Child of Promise (3 page)

Beth rose from her chair. “I’ll have to tell Erin. Might scare some sense into her.” She shook her head. “Only nine, and already the child’s as bullheaded and high-spirited as they come.”

“Not at all like her older sister, is she?” Doc said, an impish glint in his eyes.

Beth grinned. “No, not anything like me at all.”

“Sorry, honey. I think you’d be a nice fit here, but I’m full to the gills just now. I’d be glad, though, to put you on my waiting list.”

Her frustration rising, Beth set down her cup of tea and stared back at Mamie Oatman. She had just spent the better part of an hour sitting in the woman’s parlor being “interviewed” for suitability, only to learn Mamie had no vacancies.

“And how far down would I be on your waiting list?” Beth asked, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

Mamie scrunched her forehead in thought. “Well, there’s Joanna, a chambermaid who works at the hotel, and Ivan, an immigrant Russian man from the creamery, ahead of you. Ivan, though, hopes to bring his family over in the next six months or so. He’ll have to find himself a house by then, so
he
shouldn’t hold you up long. Joanna, on the other hand . . .”

Beth sighed. “Well, in the interim, can you recommend another reputable establishment or family who might be willing to take me in? I really need to be quickly available whenever Doc or a patient needs me.”

Once more, Mamie’s brows migrated out of sight. “Can’t say as how I do.” Then, as if in sudden remembrance, she snapped her fingers. “But I did once hear talk that Millie Starr had been thinking about taking in a boarder. They’ve a room with a private entrance off the back side of the rectory. And with the size of the meals Millie likes to cook, one more mouth wouldn’t present any problem at all.”

Millie Starr . . . the rectory.
Noah.
Though well aware she’d see Noah frequently, what with working and living in Grand View, Beth wasn’t so sure she wanted to see him on the daily basis that living in the same house would entail.

“I’m afraid that wouldn’t do.” Beth pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on their privacy, what with Father Starr being a priest and all.”

Mamie shrugged. “Suit yourself, but I can’t say as how it’d be such a hardship, knowing Millie like I do. Besides, it’d only be a temporary situation anyway, until a room opened up here. Why, I’d bet Millie would be plumb tickled for another woman’s company. And you could help her out whenever she had problems with little Emily, too.”

Emily. Noah’s daughter. In several of her letters, Abby had mentioned her and the tragic circumstances surrounding her disability. Beth could well imagine that Millie—and Noah, too—might welcome some help with the little girl.

But did
she
want to get involved with them and their lives, even if only for a short time? She wasn’t some love-struck girl anymore; Beth felt certain she was past her schoolgirl crush on Noah. But Noah and Millie weren’t the sort of people you could keep at arm’s length. And Beth wasn’t all that keen on investing her emotions with anyone just now.

She needed time to crawl off into some corner and lick her wounds. She needed to rebuild her reserves, to find some answers, and to get her life back on track. What she definitely
didn’t
need were two good, godly, loving people and a crippled little girl.
Especially
not another little girl, especially not in the close, cozy haven of a home.

“Well, I’m not sure what I’ll do in the meantime, but would you be so kind to add me to your waiting list?” Beth climbed to her feet. “Until I find other lodging, you can always contact me at Doc Childress’s office.”

“I’ll do that, honey. Keep Millie in mind, though.” Mamie paused to scan Beth from head to toe. “Yep, Millie’s might be just the thing for the likes of you. If you don’t mind me saying so, you could use a bit of fattening up.”

This time, Beth couldn’t help it. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she turned to the door. “I’ll take that suggestion under careful advisement, Mrs. Oatman. Thank you.”

As determined as she was to do just the opposite, a curious thing happened just as soon as Beth departed Mamie’s boardinghouse. Almost as if her limbs had suddenly taken on a mind of their own, Beth found herself heading down the boardwalk, in the strangest direction. Heading down through Grand View, toward the Episcopal church and rectory at the far end of town.

3

If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1 Corinthians 8:2

Beth drew up before the white picket fence enclosing the rectory. Now that she was here, all her fears assailed her once again. She just couldn’t live with people like the Starrs. It was crazy. She shook her head and turned to leave. No sense asking for—

“Well, are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is that little Miss Beth MacKay, all grown up and become a doctor?”

