“And so Jacob is walking now, and that’s a mess.” She put her hands on her hips and shook her head back and forth as we kneeled by the ricer, hiking our skirts up so we wouldn’t get them dirty.
“It’s a mess?” I asked, smiling as we started to scrub the clothing.
“He’s getting into everything!” she said, sounding exasperated, though the smile on her face told me something else entirely.
She chuckled and looked over at me, smiling almost tenderly. “But how is Thomas? How are the wedding plans going?” She paused and smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m glad everyone knows,” I said simply, smiling. “It feels good, you know?” I said with a soft sigh.
“Everyone was just so happy! We knew you two were perfect for each other and everyone wanted to see the good doctor happy. And you have worked your way into our hearts!” she said with a laugh.
I chuckled as well, nodding slowly. “Yes. It seems James and I were the last people to know that we were perfect for each other.”
Mariana opened her mouth to speak but suddenly frowned, gazing into the tree line. I turned to see what she was staring at and I was shocked to see a Native American man stumbling out of the forest.
I watched the man stumble out of the woods and the second I saw him, I knew something was terribly wrong. I gathered my skirts and ran through the shallow stream, soaking my shoes, though I didn’t care. Mariana was right on my heels, following me close and calling after me.
“Sara! SARA! Wait! He could be dangerous!”
She was right to be skeptical. I’d heard of Natives setting traps like this for women, but I was not going to let someone die over a rumor. As I got closer to the man I could see a deep crimson stain on the side of his pelts. My eyes widened and I turned to Mariana.
“Go back to town and get a horse and cart! He’s injured!”
She nodded, not pausing to ask questions. She knew I meant what I said. I trusted that she would do as I said and so I turned to give my full attention to the injured man. He was on his knees, groaning and holding the spot where he’d been shot. I’d seen many bullet wounds in my time as a nurse and I knew what they looked like.
As I approached the man I held my hands up to try and signal to him that I meant him no harm. There was a good chance he didn’t speak English and I didn’t want to upset him anymore. As I drew closer he swept his hand out, grunting and panting. It was as if he didn’t want me anywhere near him.
I kneeled down and started to pull off long strips of my petticoat, tying them together. Soon the man was tumbling over, weary from blood loss. He was panting as he fell into the soft grass, his eyes fluttering closed. I knew I had to act fast. He was losing blood and if I didn’t do something quick, he was going to die.
I ran forward and fell to my knees, wrapping the strips of cotton around his wound. As I worked on this man, it occurred to me that if he died it would mean war. A gunshot wound could only mean that he was injured by one of the settlers.
Just as I was tying off the makeshift bandage, another man came running from the tree line, a rifle slung over his shoulder.
“I thought he was a deer! Oh God!” The man was worked up, panting with glassy eyes.
“Help! Help me!” I shouted. There was no time to be angry at this man. Mistakes happen, but this mistake just might cost settlers their lives.
The natives didn’t bother us because there was a silent agreement. We would leave them alone if we left them alone. If one of our men killed one of theirs, then there would be an all-out war. There were be no more silent agreement.
The man with the gun seemed to sense my urgency and helped me lift the unconscious man. Together, we carried him towards the town until I saw the cart in the distance. One of the local ranchers rode up to us and helped us load the man into the cart. I rode in the back, doing everything I could to stop the bleeding.
Soon we’d arrived at the clinic and James had already cleared off the table so that he could remove the bullet. Once the native man was on the table I hurried everyone else out of the room and moved to stand beside my fiancé. He looked at me solemnly and we both nodded in understanding. Both of us knew how important this patient was.
Time slipped away as we worked. As I moved around the clinic, getting everything James needed, I found myself praying silently, watching him with intense concentration and offering advice where I could. It felt like an eternity passed but soon enough the native man was stable. His heartbeat was normal and his breathing evened out.
My own heart was slamming in my chest, but that didn’t matter. We saved him, and in doing so probably saved out little town. James washed his hands and glanced at the man on the table before reaching out and cupping my cheeks.
“This is why God brought us together.”
I couldn’t argue with him. I smiled and threw my arms around his neck, kissing him happily. Whether he was right or not, I was just happy God brought us together at all. I knew we were going to change the world.
Chapter 9
The native man went back to his tribe and a week later they brought us fresh fruits and vegetables from their gardens. They thanked us and James and I even made a new trade deal with them. Now our little town would be able to get fresh native fruits and vegetables as well as pelts.
We were seen as heroes in Billings, though that didn’t really matter much to us. We’d managed to save a life and that was good enough for us. After all, a human life was a life. We were happy to treat anyone, no matter their creed or race.
Soon after the pact with the Indians was made, we were married. It was a fine summer day and I can still remember the smell of fresh rain in the air. We never left Billings and spent our honeymoon caring for others. Maybe some people would have hated to work on their honeymoon, but James and I adored it. Medicine was what brought us together and it only seemed right that healing the sick would work its way into our honeymoon.
