Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,64
for me.” He suddenly felt very alone.
“Of course not.” Connie sounded disturbed that he would even think such a thing. “I still pray for you. I pray for you every night as I fall asleep.”
Tom wanted to pull her into his arms to kiss her and thank her. He knew her beliefs—knew how important she thought it was to pray. That she spent time praying for him made him love her all the more.
“Oh, there you two are.” Connie’s father came out of the house. “Isaac suggested we play our Bible game tonight.”
“Bible game?” Tom asked.
Connie smiled and nodded. “Papa made us a Bible game with questions about the Bible. We answer them, and the person who gets the most right in a certain amount of time wins the game. It’s a lot of fun.”
Tom shrugged. “I don’t know how good I’ll be at something like that, but it sounds like fun.”
“Maybe we could have teams, rather than playing individually. You and Connie could be on one team, and Isaac and Mother on the other,” Mr. Browning suggested.
Connie looped her arm through her father’s. “I think that idea is perfect. I hope Mama has dessert for us too. The game isn’t nearly as much fun without dessert.”
Her father laughed as they disappeared into the house.
Tom stared after them for a moment. Maybe it was time to talk to Connie’s father and tell him how he felt. Maybe Mr. Browning could offer some advice on how to court Connie.
Court Connie.
The thought made him smile despite the fact that he felt as if he’d been courting Connie for the last seven years. He glanced heavenward. “If you really are up there, then maybe you’ll help me.” He had to laugh to himself. He had just prayed—well, after a fashion. He had prayed to a God he still wasn’t completely convinced existed.
“Tom, are you going to join the family?” Connie called from the house.
He chuckled and murmured to himself, “If I have any say about it, I am.”
Chapter 15
Days later, Connie was surprised when Ann showed up at her parents’ house with a request.
“Can you and Faith come to my home? Ruth has been feeling ill. She has been staying with me because her time is close. I wondered if Faith would use her skills as a doctor and help her. If you would both come, we could just tell others that you are going to sew with us.”
Faith joined them. “I heard my name mentioned.” She grinned. “What’s going on?”
Connie turned to her. “Ruth isn’t feeling well, and Ann wondered if we could come to the house.”
“Is she in labor?” Faith asked, sobering.
“No. She has chills and wants only to sleep.”
“Could be the ague,” Faith said. “Let me get my bag.”
“You mustn’t let it be seen,” Ann said, shaking her head. “Please hurry.” She left Connie and Faith and rushed toward the trees.
“What do you suggest we do?” Faith asked.
“Ann suggested that if anyone asks why we’re going to her house, we’ll tell them we’re going to sew together. Mother has some burlap sacks. Let’s take Ann a few things. We’ll hide your bag in the bottom.”
They went inside and told her mother and Aunt Hope what was going on. Mama came up with several things that hid the medical bag perfectly.
“I put in two yards of white flannel for diapers over and around the bag. On top of that I have several other pieces of cloth, some jars of jam, and a small sack of cookies. That should convince anyone nosy enough to look that it’s just that and nothing more.”
Faith took the sack. “It’s like carrying around books again.”
She and Connie headed out the door and began the long walk to Ann’s house. Connie couldn’t help but contemplate everything going on. “Do you suppose we can get to the bottom of all this nonsense before someone starts a war?”
“I hope so. I don’t want anyone to die.” Faith shook her head. “It’s been a heavy weight on me these past few years. Being half Indian, I bore a sense of guilt for not being honest about my heritage, but also for what was being done to the Indians by white people. I’m both . . . so how can I choose a side?”
“I know. I may only be an eighth Cherokee, but I’ve had some of those same thoughts.” Connie glanced over as Faith shifted the bag. “Are you sure you don’t want me to carry that?”