At the sound of Millie’s warm, welcoming voice, Beth knew she had failed to make her escape. Plastering a smile on her face, she turned back around.

“Yes. Yes, it is, Millie.” She forced a semblance of enthusiasm into her voice. “I’m home and decided to pay a call on some old friends.”

As Millie stepped from her house and hurried down the gravel path to the front gate, her white head of hair gleamed in the sun. “Come on in,” she said, unlatching the gate and swinging it open. “It’s almost noon. I just took a loaf of fresh wheat bread from the oven, the coffee’s hot, and we’re having warmed-up beef stew from last night for lunch. There’s plenty for an extra guest.”

“We?” Beth’s heartbeat faltered. “Oh, you mean you and Emily, don’t you?”

“Yes.” Millie nodded. “Noah might or might not show up. The poor lad gets so engrossed in all his projects that sometimes he plumb forgets what time it is. He’s been trying harder of late, though, to come home for meals, if not for himself, then to spend some time with Emily.”

With any luck, maybe this would be one of the days Noah forgot about lunch. Beth certainly hoped so. She wasn’t sure she could handle seeing Millie’s handsome nephew right now, although why that was, Beth didn’t care to consider.

“It’s really not necessary,” Beth said, shaking her head. “Inviting me to lunch, I mean. I didn’t realize how late it was getting, and I don’t wish to impose on your meal. I can come back later.”

“Nonsense.” Before Beth could back away, Millie grabbed her hand. “I’d love to have you stay. What with all the care that Emily requires, I don’t get out nearly as much as I used to. Another woman’s presence at my table would be a blessing. Besides,” she added with one of her face-filling grins, “I’m eager to hear about your medical schooling and trip home. Abby always shared your letters with me, but hearing it all in person is ever so much more fun.”

There was no way to refuse logic like that. “In that case, of course I’ll stay.” Beth allowed herself to be pulled into the front yard, waited as Millie closed the gate, then followed her to the house. “I’ve been looking forward to visiting with you and finally meeting Emily. How old is she now?”

“She’s two—just turned two last Friday, as a matter of fact—and is as bright as can be.” Millie glanced at her. “Abby told you everything about what happened, didn’t she?”

Beth knew enough about poor Alice’s difficult labor, how Emily’s head was too large to be delivered easily, and the terrible toll it had eventually taken on both mother and child.

“Yes, she did. I’m so very sorry.”

Millie drew up at the front door. “It devastated Noah, losing Alice. But the damage done to Emily . . . well, I worry about him, that I do.”

At the softly spoken revelation, all Beth’s fears about seeing Noah dissipated. Nothing remained but concern for him.

She laid a hand on Millie’s arm. “Whatever I can do to help, just let me know. Noah has shared of himself so unselfishly all these years. I’d like to give him some measure of assistance now in return.”

“Be his friend then, honey. Just be his friend.”

They entered the rectory. It was just as bright and welcoming as Beth had always remembered it, with colorful rugs on the hardwood floors, cheerful lace curtains fluttering at the windows, and all of it spotlessly clean and shining. The fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread, mingling with the mouthwatering scent of a savory beef stew, wafted to her. Her stomach gave a most unladylike growl. She grinned sheepishly at Millie.

“Guess my appetite’s finally starting to return.”

“The fine, high air of Colorado does that to a lot of people.”

A wicker wheelchair sat beside the big kitchen window, facing out onto a backyard where sparrows and chickadees hopped about in the branches of a crabapple tree. The wheelchair began to shake, and Beth caught a fleeting glimpse of flailing arms.

“Bir—bir—bir!” a childish voice exclaimed. “Bir!”

“Yes, darling, there’s birds.” Millie came around to stand before the wheelchair. “And aren’t they all so pretty and sweet?”

“Mih-mih!”

“I’ve a new friend for you to meet, darling.” As she spoke, Millie wheeled Emily around to face Beth. “This is Dr. Beth. She’s come to stay and help take care of us when we’re sick.”

