Her Healing Ways (19 page)

Lon couldn't believe it. Did this woman always have to pop up when he least wanted to see her?

Mercy went to the door, brought the older woman inside and helped her sit down. “Thee shouldn't be running like this. When did the labor begin?”

“A few hours ago when you were busy in court.”

“Well, first labors usually take longest. I'm sure we'll be in time if we walk.” Mercy stopped,
frowning, and then said, “Ma, I thought thy son-in-law didn't want a woman doctor attending his wife.”

Still panting, Ma grinned. “He's talked to some of the men in town and they all said that you should do it. And today he got a look at that Boise doc, didn't like him and changed his mind. Will you come?”

“I will.” Mercy turned to Lon. “I'm afraid, dear one, that I must leave before I have made thee tea.”

“That's all right. I'd better get used to this. Marriage to a doctor certainly won't be boring.” He grinned the widest and happiest grin he'd ever known.

Ma Bailey whooped with pleasure. “I knew it! I knew you two would make a good match!”

 

The long hours of labor ended just at dawn. Lon sat at Ma Bailey's kitchen table across from the young father, Aaron Whipple. Lon had kept the gangly young man company through the long hours, making conversation and drinking coffee. At the sound of a baby's cry, Whipple rose from the table, looking stunned and somewhat stupefied. He wobbled a little on his feet.

Lon stood also and gripped the man by his upper arm to steady him.

Then Ma Bailey walked out, beaming. “Come in and meet your son.”

Whipple staggered into the room down the hall. Lon held back, but Ma motioned for him to come,
too. Lon stayed outside the room but looked in at the new father and mother and the infant in the mother's arms. The sight warmed him to his heart.

His Mercy came to him. He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. His wife-to-be was responsible for this happy outcome—he was certain of that.

“Thanks,” the new father said, looking to Mercy. “Thanks, Doc.”

“We call her Dr. Mercy around here,” Ma Bailey said, looking happier than she ever had before.

Lon knew what the older woman was feeling. He was happier than he could ever remember being. And as long as Mercy was in his life, that happiness would continue.
God, I have been avoiding You for a long time, but no more. Thank You for Your mercy and for my Mercy, too.

T
he town east of Idaho Bend was decorated for Christmas. Every store window displayed festive clothing, food or gifts. Lon had driven Mercy, Indigo and Sunny, with her baby girl, Dawn, to meet the train. They stood in the depot, watching for it. The sharp December wind blew against them.

Holding on to his hat, Lon tried to ease the tension that was twisting up his spine. He was about to meet his in-laws for the first time. And since they had left home before he'd married Mercy a few weeks ago, they didn't yet know about Mercy being his wife. They'd had no way to telegraph the news to her parents already in transit.

“My parents will love thee,” Mercy said, straightening his collar.

He grinned. He was still a clear pane of glass to his wife. He hoped she was right.

The only touch of sadness was the fact that Pierre
Gauthier had not returned to Idaho Bend. Lon knew that first loves often went astray. For her part, Indigo was still keeping faith that Pierre would return, focusing on waitressing, working on filling her hope chest and helping Mercy.

They heard the train whistle and puffing steam engine. Soon the passengers, mostly people who would be heading farther west, filled the platform and depot.

Mercy shepherded her party toward an older couple dressed in sober black—a tall man with white hair and a petite woman who reminded Lon of Mercy.

“Mother, Father!” Mercy called out. The three took turns embracing and then Mercy turned to Lon and Sunny. “Father and Mother, this is Sunny and her little girl, Dawn.”

Adam and Constance Gabriel greeted Sunny warmly, and the young woman curtsied and smiled shyly.

“And this is my husband, Lon Mackey.” Mercy blushed at her own words.

There was a moment of wordless surprise. Lon wished he could speak, but his tongue had turned to wood. He wanted to tell them how much he loved their daughter, how her love and God's had healed him. But words failed him.

“Well, welcome to the family, Lon Mackey,” Adam said, shaking Lon's hand with a much younger man's vigor. Adam studied Lon, as if delving into him deeply.

“Yes, welcome, Lon Mackey,” Constance said, holding up her hands. “Mercy, I don't know what to say. I thought thee had decided never to marry.” Mercy's mother smiled at her with a knowing sparkle in her eyes.

“I couldn't marry a man who didn't want me to continue my profession, of course,” Mercy said, still rosy pink. “But Lon does and he loves me.”

