Hope, page 4
part #3 of Brides of the Rio Grande Series
John clapped him on the back again and Billy felt the stinging imprint of his giant hand. “People don’t always act like you think they should. Being a city girl don’t mean having city ways. If you remember, my Grace was a city girl too. And now, she wouldn’t live in town now for all the money in Creede’s bank. I think wherever the man Hope loves is living will be the spot she’ll be happy livin’ in too.”
Billy thought about John’s insight for a minute. He wasn’t so sure, considering what he knew about people. “I don’t know, John. I love Hope and I’ve made that crystal clear over the last year and a half. And just about the time I’m convinced she loves me too, she turns about and heads off in another direction. If I finally do get her to agree to marry me, what if she chooses to stay in town? I’m pretty sure I can’t agree to live there with her, although I admit it would damn near break my heart. You know how the noise of town makes me skittish as a new born colt. I don’t think I could do it.”
John stood and stretched the muscles of his giant muscular frame. “Things have a way of working out like they are supposed to, my friend. Don’t go borrowing trouble. Hope has ghosts from her past that haunt her, just like you do. She’ll need to work those out for herself and there’s nothin’ you can do about that. Only you can decide how bad you want Hope to be your wife and what you are willing to sacrifice to make it happen. The same goes for her. She is gonna have to love you as you come—or not. That’s up to her and there’s nothin’ you can do to change that fact.
“Now, let’s get back to town and have a drink at the Holy Moses. I’ve got a couple of freight runs I’d like to talk to you about.”
Billy nodded in agreement. They put away his tools and harnessed the team to the freight wagon. John offered to drive and tied his horse to the back of the wagon. Two men, two best of friends who had seen each other at their best and their worst, sat side by side in companionable silence on the freight wagon’s hard wide bench seat for the trip back to town.
Billy used the time to think about the truth of what John said. People didn’t always behave the way you wanted them to, if his family was any indication. Even Lizzie hadn’t behaved like people thought she would. He cut a side glance to John. Guilt stabbed him in the gut again. There was an awful big lie sitting on that seat between him and his friend. He reminded himself, that lie was there to protect John from the ugly truth. Thank the Good Lord, and Grace’s love, John had forgiven him. But if his friend learned the truth and Billy’s part in it, would he understand Billy’s reasons for keeping it hidden? He hoped he never had to find out. And as long as that son-of-a-bitchin’ brother of his stayed locked up in prison, the truth would stay locked up too.
“You know, John. You may be right—about people not behaving the way you want them to act. I’m just gonna have to convince Hope being married to me and living in this beautiful paradise is better than any other life she could dream about livin.” He grinned at his friend.
John’s big booming laugh echoed off the mountainsides. “Billy, something tells me, Miss Hope Anderson doesn’t stand a chance at resisting you when you set your mind to something.”
Billy grinned. “You might be right about that, my friend. You might be right.”
3
Hope sat amidst the exquisite surroundings that comprised Aggie Hanover’s parlor with her adopted sister, Faith. The unpretentious room made a person feel welcome and that was not a feeling Hope had been familiar with before she arrived in Creede to live with the Hanovers. Now her sister, Faith, and sometimes Grace and Abbie Rose, met at the Hanover home once a week to catch up on each other’s lives.
It had been a whole week since she had seen Billy in the meadow by the barn where she and Charity were working their target practice. He was gone hauling freight for his boss, her sister’s husband. She could admit to herself she missed his rugged good looks and the way he made her feel when he looked at her with those deep blue eyes of his. She wished she had the courage to accept his marriage proposal, but—
“Hope, are you listening?” Her sister’s voice interrupted her musings.
Hope took another sip of the hot coffee in her cup to give herself time to collect her thoughts.
“I must admit I was daydreaming a bit. What was it you said?”
She watched Faith caress her growing baby bump. She smiled at her sister’s happiness.
“I said Liam and I are having a time of it trying to agree on a baby name.” Faith looked down at her stomach. “I think if it is a girl, I would like to name her Mary, after Liam’s sister.”
