AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Today, the thick denim trousers had actually protected her legs from getting shredded with lacerations. He was glad she didn’t listen and do everything he liked or wanted and that she stayed true to her real self. Because if she hadn’t, she could have ended up…He didn’t, no, couldn’t, think about that.
Tack rattling, leather creaking, branches breaking and leaves rustling filled the silence, along with wolves howling in the distance. Their low mournful sounds made him lonely.
More lonely than he’d been even back when having a wife was just a nice idea. Strange how life kept bringing him around to how nice it was to have Selina as his wife.
Chapter Fourteen
Outside Doc Berg’s house, Michael checked his pocket watch for the tenth time. 7:00 in the morning. The lights had been on for more than an hour, and Michael couldn’t stand the wait any longer. He hurried up the porch and rang the bell.
Through the glass he could see Doc Berg walking down the hall toward the door. When Doc opened the door, he said, “I figured you’d be early. Only I figured you would have gotten here long before now.” He stepped aside to let Michael in. “Are those for me?” Doc grinned, looking at the bunch of goldenrods and asters in Michael’s hands.
“Sorry, Doc, but they’re for Selina. And I’ve been here since six. I just didn’t think you’d appreciate me waking you up.”
“I’ve been up most of the night.”
Concern squeezed Michael’s heart. “Is Selina okay?”
Doc removed the spectacles off his nose and eyed Michael. “She had a rough night.”
“Is she okay now? May I see her? I promise not to wake her.”
Doc paused, then nodded. “Let me take those. I’ll have the missus put them in some water.”
“Thanks.” Michael handed him the wildflowers then quietly opened the door to where Selina was. The shades were drawn and the lantern in the corner was turned down low. Michael sat in the chair beside her bed.
Even in the dim light, her cheeks looked pale against the white blanket. She might act tough, but seeing her like this showed him that wasn’t the whole truth. Just like she had in the old house, she once again looked frail and helpless. But now she had him to take care of her. And take care of her he would.
Michael bowed his head and closed his eyes. He clasped his hands, rested his elbows on his knees and prayed silently. “Lord, I pray for a complete recovery for Selina. Help me to love her the way she deserves to be loved.” That familiar fear shrouded him like a suffocating cloak.
Would he ever be free to trust in their relationship?
To trust in love?
Michael shifted his gaze to her and watched her sleep. Minutes dragged by. He stood and paced the room, then watched her sleep some more. He kept the vigil for almost two hours.
Worn out from worry, he sat back down in the chair.
Still sleeping, Selina turned her face toward him and a strand of hair fell across her cheek.
Careful not to wake her, he brushed it aside, letting his finger linger on her soft skin. He longed for her to wake up, even if it meant eating crawdad tails and possum stew. He shook off that thought, knowing he must be completely losing it to even think such a thing. But no matter how far he pushed those thoughts away, he couldn’t shake the feeling of what it would be like to lose her. “Please, God, just let her be okay. Please.”
“Michael.” Mrs. Berg rested her hand on his shoulder.
Startled, he stood.
Doc’s wife set the flowers on the stand near Selina’s bed and motioned for him to follow her.
“You’ve been here more than two hours now. There’s no reason for you to stay. She’s heavily sedated and will probably be asleep for a few more hours. Why don’t you go on home?”
Michael’s heart yanked him back and forth, stay or go, stay or go. He hated leaving his wife. But sitting here, watching her like this was driving him nuts. “You’re right. I don’t want to risk waking her, especially after Doc said she had a rough night. Would you please tell her I was here and that I’ll be back later?”
Mrs. Berg nodded.
Michael turned his attention toward Selina. Needing the connection to her, he wanted to lean down and kiss her cheek but he was afraid he would wake her, so he didn’t.
As hard as it was to do, he headed toward the door.
Selina sat up in bed. Her head pounded and her stomach felt queasy. All night her head had ached something fierce and she’d thrown up every time the doctor fed her broth. Fresh-cut flowers on the nightstand caught her attention. She lay back down and stared at the clusters of tiny yellow and light purple flowers in a jar.
