Autumn's Awakening

by Irene Brand

  “Promise me something,” he whispered with his face buried deep in her disheveled chestnut hair. “Don’t leave Greensboro right away. Stay for a while, even after Ray comes home.”

  She nodded. “I promise.”

  Autumn was relieved he’d extracted the promise from her, for when she arrived at the clinic, sturdy, broad-shouldered Ray Wheeler came out to greet her. In spite of her fatigue, she jumped out of the car and ran to him. He whooped and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  “How’s my new vet?” he asked.

  “I’ve never been so glad to see anyone in my life,” she shouted, but then she pulled out of his arms and pommeled his broad chest with her fists. “How dare you talk me into coming here? What I’ve gone through the past two months is enough to make me wonder why I ever wanted to be a vet! You scoundrel,” she added.

  Laughing loudly, Ray grabbed her hands. “Stop it! I did you a favor, and you know it. Olive tells me you’ve had a rough week.”

  “Well, yes, you could say that. And last night was the worst of all. In spite of all I could do, Nathan’s horse died.”

  “I’m sorry, but you had to learn sooner or later the worst nightmare of our profession. We’re not God, and we can’t perform miracles.”

  “I know that, and I’d have been sad to have had any animal die, but it hurt especially bad when it was Nathan’s only horse.”

  “Come in for breakfast, and then you’d better get some rest. I can take over now.”

  They walked into the house and sat down for a meal of pancakes and sausage. Miss Olive’s face shone as she waited on them. Her beloved brother was home at last!

  “When did you get home?”

  “A half hour ago. I was getting ready to come to Woodbeck Farm to see if I could help when you drove in.”

  “But don’t you have jet lag? You’ll need to rest, too.”

  “No. The plane got into Chicago too late to make connections, so I rented a car and started driving. When I got to Indianapolis, I could hardly stay awake, so I took a motel room, slept several hours, and then drove on. I feel fine now.”

  “I’ll take a nap and start working on the backlog of calls that have accumulated. Will you go check all the horses that have strangles? I’d intended to do that this morning, but I’d rather you did it.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” He finished the last of his pancakes and settled back in his chair. “Now, let’s discuss something very important for both of us. I want you to stay on with me, Autumn, not just as my assistant, but as a full partner in the business.”

  “I appreciate that, Ray, but I can’t give you my decision now. I will, however, stay at least a month to help you get caught up. This past week when I’ve been busy with the horses, Miss Olive has had to postpone all the regular appointments. You’ll need some help.”

  “I’ve learned a lot from the other veterinarians while we’ve been traveling, and I’d like to expand into new areas of services. I can’t do that without help.”

  “I’ll give you an answer within a month. It’s too weighty a decision for me to make right now.”

  “Thanks for taking over for me, Autumn.”

  “A more experienced person could have done better.”

  He shook his head in disagreement. “I doubt it, especially with the strangles. You’ve learned the latest techniques. You love horses, and you’ve always had unusual canny when it came to dealing with them. I suppose you inherited that from Landon. And by the way, have you patched things up with your family?”

  “I’ve visited with Mother and Summer a few times. Not with Daddy. He wasn’t going to let me treat his Belgians, but I forced my way past him and took over. Short of carrying me off the farm, he couldn’t get rid of me, and he did mellow a little before the night was over. Nathan came to help, and Daddy actually invited us to go to the house and have something to eat.”

  “Landon will come around. You’ll see.”

  “I hope so. That’s one of the reasons I’ve agreed to stay a few more weeks. If you’d asked me to stay a week ago, I’d have refused.”

  “What’s the other reason you’ve agreed to stay?”

  “You ask too many questions,” Autumn retorted. “Thanks for the breakfast, Miss Olive. I’m going to shower and take a nap. Please don’t let me sleep past noon.”

