Tender Love (20 page)

Whenever his schedule permitted, Mark went with them to the stables on Saturday mornings, and the four of them enjoyed the two hours they spent together learning proper riding skills and techniques and how to care for their mounts. When it became apparent that the two children were interested in riding, and that it wasn't a passing whim, Mark and Alice decided to buy two ponies and a couple of horses and board them at the stables until they could move them to their new home.

But the day when they needed him the most, Mark had a meeting at the bank and couldn't go riding with them. It was a balmy morning, and the sun was shining brightly. Alice and the kids waited until Don Tatum and his mother started around the paddock before they mounted. Because of the anger the Tatums held toward her and Mark, Alice wouldn't crowd them on their ride.

They were having a pleasant ride until Eddie
shouted, “Look at those dogs running across the field.”

Three dogs scampered across the field, and a rabbit bounded a few feet in front of them, heading toward the riding ring. The dogs, baying loudly, chased the rabbit toward the Tatums, and all four of them ran underneath Don's pony. The frightened animal whinnied in fear, and kicked its rear legs at the dogs.

Mrs. Tatum screeched, “Help!” which only frightened the terrified animal more. The pony started to run, and screaming, Don tried to dismount, but he slipped from the saddle, and one foot caught in the stirrup as the animal bolted.

Alice kicked her mount into action, thankful that she was riding Mark's faster horse today. She soon overtook Don and the pony. Jumping from the saddle, she grabbed the boy and jerked his leg loose from the stirrup. She shielded Don with her body as they fell to the ground, but she struck her head on a metal post. Except for his fear, Don was unharmed and he ran to his mother; but as Alice fell, the pony lashed out with its hooves, striking her arm. She saw Eddie and Kristin racing toward her before she blacked out.

 

Mark was leaving his office when the phone rang. Recognizing the voice of the manager at the stables, his first thought was that one of the children had been hurt. He wasn't prepared for the man's message.

“Mrs. Larkin has had an accident, and I'm afraid she's seriously injured.” He briefly outlined what had happened. “I've already contacted 911, and the ambulance is on the way. It's probably better if you
meet them at the hospital. Do you want me to take your kids home?”

“No, bring them to the hospital—they'll want to be with us.”

Mark paused to telephone Gran and let her know what had happened, then he ran to his station wagon, arriving at the hospital just as the ambulance backed into the emergency room entrance. He parked hurriedly, and was by the ambulance door when the attendants removed Alice.

“Oh, Alice,” Mark whispered when he saw her. Her face was chalky, except for a large bruise on her forehead, and even though she was unconscious, she groaned in pain when they moved the cot from the ambulance.

Feeling someone tugging on his hand, Mark turned to find Kristin and Eddie beside him.

“Oh, Daddy, it was terrible,” Kristin said, “but she was so brave. It was just like something out of the movies—Don Tatum wasn't hurt at all.”

“Is Alice hurt bad?” Eddie asked, his lips quivering.

Mark knelt and put his arms around them. “I don't know, but will you be good kids and sit here in the waiting room? I'll see what I can find out.”

Since Mark was well-known at the hospital, the staff made no objection when he entered the examining room to wait with bated breath for the diagnosis.

“Her left arm is broken, and it looks as if it's a clean break,” the doctor said, “but that's the least of her problems. I don't like this knot on her head, which is probably a concussion. She'll probably regain consciousness in a few hours, but we'll have to
admit her for observation. She also has several cracked ribs, which will pain her more than the broken bone.”

Mark nodded. “Arrange for a private room—my children and I will want to stay with her. We won't leave until I know how badly she's hurt.”

Alice was taken to X-ray, and her arm set before she was assigned to a room.

Betty St. Claire and many other friends of Alice and Mark soon arrived, but Mark met them in the corridor for he didn't want Alice to be disturbed. They'd come to offer help with the children, to take care of Gran, or to do anything else that was needful.

