by Lori Wick
He was so tender with both Alexa and Drew.
"Oh, Stacy, all this time.. .What have I done?"
"It's over, Lucinda," Stacy knew it was time to cut in. "I
won't say that Tanner hasn't hurt me, but, God willing, the
worst is over. I'm not exactly a saint myself, I hope you realize,
but I believe we're both committed to making this marriage
work."
Lucinda drew in a shuddering breath. "Thank you for
being so understanding. Roddy said that you were, and I know
you've forgiven me, but I don't feel I deserve it. It's all a little
hard to take in."
Stacy nodded understandingly, thinking this had been a
long time in the coming, but well worth the wait.
"Stacy," Lucinda said after a moment, her voice a bit
reluctant, "Roddy has been talking to me about his," she
hesitated over the words, "experience with God"
Stacy hid a smile. "What did he tell you?"
"Quite a bit, actually. He's very excited. He says that you
helped him."
"Yes, we discussed it at the Blackwells'. Roddy was really
feeling rather empty inside and--"
"But we've patched everything up now," Lucinda cut her
off, thinking she understood.
"I know you have, Lucinda, and I'm thrilled that you're
back together, but the emptiness Roddy was experiencing was
not physical or emotional. It was spiritual."
Lucinda stared at her niece. Never had she felt so left out as
she did when Roddy and Stacy talked about God. At the same
time she was interested. Lucinda had gone to church all her
life, but she also had too many bad things happen to her to
363
believe that God really cared about her. However, the change
in Roddy was remarkable.
Stacy would have commented on Roddy's conversion
then, but Lucinda began to look very uncomfortable.
Lucinda changed the subject by asking about Brandon and
Sunny. Stacy let it go, but her heart was deep in prayer for
Lucinda's salvation. However, the subject did not come up
again, but God's care was evident in the marvelous evening
they all shared.
Tanner finally seemed willing to put the past behind him
and was a wonderful host. After the children were put down
for the night, the four adults dined and talked. It was very late
when the duke and duchess climbed the stairs for bed, but
knowing Roddy and Lucinda would be with them for only a
few days made it worth the loss of sleep.
366
stacy watched tanner, whose expression was serious,
and debated whether or not she should intrude into his
thoughts. Drew was not with them now, but just minutes
before he had been in Stacy's lap. The two of them had been
discussing the upcoming weekend at Bracken.
At the mention of the event, Tanner had become pensive.
Stacy wanted to respect his moods, but she knew she would be
miserable if they went when he didn't really care to.
"Tanner?"
"Yes?" He looked at her, his expression now open.
"Would you rather we didn't go to Bracken?"
Tanner almost smiled. Unless he worked at it, Stacy could
usually read his thoughts just by looking at his face,
"I have no objections to our going to the party."
"But given your choice, you'd rather stay here?"
Tanner reached for her hand. "It seems that I am often
having to share you. Roddy and Lucinda were here, and now
we're headed off to a weekend of being separated by friends
and activities." Tanner stopped when he saw amusement in
his wife's face.
"Roddy and Lucinda left a month ago." Stacy's voice was dry.
"True." Tanner's voice had turned just as wry. "But then
there's your time with Alexa. You knew from the beginning
that I was going to be jealous of that."
365
"She does like to eat," Stacy admitted The duke and
duchess smiled at each other as they both visualized their
butterball daughter.
"Seriously, Tanner--" Stacy had to go back to the subject at
hand "If you don't want to go, I know that Brandon and Sunny
will understand"
Tanner kissed the back of her hand "We'll go. I'm just
being selfish."
"Drew certainly will be pleased," Stacy told him, feeling
well pleased at the way Tanner was putting his own wants
aside. "He's talked of nothing else for days."
"Well, he doesn't have long to wait now," Tanner commented
as he went back to his book. "We leave tomorrow."
"When do Stacy and Tanner arrive?" Chelsea asked Sunny.
"Tomorrow. They live so close that it seemed silly to stay
over, but it's more fun that way, so I talked Tanner into it."
"I haven't seen Tanner Richardson in years," Miles Gallagher
commented.
"Well," Sunny told him, "he's doing fine, and you're going
to love his wife and children. Oh, Miles," Sunny spoke suddenly.
"I've written up a family tree. Will you look at it for me?"
"Sure."
Sunny moved to the small writing desk in the corner and
returned with a small roll of paper.
"I haven't added the dates, but will you check and see if I
have all the names down?"
