Michaela's Choice (12 page)

“I’ll see you next Sunday at church?”

“Of course. I’ll be there.”

Michaela followed Hiram to the door. Stepping out onto the front porch behind him, Michaela froze. Eric stood at the bottom of the steps.

“Eric?”

“Michaela.” Eric turned to face her. “I stopped by to talk to you, but if you’re busy. . .”

“Hiram was just leaving.”

Hiram mumbled good-bye, then mounted his horse and rode off toward his farm.

“I didn’t know you and Hiram were friends.” Eric followed Michaela into the house.

“Actually, we’re not. I mean, I don’t really know him at all. He just stopped by to ask me something.”

“I see.”

“I noticed you weren’t in church this morning.” Michaela stalled for time as she sat in the chair, wondering how much Eric had heard of their conversation. Eric sat across from her, looking more nervous than Hiram had, if that were possible. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to your children. Daniel wanted to hurry back to Emma.”

“Ruby was sick, but she’s feeling much better now.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Michaela’s stomach lurched, and again she wished Daniel would come into the room, but he was in the barn and Emma was asleep.

“I came to talk to you about last night. I felt I owed you an apology, but now. . .” He stood and paced, his boots echoing across the wood floor. Turning sharply, he faced Michaela. “Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged to someone in Boston?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head and gazed miserably at his clenched jaw. Why couldn’t she have handled the situation better? “I owe you an apology.” She bit her lower lip. “I never meant to give you the impression I was interested in you. Romantically, that is. I love being with your family, but that’s it.”

Michaela’s heart pounded in her chest as she forced herself to continue. “When you kissed me, it took me off guard. I should have told you I’m getting married. I’m sorry.”

“It certainly would have made things a lot easier if you had told me.” Eric sat across from her again, his hands gripping the arms of the chair. “I assumed with all the time you were spending with the children, maybe part of it was because you enjoyed being with me as well.”

“You assumed wrong.” Michaela’s voice rose in frustration. Immediately, she wished she could take back the harsh words, but still, it wasn’t entirely her fault. She’d never meant to give him the impression she was interested in him.

“Your children are wonderful, and I’ve enjoyed teaching them. I’ve even enjoyed the few times we’ve talked together. But my personal life is just that—personal.”

Eric sat quietly for a moment, and Michaela knew she’d hurt him.

“If you’d rather not come out to the house for any more lessons, I’d understand completely.” Eric’s tone sent icy shivers down her spine. “I can tell the children you’re needed here with Emma.”

Michaela shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding of her heart. “I made a commitment to the children, and I’ll be there. I’ll be leaving in a few weeks, anyway. I want them to get in as much practice as possible before I leave.”

“The children will miss you.” Eric cleared his throat and stood. “I need to get home and make sure Ruby’s all right.”

Michaela followed him to the door. Eric took the porch stairs two at a time and in one seamless motion jumped on his horse and rode away. She stood at the door and watched until all she could see was his shapeless form on the horizon.

Twelve

“Mrs. Macintosh!” Ruby greeted her at the door of the Johnson home the night of the Christmas Eve party. Candles filled the parlor, adding warmth to the frosty night. A handful of people had already arrived and now mingled in small groups around a tree that had been decorated with mauve-colored silk bows and dainty gold balls for the occasion.

Ruby held Michaela’s hand tightly, her face bright with the excitement of the holiday. “Your dress is beautiful!”

“Thank you, sweetie.” Michaela glanced down at her green taffeta dress. She’d been afraid it might be a bit elaborate with its full bustle skirt and silk ribbon lace, but Emma had assured her it was perfect. Glancing at the other guests, she had to agree Emma had been right. Everyone had taken advantage of the occasion and pulled out their finest outfits.

“Tomorrow’s Christmas.” Ruby tugged on Michaela’s arm and pulled her closer. “Do you have a present for me?”

“A present. Let me see.” Michaela put her index finger against her chin and pretended to think. “I guess you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out, but I’ll let you in on a secret.” Michaela bent over and whispered in Ruby’s ear. “I think you’ll find a little something under the tree for you from me.”

