To Dream Anew (31 page)
The horse was well trained and stood fast not ten feet up the small hillside. Portia knew he’d stay there forever if she didn’t send him off. Getting to her feet and wincing at the pain of a bruised hip and skinned knees, Portia staggered up the hill to where the horse waited patiently, munching fresh grass.
She took out one of her hat pins and mercilessly plunged it into the horse’s flank. The animal protested loudly before taking off as if the devil himself were giving chase. Portia smiled and replaced the pin before assessing her clothes.
They were dirty from the fall, but with exception to a small tear, they were undamaged. Portia began to rip at her blouse, hoping to make matters look much worse than they were.
“When the horse returns without me, someone will come to rescue me. And when they do, I’m sure they will be surprised to hear all about how Jerrod and Roy tried to beat me before stealing my horse and leaving me behind—injured.”
She smiled at the simplicity of her plan and began walking back to the ranch. “I’ll teach those fools to make threats against me.”
But after walking for nearly an hour, Portia felt like she was the fool. Her face and shoulder were throbbing and her body ached from the long and difficult walk. Not only that, but her pride was smarting from the fact that no one had even missed her.
After another fifteen minutes had passed, Portia was beginning to get angry. It was then that she spotted a rider. She waved her hands feverishly. The rider apparently caught sight of her and headed his mount in her direction. By the time he’d come within a hundred yards, Portia could see it was Joshua Lawrence.
He drew his mount up inches from Portia. “What happened?” he asked, concern in his voice.
“I … I … oh, it was terrible,” she said, gasping for breath. She pressed her hand against the gelding as if to support herself.
Joshua jumped down from the horse and caught her just as she pretended to faint dead away. She didn’t open her eyes again until they were entering the front door of the house.
“What happened?” Chester growled as Joshua came through the foyer.
“I don’t know. I found her walking across the pasture all torn up like this,” Joshua replied.
Portia rallied enough to catch sight of her husband and his daughters. “Oh, I’m so glad it’s you. You won’t let them hurt me again, will you?” she whimpered.
“Who did this?” Chester demanded, taking Portia from his son.
“Jerrod … Roy.” She barely breathed the names. “They told me I wasn’t good enough for you. They beat me and stole my horse. They said …” She fell silent and pretended to succumb to her pain for a moment. “Oh … oh … I’m just so afraid.” She studied her husband’s stunned expression and knew he would need a moment to fully comprehend the situation.
Reaching up, Portia grasped Chester’s shirt. “They said you didn’t care what happened to me. They said they were going to force me to leave.”
“I can’t believe this,” Chester said, looking from Portia to Joshua. “Were you with them?”
“No, Father. I was out checking that north pasture like you asked and found her wandering around.”
“Did you see your brothers?”
Joshua shook his head. Elsa chimed in, “They rode out early this morning. They couldn’t have hurt her.”
Portia knew it would be difficult to convince Elsa, but she felt confident that Chester would be drawn in by his drive to control and protect what was his. “I only pray,” she whispered, “that they didn’t cause me to lose the baby.”
“Baby?” the girls questioned in unison.
Chester turned his gaze to her. “You’re going to have a baby?”
Portia nodded and laid her head upon his shoulder. “At least I hope so. Jerrod was terribly hard on me, and Roy was no better. They both hit me several times in the stomach. They said it wouldn’t show as bad there as here.” She lifted her hand to her face.
“I’ll kill ’em,” Chester said, turning to his daughters. “Go pull down the blankets on our bed so I can make her comfortable. Joshua, you ride for the doctor.”
Portia let herself go limp in her husband’s arms. She smiled, knowing that no one could see her as she buried her face against Chester’s shirt.
Let that be a lesson to you, boys
. The idea to pretend she was pregnant had only come to her shortly before reaching the house. She knew her monthly time was due and if it came as usual, she’d tell everyone she had miscarried. And if it didn’t come, she’d praise God above that the baby had come through the attack unharmed. It was a perfect situation; there was no way to lose.
As Chester placed her in bed, Portia moaned softly for effect. It was all too simple.
“Mara, go get Mrs. Fisher. Have her come help you and Elsa get these dirty clothes off of Portia. Have her bring hot water and bandages.”
“Yes, Father,” Mara said, not presenting the tiniest protest.
Elsa, on the other hand, stared down in open hostility at Portia. “Why can’t we just wait and let the doctor do those things? She doesn’t look to be dying.”
“Young lady, you heard me,” Chester replied in a stern manner. “I’m going to expect my commands to be heeded or there will be a reckoning. Do you understand me?” Elsa nodded solemnly. “It’s bad enough I have to deal with your brothers in this matter. I don’t want any sass from you girls.
“Portia, I’ll take care of this situation—don’t you worry.” He stomped from the room like an angry, injured bear.
“This is all your own fault,” Elsa muttered. “If you hadn’t come here, Jerrod and Roy wouldn’t have gotten mad.”
