him your situation, but you will stay here for a few days. Or more if you need it.”
Katie bit her lip. Writing her brother would not be enough. She had to go to Malachi in person. He’d made that abundantly clear the day she left with Matt. His angry words still echoed inside her head.
“You ungrateful harlot, you’ve brought shame on me since the day you were born. You’ll not last six months out in the English world. When you come to your senses you’ll be back. But know this. You are dead to me until I see you kneeling in front of me and begging my forgiveness.”
At the time, she felt only relief at getting away from her brother’s strict control. In the months that followed, when it became clear that running away with Matt had been a bad decision, Katie came to realize that she did still care about her brother and she was sorry for the way she’d left.
Matt laughed at her and called her spineless when she decided to try and mend things with her only sibling. She had written several long letters of apology, but each one came back unopened. After two months, she gave up trying. When Matt left she didn’t bother writing to her brother. She knew he meant what he’d said.
Rachel started crying again. Nettie waved a hand to send Elam on his way. “We’ll talk about this tomorrow. Right now this little one is hungry and she doesn’t want to wait any longer.”
Elam bid her good-night, then turned away and headed for the stairs leading to the upper story.
Katie was sorry their quiet talk had ended. She would have enjoyed spending more time with him.
As soon as the thought occurred, she chided herself for such feelings. The last thing she needed was to complicate her life with another man. She appreciated Elam’s kindness, but she wouldn’t mistake those feelings for anything more.
After that, all Katie’s attention was taken up trying to satisfy her daughter’s hungry demands. Later, as Katie fell asleep again, she dreamed about Elam rocking her baby in his arms and singing a soft lullaby. In her dream, the sound of his voice soothed her spirit and brought with it a quiet peacefulness.
For most of the next two days all Katie did was doze and feed the baby. Nettie took over the job of nursemaid, in addition to running her household, without missing a beat and with undisguised gentle joy. At her insistence, Katie was allowed to rest, drink plenty of hearty chicken soup, nurse her baby and nothing else.
Elam had moved a folding screen into the kitchen and placed it in front of her bed to give her and the baby some privacy, then he vanished for most of the day to do his chores and work in his woodshop.
Katie saw so little of him that she began to wonder if he was deliberately trying to avoid spending time with her. When he was in the house, she felt none of the closeness they’d shared the night Rachel was born. She began to think she’d simply imagined the connection they had shared.
The midwife returned as promised to check on Katie and the baby. Amber came bearing a gift of disposable diapers, several blankets and baby gowns which she insisted were donations made by the community for just such an occasion. While Rachel scored glowing marks and was pronounced as healthy as a horse, Amber wasn’t quite as pleased with Katie’s progress.
“At least another day of bed rest is in order. If your color and your blood pressure aren’t better by tomorrow, I may send you to the hospital after all.”
“I promise I will take it easy,” Katie assured Amber. It was an easy promise to keep. Deep fatigue pulled at her limbs and made even the simplest task, like changing diapers, into an exhausting exercise.
“Mrs. Sutter will tell me if you aren’t.” Amber glanced at Nettie, who stood at the foot of the bed with her arms folded and a look of kindly determination on her face.
Amber was on her way out the door when another car pulled into the drive. She said, “Looks like you have more company. Don’t overdo it.”
“I’m sure they aren’t here to see me.”
Looking out the door, Nettie said, “I believe that is Mrs. Zimmerman talking to Elam.”
Katie sat up as hope surged in her heart. Had Mrs. Zimmerman been able to contact Matt? Was he on his way here? “Is she coming in?”
“No. It looks like she’s leaving, but Elam is coming to the house.”
Unwilling to let hope die, Katie threaded her fingers together and held on tight. As soon as Elam walked in and she saw his face, her last tiny reservoir of hope faded into nothingness. “He’s not going to come, is he?”
Elam shook his head. “Mrs. Zimmerman’s grandson says the family has gone abroad. He sent a computer message to Matt, but he hasn’t answered.”
Katie nodded. “I think I’d like to rest now.”
She slipped down under the covers and turned her back on the people standing beside her bed.
From her place inside her small alcove in the corner of the kitchen, Katie could hear Nettie and her son speaking in hushed tones, and the sounds of housework taking place, but she was simply too tired to care what they were saying.
Her beautiful daughter was her whole world now. Rachel was all that mattered.
It was the smell of cinnamon bread baking that woke Katie on the morning of the third day. She opened her eyes to the sight of bright morning light pouring in through the kitchen windows. Someone, Nettie perhaps, had moved the screen aside. Warm and comfortable beneath the quilts, Katie rested, feeling secure and safe for the first time in weeks. She knew it was an illusion, but one she desperately wanted to hold on to.
Nettie was busy pulling a pan of steaming hot bread from the oven with the corner of her apron. The mouth-watering smell was enough to make Katie’s empty stomach sit up and take notice with a loud rumble. Nettie glanced her way and began to chuckle. “I reckon that means you feel goot enough to have a bite to eat.”
“If it tastes as good as it smells, I may wolf down the whole loaf.”
“You’ll have to fight Elam for it. This is his favorite.”
Katie sat up and swung her bare feet to the cool plank floor. As she did, the room dipped and swirled, causing her to shut her eyes and clutch the side of the mattress.
“Are you all right?”
Katie opened her eyes to find Nettie watching her with deep concern. “Just a touch of dizziness. It’s gone now.”
“You sit right there until I get a cup of hot coffee into you. I don’t want you fainting when you stand up.”
Katie took several deep breaths and waited for the room to stop spinning. When everything settled into place, she looked down at her daughter sleeping quietly in her basket. The sight brought a thrill of delight to Katie’s heart. This was her child, her gift. Matt had been wrong when he said a baby would only be a burden.
If he saw Rachel now, would it change how he felt? The thought pushed a lump of regret into her throat. She had made so many bad decisions.
Nettie, having poured the coffee from a dark blue, enameled pot on the back of the stove, laced it liberally with milk from a small pitcher on the table and added a spoonful of sugar before carrying the white earthenware mug to Katie.
Katie didn’t take her coffee sweetened, but she didn’t mention the fact. Nettie had done far too much for her. Grasping the cup, Katie sipped the hot drink slowly, feeling the warmth seep into her bones.
Nettie stood over her with her hands fisted on her hips. Looking up, Katie said, “I’m fine. Really.”
“I will tell you when you are fine. When the color comes back to those cheeks you can get up. Not before. Now drink.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Katie blew on the cup to cool the beverage and took another sip.
Nettie nodded, then left the room. She returned a few minutes later with a large