Who Brings Forth the Wind

by Lori Wick

  for Christmas, and in fact Stacy felt close to tears herself. It was

  the first time they'd been apart during the holidays.

  stacy found southern england in January to be warmer

  than usual as far as the temperature went, but the "weather"

  inside Winslow was still on the cooler side. Stacy, thinking her

  relationship with Tanner was finally on solid footing, found

  herself confused. After spending much time in prayer concerning

  the matter, however, Stacy was reminded just how

  intense Tanner's personality could be.

  He was throwing himself into a business deal at the moment,

  and other than at the dinner table, Stacy wasn't seeing

  much of him. He came to bed long after she slept and was up

  before she woke. He wasn't even taking time out for Drew.

  Stacy found herself keeping her son quiet once again for fear

  of disturbing Tanner and incurring his wrath. He had been a

  bit on edge lately, and Stacy knew his temper was close to the

  surface. It seemed too that he was distancing himself again,

  but Stacy prayed that she was only imagining it.

  However, Stacy was not imagining Drew's despondency.

  The little boy had quickly come to love Mrs. Maxwell, just as

  Tanner had predicted, but he was missing Hettie's and his

  father's attention terribly. His little face was solemn most of

  the time, and he simply wasn't his old chattery self. It was this

  melancholy, the quiet his mother was imposing on him while

  in the house, and the overall upheaval of their life in the past

  months that caused Stacy's heart to melt. For several days

  326

  Drew had been asking to go fishing, and Stacy had simply not

  had the energy. He never fussed or made a sound when she

  said no, and in some ways this made it all the harder.

  "Can we go fishing today, Mum?" Drew would ask. He'd ^

  taken to calling her Mum most of the time now, and his

  sweetness when he said it made her want to give him the

  world on a silver platter.

  "Oh, Drew," Stacy would reply, "I don't know if I can

  manage it today."

  "All right, Mum." He would smile at her just a little. "After

  the baby has come, could we then?"

  So when Drew sweetly asked Stacy again if they could fish,

  she agreed. The baby was due in a month, and she was feeling

  tired and huge, but she said yes anyway.

  Stacy informed Mrs. Maxwell in the middle of the afternoon,

  when she would have normally taken Drew for a few

  hours. "Mrs. Maxwell, if anyone is looking for us, Lord Drew

  and I have gone fishing. We will be back in a few hours."

  The nanny never blinked or commented beyond a respectful

  "Yes, my lady," but Stacy could feel her surprise. At

  the moment, however, she didn't care. She walked out to the

  stable with her son to collect the poles, all the while asking

  herself if she could drive a pony trap over her enormous

  stomach. One look at their small size, however, and she

  changed her mind. She couldn't bear the thought of a pony

  pulling her or of having to control one of the larger animals.

  Drew had actually had a nap that day. Often these days he

  did not fall asleep, but after nearly two hours of sleep he was

  in rare form. Stacy had to call him back several times. He was

  so excited to be out and making noise that he simply forgot

  himself.

  They both worked up something of a sweat on the way, but

  because the air near the creek seemed cooler to Stacy, she was

  thankful they had both dressed warmly as they settled down

  to fish. In no time at all they caught several. The smell, which

  usually never bothered Stacy, was a bit strong to her today, but

  327

  Drew was so helpful and entertaining that she determined not

  to let it spoil their time.

  The beginning of the walk home wasn't much fun for

  Stacy. Drew carried the fish himself, but Stacy's legs felt like

  lead as they trudged through the fields toward Winslow. However,

  Drew, who was still feeling like he'd been set free,

  managed for at least part of the time to pull Stacy's mind from

  her painful body and legs.

  "I'm going to eat a whole fish by myself."

  "Are you now?"

  "Yes, and then I'm going to share with Papa and Mrs.

  Maxwell."

  "I'm sure they'll enjoy that. Will I get some fish?"

  "Oh, Mum!" Drew's huge eyes were comical. "You'll get

  the first one because you caught the most. Remember that big

  one?"

  Stacy laughed when Drew stopped on the path and made

  fish lips. She roared when he moved his lips and crossed his

  eyes. She was still laughing when Winslow came into view.

  Drew was beginning to stagger under the weight of the fish,

  which only added to his hilarity. Stacy was so glad they'd gone

  that she swooped suddenly and caught Drew in her arms, fish

  and all.

  "I love you, Drew."

  "Oh, Mum, I love you too. Papa!" Drew, while still in his

  mother's embrace, spotted his father. He was coming toward

  them on the path, his face expressionless but his stride purposeful.

  He bent and lifted Drew as soon as he was beside them. He

  then reached for the string offish without looking at Stacy and

  led them back to Winslow. Stacy sighed gently to herself. He

  was coldly furious. As tired as she felt, she knew she would be

  in tears if he shouted at her.

  Drew talked to his father nonstop on the short walk

  inside, and Stacy realized how much she missed his joyful,

  happy moods. He was so rarely solemn that it had been like

  watching a different child.

