“You really should take this matter up with your son, Mr. Carson.” Gloriana didn’t want to say any of the harsh things she was thinking. She could easily remind him of how much he’d hurt Scott by disowning him. She could remind him of the terrible way he put Scott and Sally from the house without money or much more than the clothes on their backs. But she held her tongue, knowing that speaking of such things would only make matters worse.

“Father, what are you doing here?”

Thank the Lord, Luke had come. Relief poured over her.

Martin Carson turned. “I wanted to meet my granddaughter, and I arrive here to find her in a house of disease.”

“Yes, Gloriana’s brother has the measles. And as I recall, you have not.”

The older man frowned. “No, I have not.”

“How does a man go through life without having contracted measles?” Gloriana murmured, immediately wishing she’d kept the question to herself.

“My upbringing shielded me from most of the diseases this world has to offer. My determination to live in a healthy manner has helped me elude the rest,” Luke’s father said in a haughty manner.

“In other words, Gloriana, when there were sick people to deal with, my father let someone else see to their needs.”

“And why not? I’m neither a doctor nor a nurse. My care has kept me from harm. How can you fault me for such a thing? No man willingly walks into a den of vipers.”

“No, I suppose not, Father. But if Sally accidentally walked into that den, I would risk my life to save hers. Would you?”

Sally began to fuss, and Gloriana took it as the perfect opportunity. “I’m sorry, but I must feed the baby. Luke, Abigail said that because you’ve had the measles, you are safe to enter the quarantine.” She looked at Luke’s father. “I’m glad to have met you, Mr. Carson.”

“I hardly believe that,” he replied with a sneer.

That was all she could take. “Then you misjudge me. I’m glad to have met you, because now I know who to avoid in the future.”

“How long was he here?” Luke could see how upset Gloriana was by the way she paced back and forth while feeding Sally.

“Not all that long, but long enough. How did he find out where we live?”

“It’s not that big of a town, Gloriana.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “But stop worrying. He cares far too much about himself to come back here until we’re out of quarantine.”

“He scares me. Like you said before, he is a man used to having his own way.”