Beth swallowed hard and pasted on a friendly smile. She could get through this, just like she had gotten through all those other times since the baby. A doctor planning on entering general practice couldn’t turn away children. Besides, she had seen several children with palsy during her pediatric rotations. Emily’s wild, uncontrolled motions, jerking head, and unfocused gaze were quite the norm.

And for all her unnatural mannerisms, the little girl was pretty as could be. She had her father’s blond hair, although it was several shades lighter. Her eyes were a rich brown and framed by long, thick lashes. Her mouth was her mother’s, full and delightfully curved, her pale skin smooth and flushed with health.

Beth walked over and knelt before her. “Hello, Emily. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s wonderful finally to make your acquaintance.”

The child stared solemnly down at her for such a long time that Beth began to wonder if she had frightened her. Then, with a gleeful chortle, Emily touched her face.

Well, more like a pat and rub of the face, Beth quickly amended, because of the uncontrolled motions of Emily’s hands and arms. Nonetheless, the gesture was a sign of the toddler’s acceptance. At the action, something within Beth relaxed, if only a little, its tight grip on her heart.

She smiled and grasped Emily’s chubby little hand. Turning her face into it, she kissed the child’s palm. It smelled of chocolate. In fact, now that Beth looked more closely, it was also smeared with chocolate.

“I’m only making a guess here,” she said, glancing up at Millie before turning back to Emily, who was now tugging on her jacket sleeve, “but do I perhaps have some brown streaks on my face?”

To her surprise, instead of Millie offering a reply, a deep, masculine voice answered instead.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, your face is now quite charmingly decorated. Consider it Emily’s mark of approval. She doesn’t usually warm to strangers quite as quickly as she seems to have warmed to you.”

Beth gasped, lost her balance in attempting to rise to her feet, and unceremoniously fell backward onto her bottom. Her cheeks flushed.

“You could’ve warned me Noah was here.” She sent Millie a chagrined look.

“And if I’d known he’d come in, I assuredly would’ve, honey.” The older woman hurried forward and offered Beth her hand. “Some men seem to possess a special talent for sneaking about, they do!”

Noah laughed. “If I’ve offended, I beg pardon. But I wasn’t sneaking about. You two ladies were just so preoccupied with Emily, neither of you heard me come in.”

By now Beth had regained her feet. She tugged down her jacket, smoothed her skirt, and brushed off whatever dust clung to her heretofore impeccably tailored suit.

“Well, maybe we
were
pretty engrossed with Emily. Still”—to hide her discomfiture, she forced a smile—“a little extra warning, a heavier tread or a clearing of the throat, would’ve been most appreciated.”

Beth looked up then, her gaze careening straight into Noah’s. He stared back, a stunned look on his face. Then, as if it had a mind of its own, his glance moved from her face down her body and back up again.

Her eyes widened; her throat went dry. But if Noah perhaps seemed a little too blatant in his amazed perusal of her, she was equally surprised at the sight of him. He looked far older than she imagined he would, even considering it had been five years since she had last laid eyes on him.

Thanks to the regular sparring and boxing workouts he had first done at the YMCA while attending seminary, Noah had always been a fit, strongly built man. Now, however, he was so leanly muscled as to be almost on the thin side. Though a man in his prime, his temples were beginning to show silver among the dark gold strands. His face looked careworn, his eyes—his beautiful, green- and gold-flecked brown eyes—appeared drained of energy.

Compassion swelled in her. Compassion and a fierce resolve to help him rediscover joy in whatever way she could. Then Beth caught herself. Even with Noah—especially with Noah—she must keep a safe emotional distance. Help him the best she could, yes, and all the while hold high the shield before her heart.

“Does the chocolate look that bad?” Beth asked, realizing Noah was still staring at her.

Noah blinked, swallowed hard. “What? What did you say?”

“I said,” Beth held out her hand to him as she repeated her question, “does the chocolate Emily has smeared on my face look all that bad?”

Noah’s glance skittered from her to Millie, then back again. “No, not really. As I said before, it’s quite charming.” As if finally gathering his wits about him, Noah smiled, took her proffered hand, and clasped it between both of his. “I’m sorry if I seemed a bit distracted there for a minute, but I haven’t seen you in all of five years, and you’ve grown into an absolutely stunning young woman.” He turned to his aunt. “Hasn’t she, Millie? Hasn’t Beth turned into a beautiful woman?”

