Before anybody could get to him, Ezra cocked the gun, swung around, aimed it at Luke, and pulled the trigger. All this happened within a split second, but it was enough for Madelaine to jump right in front of Luke.
Luke watched in horror as Madelaine was spun around when the bullet hit her.
***
“How is she?” Timothy asked as he walked into the room where Madelaine had been lying in bed for two days. Luke hadn’t left her side since he’d brought her here.
“She hasn’t woken up yet,” Luke said. His voice sounded as rough as he felt.
“I am so sorry…” Timothy began, but Luke held up his hand to stop him. He didn’t need to hear his apology. Timothy had apologized hundreds of times, and Luke knew that this hadn’t been his fault.
“Just… don’t,” he said. “If God allows it, she will pull through.”
Luke heard Timothy’s retreating footsteps, then the closing door.
Leaning over Madelaine, he brushed her hair out of her face, even though she hadn’t moved. He felt useless and couldn’t really do anything to help the situation. Dr. McPhearson had reassured him that her wound wasn’t fatal and that with good wound care, all she needed was rest so her body could recover on its own, but so far, nothing had happened.
Luke was close to losing hope, but this time, he didn’t want to lose his faith again, too. He needed Madelaine, and he needed God. He took both of her hands into his and began to pray. He’d been praying for her almost the entire time. He’dtalked to her, even shouted at her to wake up. None of it had worked, but he kept trying.
“Heavenly Father, please don’t take her from me,” he said, desperately. “I beg of You! Heaven doesn’t need another angel right now; Belle and Simon need her here, so please make her wake up. Bring her back to me, please! She is all I have…”
He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he felt a twitch of her hand. Staring down at her dainty fingers, he willed them to move, but they didn’t. Choking on a sob, he put his hand down and gave in to his tears. He couldn’t take it.
Suddenly, he felt something touch his hair. When he looked up, Madelaine’s fingers were resting on his head. Straightening, he scooted closer and stared at her face.
“Madelaine? Are you there?” he called out to her. “Madelaine, please wake up!”
Her eyes fluttered, and when she finally opened them, Luke’s heart seemed to flood over. He cried openly, grabbing her hands, kissing them over and over again.
“Thank You, God! Thank You Lord in Heaven! Thank You!” he called up to the ceiling, and Madelaine smiled.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Peterson Ranch
Early spring, 1871
Sitting out on the porch, enjoying one of the first warmer days this year, Madelaine smiled as she watched Simon, Belle, and Buster run around the garden, chasing each other. She inhaled deeply, trying to pick up the scent of the very first wildflowers, peeking through small leftover patches of melting snow. The season was most certainly changing, and she loved every second of it.
Mrs. Keagan came out carrying a small tray with a pot of tea and several cups, while Evelyn brought out a small plate with freshly baked cookies. It was the middle of the afternoon, and all was peaceful and quiet.
Setting down the tray, Mrs. Keagan beamed at her, while Evelyn walked over to the children, asking them if they wanted a cookie. Simon ran back to the porch, cheering loudly, while Belle nodded with a big smile, walking toward Evelyn with her arms stretched out.
“Oh, it’s so wonderful to have you back home, Maddie,” Mrs. Keagan exclaimed, and Madelaine instantly got emotional again. They’d come back here a little over a week ago, and it had been quite surreal to finally be back at her ranch, in her ownhome, seeing all the familiar faces again. Wiping away a tear that threatened to escape the corner of her eye, Madelaine responded in kind, gifting the loyal woman with the warmest smile.
“I have missed it more than you can imagine,” she said as Mrs. Keagan busied herself, filling a cup with tea before adding a spoonful of sugar and handing it to her. Evelyn held out the plate with cookies, and Madelaine picked one for herself before she broke it apart and shared it with Belle, who eagerly climbed onto her lap.
“So, will you finally tell me everything that happened?” Mrs. Keagan asked excitedly as she filled another cup and added another spoonful of sugar before handing it to Evelyn. “You two have been keeping secrets for much too long,” Mrs. Keagan said to Evelyn with a knowing grin. “I need to hear a happy story.”
Evelyn nodded, but instead of speaking, she bit into a cookie.
“Which part are you most interested in?” Madelaine asked with a mischievous smile.
“All of it!” Mrs. Keagan exclaimed. “How did you meet your new husband—the sheriff? And why did you run away? And how did you capture Phineas? So much has happened! I am about to burst with all the curiosity I’ve been harboring,” she said, giggling, and all the women laughed.
“Just tell me what happened. Anything will do,” Mrs. Keagan said, her eyes wide as she sat down with a big sigh, blowing over the tea she’d just poured for herself to cool it a little.
“Luke saved me, quite literally,” Madelaine began, handing Belle another small piece of cookie. “After that day when Phineas locked Belle in that cold room, threatening me to make me marry him… I had to run away to find help.”
