step, a war whoop rang out from the kitchen, and the door banged open as Luke barreled into the living room.
“Aunt Mariah, Aunt Mariah.” Dressed like a member of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show with his child-size Indian headdress, he jumped up and down, waving his toy tomahawk. “I’m Geronimo.”
“I see that. And what a fierce chief you are,” she said as she gave the boy a hug.
He submitted for a few seconds, but quickly squirmed free, and she had to remember that he was ten now and too old for hugging and kissing.
“My, you’ve grown tall,” she said.
“Five whole inches just this year,” he confirmed proudly. “Daddy says it’s the most anyone in the family ever grew in half a year.”
Oh, dear. He called Gabe Daddy. That would make the transition harder if she failed.
She forced a smile. “I’m sure he’s right.”
“It’s time to change your clothes for dinner,” Felicity urged, pointing Luke toward the stairs. “Neither Geronimo nor Buffalo Bill are invited tonight. And do wash off the war paint.”
“Aw, Mom,” Luke protested.
Arguing with a child couldn’t be good for Felicity. Mariah motioned Felicity to sit down while she addressed Luke at eye level. “It’s a special pow-wow tonight, and Geronimo will want to look his best.”
His eyes lit up. “A pow-wow?”
She nodded.
Convinced, he tromped off to his room to change.
“You’re good with children,” Felicity said after Mariah sat beside her. “One day you’ll have some of your own.”
Mariah couldn’t tell Felicity that was beyond even prayer, and she certainly didn’t want to discuss it, so she diverted the conversation. “Luke is doing so well.”
“He gets a little more independent every day.” Felicity sighed. “And he’s so bright, especially with his letters. He’s reading Tom Sawyer all by himself.”
“How does he feel about getting a new brother or sister?”
Felicity smiled softly and rubbed her large belly. “I’m not sure he understands, but he trusts us.” She laughed. “He thinks we’re going to pick one out, like at the store.”
Mariah chuckled, though part of her ached.
“I can’t wait for the adoption to come through. Then we’ll be a whole family, the way it was meant to be. And I owe it all to you.” She squeezed Mariah’s hand.
“Me?” Mariah tried to hide her alarm behind a smile.
“Yes, you’re the one who brought Luke here. You’re the one who showered him with love. He wouldn’t be the wonderful little boy he is today without you. I’m so glad you decided to visit.”
Mariah felt sick. What if she failed? What if Frank Gillard took Luke away from this safe and loving home into a life of terror? She couldn’t live with herself.
“Mariah?” Felicity looked concerned. “Are you all right? You look pale.”
“I’m fine,” Mariah assured her. “Just a bit tired after the drive. I think I’ll go outside and get some fresh air.”
She hurried onto the porch and tried to shut the door on the tangle of her emotions. Tears wouldn’t help Luke. Neither would worry. She needed to act, and quickly, but Gabe was right. She needed someone to go with her to Montana. It just couldn’t be Hendrick Simmons.
Lord, send courage. And a good mechanic.
After the awkwardness with Hendrick at the church, Mariah should have realized that dinner would be no better. Normally, she had nerves of steel, but tonight her stomach tumbled and rolled. She tried not to look at him, but that could hardly be avoided since Felicity had placed him directly across the table from her. His sister Anna’s presence did little to alleviate the tension. Their mother had declined the invitation, which removed only one matchmaker from the mix. Gabe and Felicity kept the conversation centered on Hendrick.
“I understand you’ve developed a new aeroplane motor for Jack Hunter,” Felicity said pleasantly. “Isn’t that wonderful?”
Though her remark was directed toward Hendrick, her smile was meant for Mariah. No doubt she intended to call attention to Hendrick’s good points, but Mariah was already all too aware of them. How handsome he looked in his suit and freshly pressed shirt! His damp hair still smelled of soap, and the little curls at his temple sprang loose from his neatly combed locks. He sat pallbearer stiff, so uncomfortable that she could have giggled if she wasn’t worried that she’d inadvertently say something that would alert Felicity to her Montana mission.
Speaking of her sister-in-law, she was staring at Mariah as if she expected her to say something. What had Felicity been talking about? Mariah combed her memory. Oh, yes, something about engines.
“A new motor?” Mariah hazarded.
Hendrick shifted in his chair and ran a finger underneath his collar. “Yep…uh, yes,” he corrected, “two motors, actually.” His eyes darted ever so quickly toward Mariah and just as quickly away. “For their North Pole flight.”
Mariah heard the displeasure in his voice. In this case, she happened to agree with him. The risk had to be outweighed by gain. “I can’t imagine what they hope to accomplish.”
Anna perked up. “They’re going to be the first to fly across the Pole. Won’t it be grand? I wish I was going along.”
“You’re not going to go anywhere near the North Pole,” Hendrick stated emphatically.
Mariah smothered a smile. His grammar might have improved since the last time she’d seen him, but he was just as protective.
“You’re no fun at all,” Anna whined. “You’re worse than Ma.” She tossed her mousy brown hair, which was mercifully no longer pulled into tight braids. “I want to do things, like Mariah.”
“Me?” Mariah was startled by Anna’s observation. She’d never considered herself particularly adventurous.
“Yes, you drive anywhere you want, whenever you want.” Anna’s eyes shone.
“That’s not quite true,” Mariah cautioned. “I only drive when I have a purpose.”
“But you drove here,” Anna insisted, “and that’s just for a visit.”
Mariah bit her tongue when she realized how close she’d come to giving away the secret. She tried to recover. “True, but visiting my brother and sister-in-law is a wonderful purpose.”
“I agree.” Felicity lifted her water glass. “To safe travels.”
Gabe quickly seconded his wife’s toast, clinked her glass with his and followed that with a kiss. “My wife is uncommonly beautiful tonight.”
Felicity blushed. “Now, is that any way for a pastor to talk at the dinner table?”
Gabe didn’t back down. “It is when he loves her as much as I love you.”
Mariah smiled to herself as they kissed again. Two years had not dimmed their love. As she turned again to her dinner plate, she noticed Hendrick watching her, an odd expression on his face, but the minute he realized she’d seen him he looked away.
Gabe looked only at Felicity. “And I love you even more for giving me a baby.”
Luke, who hadn’t followed most of the adult conversation, suddenly picked up that one word. “Where is it?” He wiggled around in his chair as if expecting to see a baby behind him. “At the pow-wow?”
Mariah stifled a laugh. “A pow-wow is a gathering of family and friends.