Portia thought to threaten the girl, then decided a little drama would cause more reaction. She grabbed at her stomach and gasped for air. “Oh, the baby. I think I’m losing the baby.”
Elsa paled and stepped away from the bed. “I don’t know what to do. You need a doctor.” She ran from the room calling for Mara.
Portia nearly laughed out loud. Maybe this would be a good way to control Elsa as well. She could always threaten to tell the girl’s father that she hadn’t helped at all. Mara wouldn’t be a problem, but Elsa bore some consideration. Either way, Portia felt confident she’d just won this little game.
Ardith strained against the pain that wracked her body. Heartbroken to be miscarrying Levi’s child, she fought the contractions and cried to God to make the nightmare end.
Koko helped her raise her head and presented a cup of steaming tea. “Drink this; it will help with the pain.”
“Why can’t you give me something to keep me from losing the baby?” Ardith cried, refusing the drink.
Dianne reached over and took hold of her sister’s hand. “I’m so sorry this is happening, Ardith, but I’ll be here for you. I won’t let you bear this alone.”
“Nor will I,” Koko added.
Ardith shook her head from side to side. “I wanted this baby so much. How can I be losing him? Why would God do this to me?”
“I don’t know why this is happening,” Dianne answered, “but I know God grieves for you. He loves you and He won’t leave you without comfort.”
The words seemed hollow even in Dianne’s ears. Her sister’s grief was so raw and fresh. She’d seen this same kind of sorrow in Faith. All those years ago when Faith had first come to the Diamond V, she had been overwhelmed in her sadness. Faith would know how to reach Ardith.
Dianne let go of Ardith’s hand. “I’ll be right back. Do what Koko says now and drink the tea. It will help.”
She hurried from the room and found Levi pacing in the hall. “Is she … will she …” He didn’t seem capable of finishing the sentence.
“She’s going to be fine, Levi. But of course it’s hard for her. She wanted this baby so much.”
“She won’t die?” His dark brown eyes glinted with unshed tears.
“No. At least I see no reason to believe she will.” She smiled and patted his shoulder. “Now I want to find someone to ride to Madison and bring back Faith. She’s gone through this before and I haven’t. She’ll be able to comfort Ardith in a way that no one else can. Can you get one of the boys to go?”
“I’ll go myself. I’m going crazy just waiting around here. If you’re sure she won’t die while I’m gone—”
“She won’t die,” Dianne interjected. “Now please hurry. Tell Faith everything so she’ll be prepared. Tell her why I sent you—she’ll understand.”
“All right. Should I take the wagon?”
“That would be best,” Dianne replied, knowing it would be good for him to keep busy. “Now hurry and fetch Faith.”
By the time Faith arrived, the worst was over. Faith trudged up the main staircase, remembering too well what it felt like to lose a baby. Her heart was overwhelmed with sorrow for the young mother.
Oh, Lord,
she prayed,
give me wisdom to speak the right words. Let Ardith and Levi be comforted
.
On her trip out to the ranch, Faith had talked in a gentle, almost motherly manner, explaining to Levi what he might expect in the weeks to come. She explained the loss would be deep for both of them and that they should cling to each other for strength.
“Some folks, like me, take it out on their husbands. I hurt Malachi something fierce. I didn’t mean to,” she’d told Levi.
“Will she hate me?” Levi had asked sadly.
Faith shook her head, remembering her own pain. “No,” she said softly. “She’ll hate herself.”
The words still rang in Faith’s ears as she reached for the bedroom door.
Dianne met Faith at the door and glanced back over her shoulder at Ardith. “Thank you for coming. I knew you were probably the only one who could help her right now.”
Faith nodded. “The Lord will help her. I’ll simply be His handmaiden.”
Dianne was surprised to see Morgan riding slowly toward the house. It was early, and because the boys were still sleeping, Dianne decided to walk out and meet him. She’d often wondered if he’d found Trenton or if Angelina had changed her mind. She knew Morgan was heartbroken to be losing the woman he loved, but she also knew he was completely unselfish in the matter.
“I’m so glad to see you. How are you?” she said when they were no more than ten feet apart.
Morgan stopped the horse and dismounted. “I’m all right.”
“Tell me everything.”
He drew a deep breath. “We found him. He’s well. Has a cabin up in the mountains and does some logging for a living. He took the money you sent and said he was much obliged and to send his love. Said he’d pay you back one day.”
“And Angelina?”
“He took her too. They married right after Christmas. I was Trenton’s best man.”
Dianne felt the pain in his words. “I admire you more than words can say. I know it means nothing, but I want you to know that anyway.”
“Just don’t tell me how someone else will come along and mend my heart. How eventually I’ll feel better and forget all about this time in my life. How what I felt for her wasn’t really love.”
Dianne fought back tears and shook her head. “I won’t. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
“I
’M SORRY,”
D
R.
B
UFFORD SAID AS HE COMPLETED HIS
examination of Portia. “You’re bleeding.”
Portia pretended to cry softly into her pillow. “Oh, how can I ever bear this?”