Cindy Holby by Angel’s End Page A

front of Banks, who peered around his naked hip with his eyes as big as she’d ever seen them. Pastor Key’s deep brown eyes held the vacant stare from the night before. He was dreaming again, once more fighting his unseen demons.
    “Banks,” Leah said gently. “Come here.”
    God please don’t let Banks get hurt…please…
    Banks tried to step out and Pastor Key pinned him against the wall with his arm. “I won’t let him take you.”
    Dodger lowered the front half of his body and snarled.
    “He won’t let me,” Banks said.
    “Dodger! Down!” Leah was afraid that Banks would get hurt if Dodger attacked. Dodger growled and flattened his ears but stayed in place.
    “Pastor Key.” Leah spoke slowly and quietly, even though her heart raced. “I need you to let my son go.”
    He tilted his head and his eyes focused on her for a moment. “Mother?”
    “Yes, I’m his mother.” Leah stretched out her hand. “Let my son come to me please.”
    “You came for us.” A smile lit his face. His mouth widened and deep creases showed in his cheeks and around his eyes.
    “Yes…I came for you. Now let him come to me.” Leah motioned for Banks with her hand. Banks slipped by the pastor and ran to Leah. Leah grabbed him to her and turned away, taking him from the room and across the hall into hers. Dodger followed, jumping up against her sideto sniff Banks, making sure in his own way that he was unhurt.
    “Are you all right?” She sat down on the bed and rocked him, more for her benefit than his.
He’s fine, he’s fine, he’s fine…Thank you God, he’s fine…
    “He didn’t hurt me,” Banks said. “I think he was scared of something.”
    “You stay away from him until he’s better.”
    “I’m sorry Momma. I went to get my book.”
    “Next time ask me to get anything you left in there.”
    “I will.”
    She heard the crash; she knew Pastor Key would eventually fall when she left the room. She couldn’t be so lucky to hope that he’d find his own way back to bed, but she really didn’t care. Banks was fine. That was all she could concentrate on at the moment. Leah knew she’d eventually have to get Pastor Key back up by herself and could only pray that his wound hadn’t started bleeding again.
    She stood Banks on the floor. “Can you go stoke the fire for me?”
    “Yes Momma.”
    She straightened his blond curls with her hand. “In the stove too.”
    “I will.”
    Leah touched his cheek. “I’ll come fix your breakfast in a minute.”
    Banks nodded. “Is the preacher going to die like my daddy?”
    “I don’t know sweetie. All we can do is help him the best we can, pray and leave the rest up to God.”
    Banks nodded. “I’ll say a prayer for him when we have grace.”
    “I think that would be a good thing.” She grabbed him to her for a hug and kissed the top of his head. “Go and do your chores.”
    “I gotta go to the outhouse first.”
    “Put your coat on and be careful. It’s slick out there.”
    Leah helped Banks and Dodger out the door before she turned once more to her patient. He lay curled on his side on the floor, still slick with fever. “Pants,” she said as she went to his side. “The man definitely needs some pants.”



FIVE
    P astor Key did not look well at all. Leah caught her bottom lip between her teeth as she studied her patient. Luckily his morning escapade had not resulted in more bleeding but his fever seemed to be hotter than ever. She’d tried dribbling some water into his mouth but that had only resulted in most of it spilling onto the sheets. “You are stubborn, that’s for sure,” she said as she looked at him. “Handsome and stubborn. How did someone like you wind up being a preacher?”
    His head moved restlessly on the pillow as he mumbled. Either he was getting weaker or his nightmares weren’t as bad. She was afraid it was the former.
    “Here’s more snow, Momma.” Banks carried the pail with both hands. Leah had put him to work scooping