Woman of Courage (Four Full length Historical Christian Romances in One Volume): Woman of Courage Series

by Cynthia Hickey

  When he opened his eyes, he lay in the largest bed in the Lillie home next to JJ. A man hovered over them pressing a stethoscope to JJ’s chest. He turned and smiled when Jacob tried to sit.

  “You’re a hero, Mr. Wright. From what I hear, you saved this young man’s life. I’m Doctor Riley, and I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  “Likewise.” Jacob slung his legs over the side of the bed and wrapped the quilt around his shoulders. “I can’t get warm.”

  “Water’s mighty cold this time of year. You were in it for a few minutes.”

  “How’s JJ?”

  The doctor frowned. “We’ll know in a day or two. I got the bullet out and stitched him up. Now, we worry about infection and pneumonia. You should take care of yourself, too.”

  “Where is everyone?” The house was unusually quiet. Even with Jacob in the back bedroom, he should be able to hear chatter from the family.

  “I sent them out to the porch until I checked the two of you over.” The doctor stashed his equipment in a black leather bag. “With all the wailing and commotion, I couldn’t hear myself think. I’ll send them in, but I want you to rest for the next couple of days. You’re at risk of pneumonia, too.”

  Jacob nodded. Sleep for the next week sounded good to him. He lay back, making sure JJ was covered before he rolled up in his own blanket and closed his eyes.

  “Mr. Wright?” Grandma patted his cheek. “I made you some chicken soup. Can you sit up and eat it while it’s hot?”

  “I’d like to eat at the table if that’s all right.” He wasn’t an invalid, just tired and cold.

  Her wrinkled face beamed. “Why that would be fine. I’ve got hot coffee, too. We’ll have you warmed up in no time.”

  Ben met him at the door, tears in his eyes, and lifted Jacob’s arm around his shoulders. "Whatever you need. Just say the word.”

  “I’m not an invalid for starters.” He never was a man for others groveling at his feet. He’d done what needed doing. Anyone would have.

  “Let us wait on you. You gave us a gift we can never repay.” Ben helped him to the head of the table. “I bet you were a great lawman.”

  Hardly. Jacob glanced at the expectant faces around the table. All but one. Phoebe stared at her lap. Even after the drenching, the shooting, the saving, she still hung back, not wanting to have anything to do with him. He sat in the chair pulled out for him.

  “What happened after I passed out? Who was killed?”

  Ben took his seat. “One of my group, two of Eli’s. Unfortunately, Eli wasn’t one of them. Who shot my boy?”

  Jacob shook his head. “The shot came from the trees behind us. Someone was hiding. JJ parted the branches and was shot. That’s all I know.”

  Ben picked up the sharp knife next to his plate and jammed it into the table top, the handle quivering with the force. “When my boy wakes up, he’ll be able to tell us who was there. Until then, we cool our heels.” He knocked on Phoebe’s bent head. “You hear me, girl?”

  “I hear you.” She raised her head, her features cold and unyielding. “But I’ll do what I’ve got to. Maybe you should run and hide with the widow again and let me run things here.”

  “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.” Ben yanked his knife out of the table and dropped it back down. “I’ll tie you in the shed if I have to.”

  “What’s going on?” They all turned to see Viola and John Woods. “Why are y’all eating so early in the day? Where’s JJ?”

  “Where in tarnation have you been?” Ben lunged to his feet and grabbed his shotgun. “What have you done?”

  Viola straightened her shoulders. “I’ve gotten married. I’m carrying your first grandchild.”

  “While you’ve been off gallivanting around the country, you’re brother lies in there dying.” Ben’s shoulders slumped. “You should have come to me, girl.”

  “You would have threatened to shoot John.” Her hand slipped into her new husband’s. “I wanted to let you know before we headed to the Woods property. Who shot JJ?”

  “We don’t know, but the teacher saved his life at the risk of his own.”

  Jacob squirmed under the adoring glances of Phoebe’s family. He hadn’t thought twice about jumping into the creek. His bones ached with cold, and it might take a month of Sundays to warm up, but he’d do it again for someone he cared about. His gaze met Phoebe’s across the table.

