The Preacher's Bride (Brides of Simpson Creek) Read Online Free

say, wondering if Dr. Walker would hint of her feelings to Gil. She cleared her throat, trying to find the right words.
    He’d seen her dismay, though, and waved a hand. “I’m sorry, Miss Faith, forgive my frankness. My wife is always telling me I’m so used to dealing in life and death matters that I think I can say anything that pops into my head. It’s none of my business, and I won’t mention it again.”
    “No apology is necessary, Doctor,” she said.
    Before either of them could say anything else, they heard footsteps, and Sarah appeared in the kitchen, dressed in her wrapper, yawning, her golden hair still confined in its nighttime braid.
    “Good morning, dear,” Dr. Walker said, kissing her before he updated her on the events of the night. Faith looked on, wistfully envying the obvious tenderness between husband and wife.
    * * *
    Gil had slept the sleep of exhaustion despite his anxiety over his father. Now he hesitated on the front step of the parsonage. He stared across at the doctor’s office. What would he find when he crossed the street and entered the doctor’s office? No one had come during the night to tell him matters had worsened, and yet he dreaded seeing his father in the same helpless, insentient condition he’d been in when Gil had reluctantly left him yesterday.
    Lord, please give me strength to accept Your will.
    “Good morning, Gil,” Sarah said when she opened the door. “Go on in and see your father. My husband and Faith are in there with him.”
    Her smile gave Gil the courage to do as she suggested. A surge of hope lightened his steps as he walked forward. The doctor’s wife wouldn’t have smiled if things were still the same, would she?
    Faith was just tucking in a fresh sheet at the foot of the bed. His father was propped up on pillows, but Gil couldn’t see his face because Dr. Walker was bent over him, listening to his chest with his stethoscope.
    Dr. Walker straightened and turned to greet him, as did Faith. Now Gil could see his father’s face, and saw the gleam of recognition as he saw his son at the door.
    “Papa!” Gil cried, and rushed to the bedside, trembling with joy. He sank down by the bed, taking his father’s gnarled, blue-veined hand in one of his, while reaching up to touch his father’s whiskery cheek.
    “Good morning, Gil,” Dr. Walker said. “Your father decided to wake up when we were giving him a bath a few minutes ago.”
    Tears stung Gil’s eyes as he stared into his father’s face. The hand he held gripped his weakly, and the old man’s attempt at a smile was still droopy on one side, but his eyes radiated the same joyfulness that threatened to overwhelm Gil.
    “Can he—” Gil began to ask, then turned back to the old man on the bed. “Can you...talk, Papa?”
    “Mmmhh,” his father said, then he shook his head in a clear expression of frustration.
    “Give him time, Gil, he only just woke up,” the doctor said with a gentle smile. “We should be very encouraged by that alone.”
    “I...I am,” Gil said, smiling back at his father. “I love you, Papa,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m just so glad I’m able to tell you that again.”
    His father stared back at him, his eyes also full of love.
    “Here, sit down,” Dr. Walker said, indicating the chair at the bedside. “Faith tells me your father woke up briefly during the night, then drifted off into sleep again.”
    Gil looked across the bed. There were violet shadows under Faith’s eyes, and she looked weary, but her gaze reflected the same relief and joy he felt.
    “Yes, it was so quick I thought I might have imagined it,” she said. “But then when he felt the warm water on his face, his eyes popped open and he’s been awake ever since.”
    The old man’s eyes were drifting shut again. Walker beckoned Gil and Faith to the door.
    “I’ll see you later, Papa,” Gil whispered, and kissed the top of the old man’s head.
    Once in the hallway, Gil