Hope knew about her sister’s Irish husband’s childhood tragedy. His parents were murdered, and his young sister kidnapped right before his eyes. He had been barely fifteen when he had hidden in his family’s wagon and watched the nightmare unfold. Faith had reported more than once that Liam still awoke in the dark of night sweating from the terror as if it were as recent as yesterday.
“Has Liam given up on finding his sister? Does he think there is a chance the girl is still alive?”
Faith shrugged her shoulders and readjusted the coffee cup she balanced on her lap. “He doesn’t talk about it much. I think he secretly hopes she is still alive, but he doesn’t dare to put much stock into the thought. Not after all this time, I’m afraid.”
Aggie joined them in the parlor and poured herself a cup of coffee before taking her place in the chair next to Hope’s. “And what are we afraid of this morning? Are you afraid that handsome Mr. Buchanan of yours will never propose, Hope?”
Hope could feel the blush of embarrassment heat her cheeks. She wasn’t comfortable talking about her feelings for Billy. She was in love with him. Of that there was no doubt. But, she also knew he wasn’t the kind of husband she should be thinking about. She needed someone who could give her the respectability she needed and she needed someone she could trust.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him around here lately,” Aggie mused. “Is everything alright between the two of you? There was a time when we thought we might have to find him a bed under the stairs, he was over so often.”
“He’s been very busy hauling freight, that’s all,” she offered by way of explanation, although that wasn’t the reason Billy was missing from the Hanover parlor most weeks.
“Well, that is a mark of a hard-working man. A woman could do worse, that is for certain.” Aggie sipped from her coffee cup and flipped through the latest Montgomery Ward catalogue.
Yes, one certainly could do worse, she supposed, although Billy had confessed to talking his best friend’s pregnant wife into running away with him. That type of behavior seemed so out of character for the Billy she knew. And loved. But he had confessed to the dirty deed in front of half the town of Creede, and her sister, Grace, had heard it with her own ears, so—
“Hope, darling. Is that frown on your face caused by Mr. Buchanan? Has he done something to change the way you feel about him?”
Aggie’s question pulled her away from her thoughts again. “I was just concerned about—you know, his behavior with John’s first wife. That isn’t something a person of character would do. Is it?” Hope really wanted to understand how he could do such a thing to his best friend.
“Hope, sometimes a person just loses their way. It’s a fact. Hiram represents good people all the time who may have done something they aren’t proud of in a moment of faulty judgement, but that doesn’t make the person bad. It just means their actions are. I wouldn’t judge Billy too harshly just yet.” Aggie offered her an encouraging smile. “Give him a chance to prove what kind of man he is. Time will tell. Now, tell me what plans you have for today.”
Before she had a chance to consider Aggie’s question, Faith, doubled forward and clutched her large, pregnant belly protectively.
She and Aggie dropped their cups and rushed to Faith’s side. Aggie sat on the floral sofa next to Faith and held her hand while Hope sat on her sister’s other side and placed her arm around Faith’s trembling shoulders. “Is it the baby, Faith?”
“I—think so, but it’s too early.”
A jolt of fear pumped adrenalin through Hope’s own body making it difficult to get her words past the dryness in her throat. “Isn’t it about two months too soon?”
Hope could see the worry in her sister’s eyes. Faith nodded. “Yes, Doc Howard said the baby wouldn’t come until late January or even mid-February. I think you should go get Doc—” Faith gasped as another sharp pain racked her body.
Aggie rubbed Faith’s back. “Hope, run tell Sarah to fetch the good doctor and have her go by the law office on the way back to let Liam know his wife needs him.”
Hope ran into the kitchen and found Sarah elbow deep in bread dough and breakfast preparations. “Sarah, please help. Faith is in the parlor and she’s in pain. It might be the baby—but it’s too early.”
“I’ll go fetch Doctor Howard.” Sarah wiped her hands and arms on her apron, grabbed her cloak off the hook by the pantry and left by the back door.
