Montana Hearts

by Charlotte Carter

  Toby squirmed in his seat. “Beth told me Mervyn the Monster would eat me if I didn’t come pray for Sarah. I didn’t believe her, but I came anyway.”

  The boy lifted his shoulders in a “no big deal” gesture. Kurt knew the truth; it was the biggest kind of deal a nine-year-old macho kid could muster.

  As he left the church, stepping out into the sunlight, Kurt marveled at the impact Sarah had made on the townspeople in a few short weeks, the friends that she had made.

  He shouldn’t be surprised, he realized. In the same short period of time, he’d been thrown, as though by a bucking bronco, all the way to his knees in love with her.

  Now he had to figure out how to convince her that they were meant to be together. If she recovered from this “small setback” as she called her body rejecting her heart.

  As he drove to the ranch, he noticed the rainstorm had awakened the landscape, tinting the grass green in nature’s rebirth of life.

  Rebirth for Sarah was his prayer.

  For the next three days, Kurt rose early to do his chores. Without being asked, both Beth and Toby helped out, and Grace came around to be with the kids when Kurt went to the hospital.

  Every day after Kurt visited Sarah in ICU, he went by the church to pray. Every day someone else was there praying for Sarah. He finally asked Grace about that.

  “They’ve set up a vigil for Sarah,” Grace explained.

  “Friends signed up in shifts from six in the morning until nine at night. Almost everybody in town is taking a turn. They did that for Zoe, too.”

  Kurt hadn’t known that. He’d been in Seattle, hospitalized himself for several days, then at Zoe’s bedside until he’d made the final decision to let her go.

  The fact that so many others had been praying for her both awed and humbled him.

  Now they were doing the same for Sarah.

  Would the Lord hear their prayers this time?

  On the fourth morning, Kurt headed up the stairs to the second floor of the hospital and walked directly to ICU.

  The nurse shook her head. “She’s not here.”

  His stomach took a plunge. Not here? Dear God…He swallowed painfully before he could speak. “What happened?” She’d looked much better yesterday. He’d hoped…

  Instead of her usual stoic, all-business expression, a smile enlivened the nurse’s face, making her suddenly look beautiful. “The doctor had Sarah moved to a regular room early this morning. Room 211. She’s going to make it.”

  He would have sent up a cheer louder than the fans at the end of a championship football game but his lungs had compressed on a huge sigh of relief. The room spun crazily. He put out his hand to steady himself.

  “Can I see her?” he finally asked.

  “I suspect she’s been waiting for you all morning.”

  He whirled and hurried down the hallway. He almost lost his balance when he turned sharply into room 211 and had to abruptly halt. Sitting up in bed, Sarah was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. She’d combed her hair and put on some lip gloss. But it was her naturally rosy cheeks and the sparkle in her blue eyes that told him what he needed to know.

  She wasn’t going to die.

  He stepped farther into the room, his focus entirely on Sarah. “Hi, gorgeous.”

  She chuckled. “You probably say that to all the girls.”

  “I’ve never meant it more in my life.” When she held out her hand, he took it and bent over to kiss her lips.

  “The whole town’s been praying for you.”

  Raising her brows, she said, “The whole town?”

  “Pretty much. They set up a vigil for you, including Grace and the kids.” He drew a breath. “And me.”

  She squeezed his hand and tears formed in her eyes. “Thank you.”

  “I don’t know whose prayer worked, but somebody’s did. You’re going to be all right.”

  “God was listening, Kurt. He heard you.”

  Maybe Kurt wasn’t one hundred percent sure about that but he intended to keep on praying. Hard.

  “So the remaining question is, when is Dr. Trevor going to let you out of this place so you can come home?”

  “He wants to keep me here a day or two to make sure I’m stable.”

  Two days. Kurt could wait that long, although he’d be counting the hours.

  “Can the kids come visit you now? They don’t let children into ICU.”

