Hannah Grace

by MacLaren Sharlene

  Hannah struggled to open her eyes, but her weighty eyelids blocked all attempts. Everyone seemed so near, and yet so far away. If this was a dream, she needed to awaken from it. I'm not sleeping! she wanted to scream.

  Someone cleared his throat. "I'd just as soon stay." This particular voice carried a deep-timbered quality lined with uncompromising authority. Gabe. With all her heart, Hannah wished to muster the strength to rouse herself.

  "Yeah. She's gonna be my mother, so we should both stay," chimed Jesse.

  Mother? Dreams of this caliber were rare. Lord, help me open my eyes.

  "Jesse Gant, for crying out loud. Nothing's official yet." Gabe's tone bordered on scolding.

  The atmosphere in Ralston's little office grew painfully quiet, so quiet, in fact, that an ant could have dragged a crumb away and everyone would have heard it.

  But Abbie Ann took care of that. "Oh, my stars in a bucket! Are you truly marrying my sister, Sheriff? But that's great news! No offense, Dr. Van Huff"

  Ralston chuckled. "None taken. This morning, when Mr. Devlin stopped by my office to talk about moving that young man's body to the cemetery, he brought up the matter of his feelings for Hannah Grace. Seems he wants to make her his bride and was eager to determine where I stood. Since I put an end to the relationship Sunday night, well, I gave him my best wishes, of course."

  "Well, I'll be a yellow-nosed toad!" Abbie squealed.

  As will I! Hannah longed to say. Why, the nerve of that Ralston Van Huff, announcing to her family that he was the one who severed the relationship.

  I know the plans I have for you, My child, the Lord whispered. Do not trouble yourself over trivial matters.

  Trivial? But, Lord...

  And do not allow your foolish pride to keep Me from accomplishing My purposes in your life.

  Oh, but she had so longed to know His divine will.

  A great deal of hugging seemed to take place then. Someone patted her leg, another touched her hand. Lord God, help me see my way through this fog.

  "Sir, uh, Mr. Kane, this is rather awkward," Gabe was saying. "I fully intended to speak to you properly beforehand, but it seems the cat's been let out of the bag by this little man here. I hope you'll give us your blessing."

  Papa cleared his throat. She felt his nearness, recognized his gentle touch on her shoulder. "Nothing would please me more."

  More hugging, oohing and ahhing. Surely, she would awaken in moments and find herself tucked snug beneath her down comforter, Maggie Rose in the bed next to the attic door and Abbie Ann sleeping soundly by the dormer window.

  Agonizing pain shot an instant hole through her side and a groan she barely recognized as her own rumbled from her chest.

  "She's awake!" Abbie shrieked.

  Am I?

  "I don't see how that's possible," Ralston said. "I gave her the maximum dose of laudanum. Perhaps I should administer a bit more. She mustn't move. I don't want that wound disturbed."

  "Hannah." The velvet murmur of his voice right next to her ear eased the pain, brought indescribable comfort. "It's Gabe, Can you hear me, sweetheart? Jess and I are right here, along with your family."

  Sweetheart?

  "Yeah, we're here, and guess what? Gabe's gonna adopt me, but we need a mother to make it all complete."

  A mother? Well, now, that settled it. She was definitely stuck in the sweetest of all dreams.

  abe flipped the page of his wall calendar to December just as Kitty sauntered through his open door to drop a stack of mail and the Tribune on his desk. "You're a little late with that. It's already the tenth."

  "How'd that happen?" Gabe asked, turning toward the woman who'd somehow become his secretary without his asking. Every morning without fail, she brought him a fresh cup of coffee, straightened his desktop, raised the window shades, and emptied the trash. Then, like clockwork, and even before the lunch whistle sounded from the firehouse, she delivered the mail and daily paper.

  She shot him a mischievous glance, leaned back against the edge of his desk, and folded her arms over her ample waistline. "I'm not sure, unless it's that love simply has a way of making time take wing."

  Like an awkward adolescent, he felt heat steal into his cheeks. She'd been making crafty little remarks like that one ever since word had leaked to her via Jesse of his intentions to ask Hannah Grace to marry him. In fact, since Jesse had started back to school-walking the few blocks to Central Elementary with Billy B and a host of other youngsters, the fully recovered Dusty escorting them halfway there before turning around to come back home and sleep the day away in the barn with Zeke-he wondered who else had heard the news.

