Monday, October 24, 1910
Sarah returned the horse to the barber shop and explained to Butch Thompson why she stole it. Naturally, he understood. When she came out of the barber shop she saw Julius walking with the prisoner.
"I got things from here Sarah. If you could do me a favor, when we get back to the jail, there is a brown notebook on my desk marked 'Daily Log 1910.' Please take that and get statements from Russell, Tommy and Sam. Also talk to anyone who actually saw the accident. Take the camera that's in the top left drawer of the bureau next to the radiator. Get pictures of the car, the broken window, etcetera. They'll need that information for insurance purposes. Once that's all done, let me know and we'll tow Sam's car over to the dump."
"Gotcha. Will do. Hey, when this is all done, can I talk to the prisoner?"
Julius shrugged. "Ask him."
Sarah smiled to the thief. "Hi. I'm Sarah."
"TJ Guffman. Forgive me for not shaking your hand. Julius tells me you're a high school student."
"Uh-huh. I'm helping him out this week." 
"That's was an amazing thing you did there, quick thinking. I don't mind being captured after a good chase because at least I gave it my best shot. Now being discovered by accident because I tripped or something, that's rough."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Julius nudged him. "Oh you're quite the charmer."
"Sarah, run along and start the report. I need to interview the prisoner, make phone calls and do paperwork."
"Yes, sir." Sarah ran off towards the jail.
She picked up the camera and the notebook. Her first stop was to see her father and Alma Gumble. She took their statements and then left.
She began walking back to the accident scene. She asked folks to stand back while she took pictures. 
She made one exception; Pete wanted a photo of himself plucking the strings of the harp which had obliterated Sam's car. She thought the idea was stupid but he promised to pay for the print.
She took a picture of the broken window. She went into the clinic. Fortunately, at the time of the accident, no one was in the waiting room. She slowly opened the door to the hallway which leads to the examining rooms.
"Dr. Westbrook?"
"Come on back."
Sarah cautiously entered the room. Tommy was lying on a table. When he saw her he smiled.
"Tommy, I know she's a pretty girl, but, please don't smile."
Dr. Westbrook used tweezers to remove a piece of glass. The metal cup he was using to keep the chards of glass went "ping" when he dropped in a large piece.
"Ok, Thomas, just one more. This might hurt."
Sarah winced for him. She wanted to kiss his bloodied cheek and make it feel better.
"Dr. Westbrook, can I take a picture of you two? It's for insurance."
"As long as Tommy doesn't smile for the camera, that's ok with me."
Sarah took the picture and stepped out of the room.
"Nurse Westbrook?"
"Come on in Sarah."
Sarah walked over to the other examination room.
"Sam, don't say anything. She knows you are glad to see her. You say so every Sunday."
Sam slightly raised his right hand and twiddled his fingers.
Sarah smiled and waved back. "Can I take a picture of you two for insurance?"
"Sure." Nurse Westbrook smiled and pointed at Sam's bloody left cheek. Sarah snapped the picture.
"If it's good enough Arnold and I might use it for a Christmas card." Sarah giggled at her.
"Sarah, sweetheart, do me a favor. I barked at Russell to go clean up the glass. He was bugging me and I needed to work on cleaning Sam's wounds. Anyway, when you go upstairs to take those pictures, tell him to calm down. The harp was covered by our insurance and my guess is Sam had insurance on his car…."
Sam made an "Ok" sign with his right hand.
"So, tell him that I didn't mean to yell."
Sarah smiled. "Yes, ma'am."
Sarah walked up the stairs. She could see Russell. He was seated and leaning against the wall with his hands over his face. She carefully approached him.
"Russell?"
He gulped and mumbled, "Hey Sarah."
She leaned against the wall and then slid down beside him. She put an arm around him.
She spoke softly, "Russell? Come on, it's not that bad. No one was seriously hurt. You didn't do anything wrong."
He put his head on her shoulder and sobbed.
"I just... I just... everything was going great. They liked me. They said I was smart. That harp was...."
"That harp was a thing, Russell. It was no more than an object. They have insurance on the clinic and the harp, so everything will be paid for. Preacher Sam had insurance on his car. Tommy and Sam got banged up a little, but they're both fine."
"I... I... could've killed someone. I was so stupid."
"No you weren't; you were human. We all have made those kinds of mistakes. We think we can do something on our own and we simply can't. You cannot change what happened but you can choose your perspective."
He wiped his eyes.
"How do you mean?"
Sarah swished her mouth. "Do you believe in God?"
Russell sighed. "I go to church. I read the Bible at school because I have to. When I spend the night over at Pete's house they take me to his church. But...," he looked away. "I sure don't know how or why God does all the things he's supposed to do."
Sarah shrugged. "I don't know either. My guess is Preacher Sam or the minister over at Pete's church is just as much in the dark. But, that shouldn't stop us from believing in Providence."
"I guess that's the kind of providence that makes God look out for things."
"That's right. God sets up a supernal pattern, an unseen order of how things should work. In a sense, you followed providence today. Did you see Alma lying on the ground in front of the car?"
Russell thought for a moment. "Oh yeah. But, then when I ran outside, she was walking away with your dad."
"I talked to my father before I came over here. Alma was supposed to be at the bank this morning. She showed up an hour and a half late. She sassed my father and ran away. He chased after her. She slipped on some ice and slid into the street. If that harp had not crushed the car, Tommy would have driven over her and she'd be dead."
Russell dried a tear. "So, I saved her life?"
"You did. For reasons which can never be understood by mortal men, you, Russell, are a hero."
She kissed his cheek.
He smiled.
"Now then, do you need any help with the window?"
He looked around and shook his head. "I got it. Tom Norwalk from the lumber mill is coming over with some sheets of plywood. He says he could replace the window by Thursday. I'm just really upset by the whole thing. The Westbrooks thought I was smart and I feel like I disappointed them. This began as one of the greatest days of my life but now... I dunno."
"Well, maybe you can still redeem yourself. You had to go to River City to purchase some medical supplies. Right?"
Russell stopped sobbing. "Oh yeah."
"They still need those supplies. You can probably catch the 2:30 train, get the medicines and be home by 5:30."
Russell nodded. "I could at that."
They embraced.
When he broke the hug he stayed a couple of inches from her face.
She looked down.
He pulled back. "Ok. I understand."
Sarah was uncomfortable. "I... I have to go."
"Wait. Why did you kiss me at the Christmas Ball last year?"
Sarah sighed. "I would rather not say...."
"Emily dared you?"
Sarah looked down; she was disappointed in herself.
"Look, I'm a guy. Tommy, Pete and I dare each other to do dumb things all the time. If you did it on a dare...."
Sarah sighed. "I shouldn't have used you like that."
"Believe me; I don't mind at all."
"But you think... I'm...." She put her hand on her forehead. "That was inconsiderate of me."
"I always... thought or hoped that maybe...."
Sarah whispered, "I'm sorry. I don't feel the same way about you."
Russell paused. "Sarah, I'll be fine. Like this broken window, it'll be fixed. If I weren't so attracted to you, I may not have listened to you just now when you were telling me all about God."
"Really?"
He nodded.
"You don't hate me?"
"Far from it. And, well, if I was in love with you, I would have asked you out on a date by now. But, I didn't want to interfere with...." He put his hand over his mouth. "He wouldn't want me to tell you."
Sarah smiled. "That's ok, too. I'll let things take their course."
She hugged him once more.
"I gotta go back to the jail." She headed down the stairs. She took a few steps and then turned around.
He waved at her. "You gave me a lot to think about Sarah Conrad."
She nodded and smiled. "Me too, Russell, me too."