  “Of course. I’d love to see them. Grace, too. Maybe she could pick out some clothes for me to wear when I’m released. Oh, and I really need my cell phone. Tricia Malone, the young lady I told you about who’s handling my business this summer, must think I’ve dropped off the end of the earth by now.”

  The reminder that Sarah had a home somewhere else and a business of her own stuck in Kurt’s throat like he’d swallowed a rusty nail. He had the urge to find her cell and stomp it into little pieces.

  Conscious of every steady beat of her heart, of every cleansing breath she drew, Sarah waited the next day for Kurt and his family to visit her.

  She’d had her breakfast and a refreshing shower. Though she was weak from so many days in bed, she knew each day she’d regain a little more strength. Soon she’d be taking long walks again.

  In Sweet Grass Valley? Or in Seattle?

  She heard Beth hushing her brother out in the hallway before Kurt arrived at the door to her room.

  “Hope you’re decent,” he said, grinning. “Because I’m going to have a small riot on my hands if the kids can’t see you.”

  Her heart fluttered in a very nice way. She sat up straighter in her bed. “Bring ’em on!”

  Kurt stepped aside, replaced by Beth, who was carrying a large vase filled with cut flowers. She smiled shyly from the doorway. “Hi.”

  “The flowers are beautiful.”

  “Dad bought them for you but he said to tell you they’re from all of us.”

  “Then I thank all of you.” Especially Kurt, who was grinning like mischievous boy who’d just pulled a prank on everyone. “Is a ‘hi’ all I get from you, Beth?” Sarah opened her arms. “How about a hug?”

  Still hesitant, the girl came closer and put the flowers on the bed table. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t, I promise.”

  Leaning forward, Beth put her arms around Sarah, who hugged her back. Stiff at first, Beth finally relaxed enough to give her a proper hug.

  “I was so scared,” Beth whispered, her head next to Sarah’s.

  “I was, too. But I’m okay now.” She patted Beth’s back and stroked her blond ponytail.

  Sniffing as though fighting tears, Beth said, “I prayed for you to get better.”

  The girl’s admission touched Sarah deeply. She knew how hard it had been for Beth to lose her mother. Sarah’s relapse could have broken her spirit. She was grateful to God that it hadn’t. “Looks like your prayers worked, honey. Thank you.”

  “I prayed, too.” Toby stood on the opposite side of the bed.

  “Well, thank you, Toby. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your prayers. Sounds like the Ryder family has been keeping the Lord busy lately.”

  The boy grinned. “Look who I brought along.” Growling, he showed Sarah his Mervyn the Monster dummy. “Why do gorillas have big nostrils?”

  Sarah choked back a laugh. “My goodness, I don’t know why gorillas have big nostrils.”

  “Don’t ask,” Beth said. “It’s really gross.”

  Toby ignored his sister. “Because gorillas have big fingers.”

  Beth groaned. So did Sarah, but she laughed, too. “Good one, Toby.” Just gross enough to be perfect for a nine-year-old boy. “Dr. Zoom will have to remember that one.”

  “He’s told that joke so many times in the past twenty-four hours,” Kurt said standing at the foot of her bed,

  “that we’ve all memorized it and are dreaming about gorillas in our sleep.”

  Grace had slipped into the room last and was putting som
e clothes in the narrow closet provided for the patients. That was a favor Sarah hadn’t been able to ask of Kurt. One serious kiss and a couple of pecks on the cheek didn’t mean their relationship had progressed that far.

  “I brought you a nightgown, too.” Grace didn’t look at Sarah as she spoke, instead she opened the drawer below the closet to put away the gown. “I’m sure you hate wearing those drafty hospital gowns as much as I do.”

  “Thank you, Grace. I know…” Sarah didn’t quite know what to say. Clearly, Grace more than the others had wanted to believe a part of Zoe had come back to her. Learning that Sarah’s new heart had belonged to someone else must have caused her to grieve for her daughter all over again. “I’m sorry,” she finally said.

  Grace closed the drawer and looked up. “No need to be sorry, child. I’m a silly old woman who had trouble letting go of Zoe. I’ve made my peace with the Lord now.” She glanced at Kurt. “I think we all have.”