  *

  It was her fault that JJ lay in the bed. She’d allowed him to follow. Jacob was a hero, doing what Phoebe couldn’t. If he hadn’t been there, her brother would have died. Phoebe had never been a strong swimmer because of her leg. Just one more thing to show she wasn’t worthy of Jacob Wright.

  Now, her soul lay as cold as the creek JJ had fallen into. Fear filled her, rushing through her veins like a sickness. She pushed back her chair and, without glancing at Viola, headed to the bedroom to check on JJ. Someday she would have to forgive her sister for her part in Phoebe’s attack, but she couldn’t do it now. Not with her own demons to tend.

  She glanced at her unfinished quilt, raised to the roof until she was ready to once again work on it. She wasn’t sure when that would be. As time passed, it became harder and harder to focus on anything of beauty.

  She pulled a rocking chair into the room with JJ and took a seat before smoothing his dark hair away from his pale face. The thought of losing her younger brother brought tears to her eyes. She swallowed against the lump in her throat.

  JJ groaned and opened his eyes. “Sis?”

  The tears escaped, running down her face in tiny rivers. She wiped them on her shoulder and gripped her brother’s hand. “How do you feel?”

  “Like someone shot me. What happened?”

  “Someone did shoot you, and you fell into the creek. Jacob jumped in to save you.” She choked on her words. “You were dead, but he breathed life back into you. I’m so sorry I didn’t force you to go home.”

  “That wasn’t your fault, sis. You’ve never been able to make me do something I didn’t want to do. You should marry Jacob.” JJ squeezed her hand. “He’s a good man.”

  “I’m not good enough for him.” She sobbed and laid her forehead on the husk-filled mattress. “He needs someone pure and who is right with God. I’m so consumed with a thirst for revenge, that I can’t think straight.”

  “I’ll pray for you.”

  The thought that her brother, a boy lying at death’s door, would offer to pray for such a one as she, melted the first piece of ice from her heart. Who was she to feel she could take on the sole responsibility of vengeance? Didn’t God promise to take care of that for his children?

  She lifted her head to see JJ had fallen back to sleep. Instead of joining the others, she stayed in his room until she dozed herself. When she woke, the sun had cast long shadows into the room, someone had placed a quilt around her shoulders, and Jacob was asleep next to JJ.

  As quiet as possible, she stood and folded the quilt, placing it at the foot of the bed, and then moved to stare into Jacob’s face. His dark hair was mussed. Long lashes cast shadows on his cheeks. His chiseled lips were relaxed in sleep. She wanted to tell him she still loved him, that she wanted nothing more than to be his wife, but until she found her way to forgiveness, she couldn’t.

  Instead, she kissed the tips of her fingers and placed them on his lips. “I love you, Jacob Wright,” she whispered.

  She left the room and grabbed her shawl from beside the door. Time alone in the evening cold should clear her mind. She made little noise stepping outside. Taking a seat on the top step, she glanced into the star studded sky.

  “God, are you listening? I’ve strayed so far.” She hunched over and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I’ve been so full of hate toward Viola and Eli. What if I carry his child in my womb? Will I be able to love it?” She sniffed against the ever present tears.

  “My hatred almost got Jacob and JJ killed today, despite what they say. I should have stayed home whe
re Pa told me to be. Then none of us would have been there. Forgive me, Father.” Not only did she have to ask God for forgiveness, but Viola as well. She still thought Eli could rot in hell, but she would work on forgiving him in her heart.

  A pebble rolled across the walkway and thunked against the steps. Viola stood at the edge of the property, looking almost as ethereal as a ghost in a light-colored gown. Didn’t she know how dangerous it was to wander around at night in her nightclothes?

  Phoebe pushed to her feet and shuffled toward her sister. She stared into Viola’s tear-streaked face for a moment before holding her arms wide. With a sob, Viola rushed in until they were both sobbing. “I’m so sorry, Phoebe.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I didn’t mean anything to happen. I was just mad because Jacob chose you over me. I already had this baby growing in my stomach, I just didn’t know yet.”