Six months after the wedding I discovered I was with child. James was excited but nervous and while I couldn’t blame him, I needed him to relax a little. He tried to set strict rules about how much I could work, but that didn’t really work for me. I loved my job and I wanted to continue serving the people of Billings for as long as I physically could.
Thomas was learning how to walk and the threat of winter was just around the corner. We weren’t entirely sure when the baby would be born, thought it was a good guess that it would be the end of winter or beginning of spring. Oh how exciting it would be to have a spring baby!
James and I were sitting on a blanket in one of the open fields, watching a group of young men and women put on a play. There were people from all over the world in Billings, and in the early winter, different people from different cultures would put on plays or tell stories from their motherlands. It was a fun thing to do and it always made me laugh.
James glanced at me as I bounced Thomas on my knee. Slowly he started to put his arm around me but seemed hesitant. I looked over at him and chuckled softly.
“We’re married, James. You can put your arm around me.”
He chuckled and nodded, pressing his lips to my temple. “I know. It still just seems…unreal,” he explained, looking at me closely.
He reached out and stroked my cheek and I sighed softly as I leaned into it. “What do you mean unreal?”
“I feel so fortunate. So amazingly lucky to have met you.”
“It was not luck, darling.”
He chuckled and nodded. “You’re right. The good Lord brought you to me and together we’ve really made a difference, haven’t we?” he asked, rocking both me and Thomas gently.
I hummed and closed my eyes a moment, enjoying the warm summer breeze and the rocking moment. “I like to think that we have,” I murmured, looking up at him and smiling.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Of course, I’m your wife.”
He looked at me
intently. “I was losing faith before you came into my life. I couldn’t understand how God could take away a woman like Riley. I couldn’t understand why I was being punished, so I always did my best to take care of others and it just, it didn’t make sense that God would be punishing me.”
I listened intently, wanting to give him the chance to vent and let it all out. He took a breath and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “Then you came into my life and I started to understand that it doesn’t always make sense.” He paused. “Sometimes we just have to leave things in God’s hands so that he can lead us down the right path.”
I turned and smiled at him. “I’m glad I did.”
He cupped my cheek. “Me too. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Sara.”
“Well, we never have to think of that. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
He pressed his forehead to mine and I swore I could see heaven in his eyes. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you more.”
THE END
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Amazon #1 Seller
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Noemie’s Hope
The Bride’s Baby Dilema
By: Maryana Gray
Noemie’s Hope
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Chapter 1
Noemie Radford had always enjoyed riding horses. It was in her blood, urging her to feel the wind on her face, explore new and hidden places, even if they were only across the hill that was overlooking her parents’ house. When she was a sweet little girl of only eight, her father surprised her with a gift that she had long yearned for: a filly of her very own. When Noemie saw her for the first time, she thought that this dainty little thing, shaking like a leaf in the wind, with its branch-like legs that were barely able to prop itself up, let alone be ridden by someone, could never take her to faraway places that she wanted to see and experience.
But Noemie was wrong. The dainty little filly grew up to become the most beautiful horse on their entire ranch, and several times her father had gotten very tempting offers to buy her. Not that he’d ever do such a thing. Especially knowing that Noemie would never forgive him if he sold Butterfly. Though, as luck would have it, or, rather, misfortune, her father cursed every single day when this opportunity presented itself to him and he didn’t take it.
One morning, as Noemie was on one of her usual rides over the meadows and through the hills, a wolf jumped in front of them. Noemie was caught completely off guard, knowing very well that no wolves lived in these parts, which was exactly why she was always so confident about being alone on horseback when taking this path quite far away from her home. Unfortunately, it seemed that this lone wolf had lost its way and was now frightened and confused. A terrible combination that would make anyone, man or animal, extremely dangerous, and Noemie knew this very well.
The wolf bared its teeth, signaling an attack, and naturally, Butterfly started stepping backwards in an effort to create more of a distance between her and the danger, buying her some time before she figured out what to do. They could start running, but Noemie knew well that a wolf could run almost as fast as a horse, depending on how hungry it was. She didn’t want to take the chance of finding out, but at the same time, her brain seemed to have frozen and she just couldn’t think of anything to do to protect herself and Butterfly.
The wolf, on the other hand, had no such worries. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. Growling even more frighteningly now, he approached Butterfly, one slow and deliberate step at a time, knowing well that it was just a matter of time before his feast started. He was obviously hungry, and Butterfly could feel it.
When the wolf jumped, Butterfly did the same, feeling the wolf’s sharp bite on her hind leg, and all three came tumbling down. Noemie could feel the devastating weight of the horse on top of her, as the wolf released his deadly grip and was signaling for another attack, which was fortunately prevented by a gunshot. The wolf’s ears pricked up and, bearing his teeth one last time, in complete rage that he hadn’t gotten his way, he retreated back into the forest, leaving both the horse and the girl squirming on the ground.
