[I]God…[/i]

William had heard God and the name of his only son mentioned more in the several weeks that he had been in 18th century than he probably had in the entire year previous to his leaving the 21st. He had known, of course -- from his extensive education in and research of this time -- as well from simple common sense -- that religion had played a much larger part in the lives of the people of this century than in his, but he hadn't truly realize just how deeply religion pervaded every aspect of society until he was actually here. 

William himself was what a former Bible thumping girlfriend of his had termed an [i]agnostic deist[/i].  He believed in a God -- in a higher power of some sort -- but he also believed that religious belief was a personal thing, that it didn't come from a leather bound book written by Man. He had gone with Keziah and Edward to church this past Sunday and would go again on this upcoming Sunday, but -- just Keziah was afraid that at any moment God might snatch him from her life -- William had his own fear, that his [i]sacrilegious[/i] presence under the roof of His house would cause God to snatch him from this time and place and send him to -- wait for it -- [i]God[/i] knows where and when.

He wanted to tell Keziah [i]I don't think God has any interest in my whereabouts or when-abouts[/I], but he didn't want to offend her.  Instead, he told her, "Perhaps God wanted me to be here with you. And if that's the case I don't think that he would then take me away from you. Do you?"

He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead again, wanting badly to press his mouth to hers but resisting. "You should get some sleep.  I'll finish up the rest of the chores. You work too hard. Get some rest."