  Kurt hooked his arm around his mother-in-law’s shoulders. “We’re getting there, aren’t we kids?”

  Tears of gratitude flooded Sarah’s eyes, and she wiped them away.

  Kurt visibly took a breath and cleared his throat. He pulled her cell phone from his shirt pocket and put it on the bed table beside the flowers. “So when does the doctor say you can escape this place?”

  “Tomorrow, assuming I continue to do well.”

  “You will.” Coming from Kurt, the words sounded like an order. “I’ll be here first thing in the morning.”

  “Not too early.” She laughed at his determined expression. “Dr. Trevor will have to sign my discharge papers before they’ll release me.”

  “No problem. If he doesn’t show up by noon, I’ll just kidnap you.”

  Toby cheered. Beth and Grace seemed delighted with his plan, too.

  But what would happen next? The end of summer was quickly approaching, the time for her to return to Seattle. How could Sarah ever leave this family that she’d come to know and love? How could she leave Kurt?

  She squeezed her eyes shut. Somehow she’d have to trust the Lord and leave the answer up to Him.

  After they all left to go back to the ranch, Sarah checked her cell phone and discovered she’d had several messages from Tricia in Seattle. She punched in her business number.

  Tricia answered on the second ring. “Puget Sound Business Services.”

  “Hi, Tricia. It’s me.”

  “Sarah! Thank goodness you called.” Her voice rose in excitement. “I’ve been worried about you.”

  “Sorry to be so out of touch.” Sarah had been checking in with Tricia at least once a week until she’d fallen ill, though she had complete confidence her friend wouldn’t have any problem handling the workload. “I did have a small setback, but I’m fine now. How’s it going with you?”

  “Great. Everything is under control here. I’m getting to know some of your clients pretty well, and they’re really nice people. They always ask about you and how you’re doing.”

  Thinking of the small-business clients she’d worked with for so many years, she smiled. “Tell them ‘hi’ from me.”

  “Will do. And the best news of all…” Tricia paused for effect. “I passed the CPA exam!”

  “Whoo-hoo! Congratulations! I never doubted for minute that you’d nail that exam.”

  “Then you were more confident than I was. What a monster.”

  “So what are your plans?” Sarah asked.

  “I’d sent my resume to a bunch of places and had a few interviews. I got a really good offer, too.” She named one of the most prestigious accounting firms in the city.

  “Wow, you’re going big-time. Did you accept?”

  “I did but I told them I couldn’t start until September first.”

  The date Sarah was supposed to be back in Seattle for her three-month doctor’s appointment and to take over her business again. “Were they okay with that?”

  “They said fine, although earlier would be better. It’s a great opportunity for me.” Tricia laughed. “But it’s a huge company with offices all across the country. I’ll be just one of about a dozen junior CPAs in the Seattle office trying to scramble up the promotion ladder, and that could mean transfers to other cities as time goes on.”

  “I’m betting you’ll be the smartest and work the hardest of all of them.” Sarah wanted the best for Tricia. Raised by a single mother, she’d put herself through school and achieved outstanding grades.

  “It does seem like a dream come true, and the money is great. Anyone would be dumb to pass up a chance like that, wouldn’t they?”

  Not wanting to unduly influence her friend, Sarah hedged her answer. “You’re the only one who can answer that, Tricia.”

  “Great. Now you’re sounding like my mother.”

  They chatted for a few more minutes, then Sarah hung up. She’d had a dream when she came to Sweet Grass Valley—to find a way to help the donor family whose courage and compassion had given her a new heart. She’d failed that mission.

  And somewhere along the way, her dream had changed.

  She didn’t know yet if her new dream would come true.

  Or what would happen to her business clients if her new dream came true and she didn’t return to Seattle. Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to leave them totally in the lurch.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The hot summer day and the scent of sage drifting in from the prairie mixing with car exhaust in the hospital parking lot spelled freedom for Sarah.