“Are… are ya alright, Miss?” A male voice addressed Noemie, but she could barely hear it. She was on the verge of losing consciousness. The heavy body of her favorite horse was lifted off of her.
“Oh my God! We need to get ya to the hospital right now!” Those were the last words she heard before she closed her eyes and it all went blank.
When she finally managed to open them again, she was back home, in her own bed. The sheets smelled of the soap her mother used, and the scent soothed her. Around her, she could see the smiling faces of her family and friends, though something was wrong with their smiles. It was like they were being forced to smile, like they were hiding a terrible secret that she alone didn’t know yet.
“Pa?” She managed to whisper, looking around her. It was all still hazy.
“I’m here, hun.” She could hear his voice, but she couldn’t see him. Approaching from behind, several other faces appeared.
“Pa, what happened?” It was all a blur. She remembered going riding with Butterfly as always, but something had gone wrong. She remembered glaring teeth and blood. So much blood.
“You had a ridin’ accident, hun.” Her dad seemed to be picking his words carefully, which wasn’t how he usually spoke. “Ya ran into a stray wolf and he spooked poor Butterfly.”
“Is she OK?” Noemie propped herself up in bed, ready to rush to the stables and make sure that Butterfly was safe and sound. Her dad looked at his wife, nervously.
“She’s still in shock and her leg’s badly hurt, but she’ll be just fine. Not to worry. You just rest now.”
“Will I be able to ride to her again?” Noemie asked.
“Afraid not. The ligaments were brutally torn, and even though they’ll heal, Butterfly will never run like she used to. Be best if she didn’t have the extra weight of a rider on top of ‘er.” His voice was solemn, but Noemie knew that this hurt him almost as much as it hurt her.
“But, we’re more worried about you, darlin’.” it was the sweet voice of her mother.
“What is it, ma?” Noemie looked at her. “What happened?”
Her mother looked at her father for support.
“Can everyone just give us some privacy, please?” Suddenly, she addressed all the other faces in the room, present but silent. They all left, leaving the three alone. Noemie knew this was a bad sign. She was afraid of what she might hear.
“The doctor said…” her mother started, with a heavy voice. “That when Butterfly fell on top of you, she fell in such a way that… well, she hurt you badly.” She was looking for words that a fourteen‐year‐old girl could understand.
“But, I’m not in any pain!” Noemie exclaimed, thinking that it just couldn’t be so. If she was hurt badly, how come she didn’t feel it?
“Well, the doctor gave ya some meds,” her father added. “That’s why you feel fine now. But the pain might return, until your wounds are all healed.”
Noemie uncovered herself. Apart from a few bruises and cuts, she seemed to be doing fine. What were they talking about?
“It’s… it’s not on your body that you’re hurt, darlin’… it’s…. inside…” Her mother’s voice was chopped up. “Your girl parts.” In all her life, she never thought that this was the kind of conversation she would have to have with her daughter. To tell her that the riding accident left her unable to have children.
“My girl parts?” Noemie still didn’t understand.
“Baby… the doctor said that… because of the nature of your injuries, you’ll never be able to have children.” Finally, it was out there, though her mother felt no relief upon saying these heavy words.
Noemie had to process this first. This wasn’t something that she, as a fourteen‐year‐old, had thought about. Being a wife and a mother – it was just too early for her even to consider such a thing. She had more than enough
time for that. But now, it seemed that reality had pushed her into the world of adults in this rude way, and she was forced to realize a devastating truth: she would never have children.
She smiled at her mother, still not fully realizing the seriousness of what she was hearing.
“It’ll be fine, ma. I’ll just adopt a child no one wants.” Her childlike naiveté sent tears to her mother’s eyes, whose arms flew around her child’s shivering body to protect it. The father was looking at this heart‐breaking scene, knowing full well that nothing would ever be the same.
Chapter 2
Exactly ten years later, Noemie found herself standing in front of an unknown house. They had described it to her, yes. But usually, when people describe things for us, our mind’s eye creates something different from that which is present in real life. In Noemie’s case, the house that was in front of her, the real tangible house, was actually far more pretty than what she had imagined. It was a simple looking, single-story house, rectangular with a long roofline. There were vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, and most of the outer patio was made of heavy oak wood. It seemed warm and welcoming, as if the big windows were smiling at her, inviting her inside, to share in the comfort. Around the house, land stretched out as far as the eye could see. Small house‐like structures, which Noemie rightfully assumed were stables, coops and outhouses, were scattered here and there throughout the land. There was no one around, however, which surprised her. One would expect such a huge ranch to always have people running around, doing their jobs. A ranch had work for everyone who wished to roll up their sleeves.
Squeezing the handle of her little suitcase in one hand, Noemie raised her other hand, in an effort to make her presence known to the inhabitants of the house. But, her hand was stopped in midair.
Romance: Western Mail Order Bride Bethany's Love -Clean Christian Historical Romance (Western Mail Order Bride Short Shorties Series) Page 159
