Oregon Dreams by Rachel Wesson

Author:Rachel Wesson [Wesson, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-05-04T05:00:00+00:00

Johanna was giving Sheila another bath with the mint tea. Johanna hummed as she rubbed Sheila down.

“I like that song,” Sheila mumbled.

“Do you want a drink?”

Sheila nodded. Johanna held her up while she drank.

“How is Gracie?”

Johanna looked away. She didn’t want to upset Sheila but she wasn’t about to lie either.

“Tell me.”

“She says she wants to be with Joey. She won’t even try to fight the illness.”

“Poor Gracie. And Joey.” Tears ran out of the corners of Sheila’s eyes.

“Sheila don’t cry, please. You’ll set me off.”

“You are so strong, Johanna, caring for all of us like this. Thank you.”

Sheila fell back asleep. Johanna eased back on her ankles about to stand up when she felt a strong arm at her side.

“You need a break.”

Rick more or less marched Johanna away from the sick tents to a clearing near the river. There he had laid out a blanket with some food and some water.

“You can’t do anyone any good if you get sick. You need to eat something and you need to rest.”

“But what about…”

“Taken care of. Mrs. Freeman, Eva and your ma have it in hand.”

“But Ma is weak.”

“Your ma has recovered and is worried about you. Let her help. You will ease her mind. And mine.”

Johanna smiled at him gratefully. She wasn’t hungry but her whole body yearned for sleep.

“I know you are tired and you can sleep in a minute but first eat this. It will keep your strength up. You cannot fall ill just as everyone else in getting better.

“Not everyone. Gracie isn’t.”

“Gracie doesn’t want to. You can’t change that.”

“But I can’t just let her die.”

“You are not God, Jo. You have to let Him do what he decides is best. You have done your utmost to help everyone. Now you have to have the strength to accept what comes next.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“Yes, I do.”

“But what about Sarah? She had given up too.”

“Sarah is a child. Gracie is a young woman. It’s different. Sarah has her whole life to live for. Gracie believes hers is over.”

“But she may meet someone else.”

“She might but she could spend the rest of her life missing Joey. Either way it’s not our decision to make. Is there anything you could have done differently for Gracie?”

Johanna shook her head.

“Then that’s what you must remember. No matter what happens, you did your best and that is all you could do. Now eat and then sleep.”

“But…”

“You know I sympathize with your father,” he interrupted her gently. “You are a very stubborn woman.”

She was about to argue when he kissed her fiercely. “Eat. I can’t bear the thought of losing you. Not now. Not ever.”

He held her closely for a moment as if trying to pour his strength into her.

“Eat, please. Just a little. For us.”

“Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?” She said the words playfully, but her eyes mirrored the love in his.

“I believe I love you, Miss Thompson.”

“I love you too, Mr. Hughes.”

This time she kissed him.

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