  A woman in her sixties who wore a royal-blue hospital volunteer jacket had brought her downstairs in a wheelchair while Kurt went to get the truck. Sarah carried her vase of flowers in her lap.

  The volunteer stood beside her, one hand resting on the back of the wheelchair. “Now, you take your time getting your strength back before bringing Dr. Zoom in to see the children again.”

  “I will.” She’d walked down the corridor to pediatrics yesterday afternoon, peeking inside the rooms, and was very much looking forward to getting back to entertaining them again.

  “The youngsters surely have enjoyed having you come visit.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I’m able,” she said as Kurt pulled the truck up next to the curb.

  He hopped out of the truck and came around to the passenger side. “I tried to rent a chariot with six white horses but they were all out of them today.”

  “Your truck will be just fine.” Chuckling, she handed the flowers to the volunteer and started to stand up. Before she knew what was happening, Kurt had scooped her up into his arms.

  She squealed. “You don’t have to carry me.”

  “You may have entered the hospital on a gurney, but the least I can do is carry you out.” With the ease of a man who was used to bulldogging calves for a living, he placed her on the passenger seat. He reached back to retrieve the flowers from the volunteer and gave them to Sarah.

  “I’m not an invalid, you know.”

  “Maybe not. But I intend to take very good care of you.”

  She mentally groaned. Kurt was going to be more overprotective than her mother had been. Sarah would have to do something about that. She hated being coddled.

  He drove away from the front of the hospital building, went about fifty feet and stopped, shifting the truck into Park.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Nothing.” He turned toward her, cupped her face with his calloused hand and brought his lips down on hers. He tasted of the warmth of Montana, the heat that had been trapped in the cab of his truck.

  Her heart responded with a heavy beat and she ached for him to hold her, not just for this kiss but forever.

  With her hand, she caressed his smooth-shaven cheek, his square jaw, memorizing the rugged angles and planes of his face, features she would always remember.

  He broke the kiss. His eyes had darkened almost to black. “I don’t know about you, but I feel a whole lot better now.”

  She wasn
’t sure better was how she felt. But she certainly felt more alive than at any other time in her life.

  Thank You, Lord.

  A half hour later, they drove beneath the arch announcing they had arrived at the Rocking R Ranch. A feeling of homecoming soothed Sarah and she welcomed the sense of relief that she had survived the threat of organ rejection. She knew that her situation had, at one point, been touch and go, though she wouldn’t reveal that to Kurt and his family.

  Not for a moment did she doubt the many prayers that had been said for her, including Kurt’s, had tipped the balance toward recovery.

  Buds on the climbing rosebushes she and Beth had planted by the gazebo had blossomed and the sunflowers looked like they’d grown a foot in the week she’d been gone. The heads of brightly colored zinnias beckoned in a light breeze.

  Kurt stopped the truck near the front porch, which surprised Sarah. Usually he parked by the barn.

  Rather than risk having him carry her inside, she got out of the truck as quickly as she could. She didn’t want the children to think of her as an invalid anymore than she wanted Kurt to.

  His eyebrows shot up when he discovered she had gotten out on her own. He took the vase of flowers from her. “You’re going to be stubborn, aren’t you?”

  “It’s one of my finest attributes.” Chiding him with a smile, she fluffed the tips of her hair in a flirtatious gesture.

  “Impish today, are we?” Scowling, he took her elbow to help her up the steps. He had a stubborn streak, too.

  Opening the door, he let her step inside first.

  Beth, Toby and Grace greeted her with a shout. “Welcome home!” A homemade WELCOME HOME, SARAH! banner in red letters on white butcher paper was strung across the living room. A dozen red-and-white balloons bobbed above two baskets filled with matching carnations.

  “Oh, my!” Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth in surprise. Heat burned her cheeks. She turned to Kurt. “Look what they’ve done.”

  He rested his hand on her shoulder. “Guess you could say they’re glad to have you back. We all are.”

  “I’m glad, too. More than you could possibly know.” She gave the children hugs, Grace, too. “Thank you. All of you.”