“Yes, of course Beth’s beautiful. She’s all grown up into a fine young woman.”

Her face flooding with heat, Beth eyed them both. Though Millie’s statement was calm and matter-of-fact, Noah seemed ill at ease. Whatever was wrong with him?

“Well,” she said, gently tugging on the hand still clasped in his until he finally released it, “thank you very much for the compliment. It’s nice to know all my growing up has been duly noted and appreciated.”

She had meant the comment to lighten the increasingly strained atmosphere in the kitchen. Her little joke, however, seemed totally lost on Noah, who had turned his gaze to stare out the window, apparently deep in thought.

Beth looked to Millie. A smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, the older woman shrugged and motioned to the table.

“Time to eat, I’d say. Sit yourself down, honey, and I’ll start serving up the stew. And you, young man”—she leaned over to poke Noah in the arm—“can set out some extra silverware for Beth, then slice up the bread.”

With a jerk, Noah seemed to return to the present. He nodded, smiled brightly, and did as asked. In no time they were seated around the table. Noah said grace, Millie and Beth finished with “amens,” and they all dug in.

The sharing of food eased the tension. Emily helped lighten the mood by chortling and mashing her food onto her bowl and face. Finally, Beth, who sat beside the little girl, began to feed her, and Emily’s wild movements seemed to ease a bit. Beth caught Millie’s approving glance and slight nod of her head. Encouraged, Beth worked even harder until Emily at last shook her head and clamped her mouth shut.

“She’s full, Beth,” Noah said. “That’s her sign for it.”

“Oh, yes. Of course.” Beth laid down the spoon.

Millie leaned forward, sudden interest in her eyes. “So, what are your plans? When are you starting work with Doc? And where will you be staying? At Culdee Creek, or here in town?”

The question reminded Beth of her original reason for coming to the rectory today. She looked down. “I think it’d be best if I find a place in town. Problem is, Mamie Oatman’s boardinghouse is full right now. I’m on the waiting list behind two other people.”

“Yes, that’s been a problem this summer. We’ve had an unexpected influx of immigrants and homesteaders.” Millie’s brow furrowed in thought. “There are a few other possibilities, though.” Her gaze locked with Noah’s. “The rectory being one, if Noah’s of a mind to take in a boarder.”

Beth’s glance swung to Noah. His face reddened.

“It’s a possibility, I suppose,” he said. “We do have that spare bedroom off the kitchen.” He looked to Beth. “Millie and I’ll have to discuss it.”

“And what’s there to discuss?” His aunt folded her arms across her chest. “I’d say it’s a perfect solution for us all. Emily’s taken to Beth. Beth’ll have a place to stay in town that I know her parents will feel comfortable with. I’ll have some feminine companionship. And we’ll all have some much needed company to brighten our lives.”

Warily, Beth glanced from Millie to Noah. There was something unspoken being communicated between them, and she wasn’t so certain she cared to be the cause of it.

“Well, yes, it could be a wonderful idea,” she said, “but there’s no hurry on deciding. I don’t start working with Doc until Monday. And, in the meanwhile, I’ve time to look else–where.”

Noah sighed, lowered his head, and rubbed his eyes. “Look elsewhere if you want, Beth. But Millie’s right. The Lord knows I leave her alone with Emily most of the time. If your presence here will be a comfort to her, then I’m more than happy to have you.” He managed a weary smile, then shoved back his chair and stood. “This is between you two ladies. I’m fine with it.”

Millie looked up at him. “Time to be off again, is it?”

“Yes. The carpenter’s coming to discuss a few problems he sees in the bell tower plans.”

“Will you be home for supper?”

“I hope so.” Noah turned to Beth. “I enjoyed our meal together. Whether you decide to live with us or not, don’t be a stranger.”

She smiled. “I won’t. You can be assured of that.”

After Noah departed, Millie rose and lifted a dozing Emily from her chair. “Let me put her down for her nap. We need to talk. I’m so excited that you’ll be boarding here. You’re a blessing sent from the Lord, not only for me but for us all!”