Mystic Montana Sky by Debra Holland

Author:Debra Holland
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781503936751
Published: 2016-06-27T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

As the week went on, Maggie’s bruises faded, and her ankle mended enough that she could hobble to the bathroom on her own. She still had nightmares every night. Each time, Caleb would hear her cry out and climb on top of the covers, taking her in his arms, chasing away the demon named Oswald, and making her feel safe. In the morning, she’d awaken alone and missing him.

The secret of their nights followed her around during the light of day, even though neither referred to that time together. Yet it showed in the ease between them, the way the touch of his hand on her arm or back—conventional to any onlookers—conveyed a silent intimacy.

Often Maggie had to chastise herself for allowing her dependency on Caleb to grow, instead of weaning herself from him—especially if he had feelings for Delia Bellaire. Even though she warned herself that this time with him wouldn’t last—that if she came to care for Caleb too much, she’d suffer when she left the Livingston residence to forge a life on her own with Charlotte, Maggie couldn’t seem to make herself stop.

Every day, members of the Norton family called on her. Sometimes the elder Reverend Norton came with his wife or alone. Other times Mrs. Norton and Delia Bellaire came together, or Reverend Joshua dropped by alone or with either one.

Mrs. Cameron visited with her small son Craig, who was starting to crawl. The two of them had indulged in lovely discussions about their babies. In many ways, Mrs. Cameron reminded Maggie of Mrs. Tisdale, both women having a great deal of common sense and a practical knowledge of medical matters, especially concerning babies.

In the evenings after Ben’s homework was done, everyone gathered in her bedroom. Ben started teaching Maggie how to play chess, while Edith and Caleb vied for holding Charlotte. Caleb usually won the argument, pointing out that his sister had time with the baby during the day while he was at the bank.

On Saturday morning after breakfast, Edith entered Maggie’s bedroom carrying a linen-wrapped bundle tied with white satin ribbon. “I have something for Charlotte to wear tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? Maggie wasn’t sure what Edith meant.

“The christening.”

Maggie hadn’t given Charlotte’s christening any thought, having fallen out of the habit of weekly church attendance. In Morgan’s Crossing, the christening wouldn’t have taken place until one of Reverend Joshua’s monthly visits and might have been lumped in with any other event, such as a marriage or a funeral.

She shifted the baby to one arm so she could take the bundle. One-handedly, she untied the ribbon and opened the linen covering to see a lacy baptismal gown and bonnet in soft ivory. The bodice had embroidery and delicate tucks, and lace edged the sleeves, hem, and collar. The bonnet matched. “Oh, these are beautiful.”

“My mother made them when Caleb was a baby. I wore them and so did Ben.”

Maggie’s eyes filled with tears. She tried to sniff them away and when that didn’t work, she swiped the back of her hand across her eyes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.