  Nathan had held up a brave front before Autumn because he didn’t want her to feel any more downcast than she already did over the death of Beauty, but it was one of the hardest blows he’d experienced. Since the first day he’d gone to Indian Creek Farm and saw the Weavers’ herd of Belgians, he’d set his goal to one day own a herd of his own. He’d thought Beauty was the beginning of his dream, but now he was back where he started. The money he’d borrowed to buy the filly, to renovate the farm buildings and improve the land had been a large debt that would take several years to pay. The horse was insured, but not to the extent he could buy another filly now.

  His dream of owning Belgians had been dashed to the ground, but his dream of having Autumn had been revived. During the night when he realized the filly was dying, he made up his mind that this time Autumn wouldn’t get away from him. When his heart was so heavy with the loss of Beauty, he couldn’t speak to her, but he had her promise. He’d soon make up for the way he’d treated her. He should have known she was sincere when she’d told him how much she cared for him. If he’d ever doubted it, he no longer did. A devotion that could survive eight years of separation had to be fed by a strong love.

  Ralph came with a back loader to help Nathan dispose of the filly’s carcass. While Ralph dug a large hole near a wooded area west of the creek, Jeff arrived with a hoist from Indian Creek Farm, and he helped Nathan lift the filly’s body and take it to the grave. Nathan turned his back when Ralph started covering the Belgian’s body with dirt.

  With a grateful wave to Jeff and Ralph, he started his tractor and drove to a field beyond the house where he spent the rest of the day preparing the soil for a winter crop of wheat. When he returned late in the evening, he avoided the pasture where he’d kept Beauty. He’d always thought of Autumn when he worked with the Belgian, and there had never been a day when he hadn’t spent some time with the animal. The hurt was too much to bear today.

  Physically and mentally fatigued, Nathan went to bed early, but his sleep was troubled. He dreamed of Beauty, and he dreamed of Autumn. Morning found him sluggish and grouchy. Ray Wheeler was his first visitor.

  Ray shook hands with Nathan. “I stopped by to see you yesterday, but you weren’t at home. I’m sorry about your loss. I wish I could have been home, but it wouldn’t have been any different if I’d been here.”

  “No. Autumn is a good vet.”

  “I’m finding that out,” Ray said. “Yesterday, I went to all the horse farms, and she treated the animals exactly as I would have done. A lot more horses might have died if she hadn’t known what she was doing and kept the disease from spreading. I’m trying to get her to stay on.”

  Nathan looked away and didn’t comment.

  “She told me yesterday she’d stay for another month, but I’m hoping to make it permanent. I want to expand my business, and with the high praise all these farmers have for her now, she won’t have to be concerned about her standing in the community. I understand from Olive that she hasn’t been accepted very well by some of her former neighbors, but after I put in a few good words about her abilities, she’ll be looked up to as she used to be. ‘The Weaver tomboy who knows as much about horses as her father does.”’

  Nathan’s eyes filled with mirth. “If that little speech was designed to convince me, you wasted your time, Doc. I’ve been sold on Autumn Weaver for a long time.”

  “Then why don’t you do something about it, man?”

  “I’m working on it. Give me time!”

  “Time! You’ve had eight years.”

  “Yeah. Eight years when I didn’t even know where she was! If she stays in Greensboro for a month that should be all
the time I need,” he stated. Then he added pointedly, “That is, if everybody else will back off and let us handle it ourselves.”

  “Touché,” Ray said. “I’ll say no more.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  With Ray taking care of the farm calls, Autumn spent a busy day in the clinic. She was ready to close, when she received a telephone call from Summer.

  “All seems to be well with the horses,” she reported. “Daddy says that none of them is any worse, and he believes they’re starting to improve.”

  “Did you hear that Nathan’s horse died?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry about it, Autumn, and believe it or not, so are Mother and Daddy.”

  “It wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t the only Belgian he owned.”

  “I called about something else that I think will make you feel better. Mother wants you to come to see her and bring Pastor Elwood with you.”

  “Well! That is a surprise.”

  “She suggested tonight.”

