A Love For Keeps (Truly Yours Digital Editions) (21 page)

Natalie pulled her arm away and ran for the bedroom door. She ran out of the room, yelling, “I don’t want you to be my mama!”

Meagan followed her first instinct to run after the little girl, but she wasn’t fast enough. A scream she knew she would never forget sent chills down her spine as she reached the landing. At the bottom of the stairs lay Natalie.

Meagan went into action as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Natalie was breathing, but she wasn’t responding. Her arm seemed bent at an odd angle, and Meagan was afraid to move her. As Abigail seemed incapable of helping her, Meagan hurriedly sent her sister for Nate and asked the housekeeper to get the doctor.

Abigail began sobbing and couldn’t seem to stop. It seemed forever before Nate burst through the door. He arrived out of breath and with fear in his eyes. Bending over his daughter, he took one look at Abigail and then looked to Meagan to tell them what happened.

“It was an accident. She got upset and ran out of the room, and then we heard a yell and …” Meagan prayed for the Lord to keep her tears at bay. She had a feeling Nate couldn’t take that right now. “When I got to the landing, she was at the bottom of the stairs.” Her heart twisted just seeing the pain in Nate’s eyes.

The doctor arrived and quickly checked for broken bones. He tried to rouse Natalie once more to no avail. Afraid to jostle her into a carriage or wagon for the trip to the doctor’s home, he had the child transferred to her bedroom. Abigail managed to go up to turn down the bed, but Meagan thought she was suffering from shock.

Meagan knew she would never forget the look on Nate’s face when he gently picked up his limp daughter and carried her upstairs. It was only then, as she stayed behind for a few minutes to pray, that she let the tears flow.

She sent Sarah to tell Abigail’s parents and their mother. “Let Mama know I might be here awhile. I think Abigail is in shock and I … I just can’t leave right now.”

Sarah gave her a hug. “I will. We’ll be back to check on you all.”

Meagan nodded and hugged her back. Then she gave her a little push. She rushed up the stairs. This wasn’t her family and maybe it wasn’t her place to stay, but she had to find out how Natalie was and see if Nate or Abigail needed anything.

When Meagan stopped just inside the bedroom door, she saw the doctor bent over Natalie. Nate and Abigail stood at the foot of the bed. Meagan waited to hear what the doctor had to say.

He turned to Nate. “Her left arm is broken, and I’ll need to set it. But I’m more concerned that she’s not responsive. Most likely, she is suffering from a concussion. We’ll have to watch her closely. I’d prefer to have her in my office, but I don’t want to move her right now.” He looked at Abigail and then over at Meagan. “Would you get Nate’s housekeeper? I’m going to need her help setting the bone.”

Meagan nodded and turned to find the housekeeper right behind her. “The doctor needs your help.”

Mrs. Baker nodded and hurried to the doctor’s side. “What do you need me to do?”

“Get some water for the plaster and help me set her arm. Do you think you can do that?”

“Of course. I’ll be right back with the water.” She took one look at Natalie, shook her head, and hurried out of the room.

Meagan was right behind her. “Can I help?”

Nate’s housekeeper was on her way to gather a pail of warm water from the stove’s reservoir, along with several rags. She shook her head. “Just pray. Poor baby. I just hope she won’t be feeling the pain of having that arm set.”

A shiver shot right through Meagan at the very thought that Natalie was suffering, and she sent up a silent prayer that the child would be all right.

Meagan followed the housekeeper out of the kitchen, and when the door knocker sounded, Mrs. Baker turned to her. “I’m sure that’s Mr. and Mrs. Connors. Will you show them upstairs?”

“Of course I will.” Meagan hurried to answer the door, and it was Mr. and Mrs. Connors. Sarah had filled them in on the accident, and Meagan led them up even though they knew the way. They looked so worried, she didn’t want to send them up by themselves. She could see that Nate was standing at the end of his daughter’s bed and Abigail was just staring into space when her parents arrived. Meagan’s heart went out to her. She knew it had been an accident, but she had a feeling Abigail would be blaming herself.

The housekeeper was bustling around getting things ready for the doctor when he turned and said, “All right, everyone. It’s time to leave the room until we get this arm set. Then you can come back in.”

“Doc, I don’t want to leave. I can help.”

“I know you don’t want to leave, Nate. But it would be hard on you to stay, and it will make my job quicker and much easier if you go. I’ll let you back in as soon as I’m done.”

Abigail’s mother took her arm and led her into the hallway. Her father put a hand to Nate’s shoulder. Nate simply nodded and turned to leave the room. Meagan stood slightly away from them all but couldn’t bring herself to go downstairs.

Nate moved to the staircase and looked down. What must be going through his mind? Meagan couldn’t keep herself from going to him. “You know that we’re all praying she comes through this.”

He looked down at her. “I know you are. I … thank you for being here and for sending for me.”

“You are welcome. I—” Meagan broke off, unable to continue. Just the look in Nate’s eyes had tears welling in hers.
He’s lost a wife, dear Lord. Please don’t let him lose his daughter, too
. She didn’t know what else to say or do.

“Is there any tea made, do you know?” Mrs. Connors asked.

Relieved to have something to do, Meagan said, “I’ll go make some tea and bring it up, if that is all right?”

Nate didn’t seem to hear her, and Abigail only stared at her. Mrs. Connors nodded and said, “That would be very helpful. Thank you, Miss Snow.”

