Cherished Mercy

by Tracie Peterson

  “Uncle Edward, let me out here. I want to speak to Hope before I talk to any of the others.”

  He pulled back on the reins, and the horse came to a stop. Mercy climbed down unaided and went to the rail fence. Hiking her skirt, she climbed over as gracefully as possible, certain it was one of the least ladylike things she’d ever done. But it removed the obstacle between her and her sister.

  She began to walk across the field, picking up her pace as she went. She might have run but for the sheep. She didn’t want to frighten them. It was all she could do not to laugh out loud. Hope would think her mad for sure if she came barreling across the field as if being chased by a bear.

  “Hope!”

  Hope turned and froze for a moment, then gave a wave. She left the sheep and began to walk as quickly as she could toward Mercy. When they were no more than ten feet apart, Hope burst into tears. They embraced as if they hadn’t seen each other for years.

  “I was so worried about you. We kept hearing all of the horrible things that had happened and feared the worst,” Hope said, hugging her tight.

  “There was plenty of danger, to be sure, but there was also the beautiful and rewarding.” Mercy pulled back and wiped her eyes. “I thought of you so often.”

  It was only then that Hope seemed to realize Mercy had come alone. “Where are the others? How did you get here?”

  “Uncle Edward brought me. I had to see you first.” There was no sense in delaying her reason for coming. “Faith knows who you are.”

  Hope’s face paled. “How? Why?”

  Mercy took a step back. “Eletta had written her a journal. She started it when Faith was born. She wanted Faith to know the truth someday and figured when she was older, she would give her the journal. But as Eletta grew weaker, she asked me to keep it for Faith.”

  “But that doesn’t explain how Faith found out.” Hope looked panicked.

  “Eletta taught her to read at a very young age, and she devours books. She’s so smart and . . . well, she looks just like you.”

  “Like me?” Hope repeated as if she hadn’t heard correctly.

  “Yes. Anyway, she found the journal by accident, saw it was addressed to her, and . . . It was hard for her to take in.”

  “I can’t even imagine.” Hope closed her eyes. “So she knows everything?”

  “Yes. Eletta was thorough. She explained about Tomahas and the mission attack, and what a sacrifice it was for you to give her life.”

  “And how did Faith deal with that?”

  “She wanted to know if she was a bad person because her father had been bad.”

  Hope fixed Mercy with a look of disbelief. “How could she even think such a thing?”

  “I suppose it’s easy enough when you learn you’re the child of a man most people hated . . . a man who savagely murdered innocent people. She doesn’t understand in full all that happened to you, but she knows you were treated horribly. Eletta explained all of that, but she also wrote of your great sacrifice and love. She said there weren’t many women she admired more than she did you.”

  “Eletta said that?” Hope shook her head. “I . . . I can’t imagine why. I was such a bitter thing when I was with them. Angry and unable to bear company. I’m sure I was a misery to live with.”

  “Perhaps, but Eletta saw you differently. Remember, you were giving her the one thing she longed for most and couldn’t have. A child.”

  Mercy felt sorry for her sister. Hope looked stunned, and Mercy couldn’t even be sure what all she was comprehending, given the difficult topic.

  “I left Adam and Faith with Mina and the boys, and Uncle Edward drove me out here. I wanted you to know what had happened . . . in case . . .” She left the rest unspoken.

  Hope closed her eyes again. “This is so much harder than it was supposed to be. I thought she’d come here with you, and I would see her and get to know her, but she wouldn’t know me.” She shook her head. “I suppose that sounds selfish, but it’s so hard to sort through my feelings.” She began to walk back toward the sheep, and Mercy followed, giving Hope time to deal with the news.

  After several long silent minutes, Hope stopped and looked at Mercy. “What of Faith? What does she want?”

  Mercy smiled. “That’s easy. She wants to meet you. She said she needed to know her first mama.”

  Hope bit her lip, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “But why? What does she want from me?”