  “Will Daddy be there?”

  “I don’t know. He’s spending most of his time in the barns right now.”

  “If Pastor Elwood is free, we’ll come out in a few hours.”

  Two hours later, with a great deal of trepidation, Autumn parked in front of the old Victorian home. Pastor Elwood sat beside her.

  She sighed. “I’m almost afraid to go in. So much hinges on this visit,” she said.

  “Your mother wasn’t far from reconciliation when we were here before. She’s a proud woman, and it’s hard for her to change her mind.”

  Summer met them at the door.

  “Daddy isn’t here. He had a trip into Greensboro. I don’t think he knew you were coming.”

  Clara waited for them in the living room, and when Autumn bent to kiss her cheek, Clara didn’t rebuff her.

  “Sit down, Pastor Elwood. Autumn,” Clara said. Going immediately to the reason for the visit, she continued, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you and your skill as a veterinarian. Landon praises you highly for the work you’ve done in the community these past few days. You came to apologize to me once and I wouldn’t accept the apology.”

  Autumn knelt beside her mother’s chair and took her hand.

  “It’s I who must apologize. I was wrong. You were right in your desire to become a veterinarian. I shouldn’t have insisted that you do what I wanted. I’m sorry, but I want you to know, I was doing what I thought was best for you.”

  Tears softened Autumn’s eyes. “I know, Mother. I never doubted that.”

  “It’s not easy to say I’m wrong, knowing that my actions almost ruined my daughter’s life.”

  Clara’s face flushed. Tears formed in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. If Clara had ever cried before, Autumn had never witnessed it.

  Autumn perched on the side of Clara’s chair and drew her mother into a close embrace. “Mother,” Autumn said, “I love you, and I appreciate all the things you’ve done for me. What I considered dominance was your way of guiding me, and I would have been better off if I hadn’t been so rebellious. We can’t do anything about the past, but the future is before us. Are you willing to make a fresh start?”

  Clara’s head dropped to Autumn’s shoulder and she nodded emphatically. “God bless you, Mother. You’ve taken a load off my conscience.”

  Autumn felt an arm around her waist, and she turned to see Summer kneeling beside them with the other arm around her mother.

  “I need to ask for your forgiveness, too,” Summer said. “I’ve been resentful of you and Spring, of the fact that I had to stay at home. And it isn’t all Mother’s fault, either. She didn’t demand that I come home. I felt compelled to do so, and I’m happy I could take care of her.”

  Clara lifted her head and caressed Summer’s cheek. “But Autumn is right, Summer. I want you to go on with your education. I shouldn’t have accepted your sacrifice, but I, too, felt alone. I could hardly bear to think of all my daughters leaving me. My whole life had been wrapped up in you, and I had nothing left when one by one you began leaving home. I do appreciate the years you’ve devoted to me, but I’m setting you free now. It’s not too late to get the education you want and pursue a career of your liking.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be thinking about it.”

  Turning again to Autumn, Clara said, “After you came home and I heard how efficiently you were taking over Ray’s work, I’ve wished more than once that I’d allowed you to follow your dream of becoming a vet. You’ve achieved your goal, but you did it without us. We could have made it so much easier for you, but we missed eight years of your life.”

  “I’ve never regretted the hard work it took to get through vet school. I’d had too much given to me. It changed my whole perspective on life when I had to work. And I doubt very much that I would ever have accepted Christ into my life if I hadn’t depended upon my faith in God to see me through. As rich Autumn Weaver, I didn’t have time for God. When I was separated from my family, I drew closer to Him. The hope of eternal security I have now is worth the trials of the past years.”

  Elwood had remained silent during this exchange, and until he spoke, Autumn had actually forgotten his presence in the room.

  “Ladies,” he said, “shall we have prayer? This has been a beautiful demonstration of what can result when we’re obedient to the spirit of God. Because Autumn obeyed God’s command and asked to be forgiven, all of you have found happiness.”