Meagan hurried back to the kitchen and put water on for the tea. While it was heating, she readied a tea tray with cream and sugar, cups, and saucers. She prayed while the tea was steeping. “Dear Lord, please let Natalie be all right. I don’t know what it would do to this family if they lost her. And I—my whole family has come to love her, too, Lord. And You know how I feel about Nate. Please keep him from any more heartache. Please let Natalie heal and come back to us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

She turned and gave a start to see Nate standing there looking at her.

“Meagan … I … thank you for that prayer. I—” He stopped and sighed. “I couldn’t stand there just waiting for Doc to let me back in. Let me carry the tray up for you.”

“All right.” She handed it to him. She didn’t know whether to go or stay until he looked back.

“You’re coming, too, aren’t you?”

“Of course.” There was no way she could let this family go through this alone. She followed Nate up the staircase.

The doctor was just coming out of the room when Nate and Meagan got to the landing. Nate quickly set the tray on a table outside Natalie’s door. “How is she?”

“She’s still unconscious. But her arm is set, and she’s breathing normally. I believe she will come out of this, Nate. I’ve seen cases similar to this too many times not to believe she’ll be all right. I’ll check in later.”

Nate knew there was no guarantee, but suddenly he felt hope. “Thank you. I pray you are right. I’ll see you out.”

“No. I can see myself out. You stay with your daughter.”

For the first time since Nate got there, Abigail spoke. “Miss Snow can go with you. She’s not needed anymore.”

“Abigail!” Mrs. Connors protested. “Miss Snow’s presence has been comforting. And she’s made some tea which will taste mighty good to me right now.” She turned and looked at Meagan. “I’m sorry about my daughter’s rudeness. She’s just upset about Natalie.”

“That’s understandable,” Meagan said. “I can go home. My mother and I will check and see if you all need anything a little later.”

“No.” Nate put out a hand to stop her. He wanted her here beside him … just in case. “I don’t want you to go. Natalie will want to see you when she wakes up.”

Abigail shrugged before following him back into the room. Nate pulled a chair close to Natalie’s bed and took hold of her hand. She looked so small and defenseless lying there. He heard Meagan say, “I’ll get Mrs. Connors some tea. Would you like a cup, Miss Connors?”

Abigail was silent.

“Nate?”

“Not just yet, thank you.” It gave him comfort to hear her voice in the room.

“I’ll take a cup,” Abigail’s father said.

Nate glanced over at his in-laws and could see the pain in their eyes. They’d lost their youngest daughter and now there was the possibility—no! He couldn’t think that way, wouldn’t think that way.

His glance slid to Abigail. She was just staring into space. She seemed near collapse. Anyone could look at her and see that.

Meagan took the tea to Mr. and Mrs. Connors, and Nate heard them whisper their thanks. The wait was grueling. Nate bowed his head and whispered, “Dear Lord, please be with my Natalie. I can’t lose her, Lord. Please heal her and bring her back to me. You said You won’t give us more than we can handle, and Lord, I don’t think I could stand it if—please, Lord, I beg You to let my baby be all right.”

Suddenly he heard the crash of a teacup, and then Georgette exclaimed, “Nate! Natalie’s eyes are blinking!”

His head came up, and he looked closely at his daughter. Everyone else in the room gathered around the bed, looking at Natalie … even Meagan. There was a flutter, and then another. The little girl’s eyes slowly opened and then shut. Opened and shut again … and then opened. “Papa?”

“I’m—” Nate’s voice broke. “I’m here, my precious girl.”

“My arm hurts, Papa.”

“I know. You fell—”

“Down the stairs. I was running away from Aunt Abby and I fell … just like Mama did.”

Nate caught his breath. This was the first time Natalie had ever mentioned her mother or the fall. “But you are going to be all right, Natalie, dear. You have a broken arm, and once it heals, you’ll be fine.”

Natalie didn’t seem to hear him. Instead, she was looking at Abigail. “I fell, Aunt Abby. Just like Mama did. And it was all your fault!”

“No!” Abigail screamed. “It was
not
my fault. I was trying to keep Rose from going back upstairs for her precious mementos!” She began to cry deep, wrenching sobs. “I was trying to get us all out of there. But … but …” She sobbed again. “When I grabbed her, she tried to pull away from me and lost her balance. Then she … I …” Her voice trickled away.

“Abigail, dear, we know you didn’t mean to ….” Her mother put an arm around her, but Abigail pulled away.

“I don’t want you to marry Aunt Abigail, Papa!” Natalie was crying now. “I want you to marry Miss Meg!”

“Oh, Natalie. I’m so sorry. I’m an awful person. I’ve made Nate feel guilty for not being there to save her. All the time I resented that he loved Rose and not me! And then … I made Miss Snow think that he was … in love with me so that she wouldn’t give him the time of day—so that he would finally realize it was me he needed to marry. But he loves her! I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” She yanked the engagement ring Nate had given her off her finger and forced it into his hand, tears flowing down her face. Then she turned and ran out of the room.

Holding the ring he’d given Abigail, Nate felt an overwhelming sense of relief that she’d broken the engagement, but he was speechless as he watched her run out of the room. He knew that Abigail could be manipulative, but to go to such lengths to get her way? And to purposefully add to the guilt he’d felt that he couldn’t save Rose? It was hard to take it all in. But what pained him most was that she’d set out to ruin his relationship with Meagan so that he would ask her to marry him. Anger deep and hot rose up, and all he could do was look at Meagan. The color was high on her cheeks, and she looked as shocked as he felt.

“Abigail!” Mrs. Connors looked totally taken aback at her daughter’s words. She didn’t seem to know what to do.