Alive and Alone by W. R. Benton Read Free Book Online

is justified with what is going on in your life right now.  Additionally, if you do not abuse these meds and take them only as directed, you have no need to worry about addiction.”
    Her next meeting with her Pastor was a much better meeting as far as she was concerned.  Pastor Lucas was an older man, with a small gut just starting to peek over his belt buckle, dark brown eyes, and a friendly smile on his face for everyone.  While his hair had once been red, now it was streaked with strands of gray.  He was married, had three children, and was actively involved in the community.  He was a scout troop leader, ran the local community choir, and stayed busy helping kids with homework problems.  Pastor Lucas was a man who looked, thought, and acted, as a pastor should, as far as Cathy was concerned.
    They'd discussed Cathy’s fears and how God could help her in her time of need.  Pastor Lucas promised that he’d have the whole church pray for her men and that the hand of God sometimes worked wonders.  But, he also reminded her that God didn’t always make things turn out the way we want them to be.  Cathy realized later, this simple, but open discussion with her pastor had the most calming effect on her.  
    He told her he would do his best to rally everyone to pray and assist her, yet ask them to respect her privacy at the same time.  Both the pastor and Cathy knew most of the members of the church would want to call on her immediately to assist, but right now was not the time for visits.  Pastor Lucas promised he would remind them to allow Cathy Wade time to determine what had happened to her son and husband, and then perhaps they could become more personally involved.  They said a short prayer together and then she had driven home.
    Cathy arrived home just before four, so she started dinner.  She took one of the pills Doctor Williams had prescribed and discovered it did not affect her mind much, other than relaxing her just a little.  She was still very worried about Dave and Jim, but the deep anxiety she had carried the last few days disappeared.
    Just as she was placing the beef roast into the oven, her front doorbell rang.  She closed the oven and made her way to her door wondering who might be visiting that time of the day.  Upon unlocking and opening the door, she gave a loud laugh and looked into the dark eyes of her daughter Marie as she asked, “Why didn’t you just walk in honey like you always do?”
    “I couldn’t do that mom.  I left my keys on the dresser at the Colonel’s house when I left for school this morning and I didn’t want to walk over there to get them.  It’s too cold to do much walking right now.”
    “Well, come on in.  I’ll have dinner done in about an hour.”
    “What are we having?”
    “I’ve cooked your favorite, roast beef, with potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions.  How does that sound?”
    Marie sat at the table, lowered her head and then asked in a low voice, “Mom, what do you think dad and Davie are eating?”
    Cathy kneeled beside her daughters chair and raised her small chin with her right hand and spoke, “I think they're eating well, because you know how good your dad is at hunting.  And, remember, the airplane has a survival kit and all of those kits have some food in them.”
    “Mom, I don’t know if I can eat, because what if they don’t have any food?”
    “Marie, you and I have no control over what has happened to Dave or your dad.  We can only hope God protects them and returns them to us unharmed. Right now, we have to take care of ourselves.  Do you understand what I mean?”
    “Sure, kind of.”
    “What don’t you understand?”
    “Mom, I’m scared.  I mean, I fought with David all the time and now that something might have happened to him I feel terrible about it.”
    “Marie, listen to me honey, all brothers and sisters fight.  They always have and always will.  It’s okay to argue, I even fought with your Uncle Ralph