"No problem," Tobias said. He took her bag and lifted it up on the trap. Then he helped her up. The bracelet flashed on her wrist and caught his eye. Where had she gotten that? Was Bess seeing someone?

He moved to the other side and climbed up beside her. "A little..." he replied. He clicked his tongue, gently shook the reigns and they began to move. "Dr. Barnes has given him something to clear the lungs a little and has given some dietary prescriptions. He's takin' more walks to get fresh air and that seems to help a little." What he left unsaid was what they both knew: that their father wouldn't recover. "I was wondering if you could write to Nathan to ask him to come home. It feels wrong to tell him about father's condition in a letter. I think he ignores me anyway."