmother's cheek.
As he stood, he whispered to Perry, 'We got here just in time. I don't know how sick my grandfather is, but my grandmother is completely worn-out.'
Perry nodded and moved with him toward the stairs. 'She just didn't want to leave his side until she was sure he had someone who loved him close by.'
Hunter took a step by the stairs. 'It may be a long day sitting with him.' He moved up another step.
Perry knew what he was asking. 'I'll stay,' she said simply. 'There'll be plenty of time to let Andrew know I'm here later.'
He held his hand out toward her. She accepted his silent invitation and they walked up together. He was slowly learning about this little Southern lady. She was a woman with her own mind, not to be ordered or bullied and steadfast in her loyalty when times were hard.
As Hunter turned the handle to his grandparents' bedroom the doctor stepped onto the landing. Dr. Moore was a country doctor whose years of watching human suffering showed in his face. He was worn-out and should have retired years ago. But the war had called away all the younger doctors; and someone had to see to the people back home. Now his eyes were disheartened because he knew he was losing a lifetime friend. These young folks wouldn't understand, he thought, but John and he had been young together. They'd both courted Mary, even though there had never been any doubt which one she'd pick.
How could he explain to Hunter that after sharing a lifetime with a friend like John Williams a part of him was dying too? So the old doctor just smiled his sad smile at Hunter, knowing they wouldn't realize it, but to Dr. Moore, John would always be remembered as looking very much as Hunter did today. Dr. Moore knew Mary also saw John as young and strong. Sometimes God seems to bless a couple, the doctor thought, with a special kind of blindness. All their life together they saw only the beauty in each other and never the aging.
'Dr. Moore,' Hunter asked, interrupting the old man's thoughts, 'how is he?'
'He's weak, I'm afraid. To be honest, son, it's just a matter of hours till he goes to meet his maker.'' The doctor's face was solemn. The hardest part of his job was not watching the dying but helping the living to let go.
Perry let out a soft cry and turned toward Hunter's shoulder. He encircled her with his arm and drew her to his side. 'Thanks, Doc, for being honest with me. I'll sit with him for a while.'
The doctor nodded, and Hunter stepped inside the bedroom. Perry turned to Dr. Moore. 'I'm Perry McLain. I want to do anything I can to help.' She lay her hand on the doctor's arm. She could see that his pain was great.
'Thanks, miss, but there ain't much anyone can do,' he muttered. 'You any kin to Andrew McLain?'
'He's my brother.' She was surprised the doctor would know her brother.
'I've heard of a Doc McLain moving in at Three Oaks. Hope he'll help me out with the doctoring,' he stated. 'Didn't know he had any kin left alive.'
The old doctor started down the hall. 'I'll be here most of the day. Call me if John stirs. Otherwise I think I'll sit out on the porch for a while.'
Perry watched his slow movements down the stairs, then joined Hunter in the dying man's bedroom.
Chapter 32
Hunter sat on the edge of his chair as the last rays of sunlight slid through the shutters of his grandparents' bedroom. Even though he'd been there for hours, he found it impossible to relax. Every few minutes he paced the room, standing at the sickbed, then at the window, only to see the same problem in his mind's eye.
There was no comfort for him in the warm friendly room, decorated with a lifetime of memories. He needed to talk with his grandfather, to feel the old wrinkled hand grip his own. But John was battling between one world and the next, with no time left to help Hunter.