  328

  Mrs. Maxwell was waiting for them, as was Reece. The ttt were handed off to Reece, who immediately retired them ft)

  the kitchen. Drew was still in his father's arms, but Stacy didnl

  wait for Tanner to give the orders.

  "Drew, please go with Mrs. Maxwell now. She will give yom your bath. I'm going to eat in my room tonight, Mrs. Maxwell]

  Will you please bring Drew to me when he's ready for bed?"

  "Certainly, my lady. Come along, Lord Drew. We'll have

  you cleaned up in no time."

  "I caught fish, Mrs. Maxwell. I used a hook."

  "Did you now?"

  Stacy watched them for a moment and then without even

  glancing at her husband took the stairs herself.

  You're a coward, Stacy, she rebuked herself as she walked

  away, knowing that Tanner was still standing at the bottom of

  the stairs. But try as she might she could not make herself go

  back down or even find the energy to turn around and face

  him.

  Thankfully, Juliet was waiting for her in her sitting room.

  For a young woman she was certainly competent, and in a very

  short time, Stacy was luxuriating in her bath. The aches in her body and even the coldness in her husband's eyes gradually

  receded. She soaked for nearly an hour before Juliet brought

  her a lovely peignoir. It was voluminous, something Stacy's

  shape welcomed.

  "Would you like a dressing gown, my lady?"

  "Yes."

  When she was warmly covered, S
tacy sat at her dressing

  table and let Juliet brush her hair. Since it was wet, the maid

  left it down so Stacy could sit before the fire to eat and let her

  hair dry.

  Dinner was quite the feast, but Stacy was not overly hungry.

  She felt thoughtful, meditative even, over her outing with

  Drew, Tanner would not seek her out, she was certain of that.

  And even if he did bring the subject up, Stacy realized she was

  not sorry for her actions. In fact, the joy she saw in her little

  329

  r's face was enough to convince her that she would do it

  fagain should he ask.

  A knock at the door interrupted Stacy's musings, and a

  moment later Drew and Mrs. Maxwell came through. Drew sat

  in what was left of his mother's lap, and Mrs. Maxwell took a

  chair out of the way.

  "Are you going to read to me tonight, Mum?"

  "Well, now," Stacy spoke softly, her eyes on his precious

  face. "I'm rather tired. How would you like to tell me a story?"

  Drew's eyes rounded with delight.

  "All right. How about the story of Ruth? Would you like to

  hear that one?"

  Stacy was telling him yes when Tanner came soft-footedly

  into the room. Drew did not notice his presence, and Stacy,

  although surprised to see him, did not give him away.

  "Ruth was married, but her husband died," Drew began.

  "She lived in Moab with her mother, I think." Drew didn't

  understand about in-laws, so Stacy let it pass. "Anyway, they

  went back to where Naomi lived, and then Ruth went to work

  in the fields. Bozus--"

  "Boaz," Stacy corrected him.

  "Boaz," Drew started again, "owned the field, and when

  he saw Ruth he told his servants to be kind to her. They were,

  and then Naomi sent Ruth to Boaz, so Boaz would know he

  could marry her. They were married and had a baby named

  Jesse."

  "Obed," Stacy corrected gently.

  "Oh, that's right, Obed And then Obed had Jesse and

  Jesse had David and then," Drew's voice grew as triumphant

  as Stacy's whenever she told the story, "a long time later,

  Joseph was born, and he was married to Mary, and Mary had Jesus. Jesus was not Joseph's son, because He was the Son of God."

  "Oh, Drew." Stacy's voice was soft with wonder. She had

  talked to him about these things almost from the time he was

  born, but Stacy had not realized just how much he had taken

  in. She could feel Tanner's eyes on them in the dim light of the

  330

  fire, but she kept her own gaze averted A jaw-popping

  from Drew reminded Stacy of how late it was getting.

  "You best head off now, my darling."

  "All right, Mumma. Good night."

  They kissed sweetly, and then he crawled from her lap;

  moved toward Mrs. Maxwell. Tanner chose that moment

  come out of the shadows.

  "Come along, old man," he said as he swung Drew up ont

  his shoulders and moved to the door. "I'll cart you off to bed*!

  "Good night, Mum," Drew managed one last time. Mrs.

  Maxwell followed her young charge, and Stacy found herself 1

  alone. She was growing more weary by the second, so she took

  herself toward the bedroom before she fell asleep in the chair.

  Knowing it would be disastrous at this point to lie down,

  Stacy sat on the edge of the bed to read her Bible. She read

  from Jeremiah 9, verses 23 and 24.

  "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his

  wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not

  the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory

  in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the

  Lord who exerciseth lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness

  in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the

  Lord"

  These were the verses Lady Andrea had shared with Stacy

  concerning Romans 12. Stacy had been worried about her

  attitude. She feared that she might be thinking of herself more

  highly than she ought to by telling people how God was

  working in her life and heart. The verses in Jeremiah gave her

  peace, as long as she gave God the glory, she was moving with

  a right attitude and heart. The verses also gave her a direction

  for prayer, something she would have spent some time doing

  right then, but she was growing very weary.

