Texas Angel, 2-in-1

by Judith Pella

  “What! And be off roaming all over the republic when I got the prettiest, sweetest woman in the world sitting at home? Never!” His expression saddened briefly. “I know it wasn’t the whole problem with my parents, but I do know my father’s circuit riding took an awful toll on their marriage. I won’t make that mistake. But there is more to it. You see, Lucie, I want to settle down. I want to be with you and with the family we’ll someday have. I’m so tired of roaming. I look back at the long road I’ve been on, and it no longer has any draw for me, not when looking ahead I can see the light of your smile at the end.”

  “My goodness! And I thought you were a man of few words!”

  “There’s one thing, though. . . .” He hesitated over his next words. They were difficult but had to be spoken. He jumped up and paced a bit, wondering if he could find a way to avoid what he meant to say. But he loved her too much to avoid something so important. He turned and faced her with resolve. “Well, I think we should wait a bit before we get married. For your sake, Lucie, because so much has happened to me that I just want to be sure it’s all gonna take. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, I do, and I love you all the more for saying it. But let’s not wait too long. I want my father to walk me down the aisle.” She rose, walked to him, and took his hands into hers. “But to be honest, Papa has been so greatly restored since his reunion with my brother, I think he may live forever!”

  “Well, don’t you worry, Lucie, I don’t intend on waiting that long!” He brought her hands to his lips and gently kissed them. “I just don’t know how I’m gonna be able to handle all these good things, Lucie!”

  “We’ll find a way, as we always have.”

  CHAPTER

  40

  December 29, 1845

  MICAH WAS NERVOUS, SCARED, and exhilarated—all at the same nerve-wracking time. He tried to sit on the couch in the Maccallum parlor, then nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of a sharp knock at the front door.

  Both Micah’s father and Reid Maccallum were with Micah. Benjamin volunteered to get the door, telling Reid to rest easy. Benjamin rose, strode to the door, and answered it. Micah heard the voices in the entry.

  “Why, hello, Tom,” Benjamin said.

  “Afternoon, Reverend Sinclair. I heard you was visiting for the Christmas holidays, and I hoped I’d get back from patrol in time to see you.”

  “So you are still a ranger?”

  “Captain Hays talked me into it. How could I refuse when he said he’d rather have me with a bum leg than some green new recruit? But I’m only signed on till the end of the year, then I’m gonna try my hand at ranching.”

  “Well, come on in. I’m not the host, but I am sure you are welcome.”

  “How is Mr. Maccallum?”

  “Come see for yourself.”

  In another moment Benjamin and Tom Fife came into the parlor.

  “Looks like everyone’s here—the menfolk, at least,” Tom said. When Reid Maccallum rose and extended a hand, Tom shook it heartily. “You’re looking fine, sir.”

  “I should be. Everyone is waiting on me as if I were a king,” Reid replied.

  Tom turned to Micah. “But you look awful, boy—like maybe you swallowed a cactus whole.”

  “Well, how do you expect a fellow to feel who’s about to become a father?” Micah snapped.

  “Well, sure, I expect—” Tom stopped suddenly and gasped. “Ya mean now? It’s happening right now?”

  Micah jerked his head toward the back of the house. “Back there.”

  Now Tom turned pale. “Sakes alive! I didn’t mean to intrude—”

  But a cry from the back cut him off. Micah jumped up and, pushing past his companions, headed toward the sound. Benjamin caught him.

  “Micah, now you can’t go rushing in every time there’s a sound. You’ve got to give your wife time to do what she has to do. Elise and Juana are with her and will let you know when to come.”

  “But she’s in pain!” Micah said miserably. “I can’t just sit here and listen to her cries.” He turned desperate eyes toward Tom. “Tom, she’s been at it all night. How much longer can a man stand such a thing?”

  Benjamin chuckled. “It’s a bit hard on her as well.”

  “You can do it, boy,” Tom said. “Why, I’ve seen you survive a lot worse.”

  “Nothing like this. Every time she cries out, I like to die inside.” Micah started pacing.

  “Let’s have some coffee,” Reid said helplessly.

  But Micah had already consumed several pots of coffee. If he had more, he’d jump down someone’s throat, maybe his own. A year ago on Christmas Eve when he and Lucie had married, it had been so wonderful, and each day since had been more wonderful than the last. They’d built a little cabin on their land, an hour’s ride from the Maccallum place. They’d even planned on the arrival of their first child. Micah had been lulled into believing life would just be a peaceful Sunday afternoon ride. He’d never imagined that now that he and Lucie were together, he’d ever feel so torn up inside.

  “We ain’t having no more after this,” Micah declared suddenly.

  Benjamin and Reid laughed.

  “You’ll change your mind once it’s over,” Reid said. “I’ll wager Lucie will want more, and she’s the one doing the real suffering.”

  “So, Tom, what brings you out today?” Benjamin asked.

  Micah knew it was an attempt to distract him, and he was glad for it.

  “I got news, that’s what. Texas has been voted in as a state in the Union!”

  “That is wonderful!” Benjamin said.

  “I was never in favor of statehood,” Reid said, “but even I can see that economically we could not have made it alone. And to show my support, I offer a toast.” He poured coffee for everyone, and they lifted their cups. “To the twenty-eighth state in the Union. The biggest state and always the best!”

  “Here, here!” They all chimed in, even Micah.

