Surprised by Love by Susan Lowenberg

Author:Susan Lowenberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC

Catherine knelt on the floor with a basin of warm water and washed the blood and dirt from Stephen’s swollen foot. “Did you see anyone from the boat?” she asked without looking up.

“I wasn’t in any condition to hobble down the trail to the shore, and I didn’t wait around for them to come up and say hello. Ouch!” he yelled as he jerked his foot out of her hands.

“I think it may be broken. Maybe you should see the hospital nuns tomorrow. They could do something for it. I’ll go with you and help you walk.”

“I managed to walk here by myself. Besides, all the nuns would do is wrap it, and I can do that much. I’m sure it is only a sprain.” He grimaced as he tried the point-and-flex test again.

Catherine dried her hands on her apron and stood. “Let me wrap it, then,” she said as she disappeared behind the cloth partition. Stephen heard a snip, then a ripping sound, another snip and more ripping. After a few minutes Catherine returned with a handful of pale blue cloth strips.

“Catherine, that was your dress. Why did you rip your blue dress?”

“Your foot needs to be wrapped,” she said plainly.

“But your dress; it’s not as if there is fabric to spare in Quebec. You may not see another piece of fabric or a new dress for a year.”

“Please, hold your foot still.” She gently placed it in her lap. “I have other dresses. It is nothing to even make note of.”

Stephen watched her as she worked the soft blue cloth around his foot and ankle. She rarely displayed tenderness toward Stephen, but there was caring and gentleness in the way she tended him. He wondered when she was going to bring up the subject of returning to France or mention that she still loved Gaston.

“There,” she said as she looked up. Stephen saw her glance at his cheek, and he instinctively put his hand to it. She looked back down at his blue wrapped foot and cleared her throat. “You were dreaming again last night.”

Stephen continued to look at her.

“I’ve heard you moan in your sleep many times. Last night you were calling out. You looked so scared.”

Stephen felt his face redden and then pale. He was confused with the softness of her voice and fearful of her discovery of his restless nights.

“Are you afraid of something?” she asked.

“No, I am not afraid of anything. If I was dreaming as you say, then I don’t remember it,” he lied. “All I know is that I must have scratched myself accidentally.” He leaned back in the chair and carefully lifted his foot from Catherine’s lap and set it on the floor.

“Stephen, you were calling out. You said, ‘Forgive me,’ over and over. Forgive what?”

“As you said, I was dreaming. I told you I don’t remember anything.”

“You’re lying, Stephen.” She stood, gazing down at him. “I am neither blind nor stupid. I have seen how you act some mornings. You are pale, like you are right now.

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