by Barbara Goss
Susannah nodded. “I just need more nourishing food. For days all they gave me was toast and water and a bit of egg now and then.”
“I’ll get you a nice, hot bowl of stew before we leave,” Carter said.
“No! Please, I just want to go home.”
Carter nodded. “Let’s go.”
Outside of the inn, Carter helped Susannah into the buggy. “I’ll be right back,” he said. He walked into the stable and gave the boy he’d spoken to earlier instructions on how to take care of the horse with the injury. When he returned, he hopped up onto the buggy, squeezed Susannah’s hand, and headed the buggy toward St. Joseph.
For most of the trip home, Susannah rested her head on her husband’s chest. Carter held her close while holding the reins, unable to get close enough to her for his liking.
He thanked God all the way home.
Penny nearly knocked over a lamp scampering to the door to greet Susannah and Carter. She rolled over onto her back to have her belly rubbed, like a dog might‒they could tell she’d missed them.
Effie ran out from the kitchen to hug Susannah. “Welcome home!" she said with a wink. "I’ll make a special dinner. I know about the babe and I’ll make sure you get all the right foods.”
“Thank you, Effie. I think Carter and I are going to go upstairs for a short nap, seeing as how we rode all night.”
“I’ll have dinner ready later than usual, then,” she said.
Carter picked his wife up and carried her upstairs. He laid her on the bed, undressed her down to her chemise, and covered her up before he undressed and joined her beneath the quilt.
He pulled her against him. “I can’t tell you…I have no words.” He felt himself getting teary eyed and fought it, but his voice trembled when he said, “I was so worried.”
“Prayer kept me from having a panic attack and it also kept me fairly calm throughout. Ben did wrong to go along with Cecilia, but in the end, he was the one who helped me to survive,” she said.
“He helped me find you and even prayed with me,” Carter said. “I just want to hold you like this. Fall asleep if you must, for I can’t let you go.”
He could feel her smile against his cheek.
“You’ll never have to again. I’m right where I belong, husband, and where I plan to stay.”
“I love you more than anything, more than words can say,” Carter whispered.
“Then don’t try to say…just kiss me,” she said.
Carter pressed his lips to hers and felt as if he’d been lifted up to heaven.
On the very day, a year after her family had been killed, Carter found her lying on the sofa, staring into the blaze in the fireplace. He sat down beside her.
“I know there's nothing I can say or do to lessen your loss, but if I can at least take the edge off your pain for a few minutes, then what I have in my hand will have been worth it.”
She turned to him and put her hand over his. “Just your being here with me takes the edge off. You and this baby are my family now.” She rubbed her rounded belly which he thought was the most beautiful sight.
He held the rings out so she could see them. “I never gave you a ring when we got married, so I bought two. This one,” he pointed to the emerald, “matches your eyes and stands for the love we shared in the middle of a forest somewhere in Kansas, representing our betrothal, of sorts.
"And this one,” he pointed to the gold band with tiny diamonds encircling it, “represents our love which is continuous and without end.”
Tears filled Susannah’s eyes. She sat up and put her arms around Carter’s neck. “I love the rings, but I love what they symbolize even more. I love you, Carter.”
Carter kissed her and then kissed her rounded belly. “I love both of you more than I ever thought it possible to love anything.”
Epilogue
Every window in the Harding house had a candle glowing, tied by the candleholder with string to something stable, so Penny couldn’t knock them over. A bough of holly hung by the fireplace, and there was a roaring fire inside it. The downstairs was quiet, the only sound the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner, but upstairs was a different story.
Carter sat outside the bedroom with his head in his hands, with Effie, who tried to console him. The doctor kept peeking his head out of the bedroom to give Carter updates on Susannah’s progress.
When Carter heard his wife squeal in pain, he clenched his fists. “I did this to her,” he growled. “I’ll never touch her like that again!”
Effie stifled a laugh. “It’s nature, Mr. Harding. She’ll be fine,” Effie said, patting his back. “Women have been enduring this for centuries.”
“And sometimes things go wrong,” Carter said.
“She’s strong, healthy, and according to Doc Brown, is doing quite well,” Effie said. “Keep praying.”
Carter felt a bit of guilt, for he’d been so worried and upset when Susannah had begun her labor he’d not once thought to pray, but he immediately remedied that.
It was Christmas Eve and they’d closed the clinic for the next week, knowing the babe was due any day. He hadn’t expected it that very day, but no sooner had they entered the house than Susannah doubled over in pain. He’d left her in Effie’s care and rode to get Doc Brown.
Carter heard the clock downstairs strike midnight. It was Christmas day. Moments later, he heard a baby cry.
“Did you hear that, Effie?”
“I did. Sounds like a healthy cry, to me.”
The doctor opened the door and motioned for Carter to enter.
Susannah lay on the bed, holding a naked baby to her chest. Effie ran to the bureau, grabbed a flannel blanket, and gave it to Susannah.
“Are you okay, Susannah?” Carter asked as soon as he came in. She nodded and he kissed her forehead. “Are you sure?”
“I’m fine, Carter. Look at what we’ve made—she held up the baby. He looks just like you.”
“He’s perfect,” Carter said and knew his face was beaming with joy over the miracle of the birth. “Are you sure you feel all right?” he asked again.
“I’m glad it’s over, but I’m fine,” she said. “What should we name him?”
“Merry Christmas, Susannah,” he said. “The clock struck midnight just before I heard him cry.”
“In that case, the names we’ve chosen might not fit. He should probably be named Christopher or Nicholas‒which do you like best?” she asked.
“Nicholas!” he said.
Susannah kissed the baby’s cheek. “Welcome, Nicholas Baker Harding!”
Carter smiled. “I’m so happy, Susannah‒we're a family, now.”
“I swore while you were in pain that I’d never touch you like that again,” he said.
“I’ve already forgotten the pain,” she said.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too, too much to not try for that sister for Nicholas,” she said. “When I was growing up, I always wished for a big brother, but my brothers were younger than I. I want my daughter to have a big brother to look out for her.”
“I suppose I could force myself to help you make a little daughter, if I really had to,” he winked.
THE END
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