Ruby in turn cupped her hands around her mouth. “Can I
tell you a secret?”

“Of course.” Michaela smiled, enjoying the little game with the youngster.

“I have a present for you, too.”

“You do?” Michaela pretended to look surprised.

Ruby nodded and reached inside the pocket of her dark blue dress. “You said Christmas makes you sad, so I wanted to give you something to make you happy.”

She held out a small gift she had obviously wrapped herself. “You don’t have to wait until Christmas. You can open it right now.”

“All right.” Carefully, Michaela unwrapped the shiny red paper held together precariously with a white ribbon.

Ruby stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her eyes glowing with excitement.

Inside the package was a small gold-encased cameo brooch. Certainly, it had to be a family heirloom. Michaela swallowed hard, not sure what she should do. “It’s beautiful, but where did you get it?”

Ruby crinkled the edge of the wrapping paper and smiled, obviously pleased with her gift. “It’s mine. Pa says when we give something away that’s special to us, we’re giving from the heart.”

Michaela glanced around the room, looking for Eric. “Your father’s right, but this looks very expensive.”

“What am I right about?”

Michaela drew out a sigh of relief when Eric appeared beside her. “Ruby gave me a gift for Christmas.” Michaela held up the brooch, hoping Eric could read the concern in her expression.

“Where did you get this, Ruby?” Her father ran his hand across Ruby’s silky hair, then pulled her gently toward him.

Ruby’s chin rose as if she was determined her gift would go unchallenged. “It was Mother’s, and now it’s mine to give to anyone I want. I gave it to Michaela because I want her to be my new mother. I never knew my mother because God took her away to heaven, and I think it’s time I had a mother like everyone else.”

Michaela stood up straight, her jaw lowering in surprise.

“Ruby.” Eric hesitated. “This brooch is yours to do with what you want. If you want to give it to Michaela, then that’s fine. But, as much as you want a mother. . .” Eric glanced at Michaela, a note of sadness in his voice. “Michaela’s going back to Boston soon. That’s where she lives. She’s going to marry a man there.”

Ruby’s smile faded, and it broke Michaela’s heart to see her so disappointed. But Eric was right. She would be going home soon and could never be Ruby’s mother.

“Are you sure you don’t want to keep this, Ruby?” Michaela bent down, holding the gift in the palm of her hand. “I would
understand if you wanted to since it was your mother’s.”

Ruby looked from Eric to Michaela.

“I’ll tell you what, Ruby.” Eric leaned over and picked up his youngest daughter. “You and I will make a special trip into town next week, just the two of us, and you can pick out a special gift for Mrs. Macintosh then. How does that sound?”

Ruby squished her lips together, contemplating her father’s offer. “All right,” she finally agreed. “You won’t have your feelings hurt, Mrs. Macintosh?”

Michaela smiled and ran her hand down Ruby’s rosy cheek. “Not at all. I’ll never forget how special you made my Christmas.”

Ruby grinned widely, then reached out to give Michaela a big hug, bringing her within inches of Eric’s face. The back of his hand brushed Michaela’s arm, and she took a step back at the brief contact.

Eric cleared his throat. “I think it’s time to start the singing. Do you still feel like playing?”

Michaela nodded, thankful for the distraction.

“Wait, before you go. . .” Eric’s hand touched the sleeve of her dress. Ruby had walked off and they were alone for a moment. “Can we call a truce? I’d like it if we could remain friends.”

“I’d like that, too.” Michaela forced a smile. “I still feel so horrible about yesterday—”

Eric held up his hand to stop her from continuing. “I’d just as soon put that behind us.”

Michaela nodded and went to sit at the piano. She played song after song, and the front room rang with animated voices full of Christmas cheer. After an hour or so of singing, the festivities moved on to a contest prepared for the children. While the men got the bonfire started out behind the barn, Michaela brought out the maple syrup gingerbread cookies she had made especially for tonight, along with several colors of frosting and goodies to decorate the cookies.

The children crowded around the table in the kitchen and began to work on their cookies. Michaela was pleased at not only how seriously they took the project, but also how creative many of them were.

“This is fun.” A dark-haired little boy placed two small candies on a snowman for eyes.

