by Linda Ford
Mr. Murphy struggled with his emotions. “Thank the good Lord for people like yourselves to help her and the baby.”
“Taking care of Judy has been our greatest pleasure.” Grace spoke with quiet dignity.
Mrs. Murphy touched her hand. “I’m so sorry to repay your kindness by taking the baby. I know it must hurt unbearably.”
Grace nodded. “I’ve prepared tea.”
Over tea, Grace told them about Judy’s care and the special milk. “We have it shipped from Calgary.” She gave the name of the doctor. “You’ll have to contact him to arrange to have it delivered.” But they lived south of Calgary, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
She could tell the couple were anxious to be on their way. “I’ll get the rest of Judy’s things.” They were already packed in a cardboard suitcase in the bedroom. She hurried to get it, lingering to shed a few tears in private. Blankets and bonnet were ready for the trip to town, but in the end, Grace kept the little pink blanket she’d used so many times when rocking Judy. She held it to her face and breathed the sweet familiar scent of the baby who was about to taken from her.
“Thank you, my dear.” Mrs. Murphy took the blankets. “I promise I’ll keep in touch. We’ll tell Judy about the people who saved her life twice in a few months.”
Grace nodded, her throat too tight to speak.
Billy stood waiting to leave. She knew he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.
Mr. Murphy cleared his throat. “Can I ask one last favor?”
Billy nodded.
“Could you show us where Maggie is buried?”
“I’ll take you there before we go to the station.”
Grace bent to give Judy one last kiss. When the baby smiled, Grace could no longer restrain her tears. They flowed unchecked down her cheeks as she bid farewell.
Billy hurried out. She knew he was having difficulty controlling his emotions as well.
The door closed behind them. Grace sat at the table, her face in her arms, and sobbed.
Somehow they made it through that night and the days that followed. The house echoed with its silence. Grace wandered aimlessly, wondering how she’d kept busy before she had Judy to care for.
Nellie sent a note inviting them to spend Christmas with her, Tom, and Rebecca.
“Do you want to?” Billy asked.
“Not really. I’m not ready to see Rebecca yet.” She paused. “Unless you want to.”
“I’d as soon stay home.”
Billy spent long hours in the barn. Grace knew he was dealing with his sorrow in his own way.
They had packaged up Judy’s gifts and sent them with her grandparents.
Christmas was quiet. Grace had knit socks for Billy; he bought her a pair of warm winter boots. “So you can drive without freezing your feet.”
Winter settled in with a vengeance after that. Snow blanketed the earth, muting colors and sounds. Grace, having discovered how much she enjoyed knitting, made two more pairs of socks, a pair of mittens, and then began a sweater for Billy.
Spring arrived in a warm chinook the last day of February. Within a week, all that remained of the snow was dirty drifts along the north side of the building and in the trees.
Billy got several calls for work. He flew supplies to a ranch camp. He took a friend of Mr. Boushee’s out to the Turner Valley oil fields. Dr. Childs phoned a message for him to take some of the special milk to a family in northern Alberta.
One spring day, Grace walked out to the barn to find Billy. She carried Judy’s pink baby blanket with her.
“You doing anything important right now?” she asked him.
“No, only tinkering. What did you want?”
“Could you take me flying?”
He dropped the pliers and stared at her. “You want to go up in the air?”
She giggled at his surprise. “I believe that’s what flying entails.”
His mouth dropped. He closed it, gulped, and stammered, “But I thought you would never go up again. After last time.”
“There’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then.”
His eyes watchful, he nodded. “That’s a fact.”
“Well, yes or no?”
He grabbed a rag and wiped his hands. “Sure. Right now?”
“Seems as good a time as any.” She enjoyed seeing his confusion. Not often she managed to have that affect on him.
“Right. Gracie Two is ready and waiting.”
He helped her into the front compartment, and they roared into the sky.
The wind tugged at her skin, clear, fresh wind laden with the smell of melting snow and burgeoning life. Grace sucked in air, greedy for its cleansing taste. She looked down on the bare trees, the brown mottled ground, the roof tops.
The pink blanket lay next to her heart where she’d stuffed it inside her blouse. She pulled it out, unfolded it, and held it high overhead like a pink flag. It fluttered and caught the wind, tugging at her arm.
“Fly, Baby, fly,” she called, and let the blanket go, looking over her shoulder to watch it blow away. “Good-bye,” she murmured.
Billy banked the plane in a sharp turn so they could watch the pink scrap. The wind filled it like a parachute, then it collapsed and drifted slowly downward, lazy and free, disappearing somewhere over the trees along the river.
Billy brought them back home.
He jumped out and reached for Grace, helping her to the ground.
“What was that all about?”
She struggled to find the right words. “I suppose you could say it was hello and good-bye.”
His dark eyes demanded a better explanation.
“Good-bye to Judy, of course, but hello to the rest of my life.” She laughed as joy bubbled inside her. “Remember when you talked about trust being for the times when we can’t see or understand?”
He nodded.
“I’ve decided it’s time to trust God; to leave the future in His hands and embrace the wonders of each day.”
Billy grabbed her hand. “I’ve something to show you.”
She followed him to the barn, where he pulled a rag off a square piece of wood.
“I spent the winter doing this.”
She gasped. He had carved a beautiful picture of a garden full of bushes—wild Alberta rosebushes. Rose bushes with one bud, and one open flower. Under the bud, was the name Eleanor May; under the flower, Judy.
“It’s beautiful. I didn’t know you could do this sort of work.”
“I didn’t either.” He ran his fingers along the names. “See how these are the only roses yet?”
She nodded, her eyes lingering on each name.
“And see how there’s room for more blossoms on these bushes?”
Understanding his meaning, she lifted her face to him. “Billy that is so special. Is it any wonder I love you so much?”
He leaned the carved picture against the wall so he could take her in his arms. “I love you too, Gracie.” He kissed her.
He’d said the words she needed to hear, and they sang straight to her overflowing heart. Somewhere, somehow, when she wasn’t watching or waiting for it, love had found a home in her. Love that poured out rather than waited, afraid and quivering, for someone to give it life. Love straight from the heart of God. He’d answered her prayers above and beyond what she’d dreamed possible.
She pulled back. “And maybe, just maybe—because it’s too early to be certain—you might need to be carving another flower this fall.”
“Another baby?”
“I think so.”
He grinned so wide, she laughed. “Is it any wonder I love you, Gracie?”
“Because I make babies?”
“No. Because you are so full of lovely surprises. Because you have a beautiful personality. And because of the faith that has grown in you.”
He was right, she thought. Life was full of surprise. Perhaps the biggest one of all was the discovery of her capacity to love despite the risks and pain
. With God’s help she knew she could face whatever the future would bring.
Also by Linda Ford
Contemporary Romance
Montana Skies series
Cry of My Heart
Forever in My Heart
Everlasting Love
Inheritance of Love
Historical Romance
War Brides series
Lizzie
Maryelle
Irene
Grace
*
Wild Rose Country
Crane’s Bride
Hannah’s Dream
Chastity’s Angel
Cowboy Bodyguard
Copyright © 2017 by Linda Ford
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