  “I can’t be certain, but right now her biggest fear is that you hate her.” Mercy squared her shoulders and asked the question she’d been dreading to even think. “You don’t hate her—do you?”

  For a moment Hope didn’t reply, and Mercy feared the worst. She stood silent while Hope considered her answer.

  Lord, please help her find peace about this.

  “I don’t hate her,” Hope finally said. “Lance and I have been praying about Faith and what it might mean to see her and have her here. We both agreed that God must have a plan in it, so there’s a reason it has happened this way.”

  “Adam and I have prayed about it too.”

  Hope met Mercy’s gaze and let go of a long breath. “Bring her to the farm.”

  Chapter

  25

  Arm in arm, Hope and Mercy walked to the house, where Grace anxiously waited. When she saw Mercy, she ran across the lawn to greet her and crushed her in a fierce hug.

  “I feared I’d never see you again.” For several minutes, Grace did nothing but hold her.

  “You’re going to squeeze the life out of her, Grace,” Uncle Edward finally said, coming up behind them.

  Grace released her hold and stepped back. “I’m just so glad you’re all right. I kept worrying that I sent you off to your death.”

  “You didn’t send me anywhere. I’m a grown woman capable of making my own decisions.” Mercy fixed her sister with a look that dared her to refute that statement. Uncle Edward laughed heartily, and even Hope had to smile.

  Grace gave a reluctant nod. “I suppose you are. And married! How could you go off and have a wedding without us?”

  “I knew I’d never hear the end of that.” Mercy crossed her arms. “We exchanged vows on the steamer as the sun set over the ocean. It was very beautiful and romantic, even if we were starving and filthy from the siege.”

  “And you love him?” Grace asked.

  Mercy rolled her eyes. “I think you know me well enough to know I wouldn’t marry for any other reason. Yes, I love him. I love him dearly. He’s all I could ever want in a husband. Kind and considerate, generous and wise, and He loves God.”

  Grace’s expression relaxed. “I’m so glad. When Eletta told me she intended for the two of you to meet and fall in love, I didn’t dare say anything about it.” She put her hand to her mouth with a gasp and then lowered it slowly. “Oh no, I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”

  “Faith already spilled the beans, and it’s all right. I’m glad, in this instance, that someone was planning out my life.”

  Grace glanced toward their uncle. “He said you left Faith and Adam in town. He said there was a very good reason, but he wouldn’t say what it was.” Her green eyes narrowed. “Who’s going to tell me?”

  “I will,” Hope answered. “Mercy wanted to see us first. She wanted me to know that Faith realizes I’m her mother.”

  “What?” Grace looked from one sister to the other. “How?”

  “I’ll explain later,” Hope said. “Given the hour, I’m sure Mercy and Uncle Edward want to get back to town.”

  Mercy glanced at her uncle. “We’ll come back in the morning. Uncle Edward gave us his cabin to use tonight. Tomorrow we’ll come to the farm with everyone, and you can all get to know each other.” She smiled. “I think you’ll be very pleased.”

  The ride back into town was easier on Mercy’s conscience. Now that things were cleared up with Hope, she’d rest much easier that night.

  “I’m glad things went well,” Uncle Edward said as they appr
oached the town.

  “I am too. More than I can say. I never wanted either Faith or Hope hurt in this matter.”

  “I can tell you have something on your mind, though.”

  “I do. I’m praying about it and hope you will as well.”

  He glanced over. “And what is it I’m to pray about?”

  “Hope accepting Faith into her family as her daughter.”

  “I’ll pray God’s will in the matter, but this won’t be easy, no matter the decision.”

  “I know.” A light rain began to fall, and Mercy rubbed her hands together to ward off the damp chill. “I’ve been praying about it a lot already, and I’ll continue to pray. But I think they belong together. They share so much that they don’t even realize.”

  “I’m sure that’s true, Mercy, but you can’t force it.”

  “I won’t. Faith will always have a home with me and Adam, and if Hope needs more time to come to terms with this, then she’ll go on living with us.”

