Ride The Wild Wind (Time Travel Historical Romance)
Page 34
She told him all about the young man Tani met at a party a year ago on a neighboring ranch, but he wasn’t listening to most of her ramblings. Instead, his attention focused on the milling crowd gathered on the front lawn of the new buildings. There must have been a hundred people already!
Cheers and clapping erupted as they came into view of the guests and Antonio pulled Halle closer to his side. He recognized a few of the physicians they’d met last year while touring the country with their new line of prosthetics—semi-functional and life-like looking hands, moveable legs, and bendable feet. He even picked out some of the patients who’d been treated at the new hospital on the grounds at Rancho de los Santos, nodding to a young man who’d lost a leg in The War and another who’d lost an arm. Both appeared to be doing exceptionally well.
“Speech, speech, speech,” the crowd chanted as they approached the newly erected stage.
Taking Halle’s hand in his, they scaled the five steps and faced the crowd in front of the podium decorated with bright red and blue ribbons. The chanting, whistling and clapping slowly ceased.
“Thank you for coming today,” Antonio called out. “It is good to see so many familiar faces as well as new ones. Many of you have traveled a long way and we appreciate your support and your interest in our new hospital. Today is truly a special day for everyone here, a new beginning.” He glanced over at Halle, who was positively radiant, her jet hair pinned up in curls, her expressive brown eyes filled with love.
“This hospital and recovery center at Rancho de los Santos is proud to unveil the new prosthetics line, which would not be possible today without the foresight, creativity, and dedication of my right-hand woman, my beautiful wife, Halle Brooks de los Santos.”
More cheers, whistles and applause erupted. As he gazed at Halle, his heart swelled with love as he thought of the hardships they’d endured to reach this point in time. Loved ones they’d been forced to leave behind…the memory of his baby daughter, Mariposa.
All were with him today in his heart.
Turning back to the crowd he said, “When my wife and I discussed building the hospital and recovery home for those who’d lost limbs, we also decided that no man, woman, or child of any color, religion, or financial circumstance would be turned away. We wanted the center to be a healing place, where people could come to find hope for the future and eventually return to living productive lives again.”
The crowd clapped and cheered again.
Lukachukai stepped up to the podium and presented Antonio with a pair of shiny new scissors. He handed a bottle of chilled and partially uncorked champagne to Halle.
“My wife, my family, and I thank you for coming to celebrate the grand opening of our new hospital. Leaning forward, he poised the scissors, ready to cut the ribbon. He glanced at Halle and whispered, “On the count of three I’ll cut the ribbon and you uncork the champagne.”
“Wait, Father! I must get back to Tani and Diego. We will ready the fireworks.” Lukachukai clattered down the steps.
“Our family is proud to name this hospital and recovery home…Mariposa.” His throat constricted. “The name...” He paused and drew in a steadying breath. “The name means butterfly in Spanish, a symbol of miraculous change and transformation.”
And in memory of my infant daughter.
The crowd clapped. He felt Halle’s small hand slip into his free one, her dainty fingers twining with his. Momentarily she gave a gentle squeeze and she gazed up at him and nodded, giving him the courage to continue.
“Our wish, mine and my lovely wife’s, is that Mariposa Hospital, will transform lives.” Holding in a breath, he snipped the red and blue ribbon. The crowd roared, tossing confetti high into the air. The band struck up a lively tune and folks began dancing on the lawn. Turning, he watched Halle uncork the bottle of champagne. White foam billowed and spewed from the dark bottle. But on the horizon, Antonio caught sight of a dark cloud stealthily moving in their direction.
Shading his eyes against the glare of the afternoon sun, he squinted, trying to make out what appeared to be a swarm of small birds, or perhaps locusts. Odd for this time of year.
“Lukachukai, Diego!” he called over his shoulder. “Hold the fireworks.”
Several people in the crowd must have noticed the slow moving swarm too, for pointing and shouting began. The music ceased and a hush fell over the group. Halle clutched at his arm.
“Bats?”
“Unlikely at this time of day.”
Lukachukai and Diego charged up the podium steps. “What is it, shizhee? Birds?” Lukachukai asked.
Antonio stared. “I don’t know, son. I cannot recall ever seeing anything such as this.”
Tani brought baby Lily and Lucy and Rosa arrived with Jesse and Kate at her side. Within moments the clear blue sky above grew thick and dark, obscured by a fluttering, whirring blanket of black and orange.
Butterflies. Thousands of butterflies!
The children cheered, but the crowd, subdued and awed, murmured in hushed tones amongst each other.
They were in the path of the Monarch butterfly’s northward migration.
As Halle leaned into him, Antonio slipped his arm around her shoulder. “A sign,” he muttered, absently.
“From Mariposa,” she added.
He blinked hard, fighting back tears as he hugged Halle close, the woman he loved more than life itself. The one who’d believed him during his darkest days, even when he had lost faith in himself.
She squeezed his hand. “They say that the ones we love are never far from us.”
“I believe that now.” He gazed down at her, nearly choking on his words. “Do you feel her presence?”
“Yeah, it’s kind of like she’s saying she approves of what you’ve done, how much she loves you for honoring her memory with the hospital.”
They continued to gaze skyward with the children in amazement as thousands of orange and black winged butterflies made their way across a blue, cloudless February sky.
THE END
About the Author
Kimberly Ivey is a multipublished, award-winning author of digital and print romance novels and over four hundred short nonfiction articles. She teaches creative writing at her local college, presents workshops at writing conferences and to groups, and lives with her husband, children and pets in Texas. She loves hearing from her readers. You may email at: kimberlyivey2@aol.com or visit her blog at www.kimberlyivey.blogspot.com
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