Involved: Day 9

Word Count: 54,008

Summary of Events:

Charlotte's father explained some of his concerns about Charlotte's readiness to be married more thoroughly, encouraging Charlotte to engage in a Bible study with Oliver as a way to help them both be more ready. Samuel put Ella and Verbena to bed after having ensured Kelly was falling asleep, then settled himself in one of the other bedrooms but hadn't slept too long before he was woken by what sounded like footsteps on the main floor of the house . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Suddenly a sniff close at hand startled Samuel. He released his gun and turned to see Verbena, he could tell even in the darkness that tears were on her cheeks, he could hear the tremulous breathing.

“What is it Verbena?” Samuel asked.

Verbena merely sniffled like she was going to sob.

“Did you have a bad dream?” Samuel asked.

It looked like Verbena nodded.

“Can’t you talk to Ella about it?” Samuel asked.

Verbena whimpered.

“Or is Ella sleeping?” Samuel asked.

Again it looked like Verbena nodded.

Sighing, Samuel turned over and lifted his blankets off so he could sit up. “Let’s go put you back in bed.”

Verbena uttered what sounded like a cry of protest.

When Samuel’s siblings had been Verbena’s age wetting the bed had been a more frequent occurrence than Samuel had been able to appreciate, and he had no intentions of suffering through it as a grown man.

Collecting Verbena up into his arms, Samuel carried her back to the room she shared with Ella and went to put her down on the bed, but Verbena wrapped her arms around his neck and whimpered repeatedly.

“Verbena, come on, let go, you need to go to bed,” Samuel whispered.

Verbena’s chin slid across Samuel’s shoulder in a way that revealed she was shaking her head in the negative. She had no intentions of going back into her bed.

“It’s nighttime, you need to sleep,” Samuel said. “Come on. Ella’s right beside you, it’ll be fine.”

Still Verbena resisted, her grip around Samuel’s neck as difficult to release as a donkey’s jaw when it decided to bite something; Samuel had never been bitten by a donkey, but he’d seen plenty of unwitting men and dogs who had been, and those donkeys didn’t let go, they hung on for all they were worth.

“I wish I knew your middle name,” Samuel muttered.

Verbena clung tightly to him.

Frustrated, Samuel sighed and carried Verbena back to his room. As soon as he did so Verbena loosened her hold, but she didn’t release it.

“We’re not making a habit out of this I hope,” Samuel said. “Also, if you dare wet this bed you’re not coming in it again.”

He sat down on the bed and Verbena let go, leaning her head against his chest; her tears were wet while her hair was soft against his skin.

Lifting Verbena off his lap, Samuel set her down on the far side of the tick, then settled himself down on the other side of the tick, and drew the blanket over both of them.

It was, unfortunately, only a matter of moments before Verbena squirmed her way across the bed and bundled herself close against his chest, using his upper arm as a pillow while her nose released warm air onto his chest and he felt one of her little hands against his ribs. He wasn’t used to this.