Miles took the roll and his mother, Chelsea, leaned over
his shoulder as they read
367Gallagher Family Tree
Randolph Gallagher d. 1840m. Katharine d. 1832
Randolph (Rand) Dou glas Hea
1
ther Sunny
m. Chelsea Hawkesbury
1 m. M
arian m. Fostei Jamison m. Brandon Hawkesbury
1 1
Miles Holly
m. Jennifer m. Jordan Townsend
1 I
Har Ian Di
me Sterling
l l
Joshua Allaster
1 l
Lance Louise Preston
i i
Lorrane Andrea
1
Sebastian
Gn
Jan
ice
ics
Hawkesbury Family Ttee
Milton Hawkesbury d. 1846
T
Edgar d 1823
m. Andrea
Chelsea
m. Rand Gallagher
Brandon
m. Sunny
Dexter
m. Judith
1
Miles
m. Jennifer
i
-1 1
Holly
m. Jordan Townsend
1
1
Joshua
i
i
Allaster
1
1
Lorraine
i
i
Andrea
1
Sebastian
Sterling
Preston
Virginia
Milton
I
Daniel
I .
Kendall
368
369
"This looks good," Miles told her, "but you left out Aunt
Lucy."
"Oh, Sunny," Chelsea added, "I guess you did Is she coming
this weekend?"
Sunny told them Aunt Lucy had opted to stay at Ravens-croft,
he
r home set in the countryside just 20 minutes from
Bracken.
Brandon's eccentric Great Aunt Lucy didn't venture out
much anymore. She was getting on in years, but the main
reason she stayed close to home was because she was still
occupied with her writing. Her first book had been published
with great success, and she was now working on her second
The family was still amazed over this.
Aunt Lucy had always been considered something of a
beloved scatterbrain, but she had traveled widely over the
years and seen things that most people only read about. In
fact, most of the family didn't know of her adventures until her
book came out and they were able to read it themselves.
Aunt Lucy would have made a wonderful addition to the
hunting weekend, but with the huge mob Sunny expected, she
knew they would have fun anyway.
"This baby," Chelsea exclaimed as she gently lifted Alexa
from Heather's arms, "is adorable. Look at those round, rosy
cheeks!"
"Does she ever stop smiling?" Jennifer wished to know.
"She is a happy baby," Stacy told them, smiling with pride
at her precious daughter.
"How old is she?" Holly asked.
"About four and a half months."
"What a doll," Heather said. "Don't think you can keep her
for long, Chels. I want her back."
The women had been visiting nonstop for what seemed
like days. Stacy was having the time of her life. She had never
been around so many believers at once, and found it to be the
most encouraging time she had experienced in many months.
Tanner seemed to be enjoying himself too.
The men were all out hunting and had been gone for
hours, but Stacy was so involved with the children and the
other women that she hadn't had time to miss Tanner. Both Brandon and Rand had a way of making Tanner feel at home,
and even though all the men were believers who made no secret of their faith, Tanner had not put his guard up as usual.
When it was time for lunch and the men were not back,
Stacy began to wonder. She tried to take her cue from the
other women, however. When none of them seemed concerned,
Stacy relaxed somewhat. She tried to remember how
long Tanner had been out with the hunting party at the
Cradwells', but it had been so many years ago that she simply
couldn't recall.
"I wonder what's keeping the men?" Chelsea ventured out
loud when lunch was over and the women retired to the
upstairs salon.
"Did they say how far they were headed?" Sunny asked
"I didn't hear anyone say," Holly replied
"Well, Foster has closeted himself downstairs in the
library. Shall I ask him?" This came from Heather, who was
more than willing to check things out. But almost as soon as
she offered, Brandon walked in.
Sunny's face lit for just an instant before she saw that his
face was as pale as death. All the women watched as he walked
straight to Stacy.
"There's been an accident, Stacy," he said without preamble,
his voice breathless. "Tanner has been shot."
Stacy stood. "Is he alive?" she barely managed
"Yes. We were closer to Winslow, so we took him there."
Stacy started moving for the door, but stopped abruptly
and faced the room. "What about Drew and Alexa?"
370
"The children will be fine, Stacy," Sunny told her. "Justgo,"
she urged "We'll get them home to you as soon as possible."
Stacy nodded, still in shock. Sunny gave her a swift hug,
and Brandon ushered her to the door and downstairs.
The coach had been traveling at full speed for nearly ten
minutes before Stacy spoke.
"Where was he hit?"
"His upper chest, the left side."
So near the heart, her mind cried. She swallowed hard to
keep from sobbing.
"Has he lost much blood?" she asked next.
"Yes."
Stacy didn't want to know any more. It didn't matter how it
happened or who was involved, only that she was there in
time. Stacy prayed as the horses' hooves ate up the ground
between the estates.