Hope tried to think what the doctor might need if it was the baby coming early. She grabbed a kettle, filled it with water and placed it on the stove to boil. She rushed to the linen closet and grabbed several old sheets.
“What else? Scissors to cut the cord maybe? Doc Howard will probably have those, but I’ll get them just in case…” Hope’s words trailed off at the unimaginable thought that Faith’s baby could come before Doc Howard arrived. Goosebumps pimpled her skin. She grabbed Aggie’s sewing kit and rushed down the hall and into the parlor to check on Faith. Her sister was sitting back against the cushions now and no longer appeared to be in pain. She sat next to her sister and held her hand.
“Faith, honey. Sarah has gone to fetch the doctor. Are you still having pains?” Hope pulled her sister’s trembling hands into her own.
“No, not really. Just the two sharp pains you witnessed. Do you think the baby is coming?” Faith’s question made her feel inadequate. She had no answers to calm her sister’s fears. Her only option at this point was to try to make Faith as comfortable as possible until the doctor arrived.
“Let’s get you more comfortable. Maybe if we stretch you out on the sofa, it will ease your discomfort.”
She moved the pillows from behind Faith’s back and asked Aggie for help.
“Aggie, can you grab a blanket and a bed pillow from the linen closet?”
“Of course.” Aggie bustled out of the room while Hope helped her sister stretch out on the parlor sofa and unlaced her boots.
“Now tell me, are you wearing a corset? Has this happened before? Have you had pains during the last day or so?” Hope’s mind raced with questions to determine if, indeed, the baby was coming or could something else be causing her sister’s pains.
“No, I am not wearing a corset. Doc Howard recommended I not wear one the last time I visited his office. Um, no pains over the last few days except for now and yes, I have had this happen before.”
“When?” Hope rubbed her hand over her sister’s belly feeling for signs of life. She was relieved to feel a good strong kick against her hand.
“Last week. I think.” Her sister smiled. “The baby’s a strong one. Liam thinks it’s going to be a boy.”
Hope was glad to see the fear in her sister’s eyes fade a bit. She was starting to feel a little bit better about this situation herself, but until Doc Howard examined Faith, they wouldn’t know for certain what was causing Faith’s distress.
“Here’s the pillow and the blanket.” Aggie rushed into the room as much as her ample girth would allow. She tucked the pillow gently under Faith’s head and draped the blanket over their patient, busily tucking in the ends against her body.
“I’m fine, Aggie. Please don’t worry yourself on my behalf.” Faith smiled at Aggie and reached out for her hand.
The older woman pulled up a wooden chair next to the sofa and took Faith’s hand. “Of course, I worry, my dear. You girls are like the daughters I never had. And I consider that precious little bundle you are carrying to be my grandchild. So, I will worry as need be,” Aggie proclaimed, her resolution evident in the stubborn tilt of her chin. Hope was surprised at the emotion in Aggie’s voice. Had someone else Aggie loved lost a child?
Faith squeezed Aggie’s hand. “You have been so much like a mother to us girls since we came to Creede. Thank you for always being so kind to us.” Hope watched tears glisten in Faith’s eyes. Emotions were a big part of having a baby, but Hope was certain her sister’s emotions were heartfelt where Aggie was concerned.
Before Aggie could respond, Sarah, Aggie’s husband, Hiram, Liam and Doc Howard rushed into the parlor. Liam fell to the floor next to his wife’s head, grooves of worry carved across his handsome face. “Faith, honey. Are you okay? What happened? Is it the baby?”
Hope watched him take Faith’s hand with one hand and stroke her cheek with the other.
“I’m fine, Liam. Just a twinge, that’s all.”
Hope knew her sister’s pain was much more than a twinge, but it wasn’t her place to interfere. The doctor would know soon enough what was going on and there was no one better to relay that information to Liam than Doc Howard.
Hiram made his way to Aggie and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s give the good doctor room to examine his patient. Perhaps we should all step outside. Liam, would you care to join me in my library for some excellent Irish whiskey? I know it is early, but I think given the circumstances, we will be forgiven this once.”