“Look at my star, Mrs. Macintosh.” Ruby held up a cookie for her to see.

“It looks wonderful.” Michaela smiled, hoping Ruby had forgiven her for not accepting her gift.

The guests mingled, both in the house and outside where they stood near the bonfire, roasting chicken and drinking hot cocoa. It was a perfect evening.

Someone screamed outside.

Michaela hurried out onto the front porch to see what had happened. To the far left, she could see the barn. Orange and yellow flames roared with intensity, shooting up from its roof. A dozen men worked as fast as they could to put out the fire and get the animals to safety. Women huddled outside with children, keeping them away from the fire and watching in disbelief at what only minutes ago had been a time of joy and celebration.

Ruby ran after her father toward the flaming building. None of the men seemed to notice the small girl entering the burning barn. Without considering the consequences, Michaela hurried off the porch.

In a dreamlike state, Michaela ran toward the barn. All she could think of was the little girl in the fire. The flames singed the hairs on her arms, but Michaela felt nothing.

“Leah!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, desperately trying to reach her before it was too late.

“Not again, God,” she cried. “Please don’t let it happen again!”

Inside the barn, the heat was intense. Michaela heard a cracking sound from the ceiling.

“Leah!” Michaela screamed and ran for the little girl who stood in the path of a falling beam.

Seconds later, there was darkness. And then nothing.

Thirteen

“What’s going to happen to Mrs. Macintosh?” Sarah wrapped her arms around her legs, rocking back and forth on a cushioned chair. “I don’t want her to die.”

Eric sat with his children in the parlor, exhausted, yet unable to sleep. The barn was a total loss, though they’d managed to save most of the animals. If not for the falling snow and lack of wind, they might have lost the house as well.

The barn, though, was the least of Eric’s worries. No matter what Michaela felt about him, upstairs in Rebecca’s room lay the woman he loved. Michaela had saved Ruby’s life and taken the brunt of the force when a beam collapsed, striking her on the back of her head.

Adam sat on the floor, resting his elbows on his knees. “Do you think Mrs. Macintosh is going to live?”

“All we can do is pray and wait for the doctor.” Eric stood and walked across the room to the window. Outside, the earth was covered by a deep layer of snow.

The sun would be up in a few hours, but Christmas had been all but forgotten. Eric refused to give up hope. She had to be all right. He turned at the creaking of the stairs and the subsequent appearance of the doctor. “How is she?”

The doctor rubbed the sides of his temples with the tips of his fingers. “I honestly don’t know at this point. She’s asleep right now. It’s difficult to know how much damage was done. There were a few burns on her arms, but thankfully they’re not too serious. The wound on her head is deep, but I’m more worried about internal damage.”

“What about Emma?” Daniel came in from the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. An hour after the fire began, his wife had gone into labor.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t try to take her home last night.” The doctor pulled off his wire-rimmed glasses and rubbed his eyes. “The contractions are strong, but she’s doing fine. It won’t be long now before the baby’s here. Mrs. Santon’s staying with her, and I’d say in the next few hours, there’ll be a new little boy or girl in the house.”

Daniel let out a sigh of relief.

Setting his glasses back on the bridge of his nose, the doctor glanced around the room. “All of you need to go to bed and get some sleep. There’s nothing else you can do tonight.”

Eric stifled a yawn. “The doctor’s right, kids. We’ve got a lot of work to do in the morning.”

He picked up his youngest daughter, who had fallen asleep in Sarah’s lap, and carried her upstairs to her room. After getting her settled, he closed the door quietly behind him, his gaze resting on the door to Rebecca’s room, where Michaela lay. He cried out to God, begging Him to save her. He still loved her so much. If only she felt the same for him.

❧

The presents lay unopened under the tree Christmas morning. Slowly the children woke from a restless night and joined Eric in the parlor. Unable to sleep, he’d come downstairs in case the doctor had news for him. The fireplace cast ominous shadows on the walls as rays of morning sun crept through the window.

“Has there been any word?” Rebecca came in from the kitchen with a cup of hot coffee and handed it to her father.

“Thank you.” He took a deep sip of the strong brew and shook his head. “Nothing yet.”

