Part 5 (1/2)

”A boy or a girl?” Sabrina asked of Brad.

”A girl-Savanna.”

”That's a pretty name. How old is she?”

”Her first birthday is next month.”

”Any steps yet?” Jeanette asked.

”No, but she's crawling everywhere.”

The four talked for a few minutes more, and then the men said they had errands to run. Jeanette went back to her sewing machine, but for a few moments Sabrina sat still with her thoughts.

I didn't expect this, she said to the Lord again. She'd repeated this in her mind many times in the last 24 hours. They're so kind and welcoming. I miss Callie and Danny, but I don't feel alone.

It flashed through Sabrina's mind that they might want nothing to do with her if they knew of her recent past, but she pushed such thoughts aside. It did no good to think about it, and because she didn't know how these folks would respond if they knew, it was also an insult.

”How is that hem coming?” Jeanette asked.

”Almost done.”

”What did you think of my boys?”

”I like them,” Sabrina said, and then added quietly. ”It makes me sad for your sister.”

”It is sad,” Jeanette agreed. ”I think I'm glad that she doesn't seem to know what she's missing.”

”And she's a grandmother,” Sabrina realized.

”That was hard at first. Savanna was born, and all I could do was cry for Theta's loss. Now Meg just learned she's expecting again, and Trace and Ca.s.sidy's first is due early next year.”

Sabrina would have asked if Jeanette thought that was going to be as hard for her, but a woman came in looking for some thread. From there, Sabrina did not know where the day went.

46 ”Okay, Jessie,” Jeb Dorn called when he came from the mercantile storeroom, ”I think I've got things patched.”

”I hate mice,” Jessie said, frowning to make her point.

Jeb, who was Jessie's older cousin, smiled. Jessie had felt that way for as long as he could remember.

”I think what you saw is old. You know they don't come indoors in weather this warm.”

”I can't think how I missed the signs this past winter.”

”It helps to have things off the floor. You've done a good job with the shelves in there.”

”Thanks, Jeb.”

”Do you want me next week?” Jeb asked. He made furniture for a living but also helped Jessie when there was a need.

”I think I'm all right,” Jessie answered. ”I might have hired someone.”

”Might have hired someone? How does that work?”

Jessie told Jeb about the young woman who had stopped in, and how Jeanette had just hired her. Jeb took the information in stride. Outside of mice, there was nothing Jessie Wheeler feared or couldn't turn her hand to. If she'd hired someone to help, it was in the best interest of her business. Jeb reminded her that he could help if this woman didn't work out, wished her a good afternoon, and went on his way.

”Savanna.” Brad's stern voice halted the baby's movements. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. ”I don't want you in the kitchen. Mama's not out there. Stay in here to play.”

Expecting to be obeyed, Brad sat on the sofa next to Meg. He was 47not surprised to hear his daughter crawling toward the sofa before she pulled herself up and worked her way around to his legs.

”How's my girl?” Brad asked as he scooped her into his arms and kissed her neck. His answer was a round of giggles. Supper was over, and Meg admitted to being weary. She didn't say much while Brad and Savanna played and was near to falling asleep when the kitchen door opened.

”Are you up for some company?” Trace called in.

”Sure,” Brad shouted back. ”Come on in.”

Meg sat up a little, and Brad realized what he'd done. ”Are you going to be all right?”

”I think so,” she said and then smiled. And my falling asleep in front of Trace ind Ca.s.s would be nothing new.”

Brad's smile was compa.s.sionate. He was done in as well but always welcomed the company.

”How are you?” Ca.s.sidy asked after she'd settled in the living room and had a chance to look at her sister-in-law's weary face. ”Just a little tired. How about you?”

”I took a nap today, so I'm not doing too badly.”

In the time it took to say this, Savanna had made it to her Uncle Trace's legs, first crawling and then pulling herself up by using his pant leg. Trace was one of Savanna's favorite people-looking and sounding so much like her father-and clearly the feelings were shared. Trace took the little girl onto his lap and smiled into her face.

”How's my Savanna?” Trace asked.

The little girl could not sit still. She climbed Trace's chest until she could be close to his face, her little arms going around his neck. Trace hugged her close, the three other adults watching until the conversation went to the men's Bible study.

Chas Vick, one of the church elders, had started studying with the single men in the church family, ages 16 and up, and Rylan was working with the married men. Brad had expressed an interest in the qualifications for elder, and all the men were studying those pa.s.sages.

48 Brad and Trace took some time talking about the last verse they had studied, and some minutes pa.s.sed before they realized they were losing their wives. Meg's eyes were already closed, and even Ca.s.sidy was drooping.

”I'll talk to you tomorrow,” Brad said, remembering they also had a baby to put to bed.

”Will do,” Trace said, handing Savanna over and pulling Ca.s.sidy to her feet. Brad didn't try to rouse Meg. He put Savanna to bed and then came back for his expectant wife. By the time his own head hit the pillow, he was more than ready to sleep hard all night.

”How did Bri do today?” Heather asked Jeanette that night. They had just seen Theta into bed.

”Very well. She works fast and is easy to have around. She doesn't talk nonstop, but I can tell she's thinking.”

”Do you think she's pa.s.sing through, or will she stick around?” ”I a.s.sumed she was staying. Why do you ask?”

Heather looked thoughtful before saying, ”She's the kind of person we could all lose our hearts to, and it would be hard to have her leave.” - ”Even if she does,” Jeanette said reasonably, ”we would still lose our hearts. We always do.”

Heather had no choice but to agree, each woman heading to find her rest.

Sabrina blew out the lantern in her room, but sleep was far away. Without warning she was back working in Denver, her mind on the way it had been. For long minutes she tried to dispel the images, but they would not go away. Conversation and actions she never wanted to remember floated through her mind.