Keturah returned his nod as she searched his face. With the strength he had displayed since arriving at the homestead, she was confident that his words held truth. At least, she prayed so. Daniel had handled the blood well, but a needle dipping in and out of his flesh would be another story. She knew from experience. What would she do if he fainted? She forced the thought from her mind, focusing instead on threading the needle.
Keturah closed her eyes and sent a brief prayer heavenward.Lord, please give me a steady hand.“Ready?”
Daniel nodded.
Carefully, she cleaned the salt from the wound and poured her father’s rum over it once more. The second cleaning caused a mild amount of bleeding, though nothing like before. Finally, Keturah put the needle to flesh, ignoring the deep groan from Daniel. She worked her way along the length of the gash, bringing the skin back together and sewing it in place. Blood seeped slowly out as she worked, and she used her free hand to wipe the wound clean with a cloth as she went. Daniel remained quiet but steadfast.
At last, the wound was stitched, and all bleeding ceased. Keturah could breathe again. When she looked her husband in the face, though, a wrinkle marred his brow. “Are ye well?”
The wrinkle disappeared, and he managed a smile for her, his complexion still far too pale. “Of course, I am. Thanks to you.” Daniel leaned close and kissed her cheek.
Keturah smiled as warmth spread up from her neck. Following his lead, she ran her hand along the side of his face. “Yer sure?”
“Yes. It only hurts a little.” Daniel lifted his wounded hand and inspected her sewing job. “Not as much as one would expect.”
“Good. Let us get some stew in ye, an’ then ye should rest.” Keturah stood and went to the hutch for bowls.
A deep chuckle emanated from her husband. “I willnot argue with food or rest, but I really am well. You should not worry so much.”
“But ye lost a great deal of blood.” She ladled soup into a bowl and placed it before him, stopping to feel his forehead. “An’ now we will need to watch ye for infection.”
Daniel took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly. It did little to ease the heavy weight within her middle. What would she do if she and their bairn lost Daniel before the babe was even born?
“How exactly did ye cut yer hand?”
Now that the initial danger had passed and they were filling their bellies with what Keturah salvaged of the stew, Daniel was not surprised she had questions. He glanced down at the puckered skin on the back of his right hand and frowned. The answer was another embarrassing addition to his failures.
“You know, I really am not sure. The knife was going up and away from me. I think it came back down on the back side.” He tried to mimic the motion of his carving to see if the theory held any validity. Truly, how incompetent could he be as a man?
Keturah’s lips twisted into a smile she clearly attempted to conceal. “How did ye manage that?”
Daniel shrugged, grateful for the grin on his wife’sface, even if it was at his expense. She bit her lip, then, and glanced at him as though hiding a secret. “What?” He drew the word out, suddenly curious.
“I wanted to tell ye at the perfect moment. But then ye hurt yerself…”
“Tell me what?”
“Yer to be a father.” Keturah’s hand went to her middle.
The breath left his lungs. “I…I what?” Could it be true?
His wife gave him an encouraging nod even as she chuckled. “I am with child.”
Daniel let out a whoop before he leapt from the table. He pulled Keturah from her place on the bench and twirled her around. “We are going to be parents!”
“Daniel,” Keturah cried as he continued to swirl her about. “Yer goin’ to hurt yer hand!” But even as she protested, giggles emanated from his wife.
Daniel shook his head, but he slowed, drawing Keturah close in dance of the heart. “My hand will be just fine.” Everything was to be much better than fine, and his heart was bursting with the joy of it. He paused. “How soon?”
“How soon?” Keturah’s brow puckered.
“When will the baby be here?”
“Oh!” Her face registered recognition. “I would say in about seven months’ time. So… March.”
Daniel leaned in and gave his wife a deep, heartfelt kiss. This was really happening. He wasto be a father. After all the rejection and loneliness of his life. After the tentative start to this marriage of convenience. To think that love had grown between them, one that had culminated in new life. It was truly a miracle and gift from God.
CHAPTER 11