Even Grover Tatum and his wife came—ashamed and remorseful—to find out the extent of Alice's injuries. With a break in his voice, Tatum said, “My wife told me how she saved our boy's life. If it hadn't been for her, our son might be here instead of her.”

Mark accepted all offers of help and sympathy with a smile and thank-you, and he asked for their prayers. When the well-wishers left, Mark telephoned the desk and asked them to post a No Visitors, sign on the door. He knelt between Kristin and Eddie who looked small and defenseless as they huddled in their chairs.

“It's time we prayed for Alice,” he said. Reaching out a hand to both of them, he closed his eyes. “God, we come to you on Alice's behalf. We pray for healing, and we believe that You will answer. We can't believe, God, that when you've given Alice to us that You'd take her away after such a short time. But whatever happens, we thank you for the time we've
had her, and for the difference she's made in our lives. Amen.”

Kristin was sniffling, and Mark found a tissue for her. “I'm sorry I've been mean to Alice, Daddy. You know I love her, don't you?”

He hugged his daughter. “Of course, I know you love her, and Alice knows it, too.”

Mark stood beside the bed and held the hand that wasn't connected to an IV, and he thought she might have returned the slight pressure of his clasp. Alice's color was more natural now, but the left side of her face was turning black. Mark suddenly remembered his prayer asking for an opportunity to reach the Tatums, but he hadn't expected this. Sometimes prayers could be risky.

By late afternoon, there was no change, but Mark knew the children needed a break, so he took them to the cafeteria. He debated whether to send them home, but when he broached the subject, they raised such a ruckus that he didn't insist.

Besides, he knew that Alice would want to see them when she wakened.

The results of the X-rays were positive, and her vital signs were good, so the doctors predicted that Alice would make a complete recovery. They expected her to awaken before many hours.

The nurses brought blankets, and he made the kids as comfortable as possible in the chairs. Mark sat beside the bed, watching the even flow of her breathing, smiling as he reviewed the events that had brought them together. He remembered the first day he'd seen her and the immediate attraction between them. He thought of the first time he'd kissed her, about his proposal at the beach and her quick accep
tance. He remembered the many things she'd done to make him feel special…wanted…
loved.

He considered how willing she was to forgive those who had wronged her—of how she'd forgiven Kristin and Gran for their unjustified treatment. She didn't hold a grudge against Ethel, the Tatums, or her parents, who took her for granted.

It was well after midnight when Mark felt Alice's hand move slightly, and she opened her eyes.

“Mark?” she whispered.

“Right here, sweetheart.”

“Kristin and Eddie?”

“Asleep in chairs on the other side of the room. Do you want me to wake them?”

She shook her head and groaned.

“How badly am I hurt?”

“There's a knot on your head the size of a baseball, a broken arm and some cracked ribs, but the doctor says you'll live,” he added with a smile.

“I have a terrific headache.”

“I'll ring for a nurse. Now that you're awake, they'll give you something for that.”

“How's Don Tatum?”

“In good shape, thanks to you.”

“I suppose what I did was stupid, but I acted without thinking.”

“A good thing for Don that you did. The manager of the stables said he could easily have been killed if you hadn't gotten him off the pony.”

When the nurse answered Mark's summons, she turned on the light and awakened Kristin and Eddie. They ran to the bed and Mark moved aside to let them take the place he'd occupied all night.

“Arm hurt, Alice?” Eddie asked anxiously, and
Alice was reminded of the time he'd been hit in the stomach with the softball.

“Not as much as my head and ribs,” she said. She reached out her hand and both of them grabbed it.

“We prayed for you,” Kristin said. “We're so proud of you, 'specially when you saved Don after his daddy has been so mean to you. And I'm awful sorry for the way I've acted the past few months. I want you to be our mother.”

Mark and Alice exchanged amazed glances. They'd had no idea the children knew about the charges brought against Mark, for they'd carefully avoided mention of the trouble Mr. Tatum and Ethel had caused when the kids were around.

“Maybe you'll have your picture in the paper,” Eddie said.