Daniel lay sprawled across the sofa, his open gaze fixed on the ceiling. Eric doubted he’d slept, either.

There were shouts upstairs, followed by the shrill cry of a newborn.

“The baby!” Sarah jumped up from the chair she was sitting on and clapped her hands together.

Daniel bolted to the bottom of the stairs, anxiously awaiting some word about his wife and child. After a few minutes, Mrs. Santon appeared with a broad smile across her plump face. “You’re a father, Daniel! Come see your son.”

Daniel ran in front of her up the stairs, two at a time.

Eric drained his mug of coffee and stood, his heart aching for good news about Michaela. “There are chores to do, children. Sitting around won’t help anyone. Let’s all get to work. Rebecca, I’m sure the doctor and Mrs. Santon could use some breakfast, as could the rest of us.”

“Certainly.” Rebecca picked up his mug, then scurried into the kitchen.

Eric stretched his arms behind him, trying to relieve some of the tension. He made a mental list of what needed to be done. Not only did the charred remains of the barn need to be cleared away, but he was going to have to make plans to rebuild.

“Eric.” The doctor stood at the bottom of the stairs, his clothes crumpled from staying up most of the night. “It’s Michaela. She’s awake now, and she’s calling for you.”

Eric paused. Why would she want to see him? In his mind, he was the last person Michaela would be asking for. He took a step forward. “Are you sure?”

The doctor nodded. Slowly, Eric climbed up the stairs.

He entered the room, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw her. Her eyes were open, and he could see the pain reflected in them. Several layers of gauze were wrapped around the top of her head, and one side of her face was swollen and bruised. “Hi.”

She offered him a weak smile.

He sat down beside her. “How are you feeling?”

Her eyes closed briefly, then opened again. “I don’t know. My head hurts and feels like it’s spinning in opposite directions.”

Eric pushed back a strand of hair from her face and let it tumble against the pillow. “The doctor said you wanted to see me.”

A teardrop fell down her cheek. “Everything’s so fuzzy. I’m scared.”

He took her hand and held it tight. “Do you remember anything about last night?”

She shook her head. “I thought it was my daughter, Leah. I had to save her. I thought God was giving me another chance to bring her back.” Another tear flowed down Michaela’s face. “She won’t ever come back, though, will she?”

Emotion welled inside Eric’s chest, knowing the pain Michaela was experiencing was not only physical. “It was Ruby in the fire, Michaela. You saved her life.”

Her free hand touched the side of her temple. “It hurts so bad.”

Eric wished he could take away her pain. Wished he could erase the scars from the past that had been ripped open last night. Hoping a distraction would help, he told her about Emma’s baby.

Michaela smiled at the news. “What did they finally decide to name him?”

“Nathaniel James.”

“I like that.” She shifted in the bed but made no effort to pull away from his grasp.

She closed her eyes, and he wondered if she’d drifted off to sleep. Deciding to slip out and let her rest, he pulled his hand free and stood to leave the room.

“Please don’t leave me.” Her eyes were wide open now, and the glazed look he’d noticed before was gone.

“I’m so sorry this had to happen.” He longed to hold her in his arms, but instead he sat down beside her and took her hand again. “I know it reminds you of what happened to your husband and daughter.”

She nodded and squeezed his hand.

There was something he had to tell her. “I won’t say this again, but when I saw that beam fall on you. . .” He closed his eyes, and for a moment he was there again, seeing the horror in her eyes, the screams that filled the air, the panic within his chest. “I knew without a doubt I loved you and didn’t want to lose you.”

He raked his free hand through his hair. He shouldn’t be telling her this. Not here, not this way. She was in love with someone else. But she had asked for him. . .

“I know there’s someone else, but I just need you to know how I feel.”

Her voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. “I don’t know how I feel anymore. If I love him, then why do I want you with me right now? Please stay with me.” She held tight to his hand.

Eric wondered if she knew what she was saying.

The doctor stepped into the room to check on her. “She needs to rest.”

Eric turned back to Michaela, who had fallen asleep. A peaceful look covered her face, and he resisted the urge to run his finger across her cheek.