  “I still have a long way to go,” Autumn said, “but after today, the rest of my goal to set things right will be easier.”

  After Elwood prayed, Clara dispatched Summer to the kitchen to speak to Mrs. Hayes about some refreshment for their guests. Elwood asked permission to look around the farm and Autumn and her mother were left alone.

  “Autumn,” Clara said, “I won’t interfere with your decisions again, but I would like to know what your plans are. Also, I’ve heard gossip about that child you brought with you. Will you clear that up?”

  “Dolly is exactly the way we’ve presented her. Trina’s sister is a single mother, and the woman who usually sits with Dolly during summer vacation became ill suddenly and had to have surgery. We volunteered to care for Dolly until her sitter was recovered or until school started. Her sitter is better now, and Trina took Dolly home last week. I’ll admit the child does look like Nathan, but he doesn’t even know Dolly’s mother. And, Mother, please believe me when I tell you that nothing happened between Nathan and me that could have produced a child. Furthermore, I haven’t been involved in sexual immorality with anyone.”

  Clara lifted her head, shocked, and Autumn expected a reprimand for discussing such a subject openly. Clara paused briefly before she said, “I’m glad to hear it. All of my teachings weren’t wasted.”

  “None of your teachings were wasted, I assure you.”

  “You have no interest in Dr. Lowe?”

  Autumn shook her head. “None at all. He’s a fine man, but not the person I want for a mate. I’m sure he feels the same about me.”

  “What do you intend to do?”

  “I’ll stay for another month to help Ray catch up on the work. He’s offered me a job leading to a full partnership eventually, which would be fine, for I could be here to look in on you.”

  “Are you going to accept his offer?”

  “I don’t know. That depends.”

  “Depends on what?” Clara demanded.

  “A couple of things, but one of them is Daddy’s forgiveness. I can’t be much help to you when I have to sneak in and out of the house when he’s gone.”

  Clara waved her hand. “Landon is full of pride and bluster. I’ll bring him around. In spite of his worry over the horses, he’s been happier the past twenty-four hours than he’s been for years. That’s because you’re home.” She looked sternly in Autumn’s direction, but the autocratic, domineering attitude was gone. “What about Nathan Holland?”

  “What about him?” Autumn said, suppressing
a smile.

  “Are you going to marry him?”

  “That’s up to Nathan. My love for him is stronger than it was when I was a girl, but he’s hesitant to make a commitment. Losing that expensive filly won’t help matters.”

  “I was wrong about him, too. I understand he’s become a good farmer. I have no objection to him now, but I still believe if you’d run away with him years ago, you would both have been miserable.”

  “You’re probably right, but the way things turn out between us will determine whether I stay at Greensboro. I would enjoy working at Ray’s clinic, but not if Nathan keeps his distance. I promise you, though, I won’t go so far from home that I can’t keep in touch with you.”

  Summer came in carrying a tray and Elwood followed her. Summer passed around cups of coffee and a plate of cookies.

  “I see Mrs. Hayes hasn’t lost her skill at baking peanut butter cookies. They were always my favorite,” Autumn said as she bit into the rich pastry.

  They spent a pleasant half hour, and Autumn kept hoping her father would come home. She would have liked to be reconciled to him before she saw Nathan again.

  When Elwood and Autumn made preparations to leave, Autumn leaned over and kissed her mother’s forehead.

  “Autumn,” Clara said, unable to resist advising her youngest daughter, “you’re working too hard, and it shows in your looks. You need to gain some weight. Once your beauty is gone, you’ve lost everything.”

  Laughing, Autumn said, “I haven’t lost anything, and I’ve gained a lot tonight. Reconciliation is a beautiful thing.”

  Summer placed her arm around Autumn’s waist when they reached the back porch. “Thanks, Autumn. I hope things go well between you and Nathan.”

  “Me, too.”

  “And don’t worry about Daddy. He’ll make up with you.”

  As soon as Autumn returned to town, she put in a call to Nathan.