Alice started to shake her head, but remembered that wasn't a good idea. The shot the nurse had given her began to take effect, and she closed her eyes. The voices of Mark and the nurse sounded far away.

 

Alice was released from the hospital after two days, but she wouldn't be able to work for several weeks, and Mark inquired about some part-time help.

“That's a bit much, Mark,” she said, “hiring help to take care of the hired help.” She insisted on going to a nursing home until she was able to work again, but that request brought a resounding no from all the Tanners.

Although Alice spent much of her time in her bedroom, she did go into the family room after dinner on her second night at home. While Mark and Kristin were rinsing dishes, the doorbell rang, and when Mark answered, Ethel Pennington stood on the steps.
Mark was speechless for a few minutes, as he stared at Ethel. She spoke first.

“I've come to help out.”

“Come in, Ethel,” he said.

“I won't come in now—I wanted to find out what needs to be done.”

Eddie and Kristin ran to Ethel, grabbed her hands and pulled her into the house. They were glad to see her, and rightfully so, for she'd been their friend during those difficult days when their mother was dying.

Mark exchanged glances with Alice, and she nodded.

“Sit down, Ethel,” Alice invited.

Ethel perched on the edge of a chair, ill at ease.

“I'm going to play T-ball this summer,” Eddie said.

“We've got some new ponies, too, but I don't know if I want to ride anymore after what happened to Don,” Kristin said, and Eddie's eyes grew large in fright.

Alice and Mark had anticipated this reaction, and he said evenly, “Of course, we're going to continue riding. That was a rare accident, and not likely to happen again. You'll be perfectly safe after you've taken more lessons and know how to handle your mount.”

“Buffy wouldn't have scared the pony,” Eddie said.

Ethel's eyes darted to Alice. “Are you hurt very much?”

“Nothing that won't heal eventually, and I'm not in a great deal of pain if I don't move quickly. We do need some help, and it's good of you to offer.”

“What can I do?”

“Mark is doing all right with breakfast and getting the children ready for school, but if you could come for a few hours in the afternoon to clean, do laundry and prepare the evening meal, it would be a big help.”

Ethel stood up. “I'll be here at noon tomorrow and prepare some lunch for you.”

Eddie took a book from the coffee table. “This is a book I brought from the school library. Why don't you read to me, Ethel?”

Ethel looked quickly at Mark. “You're welcome to stay,” he said, and she sat down again and Eddie stood beside her chair while she read. Ethel stayed for an hour, and the awkwardness of her visit eased considerably. When she finally left, she paused by the door, and without looking at them, she said, “I'm sorry for what happened in the past. I hope you'll forgive me.”

“You were forgiven a long time ago, Ethel,” Mark said. “The past is gone—let's forget it.”

While Mark supervised the children's showers and bundled them into bed, Alice carefully walked to her room. The least movement was agony to her bruised body, but she was determined she wouldn't add to Mark's workload, and she waited on herself as much as possible. She'd removed her robe and had eased into bed when Mark came to check on her.

He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “That's certainly a strange turn of events.”

“Yes, but one that brought a lot of peace to my mind and heart. I've always been uncomfortable about my attitude toward Ethel. I should ask
her
forgiveness.”

“I know what you mean. It was despicable of me
to order her from our home, and I'm more than willing to let bygones be bygones. It will teach me humility to accept help from a woman I treated so badly.”

“I've always felt sorry for Ethel. I think she does love you, and loving you as much as I do, if you'd chosen Ethel instead of me, I might have been a poor loser, too.”

Mark bent over and kissed Alice softly, careful not to disturb her injuries. How he wished they'd gotten married before this happened! He wanted to lie beside her and comfort her with his presence, but he didn't have that right—yet.

 

During the next two weeks, Ethel was true to her word. And without the worry of the household, Alice healed rapidly. Ethel was always busy when she was in the house, and she didn't give Alice an opportunity to talk with her. But one afternoon when Ethel was in the kitchen preparing dinner, Alice eased out of bed and walked slowly into the room and put two cups of water in the microwave for quick heating.