Finding Kate by Julie Pollitt

She connected the cable from her camera into the computer. Pictures of the cattle drive popped up.
    Kate clicked through the shots taken earlier that day. She stopped at an image of Will surrounded by cattle. He sat atop his horse in his dusty jean jacket, mud-caked chaps, and worn leather boots. His unshaven face was tanned from the sun. He looked like a poster cowboy, and her heart fluttered a bit at the thought.
    His photo would make the perfect cover shot for her article. He’ll love being on the front page of the newspaper.
    ***
    “I heard you rode a horse today,” Emma said, pushing herself into a sitting position in her hospital bed.
    “I don’t know if you’d call it riding or hanging on for dear life,” Kate laughed.
    Emma motioned for Kate to sit next to the bed. She moved closer and Emma rested her hand on Kate’s forearm. “I want to show you something.” She reached for a picture frame on the table next to her bed. “Isn’t that the most handsome man you’ve ever seen?”
    Kate smiled at the black-and-white photograph. “I’m guessing that’s your husband.”
    “Walt and I were married almost forty years before he died.”
    Kate felt a lump stick in her throat. “How have you dealt with his death?”
    “Not well at first. I asked the Lord so many times why he took him so early. I never heard him answer. So, I began to question my faith. Wondered what I’d done to deserve it and why God had forgotten me.”
    The nurse walked into the room and placed a tray of food in front of Emma.
    “Thanks, hon.”
    After the nurse left, Kate asked, “How did you get past that?”
    “I read my Bible.” Emma tore the cellophane covering off the fork and spoon and placed them on her tray. She removed the plastic dome lid from her plate, allowing the aroma of mashed potatoes, gravy, and cubed steak to penetrate the room. “I finally figured it out.”
    “What did you figure out?”
    Between bites of dinner, she replied, “God never forgot about me. He was right there all the time. I was the one who went missing. His words were on the pages of my Bible promising comfort and hope. When I immersed myself in his word, I began to feel his peace.”
    “So you aren’t angry anymore?”
    “Oh, I’m still upset that Walt is gone. But I can’t let that rule my life. I always go back to the Bible.”
    Emma took her last bite of potatoes. “That’s when I realized that God experienced a far greater loss when he sent his son to die for us. He understood my loss from his own experience.”
    Kate had heard those words before and she believed them. But she’d never thought about them from this perspective.
    Kate wheeled the tray beside the door and returned to Emma’s side. She wanted to embrace Emma and say something. Nothing would be enough. Emma didn’t need them. She had already given it over to the Lord.
    “Someday soon I’ll see Walt.” Emma smiled and closed her eyes as if she were picturing the scene now.
    Kate often wondered what it would be like in heaven. She felt a firm conviction that once Emma stepped into that realm, Walt would be standing on the other side ready to wrap his arms around her.
    A knock on the door startled Kate, tearing her from her thoughts. She turned in time to see Will come into the room. Emma grinned at him as he approached her bedside.
    Emma lifted her hands to Will’s face as he leaned down to kiss her. “Looks like you have more color in your cheeks,” Emma said.
    He sat down in a chair on the opposite side of the bed from Kate, and tipped his hat.
    “She ate all of her meal too.” Kate pointed to the empty food tray.
    Will’s focus remained on Emma. Kate could see the love he had for her. She admired that in him. Kate didn’t want to intrude on their time together, so she stood up to leave. “I’d better be going. Will, I’ll see you at Emma’s in the morning.”
    Will stood up as she started to leave the room. “A couple of guys from the drive offered to