  "Have you proposed to her yet?"

  "What? No,"

  Kitty stared at him as if he'd just stolen someone's last dollar. "Well, gracious me, what are you waiting for? When you take Jesse as your legal son, wouldn't it be nice to have a marriage certificate to file away with those adoption papers?"

  Relentless woman!

  "Every time I go over to the Kanes' house, Hannah's holed up in her room. I think she's avoiding me. About all I get are reports that she's resting and making a nice recovery."

  "And so you just leave it at that? You don't inquire further?" Kitty scowled, and that silly schoolboy feeling returned.

  "What am I supposed to do, barge upstairs to her room?"

  "No, but you might send a message with one of the women that you'd like to see her when she feels up to it,"

  "Oh."

  "Have you never courted a woman?"

  "I'll have you know, I nearly married one last summer. Praise the Lord for rescuing me from that disaster." Gabe strode to his desk, picked up his mail, and started thumbing through it, tamping down annoyance for the way Kitty mothered him-and for the way he secretly enjoyed it.

  She unfolded her arms and straightened her plump frame. "Well, what do you know about that? Why did you never mention it?"

  "Didn't know I needed to," he said, pushing back a grin. "Believe me, I'm better off without her."

  Finding nothing of importance in the stack of mail he held, save some correspondence from the South Bend Police Department, Gabe tossed it down in favor of the newspaper. Opening the Tribune to the front page, he read aloud, "McCurdy Brothers Convicted on Several Charges."

  Kitty hurried around to his side of the desk. "What's it say?"

  "Nothing I didn't already know," he answered, skimming over the lengthy article.

  "Sentence pending final hearing in Sandy Shores. Humph, I thought that Roy character already pled guilty to shooting Hannah Grace and clonking poor Van and that pooch with a two-by-four," Kitty said, reading over his shoulder.

  Gabe continued scanning. "He did, but both brothers need to appear before judge Bowers. Roy will spend the rest of his life behind bars. I suspect Ed will go lighter on Reuben. In the end, he did try to save face by intervening on behalf of Billy B and Jesse, but make no mistake-Ed will see that he gets plenty of jail time. Those sentences, piled on top of the ones they'll get for their part in the murder in South Bend... those boys will be lucky to ever see the light of day again. Sure, Rufus was their ringleader, but they could've turned in that snake of a father at any point-or just plain walked away."

  "How do you know that? Maybe he threatened them, made them think themselves worthless and incompetent. I mean, really, what chance did they have, a life of crime being the only thing they ever knew? I swear, parents who don't have the first clue about raising youngsters shouldn't be allowed the privilege. Just think what might have happened to those fellows had someone stepped in to rescue them when they were mere boys."

  She had an excellent point, and it grieved Gabe to think he needed the reminder.

  The McCurdys, though he liked to view them as the earth's scum, had souls in need of saving. Law enforcement sure has a way of making one's heart grow callous, he mused.

  He breathed a hasty prayer of repentance and asked the Lord to send a messenger of hope to the remaining McCurd
ys.

  "I guess that's why Maggie Rose is so bent on going to New York City to work in one of those orphanages," Gabe said. `Jacob told me he's about to give in to her wishes just so she'll stop her nagging. Of course, meeting Jesse fueled her fiery passion the more. She's determined God's calling her to go."

  "Then Jacob best not stand in the way of God's call."

  Outside, the wind howled like a freezing cat. Gabe tossed down the open newspaper and walked to the window. Overhead, angry clouds threatened another fresh batch of snow to add to the already four or so inches blanketing west Michigan's frigid earth. It looked like a white Christmas was surely in store,

  "Well, this looks interesting," Kitty mumbled.

  He swung around. "Hmm?"

  "This." She tapped her index finger repeatedly on a heading in bold typeface. "There's to be a Christmas concert at the Sandy Shores Opera House this Friday night. Says here a host of talented musicians will be performing vocal and instrumental pieces. Following the concert, folks are to gather in the large lobby area for a sampling of fresh-baked cakes and cookies. It lists several places selling concert tickets, Kane's Whatnot being one of them."