/ don V know what I'll see when we arrive. Please help me
to be prepared for the worst, Lord. I know he hasn't come to
You, Father, and for this I would ask You to spare him. Your
will is perfect; help me to believe this with all of my heart. Help
me to trust You even in this time of hurt.
Maybe this will be the turningpoint, Father. Maybe Tanner
will see his need for You because of this. Please give me some
assurance. Please let me talk to him before You take him to
You.
Stacy realized then that she was praying as if she knew he
was going to die, which was ridiculous. She began to alter
her prayer, asking God to help her fight the numbness that
seemed to be pervading her limbs, knowing she would be
needed as soon as they arrived.
By the time they had pulled into the courtyard of Winslow,
Stacy felt more in control. The ride had seemed to take ages,
but doors opened seemingly of their own accord as the
duchess's presence was made known. Stacy hurried indoors.
With no care for watching eyes, she picked up her skirt and
took the stairs two at a time.
371
She entered the master bedroom on swift, silent feet and
stared down into the pale features of her husband. Both Rand
and Miles Gallagher were present. Tanner's shirt was off, and
a wrapping of sort had been bound around his chest. The side
directly over the wound was soaked with blood. Stacy stared
down at him and felt an amazing calm come over her.
"Has someone sent for the doctor?" she asked, her voice
soft and in control.
"Yes. Jordan and Dexter have ridden to find him."
"I need Hettie," Stacy began. "Oh, that's right, she's with
the baby. Eden," she said to a maid standing nearby, "bring me
some more dressings and hot water, and please be quick
about it."
Brandon, whose gun had caused the damage, now stepped
forward. He'd been in a state of shock up until then, but seeing
Stacy in charge propelled him forward to assist her. In just a
matter of minutes he was carefully lifting Tanner so Stacy
could change the wraps.
"Do you think the bullet is still in there?" Her voice was
hushed, as though afraid to wake her patient.
"No. It went clean through."
"Good. Let's pad the back here. Reece?" Stacy called quietly
to the faithful servant who came immediately to her side,
"Yes, my lady."
"Check as to whether a coach is bringing Hettie and Price.
If not, see to it. I need them both immediately."
"Yes, my lady."
"Tanner," Stacy now spoke to her unconscious mate. "I'm
going to take care of you, but you need to wake up and tell me
how you feel."
Stacy felt better having said the words, but Tanner lay
mute, his eyes closed, his skin almost clammy with cold.
"Let's get this sheet up around his chest now, and then a
l
ight blanket," Stacy went on. Again Brandon's hands were
there to assist her.
The men in the room watched in some fascination as she
worked. Stacy herself could not have told them where she had
372
373
learned to do such things, but her husband needed her, and at
the moment that was all that mattered.
The doctor showed up some time after Stacy and Brandon
had washed their hands. Stacy stayed very close as he checked
the wound. She took no offense when the doctor assumed
Brandon had done all the work or when he addressed all of his
questions to Lord Hawkesbury. Stacy was content to silently
observe until the doctor reached for his bag and spoke.
"I'm going to have to bleed him."
"What did you say?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, my lady. I'm going to have to ask you to leave so
I can bleed your husband"
"But he's already lost blood, more than he can spare."
Stacy's voice was reasonable, but she felt panicked inside.
Andrew Daniels had always been against this practice, and
some of his beliefs had carried on to his granddaughter.
"It's still necessary," the doctor said, his voice resigned
"No," Stacy told him.
The doctor did not look overly surprised. His gaze swung
to Brandon. "Will you please take Lady Richardson from the
room?"
Whether or not Brandon would have done such a thing,
Stacy would never know. She didn't give him a chance to move.
"Reece!" Stacy used a voice none of them had ever heard
before. "Remove this man at once!"
The doctor's mouth opened in shock, but Reece, surprised
as he was by her tone, promptly came forward to do as he was
told
"You'll kill him," the man sputtered as Reece lay hold of
the doctor's arm.
"You will not bleed my husband," Stacy told him, her eyes
shooting sparks.
"He'll die otherwise." The doctor had pulled himself from
Recce's grasp and was coming back to the bed. Stacy stood
between Tanner and the doctor like an enraged warrior. The
fact that she stood many inches taller than the doctor caused
the man to stop.
"I said you will not bleed him, and if that is all the treatment
you can offer, then get out." Stacy's voice was deadly
cold
The man was so flustered he could only stare at her.
Brandon, Rand, and Miles had moved in such a way that they
seemed to flank Stacy. The doctor glanced into their eyes and
knew he would find no help from any of them. With a deep
sigh he said, "I think you're making a grave mistake, and I
won't be held responsible."
"Then by all means go," Stacy told him reasonably, not at
