Though accustomed to doing everything herself, William was so gallant that Bess was becoming accustomed to having doors opened for her, being assisted from carriages, and helped into her coat. Taking Tobias’ hand, she stepped down with a bit more grace than she’d had when she left home. She had instinctively picked up some sophisticated behavior from her well-off friends and it was now second nature to her. The country girl was rapidly turning into a city girl.

For a moment, she stood and looked around her, memories flooding her mind. There had been both good times and bad times growing up, but most of her memories were positive. “Thank you, Tobias,” Bess said to her brother’s offer and hurried toward the house. For some reason, she noticed the bushes that were rapidly losing their dried up leaves. Like their father, they were dying, though they would bloom again in the spring. She doubted that her father would last that long.

Steeling herself against the tears that burned behind her eyelids, she walked through the door. Bess found her father sitting in a chair, looking a bit weaker than he had last week. It seemed that he was deteriorating before her eyes. How difficult it must be for Tobias, seeing him every day.

“It’s good to be home again,” she remarked, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. “How are you doing?”