  "That so?"

  Kitty waggled her head and closed her eyes. "My, what woman wouldn't enjoy an invitation to attend? Why, perhaps I'll hint to Hubert over supper that I'd like to go myself. Other than Sunday mornings, I haven't had a real occasion to dress up since., .well, let me see here ...why, I believe it was Henrietta Morgan and Horace VanEck's wedding last July. Yes indeed, a Christmas concert would be just the thing to usher in the holiday festivities."

  Sly woman! He would thank her later for planting the idea in his head.

  Hannah stared at her drab reflection while her sisters fussed over her cinnamon-colored, velveteen, two-piece gown, purchased a year ago but never worn. It pained her still-healing wound to lift her left arm much above her head, so arranging her hair was a bit of a chore.

  "Here, let me," Maggie insisted, coming up behind her to snatch the brush from her hand and take up the task of piling her rust-hued hair into a loose bun, allowing several coiled strands to fall around her face at will. `Are you sure you're strong enough to go out? You look a little pallid."

  Hannah frowned. When wasn't she pallid, compared to Abbie's olive complexion and Maggie's rosy cheeks? "Thank you for the boost in confidence,"

  "No, I didn't mean it that way, silly." Maggie bent forward to give Hannah's shoulders a gentle squeeze. "You're pretty as ever, but you've been through an ordeal, sister dear. My goodness, you've barely left your bed for the past three and a half weeks. Do you realize how physically taxing tonight could be for you?"

  "Or how relaxing," Abbie put in. "Don't worry, Mags, Gabe will take good care of her."

  The mere mention of Gabe's name sent Hannah's mind to whirling. As often as she'd tried, she couldn't dismiss that childish dream of Gabe announcing his wish to marry her and precious Jesse saying he needed a mother. Imagine such talk in her family's presence, and while she lay recuperating. She'd heard that pain medications could make the mind hallucinate, so that would explain the foolish reverie. Besides, if there'd been any such announcement made in Ralston's crowded little office, Abbie Ann would never have kept quiet about it.

  "No hat tonight," Maggie was saying as she stuck one last pin in her hair.

  "What? But it's cold outside," Hannah argued.

  "Gabe is renting a covered carriage from Enoch Sprock. You'll be plenty warm enough without one. Besides, Grandmother wants you to wear the comb she brought over from England, and a hat would simply cover it,"

  "I know, but that thing is so-glimmery."

  "And quite lovely. You'll hurt her feelings if you don't wear it."

  "Exactly." Abbie Ann shoved off from Hannah's bed to join her sisters. In the mirror they made quite a pictureAbbie still in farm overalls after helping Katrina and Micah Sterling deliver twin calves that afternoon, Maggie in the soiled blue work dress she'd been wearing since dawn, and Hannah in nothing but her underclothes. Even shabbily clad, her sisters looked regal when compared to her, and it simply amazed her that the handsome sheriff would invite her to such a public event. It would be her first outing since the shooting, and there were sure to be curious stares. Shivering from a bad case of nerves, she waited for her sisters to help her into her velveteen gown with the round decollete neckline and flowing skirt.

  Hannah slipped into the dress, put her sparkling comb in place, and applied a scant amount of rouge to her cheeks, adding just the right amount of color to her lips. Helena then made her grand entrance, skirts swishing in their usual way. "You'll wear these pearls as an accessory," she announced, extending a dainty hand from which the ancient strand of perfect pearls dangled.

  "Oh, Grandmother," Hannah gasped. "I couldn't possibly wear those. What if something happened to them?" The flawless necklace had been in the family for generations, originally belonging to Helena's grandmother. Many had been the days when the girls played dress-up with Grandmother Kane's jewelry-but not with "the pearls." No, those remained locked away in a blue velvet box, never touched-and scarcely even seen.

  "Nonsense. Nothing will happen, and, even if it did, people are far more important than earthly possessions. What's the point of letting these silly things continue to collect dust in my jewelry drawer? Gracious me. Now, let me look at you before I fasten them."

  Helena stepped back to give her eldest granddaughter a top-to-bottom perusal.

  "How do I look?" Hannah asked, biting her lower lip and feeling awkward.

  "Stunning," Helena said while wiping a tear with her apron hem.

