Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (51 page)

reluctant, "Roddy has been talking to me about his," she

hesitated over the words, "experience with God"

Stacy hid a smile. "What did he tell you?"

"Quite a bit, actually. He's very excited. He says that you

helped him."

"Yes, we discussed it at the Blackwells'. Roddy was really

feeling rather empty inside and--"

"But we've patched everything up now," Lucinda cut her

off, thinking she understood.

"I know you have, Lucinda, and I'm thrilled that you're

back together, but the emptiness Roddy was experiencing was

not physical or emotional. It was spiritual."

Lucinda stared at her niece. Never had she felt so left out as

she did when Roddy and Stacy talked about God. At the same

time she was interested. Lucinda had gone to church all her

life, but she also had too many bad things happen to her to

363

believe that God really cared about her. However, the change

in Roddy was remarkable.

Stacy would have commented on Roddy's conversion

then, but Lucinda began to look very uncomfortable.

Lucinda changed the subject by asking about Brandon and

Sunny. Stacy let it go, but her heart was deep in prayer for

Lucinda's salvation. However, the subject did not come up

again, but God's care was evident in the marvelous evening

they all shared.

Tanner finally seemed willing to put the past behind him

and was a wonderful host. After the children were put down

for the night, the four adults dined and talked. It was very late

when the duke and duchess climbed the stairs for bed, but

knowing Roddy and Lucinda would be with them for only a

few days made it worth the loss of sleep.

366

stacy watched tanner, whose expression was serious,

and debated whether or not she should intrude into his

thoughts. Drew was not with them now, but just minutes

before he had been in Stacy's lap. The two of them had been

discussing the upcoming weekend at Bracken.

At the mention of the event, Tanner had become pensive.

Stacy wanted to respect his moods, but she knew she would be

miserable if they went when he didn't really care to.

"Tanner?"

"Yes?" He looked at her, his expression now open.

"Would you rather we didn't go to Bracken?"

Tanner almost smiled. Unless he worked at it, Stacy could

usually read his thoughts just by looking at his face,

"I have no objections to our going to the party."

"But given your choice, you'd rather stay here?"

Tanner reached for her hand. "It seems that I am often

having to share you. Roddy and Lucinda were here, and now

we're headed off to a weekend of being separated by friends

and activities." Tanner stopped when he saw amusement in

his wife's face.

"Roddy and Lucinda left a month ago." Stacy's voice was dry.

"True." Tanner's voice had turned just as wry. "But then

there's your time with Alexa. You knew from the beginning

that I was going to be jealous of that."

365

"She does like to eat," Stacy admitted The duke and

duchess smiled at each other as they both visualized their

butterball daughter.

"Seriously, Tanner--" Stacy had to go back to the subject at

hand "If you don't want to go, I know that Brandon and Sunny

will understand"

Tanner kissed the back of her hand "We'll go. I'm just

being selfish."

"Drew certainly will be pleased," Stacy told him, feeling

well pleased at the way Tanner was putting his own wants

aside. "He's talked of nothing else for days."

"Well, he doesn't have long to wait now," Tanner commented

as he went back to his book. "We leave tomorrow."

"When do Stacy and Tanner arrive?" Chelsea asked Sunny.

"Tomorrow. They live so close that it seemed silly to stay

over, but it's more fun that way, so I talked Tanner into it."

"I haven't seen Tanner Richardson in years," Miles Gallagher

commented.

"Well," Sunny told him, "he's doing fine, and you're going

to love his wife and children. Oh, Miles," Sunny spoke suddenly.

"I've written up a family tree. Will you look at it for me?"

"Sure."

Sunny moved to the small writing desk in the corner and

returned with a small roll of paper.

"I haven't added the dates, but will you check and see if I

have all the names down?"

Miles took the roll and his mother, Chelsea, leaned over

his shoulder as they read

367Gallagher Family Tree

Randolph Gallagher d. 1840m. Katharine d. 1832

Randolph (Rand) Dou glas Hea

1

ther Sunny

m. Chelsea Hawkesbury

1 m. M

arian m. Fostei Jamison m. Brandon Hawkesbury

1 1

Miles Holly

m. Jennifer m. Jordan Townsend

1 I

Har Ian Di

me Sterling

l l

Joshua Allaster

1 l

Lance Louise Preston

i i

Lorrane Andrea

1

Sebastian

Gn

Jan

ice

ics

Hawkesbury Family Ttee

Milton Hawkesbury d. 1846

T

Edgar d 1823

m. Andrea

Chelsea

m. Rand Gallagher

Brandon

m. Sunny

Dexter

m. Judith

1

Miles

m. Jennifer

i

-1 1

Holly

m. Jordan Townsend

1

1

Joshua

i

i

Allaster

1

1

Lorraine

i

i

Andrea

1

Sebastian

Sterling

Preston

Virginia

Milton

I

Daniel

I .