  Phoebe wrapped her arms tighter. They’d taken the first step toward healing and another chunk of ice fell from her heart. “I know. I forgive you.”

  Viola pulled back. “How’s JJ?”

  “He’ll be okay—” The door banged open before her.

  They whirled to see Pa standing there in his long winter underwear. “Get in the house. JJ woke up and said it was Sheriff Johnson who shot him. Viola, you’re staying here tonight, you foolish girl. Tomorrow, we’re going hunting.”

  19

  Three days after his dunking, Jacob headed to Dixon’s to purchase supplies for the Lillie family in return for their care. They wouldn’t want to accept, on account of him saving JJ, but he’d insist. They had little to share yet fed him gladly.

  The bell over Dixon’s door jingled his arrival. The same two men who had glared at him the last time he’d stepped inside now grinned and rushed to pat his back.

  Mr. Dixon came forward with a huge grin of his own. “There’s our hero.”

  What strange people these hollow folk. Jacob returned the handshakes, glad he was at last accepted. “I’ve come for some supplies.”

  “Whatever you want is free of charge,” Dixon announced. “Within reason, of course.”

  “No, I appreciate it, but I’ve the funds to pay. Can you let folks know that school will be starting back up on Monday?”

  “Looks like snow outside. If it’s too deep, students won’t come, but I’ll tell them.” Dixon moved behind the shop counter. “What can I get you?”

  “Flour, sugar, coffee, beans, some peppermint candy …” He tapped his forefinger on his lips and studied a blue dress in the window. “Got one of those in Phoebe’s size?”

  “I reckon I do. You finally gonna propose to that gal?”

  “I’m hoping to, when the time is right.” Jacob waited while the store keeper wrapped his packages. He’d escaped a serious illness from his time in the frigid water and JJ was making steady improvement. No one had seen hide nor hair of Eli in days.

  What of his children? Jacob would have to go check on them. If Eli had disappeared, they couldn’t stay up on the mountain alone. He hoped someone had already thought of the children. He couldn’t stand thinking they’d been alone for three days.

  Back outside, he shoved his packages in bags hanging on each side of his mule, and then pulled the collar of his coat higher on his neck. It would snow for sure. Hopefully, after he returned home from checking on the Coffman children.

  He guided the mule up the mountain as the first snowflakes fell. Maybe he should have stopped and let the Lillies know where he was going. What if he ended up snowbound for the night? They’d worry, even with him saying he planned on sleeping under his own roof that night.

  The Coffman cabin sat lopsided on the side of the mountain. Smoke curled from the chimney. At least the children were warm. “Hello, the house!” Jacob rested his hand on the butt of his gun and prayed he wouldn’t have to draw.

  “What do you want?” A hunched over old woman in threadbare clothes answered the door.

  “I’m the teacher, Mr. Wright. I’ve come to check on the children since their Pa is away. Is everything all right?” A raw-boned hound brayed from the side of the house, keeping Jacob on the back of the mule.

  “As good as not having our hunter with us can make us.” The woman started to close the door.

  Jacob thought of the supplies in his pack. “Could you use some flour? A bit of canned meat?”

  “We don’t cotton to charity.”

  “You can pay me back when times are better.”

  “Times don’t get better around here.” She slammed the door.

  Surely the folks who had once stood by Eli would now stand by his family. What should he do? Should he chance getting off the mule and leaving the supplies on the porch?

  When the dog did nothing but stick its head out from under the porch, Jacob slid from the mule and unloaded his packs. He stacked everything except the dress by the door. These people needed them more than the Lillies. Jacob would pay them back some other way. He eyed the stack of wood next to the house and knew he’d be back at the first opportunity to chop more.

  By the time he reached the Lillie yard, the snow began to fall in earnest. Fingers numb, he knocked on the door to let them know he’d be heading home.

  Phoebe answered. “You don’t have to knock anymore. You’re considered family.”

  Maybe so, but until Phoebe declared her love for him, he would never actually be a member of the family. “I’m heading back to my cabin for the night. Wanted y’all to know so you wouldn’t worry.”