  "Never prettier," said Abbie Ann, eyes round as moons.

  "Like a princess," said Maggie.

  "Rather beautiful, I'd say." Jacob stood in the doorway, stroking his silvery beard. Everyone turned at his voice. A faint light twinkled in his eyes before he walked across the room to place a feathery kiss on Hannah's forehead. "Lovely as a shining star." Then, looking around, he said, "Ladies, could I have a moment?"

  Without a word, they filed out, Grandmother leading the way.

  When they were alone, Jacob restedhis hands on Hannah's shoulders. The twinkle in his eyes remained, but now they also brimmed with something like pleasure and pride. "I have never told you this, but of all my girls, you resemble my Hattie the most."

  "But, Papa, Mama was Italian, dark, lovely. I always thought Abbie, with her smooth, golden skin and black hair-"

  He shushed her with two fingers. "Perhaps she most resembles her physical traits, but your mannerisms-that spirited personality and tender, generous heart-are so much like your Mama's. I see her in you most every day. It is when you come floating into a room, all smiles and good cheer, that I miss your mother the most.

  "When you suffered the gunshot wound and I realized how gracious God had been in sparing your life, well, it almost felt as if He'd given a part of Hattie back to me."

  "Oh, Papa." Hannah swiped at a tear.

  "A while back, when I thought I might be giving your hand in marriage to Ralston, I couldn't quite decide why I didn't fully approve, but now I see it.

  "When your mother and I fell in love, she fairly glowed, and I suppose I did, as well. With you, though, that special radiance seemed to be missing, at least with Ralston."

  He lowered his chin and studied her with moist eyes. "But I believe I've detected a bit of a glow since Gabriel Devlin and Jesse Gant came to town."

  "Papa." The moment held a poignancy that sent a shiver up her spine. "I've been praying to know God's will for my life,"

  He cupped her cheek with his palm. "If you desire it deeply, daughter, and have a yielded heart, the Lord will reveal it to you in His good time. Be assured, He will never lead you astray. Perhaps you try too hard to figure things out, when really, your job is quite simple. Trust and obey."

  He made it sound so effortless. Trust and obey. Yes, that is exactly what she needed to do.

  The concert was halfwa
y through when Gabe finally mustered up the courage to reach for Hannah's hand. "Are you feeling all right?" he whispered, leaning close enough to catch her blossomy scent. He gave her dainty fingers a gentle squeeze. "We can leave at any time."

  She skimmed his face with tentative eyes and whispered, "I'm fine. It's-very nice."

  He nodded, and his fresh-shaved chin caught on his high white collar and thick, knotted tie. When had they become so shy in each other's company? Mere months ago, they would argue over the proper care of an orphan boy, making no bones about their noisy disagreements; now, they sat like two sculptures, hardly daring to move. Hadn't he planted several bold kisses on her tasty lips just weeks ago? Now he had to drum up the guts to even hold her hand. Lord, I've turned to mushuseless, countrified mush!

  He tried to give his full attention to the excellent choral and orchestral troupe from Chicago-they were performing a fine rendition of "Joy to the World," but his heart wasn't in it. Even the interspersing of several dramatic sketches throughout the evening, some amusing, others reflective and Christ-focused, hadn't been enough to stem his nervousness. He knew he was a goner from the second he'd laid eyes on Hannah in that gauzy gold gown she was wearing, the string of pearls gracing her creamy neck, and the dazzling comb planted in her burnished red curls. Even Jesse had seemed especially struck when she entered the room. He had come to the Kane house so that Maggie could watch him during the concert. "Man, you look pretty!" he'd blurted. Regrettably, it had taken a stab in the side from Jesse before Gabe had managed to find his tongue and stammer, "Yes, yes, you surely do."

  Applause brought him back to the present and the houselights came up. Intermission. All around them, folks shuffled in their chairs, rose to their feet, stretched stiff knees and achy bones, then greeted their neighbors and gushed over the show.

  And yet they sat amidst all the rising, Hannah's fingers still woven with his and resting in his lap. He looked at her and saw weariness. It was a good idea, his inviting her to this holiday concert, but he needed to get her home before she wilted. Besides, there were things that needed to be said, a question that needed to be asked-and he didn't want her fading on him before he had the chance to get it all out.