Hannah_Bride of Iowa
Page 11
“Is everything okay?’ Maddie asked, shutting the door and taking his wet jacket off.
“W…w…we lost s...some chickens,” he stuttered, shivering.
Maddie ran upstairs and grabbed the heavy blanket off the bed in the spare room. She draped it around him and hurried to get a fire going so she could make coffee.
“Did you see any of the other animals?” Maddie asked when she returned with two cups of coffee and snuggled in next to him.
“No,” Samuel said, laying his head back and shutting his eyes. “It was too dark. I’ll round them up tomorrow.”
“Samuel,” Maddie whispered. “We forgot all about Mr. Wiggles. I can’t find him.”
“He’ll show up. Don’t worry.” The words had just left his mouth when deep breathing told Maddie he was asleep. She took the coffee out of his hand and set it on the table then huddled under the blanket with him, closed her eyes and knew no more.
* * * *
The next day, Maddie went to her room to get changed. Lizzy was still asleep in their bed, but lying right by her side was Mr. Wiggles. At least there was something to smile about. She put on a pair of old, worn black pants and a long-sleeved blue cotton shirt that had belonged to Martha. Today was going to be a hard day working outside in the dirt and mud and she didn’t want to ruin any of her dresses.
Maddie swept up the shattered glass that lay all over the floor while Samuel found boards to cover the window.
Gus and Frank road in early to make sure they’d all survived. “All we got was a stiff breeze in West Liberty,” Frank said, “but hear tell others didn’t fare so well.”
The men worked on the porch, corral, and did as much as could be done to fix the roof on the barn. They declined to stay for dinner saying the women folk would be chomping at the bit to hear everybody was safe.
Samuel had been able to round up all the animals. Other than a few hens, they had all made it through the tornado.
Debris and splintered wood were piled high in the middle of the yard. Though it hadn’t rained it was still cloudy and the ground and air were damp. Samuel lit the pile on fire, safe in the knowledge it would never be able to spread. Maddie made coffee and she and Samuel sat on the porch, watching the blaze. Lizzy climbed up onto her father’s lap and fell asleep.
“Do these tornados happen very often here?”
“I’ve seen about three that I can remember. Normally come in the warmer months.”
“That really scared me, Samuel.”
He took off a glove and wiped dirt from her forehead, then plucked up her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it. “It scared me too, Sweet. When the people you care about most in this world are in danger, it can make a heart skip a beat or two.”
She leaned in and kissed him softly. “I do love you, Mr. Morrison.”
Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by a carriage entering the yard.
Charles helped an exhausted looking Hannah down to the ground.
“Are you all right, Hannah?” Maddie asked as she hurried over.
“Yes, I’m fine. I went with Charles to help him with some of the people who were hurt during the storm.” She had on the same brown dress she’d worn when she appeared at Maddie’s door.
“Come inside and I’ll get you something to drink.”
Samuel took a sleeping Lizzy upstairs to her room while Maddie served their guests coffee. “Who got hit?” Samuel asked.
“Martin’s lost their barn and Jenny, his wife, broke her arm. Lester Smith’s house was demolished and he was cut up pretty good.”
Maddie gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh no!”
“Wasn’t much of a house anyway. Said he’d go stay with his sister in Muscatine.” Charles chuckled. “Most families we checked on had females or children and Hannah here, was a Godsend. She comforted both the women folk and the little ones and saved time by fetching things I needed.”
“I felt so badly for them. It was nice being able to help, even just a tiny bit,” Hannah said.
“How did you happen to be together this morning?” Samuel asked.
“Charles has been kind enough to check up on me these last few days. He was with me when Mr. Martin’s boy came looking for him, and I asked if I could accompany him.”
Samuel’s dimple appeared on his cheek as he grinned from ear to ear. “That’s just so danged nice of you, Charles.”
Crimson made its way up from Charles’ neck to his forehead. “Yes, well, I actually had news for Hannah. Good news, actually.”
“Did you hear something from New Orleans?” Maddie asked anxiously.
“My friend told me they found Thomas Bentley’s body out in an alley, stabbed multiple times and robbed. He was a man with many enemies so the authorities figured somebody just gave him what he had coming.”
