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But Abby was unable to get caught up in John and Terry's enthusiasm. For the last few days, her women's intuition sensed trouble was brewing for her husband. Abby could hear it in Jake's voice, although nothing she could say would persuade him to speak of it.

One day in late October, over a month after Jake had been taken back to prison, things took a turn for the worse when Abby had a troubling phone call from him.

"Hello, Abby?" he greeted her.

Immediately, Abby was alarmed at how weak Jake sounded over the telephone.

"What's wrong?!" she cried.

"I'm all right," he tried to assure her with a small cough. "Let me hear your voice for awhile."

"Jake," she protested, "you're not well!"

"Please," he begged her, "just talk to me. Say anything-- tell me about work. Have you caught any good fish, lately?"

"I almost landed a pike, yesterday," she hesitated slowly. "I was practicing, so my fly was hookless, but the crazy thing wouldn't let go, until he was just feet from the bank."

"Have I told you how much I loved you, lately?" he asked, the sound of his voice troubling Abby even more than before.

"Not since yesterday," she whimpered, trying very hard to remain brave. "Are you able to see a doctor, Jake?"

"Nah," he shrugged. "Besides, I don't need one. Just keep talking to me, Abby."

"I went to the obstetrician," she informed him. "I'm ten weeks along and the doctor said that our baby-- " Abby's narrative was suddenly interrupted by a loud gasp.

"Jake!" she cried in alarm. "What's wrong?"

"It's all right," he struggled to speak through the pain. "You said something about the baby. Is it healthy?"

"The baby is fine. It's you I'm concerned about," worried the young wife.

"Abby," he groaned, "I have to go now. I'll call you tomorrow, if I can. I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied, as he hung up the telephone.

It was the first time Jake had ever hung up before their time was over. Abby shuddered. There was so much pain in his voice! She knew something had to be terribly wrong!

"Dear Lord," she prayed in a heartrending sob, "deliver him out of that place! Even if he has to die to escape, please, end his suffering!"

Then Abby collapsed onto the couch and wept. She feared the unspoken trouble that Jake had been keeping from her for the past few days, was finally coming to a head. Unwilling to venture from the telephone, Abby stayed seated on the couch all evening, praying and crying in intervals. When she didn't show up for dinner, Terry arrived with a plate of food.

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