Chapter Thirteen
The pain was immense, unlike anything Regina had ever experienced before. It rolled over her like a stampede of horses, knocking her breath out of her lungs. She didn’t know what was happening or why she felt the way she did. All she knew was that she needed it to stop.
She opened her eyes and saw Jake sitting beside the bed.
“What’s wrong with me?” she whispered. “And why are you in my bedroom? My mother would have a fit if she knew you were in here.”
Jake smiled. “You had your appendix out,” he replied. “And I hope your mother would understand, given the circumstances.”
“My appendix?” Regina tried to lift her head, but it was so heavy. “I had an operation?”
“Yes, you did,” came a new voice. Regina turned her head to see a pretty young woman with long braids standing next to the bed. “Are you in pain?”
“I’m in so much pain, I can’t even think. Is . . . is that a rooster on top of my dresser?”
“Yes. His name is Bob, and I’m Hannah,” the young woman replied. “I have a dose of laudanum for you. It will help with the pain.”
Regina swallowed what was offered her, then turned her gaze back to Jake. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered before she fell asleep again.
***
The next time Regina woke up, she heard voices downstairs—many, many voices. Jake was still in the room, but he was asleep in the chair next to the bed. The rooster was gone—that was a good sign. It meant she wasn’t hallucinating anymore.
As soon as she moved, Jake sat up straight. “Are you all right? What do you need?”
“What’s going on downstairs? Why is it so noisy?”
Jake grinned. “Well, today was going to be your grand opening. Ariadne got all the tea cakes ready, and you both worked hard to make things look nice, and the ladies of Creede decided they would help you throw the grandest opening there has ever been. Vivian is passing around samples of tea, Millie is serving tea cakes, Ariadne is baking even more cakes because she ran out, and there’s a line of people going down the street waiting their turn to come in.”
“What? But the people here don’t drink much tea,” Regina said.
“They don’t, but they heard what happened to you, and they want to support you,” Jake said. “Now, Hannah showed me how to give you your next dose of laudanum. Are you ready for it now, or should we wait?”
“Now, please,” Regina replied. The pain wasn’t quite as bad as it had been before, but she still couldn’t breathe without wanting to cry.
“All right. Here you go.” He brought the teaspoon to her lips.
Before she drifted off, she heard him say, “I love you, Regina Stoker. Sleep well.”
***
It was three days before Regina could be awake for long periods of time without feeling as though the hounds of death were nipping at her heels. She wouldn’t be allowed to get up for another week, but she could recline on a few pillows and receive visitors. One of her first was Millie Bing.
“Millie, thank you so much for helping the shop open,” she said, holding out a hand to her friend. “I wish I’d been there to see it—it sounds like it was wonderful.”
“It was my pleasure. And the tea is a success! Ariadne was helping three customers when I passed through just now.”
“I’m so glad to hear it. And thank you for the idea. You gave us hope and a direction when we didn’t have either.”
Millie looked a little sheepish. “The idea just came into my head. I really can’t take credit for it.”
“Be that as it may, thank you.”
Other ladies came—Vivian, Mrs. Crowther, a new friend named Julianne Fontaine. So many people wanted to wish Regina well that she had to start sending them away so she could sleep. It felt good to have so much support, and Ariadne was beaming from how well the shop was going.
The evening of the third day, Jake came back and sat carefully on the edge of the bed, taking Regina’s hand in his. “I stopped by earlier, but you were asleep,” he said. “You’ve been doing that a lot lately. If I didn’t know better, I might think you were trying to avoid me.”
“No, not at all,” she replied. “I just can’t seem to stay awake very long. I drift off whether I want to or not.”
“I understand,” he said, brushing her hair off her forehead. “I’m just glad I get to see you for a minute now.”
“I need to ask you a question, Jake,” she said. She plucked at the blanket, not sure how to phrase her question. “The other day, as I was going to sleep, did I hear you say that you loved me?”
His face turned red, as did his ears. “Yes,” he admitted. “I didn’t mean for you to hear it, though.”
“Then why did you say it?”
