“I hope she’ll want to stay with me.” He tightened his fingers against Greta’s and tugged her closer. “’Cause, the truth is, I love your sister and want her to be my wife. Forever.”
At his bold declaration, Greta’s breath got lost somewhere inside her. When he gently turned her to face him, he tipped her chin up, giving her no choice but to meet his gaze, which was brimming with love and longing and a plea to stay. “I mean it,” he whispered. “I love you.”
The words to respond got lost inside too. Instead, she reached up and cupped his cheek, hoping he could read her love in return.
“I’m glad you love Greta and want us to stay.” Astrid stood and let the water drip off her bony body. “But I’ve decided to live here at the hot spring.”
“Astrid!” Greta released Wyatt. “Don’t be silly.”
“I figure I’ll be better out here where I won’t be causing trouble for anyone.”
Greta held in her exasperation. “You can’t live on your own—”
“Just admit it. You’d be lots better off without me.” Astrid balled her fists at her sides as though daring Greta to walk over and make her leave. “So why do you care where I live?”
Greta hoped Wyatt would step in and take over the conversation again. But this time, he was silent, and rightly so. This was between her and Astrid, and there wasn’t anything he could say to make the problem go away.
“Of course I care where you live.” She tried to stay calm like Wyatt had done moments ago.
“All I’ve ever been to you and to everyone is a burden!” Astrid’s eyes were glassy with tears. “And now I don’t have to be anymore.”
“You’re not a burden.” But even as Greta spoke, the truth barreled into her. Astrid was simply following her example. She’d always considered herself a burden to everyone she’d lived with, and now Astrid was doing the same.
Regret welled in Greta’s chest. “I never meant for you to feel like you’re a burden to me, because you’re not.”
“I am.” Tears rolled down her sister’s cheeks. “You wouldn’t have had to move here if not for me. If not for me, you’d be able to sleep better at night. And you wouldn’t have so much work and worry.”
With her heart breaking, Greta started forward through the tall grass, winding her way around the hot spring. Everything Astrid said was true, and yet Greta didn’t care. Astrid was more important than all the inconveniences and sacrifices and work. And somehow, she had to convince the little girl of that.
As Greta approached, Astrid lifted her chin but couldn’t stop the tears. Greta’s own tears began to slide down her cheeks. Though her sister started to back away, Greta pulled her into an embrace, wrapping her tightly. “Oh, Astrid.”
The child held herself stiffly for only a moment before she hugged Greta in return, releasing broken sobs. They held each other for a while, until Astrid’s sobs tapered to sniffles. Greta knelt, pulled the girl down onto her lap, and kissed her head.
Wyatt was leaning against one of the boulders and had Chase in his arms. He seemed in no hurry, willing to give her the time she needed to make things right with Astrid.
“I haven’t been a very good example to you,” Greta whispered. “I’ve been worrying for too long about burdening everyone around me, and all that’s done is made you worry about the same.”
As Astrid snuggled in closer, gratefulness welled up within Greta. Help me, Father in heaven, to do better in the future and show Astrid that she isn’t a burden.
She lifted her prayer hesitantly and then caught herself. She had to stop believing she was a burden, especially to God with her prayers.
“You know what?” She combed the wet tangles away from Astrid’s face. “Being your big sister and taking care of you has made me into a better person.”
“It has?” Astrid’s voice wobbled.
“Yes, all the hardships we’ve faced have made me stronger. Watching you fight your sickness with such courage inspires me to be braver. Seeing you live with such joyfulness makes me appreciate each day all the more. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you in my life.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Astrid released a sigh.
Greta’s eyes welled again with tears. “So don’t think I’d be better off without you. Because that’s not true at all.”
“Okay.”
She couldn’t keep from smiling at Astrid’s easy acceptance of the truth. Why couldn’t it be as easy for her to have such childlike faith that everything would be alright?
“Maybe we can help each other,” Greta suggested.
Astrid pulled back. The anger was gone from her silvery blue eyes, and they were filled with hope. “How can I help you?”
“Whenever we start to feel as though we’re bothering someone, Judd told me to think on the Scripture that says: ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.’”
“Cast our burdens on the Lord? Like casting a line when we’re fishing?”
Greta brushed Astrid’s hair again. “I guess it’s a little bit like that. We toss our burdens way out into the deep flowing waters, and let Him carry them.”
Astrid smiled. “I like that.”
“Good.” She kissed Astrid’s head again. “Now let’s go home. Okay? A lot of people are searching for you, and we need to let everyone know you’ve been found.”
She nodded and stood. “I guess I won’t live here at the spring after all, ’cause I need to do my part in helping you be stronger. But I want to come back. It’s a real nice place, Greta. And I think you’ll like it.”
As Astrid started talking about all she’d done during the past few days, Greta whispered another prayer of thankfulness and then met Wyatt’s gaze across the distance. His brows rose, as though he was making sure everything was alright.
She smiled her reassurance, praying everything would be okay. But a part of her couldn’t keep from wondering how she’d be able to make things work out for everyone when there was still so much at stake.
Chapter 25
He’d told Greta he loved her and she hadn’t said anything back. Sitting at the table, Wyatt took another sip of his coffee and tried to douse the sourness in his gut.
“I’m not too tired,” Astrid said through a loud yawn in the other room where Greta was tucking her into bed. “I want to go with you.”
“You need to sleep,” Greta insisted.
During the ride back from the hot spring, Astrid had chattered about her time away, how she’d slept very little at night because she’d been cold and afraid. She’d packed enough food for her and Chase to last a few days, so at least she hadn’t gone hungry. Regardless, when they arrived home, Greta made a meal of eggs, bacon, and roasted vegetables—enough to feed a dozen starving cowpokes. Then she dunked Astrid in a bath, scrubbing away the sulphur from the springs.
Judd had shown up midafternoon. From one of the peaks overlooking the valley, he’d seen the curl of smoke rising from the homestead and had figured there was news or no one would be home. When he’d galloped in and barged into the cabin, Astrid had thrown herself into the old man’s arms, and he held her for a full five minutes before finally letting her go.