Ellie fought back the tears threatening at her words. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Amelia. It means more than you know.” She’d not even been married a week, but doubts and questions of whether or not she should regret her choice continued to crash into her like arrows to armor. She was doing all she could to keep them from penetrating her head and heart,but some days it felt like a fool’s errand. “How…how long before it felt…I don’t know. Normal, I suppose?”
Amelia didn’t speak for a moment, clearly thinking over her answer. “I can’t remember the exact timeline, but I do know within a year I found out I was expecting our oldest, Paul, and I don’t think I’d ever felt so much peace and contentment as I had in that moment. Bertram and I, we didn’t experience the type of love which slammed into you and took your breath away. It was softer, and I had some issues of my own to work through.”
It sounded familiar. “He gave you time? To trust him?”
“He did. My Bertram never pushed me for even a moment, and slowly our love unfolded rather than exploded, if that makes sense. I prefer it that way, to be honest, as it felt like I discovered new things to love about him for years rather than feeling everything all at once. It built a firm foundation for our life, and I thank the Lord for our story daily.”
Louisa had been quiet until then, but she spoke now. “There are marriages of convenience and arrangement all over Scripture, Ellie. In fact, at that time, it was rare to marry for love. The Lord can work in a home built on convenience as easily as He can work in a home built on initial attraction and feelings of love.”
They were right, but what if she couldn’t even bring herself to sleep in the same room as her husband? How could they possibly build a life together? As though Amelia read her thoughts, she nudged Ellie’s shoulder. “I can see the gears turning in your head, Ellie. Don’t underestimate the Lord, but don’t jump ahead of Him either. One day at a time, take one step after another in the Lord’s will, and He’ll take you where you need to go.”
“You know,” Abe said as all four of the present Sutton brothers watched the children run and play with other children from the community. “It feels good to know our kids aren’t any better behaved than any of the others.”
As if to prove his point, Toby Wright tackled his brother, Jimmy, over an apparent foul ball in their baseball game. The two boys came to blows, squarely dirtying their church clothes until their older brother, Byron, broke it up as their mother, Jane, stormed in to read them the riot act.
Isaac chuckled, probably glad for once it wasn’t Austin and Benjamin rolling around in the dirt. “It does feel somewhat validating, doesn’t it?”
As Jane Wright tugged the boys over to their father by their ears, Micah thought back to some of the early days before Louisa arrived. “It feels night and day, doesn’t it?” Ever since the Sutton kids had gotten kicked out of school in town, they’d all felt like outcasts among the rest of the kids in town. Except for Isaac’s three he adopted, they were all orphaned or abandoned, and their behavior issues made sense to anyone with enough empathy to try to understand.
Now, months later, all the Sutton kids had intermingled with children from town. Sophia and Liza played double dutch with some of the girls. The boys were all involved in the baseball game, and Cecily stood with some of the older girls as they talked and giggled about whatever it was girls that age talked and giggled about.
“Louisa’s a miracle worker,” Isaac agreed. “I thank the Lord every day he brought her into our lives. Speaking of the work the Lord’s doing, have you heard anything from Mr. Goddard about heading to California?”
“No,” Micah replied. “He’s still working on the document for the judge based on Judge Coin’s ruling. I don’t know if it’ll make a difference, but it’ll give us our best chance.”
“Do you need any money to pay Goddard’s fees?” Isaac’s question was non-judgemental, and Micah appreciated how quickly his brother had come around from suspicion to support. “The ranch is doing really well this year, and there’s nothing more important than family.”
“I’ve got it for now,” Micah answered. “I think he’s cutting me a deal, honestly, but I haven’t had a problem covering his fees yet.” When Goddard had initially quoted Micah, he’d been shocked at how inexpensive the lawyer’s fees were. It wasn’t until he thought about it more he realized the man had clearly undercut his normal fees in an effort to help them. He appreciated it, but he’d pay wherever he needed if it meant Ellie could get closure.
Jacob chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets as he studied his fiance where she stood with Pastor Jim at the church steps. “You’re welcome to send some of that excess towards the clinic, brother. There’s some equipment Callie would really like to purchase to help her diagnostically, but unfortunately, they’re pricey and require electricity.”
