New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) (41 page)

Sara accepted the tight hug Mrs. Fitzsimmons gave her and gave a slight smile in return, but could not fully grasp what was told to her. Could it be possible the miracle she looked for, for so many years was finally given to her?

Sara sat on the sofa, not quite sure how she should react to the news. She had been told for so long she should try to never have a child again and the outcome would never be as she hoped. Now she was told this baby she carried would not be affected by her circumstance, or any of its siblings. It was so hard to change her thoughts on the matter after believing this for so many years. First she was shocked to learn she had beaten the odds of survival and now this. It was too much to comprehend in only a few minutes and she continued to sit as if in a trance.

Sam on the other hand never seemed to have a doubt in his mind this was the way their life together was going to be. Although he told Sara they would settle for whatever they would be presented with, somehow he knew with all his heart, with God’s blessing the news would be good. He knew, though, it would take time before Sara would let herself believe their good fortune, maybe not until after the birth of their first child … maybe never.

He gently sat beside Sara on the couch and reached for her hand and she in turn grasped his tightly.

“I really don’t understand, Sam,” she whispered.

Almost as quietly he responded, “You don’t have to understand, Sara, you just have to believe.”

A tear silently slipped down her cheek as she turned toward her husband, a hint of a smile showing through.

He put his arms around her and pulled her close, gently kissing her cheek. “Give it time, Sara.” He felt her nod in agreement against him. “Let’s go up to our room.” Again she silently agreed. Together they stood up and he continued to hold her close to him as they walked toward the elevator.

The lift operator smiled at the couple wishing them a “Happy Christmas.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Sam smiled back, “It is indeed a very happy Christmas.”

Turn the page for an excerpt of
DANCING NORTHERN LIGHTS
, Book Two in the New Beginnings Novel Series, to be released in the summer of 2013.

New Beginnings Series Excerpt from Book Two

DANCING NORTHERN LIGHTS

Introduction

January 15, 1886

Sara sat in the rocking chair, holding her new son gently to her shoulder. He slept quite soundly with all his needs met for the moment. They were so cozy and warm, wrapped up together under the hand-stitched quilt her mother had made her lovingly, years ago. Sometimes these quilts were partly machine-sewn to hold the different pieces of material together before the hand quilting took place. But not this one, every stitch had been placed carefully, each had been prayed over for her. Sara had hidden this quilt away in a cedar chest for many years, lest it be damaged in use and was more precious to her now, showing its wear. Each of her three sons had left telltale marks on it and the signs of teething where the material was worn through. It held muffled laughter, and it held the tears of many people. This quilt, with its singed corner told of the fire when their home was lost. It held the memories of a dear friend when she, too, was lost. And once again, it warmed a new little soul and it would tell his stories too.

Sara thought to herself how her world had changed so much in the last three years, since her marriage to Sam and a new hope was promised to her. She leaned back in the chair, silently rocking, holding her new little son and taking in the unique fragrance of a newborn. She closed her eyes and thought back through those years trying to remember each special moment.

April 2, 1883

Catherine waited anxiously at the window of her new home at the Stone School for Girls, for the arrival of her friends. Sam and Sara Fielding were returning from their excursion down to the United States after spending four months away. Catherine, and in fact everyone in the house, was anxious to hear about their trip and what they had experienced.

Suddenly the team of horses and the carriage could be seen coming up the driveway to the front entrance of the house and Catherine let out an excited shriek and ran down the stairs to the door. Amelia Stone, the lady of the house and owner of the school created for wayward or disadvantaged girls, raised her voice slightly to tell the young lady to mind her manners and walk to the door. She could not help but smile as she knew how excited Catherine was to see the couple who had come to her rescue. Catherine stood back from the door, straightened her skirt and tried very hard to look like the refined young lady she was becoming ... but still the beam of excitement shone on her face and she had a very hard time containing her energy.

The door opened and Cedric, Amelia’s husband, ushered the Fieldings into his home. The expression on Sara’s face mirrored Catherine’s and the two women embraced and shared tears of joy as they were reunited once again. Finally Sara stepped back and held the girl at arm’s length and said, “My, Catherine, what a beautiful and polished young lady you are becoming. You look positively radiant.” Catherine stayed unusually quiet, not quite able to speak the words she wished to. She had so much to tell her friend but had been taught to wait her turn for such things, as Mrs. Stone had told all the girls their guests would like to rest before being bombarded with all the news the last four months had created.

Amelia stepped ahead and extended an embrace that welcomed Sara back into her home. “Sara, you look wonderful ... so tanned and glowing. Where in the world did you two spend your honeymoon while the rest of us were braving the cold weather and deep snows?” With that she gave her long time friend, Sam, a welcoming hug. “My goodness, you two look like you have had enough excitement to last a year.”

“It may take us a week to tell you all about it. Thank you so much for having us into your home again,” Sam responded placing a gentle kiss upon Amelia’s cheek.

“Let’s get you two settled in so you can get refreshed before we sit down for dinner,” Cedric said leading the couple to the stairway followed by the carriage driver who carried the two large suitcases. “Then we can sit back and listen to your amusing tales, Sara. Amelia has been anxious to hear what exciting report you may have for us again, as have I.”

“Oh yes, please do,” Amelia said quite excitedly. “Dinner will be served in an hour, just enough time for you to get settled and revived.

With that, Sam and Sara followed Cedric to the room they had shared before on previous visits.