  Uncle Edward looked ahead to the road. “I’ll definitely be praying. Ain’t never known anything that wasn’t made better by prayer.”

  Back in Oregon City, Mina insisted Mercy come inside and eat supper before they returned to the cabin. “I won’t have it said that any of my guests went hungry,” she told Mercy as she served her a plate. “I kept this warm for you.” She straightened and smiled at her husband. “And I kept two plates warm for you.”

  He rubbed his stomach. “Good. I’m starved. All this rescuing of wayward relatives has given me a big appetite.” He sat at the table as Mina went to the kitchen for his food. “Adam, I hope you’re always as happily married as I have been.”

  Adam had taken the seat opposite Mercy. He held a cup of coffee and met Mercy’s gaze with a smile. “I’m sure we will be. We’ve already had so much conflict and trouble that the rest of our lives will be calm and serene.”

  Edward laughed. “If you say so.”

  Mercy looked around the room. “Where’s Faith?”

  “She’s upstairs with the children,” Mina answered. “She’s quite smitten with the baby and Maribelle. In fact, she asked me if she could stay with us tonight. I assured her it was all right with us, but we would have to talk to you and Adam.”

  Mercy shrugged and looked to Adam. He merely raised a brow as though it were entirely up to her. She lost herself for a moment in his eyes. “I’m sure . . .” She shook loose of Adam’s gaze. “I’m sure she’s delighted to be with children again. I think that’s fine. Adam and I can just walk here from the cabin in the morning to collect her, then make our way to the farm.”

  “First you’ll have breakfast with us,” Mina declared. “Then you may go.”

  “You might as well not protest,” Edward threw out. “Mina is used to having her way.”

  There were chuckles all around the table. Mercy sighed happily. It was so good to be with her family again.

  It wasn’t long after that when Faith skipped into the room with Maribelle doing her best to keep up. “Did you ask them?” she questioned Mina in a conspiratorial tone.

  “Did do ask dem?” Maribelle did her best to mimic.

  “I did, and they agreed you could stay,” Mina replied.

  Faith’s face lit up. “Did you hear that, Mari? I get to stay tonight.” The little girl clapped her hands while Faith went to Mercy and nearly choked her with a hug. “Thank you.” She let go, then leaned down to whisper in Mercy’s ear. “Did you tell my first mama about me?”

  “I did.” Mercy touched Faith’s cheek. “She’s looking forward to meeting you tomorrow.”

  Faith’s eyes widened. “Truly?”

  Mercy smiled and nodded. “Truly.”

  An hour later, after bidding her aunt and uncle good night, Mercy looped her arm through Adam’s as they walked back to the cabin. The rain had stopped, but it left a definite chill to the air.

  “I wonder if you’ve realized something,” Adam said after they’d walked nearly half the distance in silence.

  “What?” Mercy snuggled closer.

  “This is our first night alone.”

  She straightened and stopped midstep. She felt her heart skip a beat. “No. I hadn’t even thought of that.”

  He put his arm around her. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about since Mina announced that Faith wanted to stay the night with them.”

  Mercy couldn’t think of anything to say. She wasn’t completely unaware of what this night would mean to them, but she suddenly felt shy.

  He cupped her chin and tilted her face upward. “It’s been worth the wait. Now I have you all to myself, and we have the entire night together.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her.

  For a moment, Mercy forgot all about where they were. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. The warmth of his touch spread like wildfire through her body as the kiss deepened. The wonder of the moment filled her mind with all sorts of thoughts and feelings that until now she’d not allowed herself to consider. Intermingled with those thoughts, however, came the realization that they were kissing in plain sight of anyone who cared to watch.

  She quickly pulled away. “Goodness, you made me forget my upbringing. I won’t have it gossiped that we were spooning and making moon eyes at each other in the middle of Main Street. Let’s go, unless you mean to stay here all night.” She started down the street, doing her best to keep her wits about her. All she could really think about was the man behind her and the love she bore him.

