Gloriana wasn’t about to bring her spiritual troubles down on him. “Yes. I’m sure God will tell you what to do.”

She could feel confident on his behalf, so why couldn’t she trust that God was still doing the same for her? Why couldn’t she trust that God was listening and still the same caring God she had believed in prior to the death of her father? Even her mother’s death and that of her siblings hadn’t shaken her so.

“I love you, Glory.” JT hugged her neck. “I’ll tell you real soon why I’ve been late. But it’s nothing bad. You gotta trust me.”

She smiled. “I will. Go get your sleep gown on, and I’ll come tuck you in. It sounds like that wind is picking up again, so you might want to wear long socks.”

He got down from her lap and yawned. As she watched him march off, she couldn’t help but think about the future again. What were they going to do? Luke was only here until summer, when the railroad reached completion. Sally was his niece, and despite her mother asking them both to raise the child, that was hardly possible. Especially if he took her back to Philadelphia.

Then there was the obvious issue of finances. What little money her father had put aside was nearly gone, and the help from others, while still generous, couldn’t go on forever. Gloriana would have to get a job. There was no other way.

She considered the possibility of working at a dress shop. She was good with a needle, and the railroad was bringing in more and more families. There would be wealthier folks coming to live in town, and Gloriana was confident she could replicate some of the gowns she saw in Godey’s Lady’s Book. They were the height of fashion.

With a sigh, she gazed into the fire. Then there were her thoughts about Lucas Carson. She liked him very much. He had been such a help and was so kindhearted and generous. He was the kind of man Gloriana could have given her heart to, spent the rest of her life with, raised a family with. She’d found great comfort in Luke’s playing the role of man of the house. She didn’t care that folks in town might be talking about their closeness.

But Luke was from Philadelphia and had no intention of remaining in Duluth. He often talked about his home in the bigger city and of the job he did there for Mr. Jay Cooke. He had shared about his childhood and youth and even told her a few things about the social life he’d known. The only thing he didn’t speak about was the war. Nobody liked to talk about the war.