“I heard a rumor at the bank the other day the town council was looking into bringing electricity to Cloverdale,” Abe said. “Lawrence Junction got it recently, so maybe we’ll get it soon too.”
Isaac shook his head. “Can you imagine? I’m not sure the town would know what to do with it. I sure wouldn’t.” Isaac and Micah had always been slower to accept change for the ranch and life in general than Jacob and Abe. It had taken Isaac years to be convinced to utilize barbed wire for his fencing after it had been developed and they’d seen a demonstration at the stockyards, but he’d finally come around last fall.
Their conversation moved from electric lights back to things they did understand - namely cattle. By the time church began, Micah felt a little bit of the tension he hadn’t realized he’d beencarrying lifting at his brother’s offer. It wasn't that he didn't have the money, but knowing his family supported his choice to marry Ellie enough to help cover their legal fees felt like the confirmation he needed.
As the church bells rang to summon them inside, Micah made a beeline for Ellie and took her hand as the group moved toward the steps. “Sunday School looked like it went well.” She was in her element with the children, as happy and relaxed as he ever saw her. “Are you feeling good about the performance?”
“I think it’ll all work out,” she said with the slightest of smirks. “Florence may regret ever asking us to perform, but there will be something on stage.” With that, Micah led them to their seats and placed his arm across the back of the pew behind Ellie and watched her closely. Would she shy away? Instead, she settled in close and nestled into his side in a way that made him feel ten feet tall. Being this woman’s safety, the place she went when she needed reassurance, he prayed he’d never take it for granted.
Chapter Ten
Nearly another week had passed when Ellie, Louisa, and Callie stopped into Rosie’s Cafe on Saturday. “I can’t believe you were able to get away from the clinic,” Louisa said as Rosie’s daughter, Evelyn, seated them. “It feels a little like Christmas.”
The place was adorable, and it was the second time Ellie had been inside though she’d enjoyed their food many times while laid up at the clinic. It had a homey feel while still feeling special, the simple but pretty china and cream lace tablecloths something she wouldn’t experience at home. Grandfather’s dinner table set up had been far more formal, but she’d never actually been allowed to eat there unless there were visitors Grandfather wanted to trot her out for. On occasion he’d play the doting grandfather, but usually it was clearly a matchmaking scheme. He’d passed before he could accept any proposals on her behalf, something Ellie couldn’t find within herself to be sad about.
“I know,” Callie replied. “I feel like I’m there seven days a week, but I honestly don’t mind. One day, I’d like to hire a nurse who can help with after hours patient care, but Jacob does an excellent job with that when I need him to come in.”
“How are things going with balancing his training and your relationship?” Ellie couldn’t imagine trying to do both, especially with the interesting dynamic it would bring with Callie being his boss. Due to a number of circumstances, Jacob wasn’t able to attend medical school back East like Callie had, so he’d enrolled in a correspondence program with a medical school in Buffalo, New York. It required five years of on the job training with a physician, so Callie would be his boss and trainer for years to come.
“It’s been pretty seamless, actually. The Lord has had His hand on us from the beginning. On the job, I’m in charge, and he has enough confidence in himself to allow that to happen. Out of the office or home visits, we’re just Jacob and Callie again.” She smiled, her brown eyes going a little dreamy. “It helps that he’s probably got the knowledge of a second year medical student already and remembers everything I tell him the first time.” With a sigh, Callie blushed. “I can’t believe we’re getting married in April.”
Ellie squealed as softly as she could due to their location. “So you’ve set a date?”
“Yes. Papa’s going to marry us the last Saturday in April at a small family ceremony in the meadow near the church. Then, we’ll all go back to the ranch for a reception.”
“Cecily is thrilled to be helping with the cooking,” Louisa said with a wink. “She’s really come along now that she has the time to devote to things she enjoys. Cooking and baking have become a real passion for her, and Liza often helps as soon as she finishes with school. She takes a little longer than Cecily with her reading and maths, but they’re all coming along so well.”