“I am one hundred percent behind Mercy continuing to practice medicine,” Lon declared.

“And I am happy to announce that Lon is reading law. I hope he will run for territorial office in the next election.” Mercy glowed with joy.

“Excellent!” Adam said, punctuating all the good news. “Mercy, thy mother and I are very tired. Could we go to a hotel?”

The group headed to one of the nearby hotels where Lon and Mercy had already secured rooms for Mercy's parents.

After letting Adam and Constance have a few moments to freshen up, they went to a nearby café. Lon still fought twinges of nerves. So far, Mercy's parents had been welcoming. But an unexpected son in-law could make a poor impression—he hadn't formally asked Mercy's father for her hand in marriage. Lon didn't know how to rectify this faux pas.

When the waitress delivered their meals, Mercy's father bowed his head and said a brief prayer. The quiet prayer soothed Lon's nerves. He began
to sense the natural peace that his in-laws brought with them.

“So thee is the man who has won my eldest daughter's heart,” Adam said with a grin.

“Yes, I am the lucky man.” Lon suddenly choked up. Truer words had never passed his lips.

“Where is thee from, Lon?” Constance asked.

“Maryland. But I have no family there except for a couple of older aunts and a few cousins. I wrote to them of my marriage, of course.”

“I am sorry that thy parents aren't here to share our joy,” Constance said, beaming. “We are so happy for thee. I see thy love for our Mercy in thy face.”

Creating a small commotion and grabbing everyone's attention, little Dawn cooed and wriggled as if reaching for Constance.

The woman put down her fork and held out her arms for the baby. Sunny hesitated and then complied. Constance talked to the baby with soft, cheery words.

Sunny wiped tears from her eyes. “I'm just so grateful.”

Constance laid a comforting hand on Sunny's sleeve. “We are the ones who are grateful. When we offered to come and take thee and thy little one home with us, we didn't know that we would end up meeting our new son-in-law. What a wonderful surprise, such a wonderful blessing. God had it all planned for us.”

Lon again felt the deep tug of intense emotion,
of the brilliant truth that radiated from his mother-in-law's simple words. He reached for Mercy and clasped her hand in his.
I couldn't have said it better myself, God. Thank You.

Dear Readers,

I hope that you have enjoyed reading the stories of these three special sisters, Verity, Felicity and Mercy Gabriel. I've enjoyed doing the historical research for each story and have grown to love these characters.

Very few people have the audacity to go against popular opinion. It takes a special kind of faith and strength. But Mercy needed a support system, too— Indigo, Mercy's new friend, Ellen Dunfield, and, of course, her helpmeet, Lon. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 4:11–12a: “…if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.” Two are better than one.

As for Indigo and the other African-American characters in The Gabriel Sisters series, it's hard to believe that it took nearly a hundred years to finally put to rest laws that discriminated against African-Americans in the United States. Though some prejudice lingers in the dark corners of America, our laws no longer uphold it.

Nevertheless, if Verity, Felicity and Mercy walked the streets of the U.S. today, they would still find plenty to keep them busy. I hope that these three sisters will make you sensitive to those who need God's love. I hope they will inspire you to let His light shine in this present darkness.

Please drop by www.strongwomenbravestories.com and www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com for more about stories by me and other Love Inspired authors.

1. Have you ever known or talked to a veteran? Have you ever asked him what it was like to come home after a conflict?
   
2. Do you think that Civil War veterans had struggles similar to those of military personnel today?
   
3. Do you believe that God has a path or a plan for each life?
   
4. Why do you think men didn't want women to enter the professions in earlier times?
   
5. Did you have any women in your family who were ahead of their time? What did they do?
   
6. Do you know what post-traumatic stress syndrome is? How did this manifest itself in Lon and in Mercy?
   
7. Why do you think the people of Idaho Bend changed their minds about a woman practicing medicine?
   
8. Could you travel far from your family to do what God wanted you to?
   
9. Why do you think the Boise doctor was so angry about Mercy being a doctor?
   
10. The man who stabbed Lon wanted vengeance. Why is seeking revenge unwise?
    
11. Why did Lon become a gambler? Do you think he would have continued on this path if he hadn't met Mercy?
    
12. What was your favorite scene in this book? Why?
    
13. Have you ever forgiven someone who hurt you or someone you love? How did you feel afterward?
    
14. Indigo suffered from prejudice. Where do you think prejudice springs from?
    
15. Do you support any medical missions? If so, which ones? Why?