  “Ya know, Pa,” Micah said, “I ain’t never told you this, but I’m glad you dragged me here. I love this place, and I am truly glad that my child’s gonna be born on this auspicious day.” Another cry from the bedroom turned his smile into a grimace. “It will be today, won’t it?” he asked shakily.

  Suddenly they heard a very different cry. No one stopped Micah now when he nearly dropped his cup and raced toward the room. They all followed instead.

  The door opened, and Elise poked her head out. “There you are, Micah—oh goodness, and everyone else, too!”

  “Lucie!” Micah said anxiously. “Is she all right?”

  “Yes, she is, and she has brought a wonderful, healthy child into the world.” She held up the bundle in her arms for all to see.

  All the blood in Micah’s body rushed right to his head, and suddenly Elise, the door, and everything began to spin. He swayed back. Luckily, the wall of his three friends behind him kept him from falling.

  “Are you all right, Micah?” Elise said.

  “I think he was about to faint,” Tom said, alarm and amusement vying in his voice.

  “I-I”fm fine. Just fine. . . .” Micah stammered. He made himself stand firm, like a man. Like a . . . father. The thought made his head light again, but he remained stable on his feet.

  “Micah, you can come in now,” Elise said. “I hope the rest of you gentlemen don’t mind waiting a bit so the new family can have some time alone.”

  Micah did not need another invitation. Brushing past Elise with hardly a glance at the bundle, he strode quickly to Lucie’s bedside. She was pale and obviously worn. Her dark eyes seemed larger than usual and were ringed with circles. Her hair lay in damp strands about her face. Yet for all her fatigue, she seemed to glow. Her smile, as always, was like cool, fresh water on a hot summer day. Micah drank it in, reveling in her beauty and in the deeper beauty of the love on the wings of that smile. The love for him! That would never cease to amaze him.

  Taking her hand, he sat in the chair by the b
ed. “You are truly all right, Lucie?”

  “Oh yes! Micah, we have a son! I didn’t think I could be happier than I was on the day we married, but I am.”

  “Same here,” he said, then her words sank in. “A son?”

  “And our Lucie was very brave,” Juana said, wiping a cloth across Lucie’s forehead. “Now we will leave you two—I mean you three—alone.”

  Elise brought the baby to the couple. “Would you like to hold him, Micah?”

  “Me?” he squeaked, all his fears flooding over him again.

  “I happen to know you are quite proficient with babies.”

  “But this one’s different. . . .” His eyes skittered to Lucie. “This one is mine . . . ours. I’m . . . a father.”

  “Come on, then,” Elise prompted. And before Micah could say another word, the bundle was tucked in the crook of his arm.

  The two older women then left, and Micah gazed at the child. Impulsively he lifted the blanket wrapped snugly around the infant. A tiny hand popped out. Micah touched the fingers, then looked at the other hand. Then he loosed the feet and counted ten toes.

  “He’s perfect, isn’t he?” Lucie said.

  Micah nodded. “It doesn’t surprise me at all that anything that is part of you would be perfect. But, Lucie, I can hardly believe I am part of this as well. Something so perfect has come from me! It is far too amazing to even ponder.”

  “It doesn’t surprise me at all, Micah, my love. I always knew there was more to you than met the eye. And in addition to that, our God is the giver of perfect gifts.”

  “Yes. I among all men should know that!”

  “We will name him Jed, like we agreed.”

  Micah nodded again. And for the first time since that terrible time in Mexico, he was able to smile when he thought about his friend. “I’ll bet he is grinning ear to ear over this. Thank you for letting me have this way, this joyous way, to remember my friend.” He paused, then added, “But if you recall, what we really agreed on was Jed Joaquin Sinclair. A child of two proud cultures. Oh, and Lucie, there is more yet. Tom just came to celebrate the fact that today Texas has officially joined the Union.”

  “How wonderful!” said Lucie. “I love the symbolism it all represents.

  Our little Jed will be a special child, Micah. I know it.”

  “He is a special child!” Micah tucked the blanket securely back around the baby. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lucie gazing at them. “What is it, Lucie?”

  “Oh, I was just wondering what we will name our next special child.”

  “Next child! Then it’s true what everyone said, that you quickly forget all the pain?”

  “I forgot the moment I laid eyes on him.”

  “I kind of did, too.” Micah bent down and kissed the babe’s fore-head. And he meant it in the broadest sense. The past could never be changed, yet God had found a way to heal many of the wounds.

  “Well, if you can handle so much happiness, so can I!” Micah said, brushing her smiling lips with his.

  MORE HISTORICAL FICTION FROM

  Judith Pella

  When his father suddenly dies, Philip de Tollard is falsely accused of murder by his cruel and abusive half brother. Escaping with only his life, Philip devises a dangerous plan for vengeance. But love and hate have consequences, and he must face the truth that God will not be ignored.

  Mark of the Cross by Judith Pella

  To welcome the new single preacher, the ladies of Maintown, and their eligible daughters, decide to make him a quilt. Yet as each young woman tries to outdo the other in creating the most exquisite quilt block, they all learn that things aren’t always what they seem.

  Bachelor’s Puzzle by Judith Pella

  Patchwork Circle # 1

  Maggie Newcomb knows two things: she isn’t good at quilting, and she needs to get better, fast. But when her plan to catch a certain boy’s attention backfires, Maggie is left wondering what— and who—her heart truly desires.

  Sister’s Choice by Judith Pella

  Patchwork Circle #2

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