The couple was very quiet when the door closed and they were given their privacy to prepare for the evening meal. Sam looked at Sara and gave her a slight smile for he knew as much as she was looking forward to going home again, she was also terrified of telling her friends their news. She would have preferred to keep this secret but she knew her husband was so excited about the prospect of becoming a father that it would be told sooner than later.

After putting their coats and boots away in the wardrobe Sam sat down on the bed beside Sara and said, as he had many times before, “It is going to be all right.” He held her hand tightly hoping she would believe they were in this together. “God will take care of us and our little one.” He placed his hand on her abdomen which was beginning to fill out.

“I don’t know if I can trust God,” she said rather bluntly, “I have asked Him for help so many times and have yet to have it answered.”

Sam gave a sigh and kissed his wife gently on her cheek. This was a conversation they had many times before and he knew until she held that baby in her arms she would not believe it could be true. While they were taking this venture together, he knew it would not be an easy one. Five times before, sadly, Sara had buried her children from a previous marriage. Even though doctors had told them their chances of having strong, healthy children was very good it was something Sara could not let herself believe. She had refused Sam’s proposals of marriage until her heart made her give in but now she feared the world would turn on her again. It was almost impossible for her to believe maybe this time, with this man, the things she had desired in her life could be a possibility.

Quietly together they started to prepare for their evening with friends. Out of a suitcase Sara took her corset and started to put it on, she wanted so much to be able to hide her situation. Sam reached out for it saying, “Sara, you have read what the books have to say about pregnancy and wearing restrictive clothing. There is no sense tempting fate here. Besides eventually everyone will know of your condition and there will be no way it can be kept a secret.” He put the undergarment back into her suitcase, making sure it was placed under her other clothing. Sara would have liked to argue with him but she knew he was right. Instead it was her turn to give a sigh and gave in to the idea it was just going to have to be.

The dining room table was set for five as Amelia thought it would be to Sam and Sara’s liking to have a fairly quiet evening. Catherine could join them through the meal and then the couples would retire to the sitting room and enjoy further conversation there. Amelia was right, it was a quiet conversation at the dinner table and she was surprised to find Sara was not quick into the conversation as she had been during her other visits. This time it was Sam who spoke of their visits to Florida and New Orleans and their journey back on a Riverboat up the Mississippi River as far north as possible before travelling back home by rail.

When there was a lull in the conversation Sara asked Catherine how everything had been with her. The girl, with a large grin, spoke of how well her schooling was going and how she loved living there and making new friends. Amelia spoke up and said Catherine was indeed proceeding in an excellent manner with her courses.

It was when Sara asked if she had heard from her family back on their farm near Brandon that Catherine suddenly became quiet and the smile faded from her face. She silently pulled a letter and newspaper clipping from a pocket in her skirt and handed it to Sara saying, “My father died in January when he froze to death going home from the saloon.”

“What?” Cedric and Amelia said in unison as they could not believe what they were hearing for the first time. “Why didn’t you tell us, Catherine?” Amelia continued. “We knew you were upset for a time in February but we thought you were homesick.”

Catherine’s eyes filled with tears, “I hated him ... I am glad he is dead.” With that she mumbled something about being excused, burst into tears and quickly ran from the room. Sara swiftly got up from her chair and followed the girl, leaving the others as they sat in disbelief.

“I can’t imagine what she has been going through,” Cedric said shaking his head, “that poor girl.”

“Why would she not have told us?” Amelia questioned.

“I am sure her feelings have been very confusing,” Sam suggested. “To have her father brutally beat a child out of her, then having him die. For a young lady already entering a world of uncertainty this must have been shattering.”

“I cannot believe I did not look into her depression further,” Amelia continued, “I truly thought she was only homesick. She must not have told the other girls either or surely they would have told me.”

“You can’t read minds, Amelia,” Cedric said, placing his hand over hers. “She admires Sara. I am sure she will be able to help Catherine come to terms with this.”

Sara followed Catherine up to the dormitory and her room. Her roommate, whom Sara had not met before, had the look of alarm on her face, seeing her friend in such a state. Sara gently asked her to leave the room and closed the door when she left.

Catherine stood at the window sobbing. Sara quietly reached out to her, then held her in her arms and gently stroked her hair, trying to calm the girl. “I am so sorry, Catherine,” Sara said when the girl started to quiet down.

“I don’t understand why I am so sad,” Catherine said between sobs as she tried to catch her breath. “I hated him so much.”

“That may be,” Sara said as she continued to hold her friend, “but he still was your father. He was very hard on you and your family, but I am sure there are some happy memories you have of him.”

Catherine nodded and agreed, “Yes, he used to make up stories to tell us before we went to bed, sometimes. But he scared us all so much, and he was so angry. It seems like the last years he was angry all of the time.”

Sara looked at the short newspaper clipping from the Brandon Sun Weekly, dated January 26, 1883, that stated:

FROZEN TO DEATH

Word was received today Tom Hall’s body was found a half mile from his home. It is suspected on Thursday night after being in Brandon he fell from his horse as it was found at home. Mr. Hall may have lost his way and was frozen to death. Temperatures reached thirty-seven degrees below that night.

The note that accompanied the clipping was very short and was written in very tiny and shaky handwriting. It said:

Dear Catherine,

Sadly, I must tell you that your father died last week. Mr. Hunter has asked we all go to Brandon for the winter. He moved us there yesterday.

We all hope you are well.

Our love,