  “Pa’s been wondering where you were today?”

  “I went and dropped some supplies off at the Coffman place.” He waited for her condemnation. Instead, she nodded.

  “That was kind of you. Eli’s mother isn’t capable of doing much.”

  Phoebe had started to thaw over the last couple of days, but her acceptance of his kind deed toward the family of the man she detested, gave Jacob hope that he’d have the woman he loved back very soon.

  He wanted very much to kiss her. To pull her in his arms and stare into those eyes. Instead, he shoved his hands in his pockets and headed back to the mule.

  “Jacob, wait.” Phoebe dashed after him. “Won’t you stay for supper?”

  “No, my cabin will be freezing as it is. I’ve work to do in order to start school back on Monday and a fire to get going.” He clenched his fists to keep from brushing his knuckles across her cheek.

  “Wait here.” She hurried back into the house. A few minutes later, she returned with a crock. “Hot soup and some cornbread. Don’t say no. You’ll need it to warm you while you get a fire started.”

  “Thank you.” He climbed on the mule before reaching down for the food. “I’ll be by tomorrow to see how JJ is doing.”

  “Jacob.”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you. For everything.”

  *

  She didn’t think her words were enough. How could four words convey everything she felt, everything she meant? She loved him with every fiber of her being. Could he still love her after the way she’d treated him?

  Even a godly man such as Jacob had his limits, and Phoebe could very well have pushed him to the very edge of what he could endure. Her heart dropped as he rode away, disappearing in the falling snow.

  She turned and went back inside to take her turn with JJ. He was sitting up in bed for the first time since being shot. He plucked at the covers, but grinned when he saw her.

  “How are you feeling?”

  He shrugged, then winced. “All right, if I don’t move. Will you play the mandolin for me?”

  “I don’t sing anymore.” She twisted her hands in her skirt, realizing another thing Eli had taken from her. Forgiving the man would not be easy.

  “Please? I’m so bored sitting here and Grandma is always fussing over me with this or that.” His young face fell, wrenching at Phoebe’s heart.

  How could she deny him when he lay there because of an unwise choice she made? “I’ll try.” She retriev
ed the instrument from a shelf and sat in the rocker next to the bed.

  With the mandolin on her lap, she plucked a sad, romantic tune handed down through the generations. She closed her eyes and pictured Jacob’s face and pretended to sing only to him. Instead of increasing her pain, the melody was healing, the lyrics speaking of romance and faith that better things would come.

  Tears poured down her face as she sang and the words trembled.

  “Don’t cry. It’s beautiful.” JJ patted her arm.

  She opened her eyes. “I needed to sing again. Thank you for asking me to.”

  “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you happy,” he said. “You used to be the sunshine in this house. Poor baby Maggie is starting to act like you. Callie does her best to mother the baby, but it isn’t the same.”

  “I’m sorry. I have been full of myself, haven’t I?” She set the mandolin aside and hugged him. “I promise to do better.”

  “Just find what makes you happy and hold on to it.” He slid down the pillows. “I’m going to sleep now. Wake me when supper’s done.”

  Phoebe planted a kiss on his forehead, knowing her fifteen-year-old brother would never allow her to if he were well and able. “When did you get so wise?” She whispered.

  The others were already sitting down to supper. Phoebe would give JJ his after he slept awhile.

  “It was good to hear you sing, daughter.” Pa clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Sounded like old times. You remind me so much of your ma.”

  “Thank you. That’s a wonderful compliment.” Phoebe took her place at the table.

  “You ready to finish that quilt?” Grandma asked, setting a bowl of soup in front of her. “It’s time to start working on a wedding quilt. Someday, you’ll wed and –”

  Phoebe drowned out her words. She wouldn’t marry anyone unless it was Jacob. She eyed the Old Maid’s Rambling hanging on the rack. That would be her quilt if she didn’t find a way to tell him of her feelings.

  The hot chicken soup burned the roof of her mouth and warmed her better than the fire in the stone fireplace. Grandma had left the shutters open and snow fell bringing with it bitter cold and beauty.