Indeed, it would be easier to leave, forget the pain, and bury the hurts rather than to stand firm. It would be easier to cut Mercy out of his thoughts rather than to dwell on what he was losing. And it would be easier to move on with his life, sail to the next destination, and find new sights with which to distract himself.

And yet could he ever really move on? He’d traveled all over the world and the pain of his family’s death followed him everywhere. He suspected the same would happen if he ran from Mercy. The pain of losing her would follow him too.

“God,” he prayed, “I’m sorry for running—especially from you.”

Dragging in a deep breath, he did what he should have done the day Bates came to him with the news his family was gone. He silently lifted that burden up, raised it high, and placed it with his heavenly Father. He’d always miss his family, always feel the loss of their passing. But instead of running from the pain, he allowed himself to feel the grief and know that the One who walked next to him was holding him up.

He didn’t know what God was calling him to do next, but he suspected part of His plan involved the partnership with Bates back in Shoreditch. His mind filled with the image of Mercy kneeling next to the lifeless girl, pressing a kiss to her forehead, and lifting her stricken eyes to meet his.

What about all the other people like her, those who needed assistance through their hardships and heartaches? He only had to imagine Mercy trying to fend for herself amidst the squalor for a burning to ignite in his chest, a burning to be there at the dispensary.

Perhaps Bates had already seen the potential for that passion in him when Joseph had yet been blind to it. Whatever the case, he resolved to stop running, face whatever came his way, and do whatever God asked of him.

And that included his relationship with Mercy. He had to stop making excuses, had to stop being afraid. He needed to speak with her again and soon.

Joseph sat rigidly against the hard pew of Christ Church Cathedral. The tall stained-glass windows, the high ceiling with its arched dome, and the imposing columns were all architecturally impressive for a church built so far from civilization. The enormous organ with its wall of pipes was equally extraordinary for a colonial mission.

However, he’d been unable to truly enjoy Victoria or Vancouver Island, especially not this morning with Mercy sitting only a few rows ahead of him with the other bride-ship women. Although every nerve in his body tensed with the need to go to her, he held himself in place by sheer willpower.