“After a couple of days, she should be all right. The beam must have skimmed her head instead of actually hitting her directly. That’s probably what saved her life.”

“She saved my little girl’s life as well.”

❧

Three days later, the doctor allowed Michaela and Emma to go home. The cleanup for the barn was almost finished, and Eric thanked God the snow had stopped any further damage, especially to the house. Two chickens had died, but the livestock had survived and was now holed up in Daniel’s barn until another shelter could be built.

The morning after Michaela went home, Eric saddled up his horse and headed for Daniel’s farm, needing to see for himself how she was doing.

“Good morning, Eric,” Daniel called out from the front porch.

“Guess you have your hands full.” Eric dismounted the horse and pulled his coat closer around him to block the chilly wind that had picked up.

Daniel finished hammering a loose porch rail, then greeted Eric with a firm handshake. “Several of the women at church have already been by with meals and have even helped clean the house for me.”

Eric held up the pouch he was carrying. “Rebecca sent over some homemade bread and jam with me.”

“No one’s going hungry around here!”

“How is the baby?” Eric followed Daniel inside the house, thankful for the warmth from the stone fireplace.

“Besides the fact he keeps us up all night?” Daniel let out a deep chuckle. “Couldn’t be better. He’s perfect.”

“I remember those nighttime feedings.” Eric set the gift on a side table. “How’s Michaela?”

“I think she’s asleep. The doctor says she’ll recover fine as long as she gets enough rest.”

“The kids have been begging to come see her, but I told them they needed to wait until she’s up and around.” Eric stood in front of the crackling flames and rubbed his icy hands together.

“Maybe tomorrow. Would you like me to see if she’s awake?” Daniel asked as a hungry cry from the baby sounded from the bedroom.

Eric nodded. “If you don’t mind.”

A minute later, Daniel came out of Michaela’s room.

“I’m sorry, Eric.” He shut the door behind him. “She’s sound asleep. This whole ordeal has been both emotionally and physically draining for her.”

“I know.” He tried not to worry, but he knew the experience had been traumatic for her. And he wanted to be with her. “Please tell her I came by and if she needs anything, I’m here. Anything at all.”

“I’ll tell her.”

❧

Michaela groaned and pulled out the last dozen stitches of the sweater she was knitting for the new baby. “Remind me not to attempt another project like this.”

Emma chuckled as Michaela held up the lopsided sweater. “Nathaniel won’t care. I’m just glad you’re up and around.” Emma picked up a skein of blue yarn and laid it in her lap.

“I feel so much better.”

“He’s such a good little boy.” Emma watched her son sleep in the small crib beside her in the parlor. “I can’t believe how small he is.”

Daniel walked in from the kitchen with a slice of cake Mrs. Winters had sent over. The grin that crossed his lips hadn’t left his face since the baby’s arrival. He sat down on the sofa beside his wife. “Eric came by earlier, Michaela, but you were asleep. He asked if he could bring his children by to see you tomorrow if the weather is not too bad. They’ve been worried about you.”

Michaela sighed. She could remember every word of her last conversation with Eric. She’d asked him to stay. For some reason, she’d needed him beside her to take away the fear she felt.

He’d told her he loved her.

She choked back the wave of emotion, confused by her reaction. If she wasn’t careful, she’d start crying again.

“I’m sorry.” She set the sweater down and walked over to the fireplace. Flames crackled. She could smell the soot and feel the intensity of the blaze. “I haven’t felt like myself lately.”

“It’s all right.” Emma’s voice was reassuring.

“When I saw Ruby running toward the barn and the fire, I relived it all over again. It was Leah, and God was giving me a second chance to save her.” She turned around to face them. “I know it sounds crazy.”

Emma shook her head. “It’s not crazy at all.”

The wind howled and the windows shook with the impact.

“There’s another storm coming.” Daniel stood up and looked out the window. “I’d better go out to the barn and make sure the animals are secure. It’s likely to be a bad one.”

“Bundle up,” Emma insisted. “The temperature has dropped.”

Michaela shivered unconsciously, wishing she could get Eric and the feel of his strong hand around hers out of her mind.