“Thank you, Hiram. But I’m not going anywhere—”
Hope watched her sister tenderly stroke her husband’s face. “Liam, dear. The doctor is here now. I’m in very good hands and I’m going to be just fine. But he needs to be able to do his job and I fear you hovering nearby won’t make that easy for him. Please, go with Hiram. You won’t be far if I need you.”
Hope could tell Liam didn’t want to leave. He spoke to the doctor without ever taking his eyes off his wife. “Doctor, are my wife and child going to be alright?”
Doc Howard patted Liam on the shoulder. “Liam, I really won’t know until I examine your wife, but she doesn’t appear to be in immediate danger at the moment. The sooner you go, the sooner I can begin.”
Liam nodded in resignation. “I’m going. I’ll be right next door in Hiram’s library. If you need me—”
“I promise, you will be the first person I call out to, now please don’t worry.” Faith offered a sweet tender smile to her husband and the love that passed between her sister and brother-in-law made Hope long for a home and family. Thoughts of Billy made her wish for that kind of love too, but could she trust Billy? She wasn’t convinced. At least, not yet.
Liam’s voice pulled her back to the present situation. “Hope, will you stay with her?” Liam pleaded.
She shot a quick look to the doctor who smiled and nodded his approval.
“Yes, of course, Liam. I’ll be happy to stay.”
Hope knew Hiram would distract Liam with a splash of excellent Irish whiskey and a story not to be believed, but more often than not, was true.
Before Liam disappeared inside the library, he sent Hope a look of helplessness. She smiled and nodded to him, hoping to ease his troubled thoughts. “I’ll take good care of her, Liam. You have my word.” She watched him nod and disappear. Hope closed the parlor door and returned to stand near the doctor.
“Faith, can you tell me when your pain started? Was it gradual or immediate?” he asked, moving his stethoscope across Faith’s stomach.
“It was immediate,”
“Were you here when this happened, Hope?”
“Yes, Doctor. Faith and I were finishing our coffee with Aggie when my sister suddenly grabbed her stomach in pain.”
“Faith, show me where the pain was.” The doctor sat back and watched Faith motion across the lower part of her swollen belly. Faith watched him nod his understanding.
“What does it mean, Doctor Howard?” Faith wanted to know. “Is the baby coming early?” The fear in Faith’s eyes was back and when the doctor didn’t answer right away, but kept moving his stethoscope around Faith’s belly, Hope worried something was very wrong indeed.
“I can’t say for certain. Sometimes the growing baby can stretch muscles and cause pain. Sometimes the position of the baby can put pressure on organs and that can cause pain. Sometimes if you are troubled by severe morning sickness, the retching can cause pain. Have you been eating regular meals?” he asked her sister.
“As much as I am able, I suppose. I’m really sick in the morning. Well, not just in the mornings. Sometimes, I’m sick all day long. And, I feel a bit dizzy some mornings. Is it serious, doctor?”
“It could be, I suppose, but I don’t think so at the present. At least it doesn’t have to be if I am able to diagnose you properly and get you on the right treatment immediately. Some women have more trouble with morning sickness than others and since you are well past the point you should be over the morning vomiting and nausea, I think you may have something called hyperemesis gravidarum.”
Faith shot her a look of pure terror.
Hope did her best to console her sister. “It’s okay, Faith. The doc said he didn’t think it was serious, remember?” Hope turned to the doctor and prodded him for more information. “Why don’t you tell us more about this hyper mesis gravity, Doctor Howard.”
The handsome doctor grinned and stood, placing his medical bag on the settee next to Faith. He spoke directly to Faith and cast an occasional glance in Hope’s direction to include her in the conversation. “It’s called hyperemesis gravidarum. The first clear medical description I have seen regarding this condition was made in 1852 by a French surgeon named Antoine Dubois.”
Hope shook her head in confusion. “But don’t all women have morning sickness?”
“Yes, that’s true. But for some, the sickness can become so severe, it causes dehydration and can pull the muscles of the stomach.”