“Oh, Hannah!” Maddie hugged her friend. “I am so relieved!”
“So am I.” Tears gathered in Hannah’s eyes. “I really do like this little town and if I can find work, I intend to stay.”
Charles turned her to face him. “I think I can take care of that problem for you, if you’re willing. Watching you today, I’d like for you to work with me.”
Surprise registered in her eyes. “Really, Charles? I liked being with you today. I would be very grateful.”
Thunder rumbled far off and soon it began to sprinkle. “We’d best get moving.” Charles said, helping Hannah up.
Hannah waved as they rode away. “We’ll talk soon, Maddie.”
Maddie watched them go, a sly smile coming to her face. “Don’t get any ideas, Sweet.” Samuel said, pulling her in tight, kissing the tip of her cold nose, “Charles is a confirmed bachelor.”
She pulled his face down to hers, capturing his lips. The kiss was full of promise for later that evening. She opened the door to go inside, but turned and purred, “Don’t bet the farm on it!”
Epilogue
Maddie pulled the blanket up and snuggled deeper. It was late September and the nights were turning chilly. She searched for the warmth of Samuel’s body, but found it missing. She rose up on an elbow. Samuel wasn’t in bed and it was still the middle of the night.
Gingerly, she rolled out of bed, still sore. After all, it had only been a week. Light contractions had started just as Hannah and Charles were saying, “I do.” After the wedding ceremony, Maddie had politely asked the couple to put off their honeymoon until Charles could deliver her baby.
She put on her robe and peeked downstairs. She saw by the shadows dancing on the wall that the fire in the hearth had been stoked and was going strong.
She started downstairs, but stopped short. Samuel was sitting in the rocking chair holding Jonathan Samuel Morrison. Maddie had been so grateful when Samuel agreed to name their son after her father.
“Johnny,” Samuel said, letting the baby grab his finger, “I have never been as scared as I was the night you were born. Your ma was having a hard time of it.” He swallowed. “I don’t know what I’d have done if something happened to her or you. I just couldn’t go through something like that again.”
A short cry from Jonathan told whoever was listening that it was time to eat. “Don’t start squawking. Your ma needs her rest.”
Maddie watched for a few more minutes before sneaking up and putting her arms around Samuel’s neck, kissing his cheek. “You best let me take over. I don’t believe this young man cares much if I get any rest. He just wants a full belly.”
Samuel switched places with her so she could rock while feeding their son. A feeling, he had never felt before surged through him as he watched Jonathan suckle his mother’s breast.
“Are you alright, Samuel?”
He kissed her briefly. “When Martha died, I never got to see my child and wife come together like this.” His eyes glowed in the light from the fire. “Thank you for my son, Maddie.”
Her eyes were like pools of emerald green. “Samuel, I want nothing more in this life that is not right here in this hou
se. I have you to thank for that. You, Lizzy and little Jonathan here, make my world complete.”
A piece of wood popped in the fireplace and broke the special moment Maddie and Samuel were sharing. The baby was asleep, though it wouldn’t be long before he would be demanding his breakfast.
Samuel held his hand out and helped her to her feet. He leaned down and kissed his new son’s cheek then brushed Maddie’s lips and the three of them went upstairs. After Jonathan was changed and put in his cradle, Maddie climbed quietly back into bed. Samuel was already asleep.
Tears came to her eyes as she thought of her mom and wished she could have had this kind of happiness until the end of her days. She realized this kind of love could be snatched away in the blink of an eye. Maddie would fight Heaven and Hell to hold onto what she had. She snuggled up against Samuel’s back and put her arm around his waist. Her last thought before drifting back to sleep was a picture of her ma and pa smiling down on her.
The End
Hi everybody! I sure hope you liked, Hannah, Bride of Iowa. If you enjoyed reading this book, there are 49 more in the series! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Brides here, http://www.newwesternromance.com
I have four more historical western romances under my belt. The Jesse Series, Jesse’s Find and Jesse’s Nightmare, Justice Comes to Salina and Revenge, the Cowboy Way. I have written several contemporary romances and a family drama. Most of the adult stories are penned under P. A. Estelle. You can find them all on my Amazon page -
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