Kendall

368

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"This looks good," Miles told her, "but you left out Aunt

Lucy."

"Oh, Sunny," Chelsea added, "I guess you did Is she coming

this weekend?"

Sunny told them Aunt Lucy had opted to stay at Ravens-croft,

her home set in the countryside just 20 minutes from

Bracken.

Brandon's eccentric Great Aunt Lucy didn't venture out

much anymore. She was getting on in years, but the main

reason she stayed close to home was because she was still

occupied with her writing. Her first book had been published

with great success, and she was now working on her second

The family was still amazed over this.

Aunt Lucy had always been considered something of a

beloved scatterbrain, but she had traveled widely over the

years and seen things that most people only read about. In

fact, most of the family didn't know of her adventures until her

book came out and they were able to read it themselves.

Aunt Lucy would have made a wonderful addition to the

hunting weekend, but with the huge mob Sunny expected, she

knew they would have fun anyway.

"This baby," Chelsea exclaimed as she gently lifted Alexa

from Heather's arms, "is adorable. Look at those round, rosy

cheeks!"

"Does she ever stop smiling?" Jennifer wished to know.

"She is a happy baby," Stacy told them, smiling with pride

at her precious daughter.

"How old is she?" Holly asked.

"About four and a half months."

"What a doll," Heather said. "Don't think you can keep her

for long, Chels. I want her back."

The women had been visiting nonstop for what seemed

like days. Stacy was having the time of her life. She had never

been around so many believers at once, and found it to be the

most encouraging time she had experienced in many months.

Tanner seemed to be enjoying himself too.

The men were all out hunting and had been gone for

hours, but Stacy was so involved with the children and the

other women that she hadn't had time to miss Tanner. Both Brandon and Rand had a way of making Tanner feel at home,

and even though all the men were believers who made no secret of their faith, Tanner had not put his guard up as usual.

When it was time for lunch and the men were not back,

Stacy began to wonder. She tried to take her cue from the

other women, however. When none of them seemed concerned,

Stacy relaxed somewhat. She tried to remember how

long Tanner had been out with the hunting party at the

Cradwells', but it had been so many years ago that she simply

couldn't recall.

"I wonder what's keeping the men?" Chelsea ventured out

loud when lunch was over and the women retired to the

upstairs salon.

"Did they say how far they were headed?" Sunny asked

"I didn't hear anyone say," Holly replied

"Well, Foster has closeted himself downstairs in the

library. Shall I ask him?" This came from Heather, who was

more than willing to check things out. But almost as soon as

she offered, Brandon walked in.

Sunny's face lit for just an instant before she saw that his

face was as pale as death. All the women watched as he walked

straight to Stacy.

"There's been an accident, Stacy," he said without preamble,

his voice breathless. "Tanner has been shot."

Stacy stood. "Is he alive?" she barely managed

"Yes. We were closer to Winslow, so we took him there."

Stacy started moving for the door, but stopped abruptly

and faced the room. "What about Drew and Alexa?"

370

"The children will be fine, Stacy," Sunny told her. "Justgo,"

she urged "We'll get them home to you as soon as possible."

Stacy nodded, still in shock. Sunny gave her a swift hug,

and Brandon ushered her to the door and downstairs.

The coach had been traveling at full speed for nearly ten

minutes before Stacy spoke.

"Where was he hit?"

"His upper chest, the left side."

So near the heart, her mind cried. She swallowed hard to

keep from sobbing.

"Has he lost much blood?" she asked next.

"Yes."

Stacy didn't want to know any more. It didn't matter how it

happened or who was involved, only that she was there in

time. Stacy prayed as the horses' hooves ate up the ground

between the estates.

/ don V know what I'll see when we arrive. Please help me

to be prepared for the worst, Lord. I know he hasn't come to

You, Father, and for this I would ask You to spare him. Your

will is perfect; help me to believe this with all of my heart. Help

me to trust You even in this time of hurt.

Maybe this will be the turningpoint, Father. Maybe Tanner

will see his need for You because of this. Please give me some