  She stood and removed her robe, absently wondering

  when Tanner would come to bed. She had just turned the

  lantern down low when he entered. Stacy turned from the bed

  where she'd been ready to climb in and watched him. He

  stood for a moment, his eyes seeming to assess her before

  331

  loving to turn the lantern higher, Stacy said nothing to the

  Beold anger in his eyes, and Tanner, obviously expecting some-Fthing,

  began to pace. Stacy watched him in silence. Finally he

  ,, stopped and pinned her to the floor with furious eyes.

  "It is beyond me, Anastasia, how you could go fishing in

  your condition."

  He began to pace again, and quite suddenly Stacy was

  overcome with anger, rage actually. Her hands fisted in front

  of her. When Tanner stopped and pointed a finger at her,

  ready to go again, Stacy cut him off.

  "Don't you say a word to me, Tanner Richardson! Don't you

  even so much as scowl in my direction!"

  Tanner was so taken aback by this outburst that the anger

  was surprised right out of him.

  "Drew's entire life has been turned upside down in the

  last year. His grandpapa, the only father he'd ever known,

  suddenly leaves, and he can't talk to him or play with him

  anymore. Then we move to London where everything smells

  and he sees water but he can't fish. You come on the scene

  when he's finally beginning to adjust to Brentwood, and we're

  whisked out here to Winslow where we're treated like so

  much baggage--and unwanted baggage to boot!

  "He no more finds out that you're his father, then we go

  away again. Now his mother is starting to rival his pony for

  size, and his father is so busy with work that he doesn't have a

  moment to give him.

  "I will take Drew fishing if he asks me, and no one will

  gainsay me! I will take him until my pains begin, if that's what

  it takes for him to know that he's loved and cared for."

  Stacy was trembling from head to foot. She turned and

  walked on shaking legs to the window and simply stared at the

  glass. Never had she felt so angry and alone. She heard Tanner

  come up behind her but didn't move or speak, not even when

  his arms came around her and he rested his chin on top of her

  head.

  "You're trembling." His voice was a whisper.

  Stacy didn't reply.

  332

  "I must admit to you that I've never looked at it * Drew's standpoint. Suddenly your actions make compl

  sense."

  "I meant what I said, Tanner."

  "I know you did"

  "Drew needs me to be as normal as possible."

  "I understand."

  They fell silent then, and Stacy felt bone weary witlm being sleepy. She thought her body could melt with exhaus3

/>   tion, but her mind was still moving like a team out of control'

  "I need to lie down, Tanner."

  He didn't reply, but immediately lifted her and moved to

  the bed. She landed softly against the mattress where his

  hands gently tucked her in and made her comfortable.

  "Can you go to sleep now?" he asked.

  "I'm not sleepy, just weary."

  Reaching to turn down the light, Tanner suddenly stopped

  He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at Stacy.

  "You've been busy lately," Stacy commented, not able to

  read his thoughts through his eyes.

  "Yes" was all he said

  "Tanner," Stacy spoke, feeling suddenly brave. "Should we

  talk about the Cradwell party now?"

  "No." Tanner's answer was immediate, but not angry.

  Stacy looked disappointed, so he explained.

  "I realize now that Stanley was out of his head, and that

  you were innocent of all he claimed, but I'm not ready to hear

  what happened."

  Stacy nodded, and a weight that she had become accustomed

  to suddenly lifted from her shoulders. He believed her.

  After all this time he knew she had been faithful. Thank You,

  Father; thank You, Holy God

  "How was your delivery with Drew?"

  The question was so far from Stacy's own thoughts that she

  didn't immediately answer him.

  "Was it hard?" Tanner became more specific, thinking

  she'd misunderstood him.

  333

  "I think most deliveries are hard, but when you see the yy you tend to forget all about the pain."

  r * Stacy saw that he was not satisfied with her answer. She

  flossed around in her mind for what he needed, and suddenly

  fHettie's face came into view. This was why Tanner had put 1 distance between them, why he had been working so hard

  Hettie had talked and scared him about the birth. Stacy was as

  certain of this as if she herself had heard the conversation.

  With a voice tender with compassion, she asked, "Are you

  worried about something, Tanner?"

  He didn't answer. Stacy knew she had to be honest.

  "They tell me I nearly bled to death after Drew was born. I

  was rather out of it, so I don't recall everything. Drew was over

  24 hours old before I was even coherent enough to learn that

  I'd had a baby boy."

  Tanner licked his suddenly dry lips. "And do you not dread

  the coming birth?"

  "No, I guess I don't. I was down for two weeks--"

  "I know," Tanner cut her off. "You didn't write."

  Stacy stared at him, confounded by the fact that he would