Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,66
many things for you.”
Connie frowned. “You aren’t the only one to say that. Everyone seems to think Tom has some sort of romantic feelings for me, but he’s never said anything about it. I can’t believe he is in love with me, because he would say as much if he were. We don’t keep secrets from each other.”
“Maybe it isn’t a secret so much as a desire to find the right time and place.”
Connie considered this for a moment. “I don’t know. A few times Tom has mentioned wanting to talk to me about something, but he’s never brought up the idea of being in love.”
“How do you feel about him?”
“I don’t know. I care a great deal about him. He’s been my best friend for such a long time. But as for love, well, I’ve just never considered it. After all, he’s an atheist. Or at least was. I think Papa has just about worn that thought out of his head.”
“Well, maybe it’s time to consider how Tom fits into the scheme of things. I think you need to spend some time thinking it through. You seem ideal for each other, and friendship is the very best foundation for marriage. I see Tom’s lack of belief to be the only true obstacle.”
Connie said nothing. That obstacle was insurmountable unless God moved it. Perhaps that was why she had never considered the possibility of Tom loving her. She didn’t want to face the tremendous disappointment of loving someone she knew she could never have.
They had reached Ann’s place, so Connie felt no need to respond. She knocked on the front door.
“Come in,” Ann said, glancing behind Connie and Faith to see who might be watching.
“We brought some materials and other things to hide Faith’s medical bag,” Connie said once they were inside.
Faith placed the burlap sack on the floor and opened it. She pulled out the jars of jelly first and handed them to Connie. Then she took out the sack of cookies and the first stack of material, and finally she pulled out the flannel.
“My mother sent all of this for you.” Connie waited as Faith produced her bag. “Where is Ruth?”
“I had her lie down. She said she has pain in her back.”
Faith nodded. “Which room?”
Ann took her to the room and opened the door. “Faith is here, Ruth. I asked her to come and see if she could help you.”
Ruth looked pale and small. “I’m so afraid.”
Faith smiled. “Don’t be. First babies often cause women a lot of fear, but everything will be all right.” She looked over her shoulder at Ann and Connie. “Give us a few minutes alone.”
Ann closed the door and looked at Connie. “I’m worried about her.”
“Then maybe we should sit down together and pray. I find that always helps.”
“You remind me of Faith’s mother, Eletta Browning. Your aunt, I believe.”
“Yes, she was married to my father’s brother. I never met her, but people tell me she was an amazing woman.”
Ann nodded. “She was. She showed such great love. We were good friends. She always said prayer would change everything.”
“It does. I’ve been so busy lately that I might have temporarily forgotten that, but now it’s uppermost in my mind.”
Ann took Connie’s hand. “There is much we need to pray about. I fear for my people and for Ruth.”
Connie squeezed the older woman’s hand. “I understand, but more importantly, God understands. Let’s just give it to Him.”
The day was fairly warm. In fact, if Tom was honest, it was downright hot. It wasn’t as bad as Washington, DC, however. The humid days of summer there were unbearable at times. There were days when he could feel heat permeate from everything around him, and often he felt he was slowly being cooked alive.
To alleviate the warmth, Tom went to the pump behind the government house and wetted his handkerchief. The cold water felt so good as he wiped his face and neck that he wetted the cloth again. As he made his way around the house, Tom caught the sound of voices through the open windows. Clint was talking to someone about the mill and processing the fallen trees. Tom was glad to hear the agent was finally doing something to help get the mill up and running. If the Indians could produce lumber, it would be a good way for them to make money and better the reservation.
On his way back to the Browning house, he remembered that he needed pencils and turned