by Rita Hestand
"Certainly, send for me if there is any change." The doctor told them. "I've got to deliver a baby down by Murphy Creek. But if she has any improvement, let me know."
"Is there anything we can do for her?" Joe asked his voice hoarse.
"Pray, and be with her."
"Can she hear us?"
"Some say it's possible, I don't know. But it wouldn't hurt to try talking to her." The doctor encouraged.
"Thank you, again." George said and walked out with the doctor.
Joe went inside and Ole Jen got up. "I'll get you some coffee…"
"Thank you…" He winked at her.
He took Melanie's hand. "I'm so sorry sweetheart. I didn't know about the baby, or I would have been over there to get you myself. I'm sorry I deceived you so. Sorry, for so many things, but…one thing…I'll never be sorry for loving you. I didn't write those letters you spoke of, but I signed them. I didn't sign them for Joe, but for me. I signed them, forever in Love. Its how I've felt about you, all along. I've loved you for years, my darling, years. So many times, I wanted to tell you, but you were already infatuated with my brother. I didn't know how. I've missed you…so much. I wanted to go get you, but I knew it had to be your decision to come home to me. Please…come back to me, my love. Please…."
Ole Jen brought him some coffee. Joe turned loose of her hand long enough to sip the coffee. He stared at her beautiful face and thought of all the beautiful moments they had since he had come home. A tear slipped down his cheek, unhindered.
Ole Jen patted his back, "She'll come back to us, you wait and see."
Joe nodded. "I wish I'd known sooner about the baby."
Ole Jen looked at him. "At least the baby is alright."
Joe nodded. "Who'd have thought I was going to be a father so soon?"
"When she gets well, we'll have a lot to celebrate." Ole Jen said with a smile.
"Yes, we will…" Joe nodded.
Then Joe turned to look at Ole Jen. "Her mother, her mother must be told."
"Oh my, I hadn't even thought of that yet. Yes, I'll send one of my brothers to fetch her." Ole Jen nodded.
But George had already thought of it, and was on his way over to tell her himself.
When he got there, Minerva came out to greet him. "Why George, nice to see you so soon."
"Minerva, I've got some bad news…" He said and pulled her inside.
Before she would sit down, she insisted on knowing what was wrong.
"Oh my God…the baby?" Minerva shook her head.
"Strangely enough, the baby is still fine. But she's not conscious. She has to wake up, Minerva! For both their sakes."
"I'll pack a bag, do you mind putting up with me for a while?"
"Of course not, we're all family." George told her.
She stopped what she was doing, which was fiddling with a hankie in her hand distractedly. "Thank you…for coming yourself."
"I wanted to be here for you!" George told her.
"Such a gentleman…" Minerva said on her way up the stairs to pack her bag.
~*~
Two weeks later, the doctor had just left and told them that if there were no change in two more weeks they would have to try to take the baby.
Joe and George were distraught and Minerva was a wreck.
Joe was trying to hold himself together, but the only woman he'd ever loved was drifting slowly away from him. How could he bring her back?
He walked into her room and stared down at her. "I read in a book…some kind of fantasy story, where when the girl was kissed, she came back to them. So I want to kiss you my darling. So you'll come back to me."
He went to the other side of the bed, and turned her head toward him, then bent to take her lips with his. At first, she felt stone cold, there was nothing, but he continued to kiss her, her lips, her eyes, her brow, her nose, the side of her mouth and back again to take her lips with his.
Suddenly, as though in some dream, her lips moved against his.
He pulled up to look at her and her eyes were open, staring as though not seeing.
"Oh…my God…you've come back!" He cried.
He pulled her into his arms and cradled her head with his hands.
"Forever in love…" she whispered.
He looked into her eyes and now she was looking at him. "Yes, sweetheart…forever in love…We'll always be forever in love, no matter what."
After he got over the shock of her waking up, he called the others into the room and the room came to life once more.
She didn't talk much at first, but she watched as everyone crowded around her and their faces lit with smiles.
"So there's going to be another little Armstrong, is there?" George asked coming toward her.
She smiled and nodded.
"You've made me so happy, child." George said with tears in his eyes as he kissed her forehead.
Minerva went to kiss her forehead and smiled. "You gave us quite a scare."
As the days passed, Melanie began to come alive again and be her old self.
However, they hadn't talked about their relationship yet.
Joe came in one afternoon and as she was eating the stew that Ole Jen made for her, she looked at Joe.
"I don't love him anymore…" She said softly.
"What?" Joe looked puzzled.
"I love you Sam…I really do…it took me a while to realize just how much. I've missed you terribly…"
"Oh…Melanie…" he came and sat beside her on the bed. "I didn't come after you because I wanted it to be your decision to come home, not mine. But I almost went out of my mind while you were gone."
"Did you really sign those letters?" She asked out of the blue.
"Forever in love, yes. I did. It was the only thing I put on the letters." Joe admitted.
"Deep down I knew there was something different that first day. Your kisses were so different. Your passion was so fiery. The real Joe was never that way with me. I told myself Joe had changed. Somehow…I questioned that. And I know I never have to compete with Carmen now, and I will be kind to her, and welcome her in the family."
"Then you are coming back to me?" Joe asked his brow furrowing.
"I am back, my darling Sam, and I'll never leave you again. I promise!" She smiled.
He took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly.
"Oh Sam…we're going to have a wonderful life together." She murmured.
"And the baby…it's too soon…but…"
"It's ours…and I can hardly wait to introduce you to your child…"
They kissed and sealed the bargain…Forever in Love!
The End
About the Author
Rita Hestand is a Texas author. She's a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. Widowed Rita writes full time now.
Her hobbies include reading, bowling, kid parties, and enjoying the retirement life.
She's written in several genres including, contemporary and historical romance, western romance, western thrillers, children's books, short stories and poetry. But she swears that poetry is something she had to be "into at the moment". In other words, she has to be inspired by something or someone.
Her books take a realistic, but rustic approach to life. She likes to include God in her books too, although she isn't an inspirational writer. The way she figures it, God is a big part of living.
She believes in the concept of never giving up your dreams. Never let anyone or anything put you down about them, they are yours and you can go anywhere if you are willing to work at it.
She hopes you enjoy her new Brides of the West Series. Look for new boxsets of them coming your way.
God bless
Rita Hestand
Rita's Other Books
Rita's series books
The Travers Brothers (including)
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Courting Abby
Hannah's Man
Along Came Love
Avalanche of the Heart
Raining in My Heart
Ring of Fire
Twelfth of Never
Stand By Me
The Amory's (including)
Heart of the Wild
Sweeter Than Wine
Mail Order Nanny
The Red River Valley Brides
Heart of a Lady
Dancing With the Preacherman
Last Bride, Last Man
Maggie's Dreams
Winning the Lady
Brides of the West
Heart of a Family
Delivering the Bride
Heart of a Woman
Wanted Bride
This Side of Forever
Shotgun Bride
A Love as Big as Texas
Heart of a Captive
And more to Come on this Series
Historicals
Always Remember
Jodi's Journey
Love Rules
Western Serial Killer Series
Better Off Without Her
Good Day for a Hanging
Bad Day for a Killing
The Dreamcatcher Series
Beyond the Dream Catcher
Ask No Tomorrows
Just One Kiss
The Connors (includes)
Cinderella Nanny
Single Contemporaries
Pretend Mom
Nick's Baby
Suspicions of the Heart
Strictly Business
Runaway Bride
Wandering Heart
And there are many short-stories,
and children's books for you to enjoy.