  Adam easily caught up with her and pulled her hand through the crook of his elbow. “You can be a bossy little thing at times.”

  She laughed at his teasing. “Only when I’m determined to have my way.”

  “I see. Well, since our thoughts are obviously leaning in the same direction, I suppose I can overlook it this time.”

  “Are you all right?” Lance asked Hope. “I’ve been worried about you ever since you told me what Mercy had to say.”

  “I’m fine.” She sat looking in the mirror as she combed out her long brown hair. Lance stood behind her with an expression of grave concern. She put the brush down and turned. “Really, I’m fine. I don’t know how things will be tomorrow or what I’ll say to . . . Faith, but I feel strangely at peace.”

  He pulled a chair close and sat down. “As long as you’re sure.”

  She looked past him, fixing her gaze on the bedside lamp. Flickers from the flame caused shadows to dance along the wall. Not far from her bed, Eddie slept soundly in his cradle, while Sean was in the room next door. How she loved her little family. They meant so much to her. Could she risk their happiness by including Faith?

  “I’m not sure about anything except that God is in control of everything, and therefore I have to rest in that and trust Him for the outcome.”

  “I’d do anything to keep you from reliving the pain you went through.” He took her hands. “Anything.”

  She looked into his eyes. “I know you would, and I love you for that. Sometimes I think you’re the only person who truly knows me. We have no secrets, you and I. I can’t say that about anyone else.”

  “I pray you never feel the need to keep things from me.”

  “You’ve seen me at my worst, when I was about to shoot Tomahas. I can’t imagine there could be anything quite so bad after that.”

  “That wasn’t your worst—it was one of your better moments, Hope. You came face-to-face with the man who had killed your friends and taken your innocence, and you didn’t kill him. That took a lot of courage.” He smiled, and for a moment Hope could only sigh.

  “This is going to take even more courage,” she finally whispered. “I want it to happen—I really do. I didn’t want Faith to know who I was just yet, but now it seems wiser that we meet on an even footing. Still, I can’t help worrying about how it might affect our family.”

  “Just remember, nothing has to change unless you want it to. I will support your decision no matter what and never think less of you for
your choice. If you want to raise Faith as our own, I will do that. But if you find you cannot, I will understand and abide by that as well.”

  “Thank you.” Hope stood, and Lance did likewise. She put her arms around his waist. “I love you very much.”

  Lance pulled her close, and Hope laid her head against his chest and listened for the steady beat of his heart. So many times she had done this when she was afraid. It always offered comfort and reassurance.

  “You are my life, Hope. Nothing would make sense in this world without you.”

  Mercy could feel Faith trembling as she presented the child to her extended family. Leaning down, she whispered, “Don’t be afraid. They already love you.” She straightened and smiled. “And this is Faith.”

  Faith looked around the room at the gathering of people and then looked back to Mercy and Adam. “There’s a lot of people. Are they all part of the family?”

  “They are.” Mercy took Faith’s hand and led her to Grace. “This is my sister Grace and her husband, Alex.”

  The couple smiled, and Grace bent down. “I’m very glad to meet you, Faith. These are our children, Gabe and Nancy. Our baby James is sleeping just now, but you can meet him when he wakes up.”

  “I’m five,” Gabe said, coming close. “How old are you?”

  “I’m seven.” Faith sized him up. “Can you read?”

  Gabe nodded. “My mama said it was important to know how to read.”

  “It is. I love to read.”

  Shy Nancy peeked out from behind her brother. She watched Faith with dark eyes that seemed to miss nothing.

  Mercy knelt and held out her arms to Nancy. “Surely you haven’t forgotten me.”

  Nancy considered Mercy for a moment, then skittered behind Alex. She took hold of his leg and peered around him.

  Mercy shook her head. “Well, that’s what I get for going away.”

  “I remember you, Aunt Mercy!” Gabe threw himself at her so quickly that Mercy fell backward and landed with a thud on her backside. Everyone laughed, including Mercy.