“Because it felt nice. It’s true, and true things always feel nice. But I didn’t think you were ready to hear it, being so sick and all.”
“I loved hearing it.” She reached for his hand. “But how can you love me? I’m so stubborn. You’ve told me so yourself.”
He laughed. “Yes, I have, but that stubbornness makes you determined, and I love your determination. It brought you to America, it brought you to Creede, and JT says it kept you alive. You’ve been so sick, Regina. I don’t think you realize.”
“No one has really said.”
Jake ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve thanked God every day for the miracle of sparing your life. I know you feel terrible right now, but compared to the alterative . . . no, I don’t even want to think about the alternative. I want to focus on the blessings, not on the what ifs.”
“Agreed.” She paused. “So, what if I love you too?”
A grin formed on his face. “Do you?”
“I think I might. How do I know for sure?”
“Well, for me, it’s utter terror every time I think about losing you.”
She chuckled, but winced when her muscles clenched. “What if I take a less dramatic approach and say that I feel warm inside whenever I think about you, and I can imagine us having children together and laughing together and being best friends until we’re old and gray?”
“Are we still arguing when we’re old and gray?”
She paused. “I almost think we’d have to be. It’s so much a part of our natures. But we’ll learn how to resolve it faster. Does that work?”
“I think it does.” He laced his fingers with hers. “So, what do you think, Miss Stoker? Should we make that come true? Will you be my wife?”
“I believe I will,” Regina replied, unable to help the grin that crossed her face in the joy of saying the words.
The wedding day dawned clear and bright. JT felt that Regina had healed up as nicely as any operation he’d ever performed, and she certainly felt better than she had a month ago. She regretted that she hadn’t been able to help in the shop as much as she would have liked. It felt like quite a lot of herself had gone into the preparation and then when it really mattered, she hadn’t been able to help, but Ariadne had done wonderful things with their business. She’d found a purpose and a calling she didn’t know she had, and Regina was so proud of her sister for finding that strength and pushing forward when the odds were against her. It was difficult sometimes to find the blessing in the middle of pain, but Regina had to express some gratitude for her surgery because it had forced Ariadne to find her own two feet, and now she could not only run, but she could fly.
Reverend Bing had agreed to perform the ceremony in a beautiful little wooded area just off the road to the Clark ranch. Neither Jake nor Regina necessarily wanted to drive the road to Bachelor any time soon, and they didn’t want to offend Reverend Theodore by asking to borrow his building out from under him. The woods, with their lovely canopy of leaves, seemed like the perfect solution.
Jake and the other men out at the Circle K had worked hard to get his cabin built and to make it suitable for a new bride. Regina would live out there with Jake and then ride in to help at the tea shop. Jake had given her a pretty little pony as a wedding gift, and she couldn’t wait to learn how to ride.
Everyone she loved from Creede had come out for the ceremony, even Bob the rooster, and Regina had never felt so much love gathered together in one place. Ariadne’s eyes were wet during the vows, and Regina teared up over and over again—she couldn’t believe how very blessed she was. She had a new home, a new life, and a husband she loved almost to the point of silliness. Her heart beat faster whenever she saw him, his gentle touch on her arm took her breath away, and she could see herself loving him more each day until their time on earth ran out.
When Reverend Bing said the words, “You may kiss the bride,” Regina melted into his arms, perfectly happy to stay right there forever, as long as he would let her.
***
Jake had never felt so much happiness in all his life. He turned to face the gathering of their friends, his heart pushing against the walls of his chest with pride and contentment. Regina’s hand felt warm in his and he gave it a squeeze, telling her through that simple action that they were joined now, and always would be.
In the back of the group, he caught sight of Susie. She gave him a little wave and then a thumbs-up. Before he had a chance to respond, she disappeared, and he smiled. He guessed that whatever she’d come to do, she’d done it. And now they’d all have a happily ever after.
The End
About Amelia C. Adams
Amelia C. Adams is a wife, a mother, an eater of chocolate, and a taker of naps. She spends her days thinking up stories and her nights writing them down. Her biggest hero is her husband, and you just might see bits and pieces of him as you read her novels.
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