Chapters (241)
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Whatever Tomorrow Brings
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- The Taylor and Donovan Families1871
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- fifty-two
- fifty-three
- fifty-four
- fifty-five
- fifty-six
- fifty-seven
- fifty-eight
- fifty-nine
- sixty
- sixty-one
- epilogue
- Dedication
- The Taylor and Donovan Families—1871
- Prologue
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- epilogue
- Sean Donovan
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Visalia and Santa Rosa Families—1876
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- Epilogue
- Dedication
- Willits and Santa Rosa Families—1881
- Dear Marcail
- prologue
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- fifty-two
- fifty-three
- fifty-four
- fifty-five
- fifty-six
- fifty-seven
- fifty-eight
- fifty-nine
- sixty
- epilogue
- Books by Lori Wick
- About the Author
She scrambled into the long, warm gown, and without a word, moved stiffly into the dark living room to sit on the sofa. Following with the lantern, Alex found her sitting sideways, protecting her back he was sure. She didnt change position to look at him as he placed the lantern on the table behind Marcails turned back. He lowered himself to sit next to her.
Looking at his wifes stiff back covered by her still-wet hair, Alex was at a complete loss for words. Helplessly, he glanced around and spotted her hairbrush on the table where hed set the lantern. He picked it up and began to draw it through her hair.
Moments passed in silence.
You dont have to do that, Marcail said, her voice as flat and distant as when theyd first met.
I realize that.
Again silence fell.
You said you bruise easily. Alex spoke and let the sentence hang.
Yes.
Have you seen your back? Alex wanted to know.
No.
Alex digested these monosyllabic answers for a moment and then knew it was time for some gut-level honesty.
Im learning the hard way that I cant assume anything with you, Marcail. So Im going to ask you some specific questions, and I expect honest answers. Alex paused a moment with her hair, but Marcail didnt reply.
Does your back hurt? The question had an obvious answer to his mind, but he needed to start somewhere.
Yes.
How much?
Here Marcail hesitated. Quite a bit, she finally returned.
You say it happened at the schoolwas it on your way home?
Yes.
Down the steps?
Yes.
How did you fall?
I cant tell you that.
This answer was the last thing Alex expected, and he stopped brushing again.
Why cant you tell me?
Because Im too weary to fight you if you overreact.
Alex thought this statement was as cryptic as they came, but after a moments thought, a horrifying idea came to mind.
Marcail, did someone push you?
Not exactly.
Again Alex felt completely in the dark, and suddenly very discouraged. Hed begun to think that he knew this woman, that they were slowly becoming one; but she was as closed to him right now as shed been before they wed.
Alex picked up the lantern and took it with him as he moved to the other side of the sofa. There was not as much room there, but Marcail shifted back slightly so Alex could sit in front of her.
The lantern light flickered across her eyes, eyes that had lost hope. Alex had never seen Marcail like this; it frightened him.
Talk to me, Marcail, he pleaded with her softly. Let me help you. I wont do anything you dont want me to do, but please dont shut me out when I care so much. Alex reached for one of her hands and held it between his own.