Beyond Hope's Valley: A Big Sky Novel (25 page)

Naomi's eyes fluttered closed as weariness attempted to pull her into its grasp. Each time she drifted off to sleep another contraction jolted her awake. Her eyes popped open. A gush of wetness warmed her legs. "What is it?"

"Just your water," the midwife said as she hurried into the room. Marianna followed. Naomi's shoulders relaxed some to know they were there. Levi looked at the women and for the first time Naomi noticed how pale he was.

Levi gazed down at her, wiping her damp hair from her face. "You are doing gut, Naomi."

"Thank you . . . you can go in the other room and wait. If it's more comfortable for you."

"
Ja
, I can do that." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead and then hurried out of the room.

Another pain gripped her, and Naomi's hands reached for the iron bed frame, pulling against it.

The midwife checked her and then leaned her face in close. "I came just in time. On the next contraction you can push."

Naomi nodded and did as she was told, but it didn't make a difference. The minutes ticked past, and her body grew weak with the effort.

The midwife came to the side of the bed and brought her face close. "Look at me. You're making progress, Naomi. Don't give up. I believe one more push will do it, the baby's head is crowning."

Naomi gasped. She tossed her head from side-to-side. "I am not sure. I don't think I can." She looked to Marianna, and her friend lifted her finger, wiping tears from Naomi's face. Tears she didn't know she'd been crying.

"I'll be right back." Marianna hurried from the room.

A moment later she returned, Levi at her side.

Naomi reached for his hand. "Are you sure? Are you okay being here?"

Levi smiled. "More than anything. I jest thought that was a nice way you were asking me to leave."

"I wan—want you here." She barely got the words out before she looked to the midwife. The woman nodded, and Naomi knew what she had to do. She had to push through the pain.

Levi wiped her brow again. "One more. One more."

With all that was in her Naomi bore down. A cry escaped her lips and at that moment her child entered the world.

"It's a boy!" Marianna's voice, filled with wonder.

Naomi's hands reached for her son.

The infant's shuddering cry filled the room. The midwife cut the umbilical cord and then placed the baby on her chest. His body was pink. His hair light. He looked up at her with squinty eyes.

With a small gasp, the tears came heavy now. Joy over being able to see her baby at last, but worry tinged the edges. What did Levi think now . . . now that he saw the child—the physical evidence of what she'd done?

Levi had stood by her and asked few questions. She told him she'd met someone when she was out with a friend and things got out of hand. She never confessed it was Aaron's baby. Levi had never tried to explain to anyone that he'd been the honorable one.

She'd asked his forgiveness, and he'd offered her grace. She supposed he found it easy to love her because they'd built that foundation over the years, but what about this child? Would Levi be able to love a baby not his own? The truth stood on her chest, pushing the air from her lungs.

"He's beautiful." Levi whispered in a hushed tone. "I can't believe it. We have a son, Naomi. I have a son."

A cry of relief pushed from Naomi's lips, and she lifted her eyes to Levi. Excitement brightened his gaze.

Levi bent down and kissed her forehead. "He's beautiful."

She tried to take in all the baby's features, but tears blurred her eyes. Just as happy as she was to see the small, pink bundle, happiness filled her chest and seeped out of her pores to hear Levi's words.

His son. Levi called this baby his son.

She looked up at Levi, love flooding her. What did she do to deserve a man such as this? "Will you name him, Levi? Will you name the baby?"

"Of course." He smiled at her. "He's a beautiful boy, Naomi. I'd be honored to give our son a name."

The baby squalled, and Marianna stepped forward to get a better look. Her eyes were tired. No one had slept much last night. Still, the small one was worth staying up for. They passed him around and marveled at his perfect nose, his small fingers, his feet that seemed too big for his tiny, wrinkled body.

Naomi had finally drifted off to sleep, and Marianna sat by Levi as he held his son.

When the morning warmed, they moved to the back step. The late morning sun elongated shadows around them. "I think it's pretty amazing Naomi wants you to name the baby. Have you thought of a name yet?"

Levi nodded. "I was thinking Samuel. We can call him Sam for short. He's one of my favorite men in the Bible. I appreciate how his mother dedicated him to God's service and let another raise him. I'm no Eli, and this boy's mother will still be raising him, but I like the idea that our children belong to the Lord." Emotion caught his voice in his throat. "It's an honor in being part of training him in the way he should go."

She could tell her brother's tears bothered him, and she gently slugged his arm to lighten the moment. "You sound so mature. Not like the Levi I know."

"Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment. I also
feel
mature—maybe because I'm a father now."

She smiled. "And it sounds like you've been reading your Bible."

Levi nodded. "Some. I have been trying to make time in my day."

"That's gut. I think you should. It makes all the difference. You need to make it a priority."

Levi shifted in his seat, and she could tell their conversation was entering dangerous territory.

"But enough about that." She pushed off from the porch step and stood. "You don't need me telling you."

His gaze softened and she was thankful he hadn't reacted like some of the women. In her own quiet time, she brought each of them up in her prayer. She also prayed that God would show her how to be gentle. The Lord Jesus desired change in others, but His way wasn't always hers.

"Do you need anything from me? I can make you a sandwich or watch the baby if you wish to rest."

He shook his head. "I am fine. I have a few things I need to tell Sam—about our life. About our family."

She pressed her lips together and she crossed her arms over her chest. She felt warm inside as if spring had birthed in her heart too. "All right, I'm going to lay down myself and leave you two boys to your little talk."

Ben got back from his morning jog, and noticed an envelope from Annie from the West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery waiting for him on his bed. Just seeing the store's name on the return address label caused his heart to jump into his throat. Ben was already sweaty, but a rush of heat traveled over him as a image flashed in his mind. It was of Marianna sitting across the table from him at the store. Her eyes were bright as laughter poured from her lips. He bit his lip and tried to swallow down the emotion. It didn't matter how much wishing he did, praying they did, that was a place they'd never be together again. His gut ached realizing that.

He tore open the envelope, wishing Annie had somehow managed to smash down some baked goods and include them inside. No luck. Instead there was a small stack of mail and a note from Annie written on blue and white stationery.

Dear Ben,

We sure miss you around these parts. Every time Jenny goes down to Eureka she comes back with those tabloid magazines that show pictures of you standing in the line at Starbucks or climbing off your tour bus. Sarah told me to tell you that she doesn't understand why you'd pay five dollars for a cup of coffee when it's only one dollar here at the store. Millie says to tell you that she bought your CD for everyone on her Christmas list. (All of us in these parts can attest to that.) Edgar says you need a hair cut.

Edgar also kept bugging me because your mail was stacking up. I threw out all the junk mail and here are the bills and such. I hope you make it up to these parts soon. If you do let me know, we can have a concert here at the store. I reckon it wouldn't be near as fancy as those places you're playing in these days, but you'll never have a crowd with bigger smiles and more love pouring from their hearts as all of us.

Love you lots!

Annie

Ben looked through the mail. Annie was right. Most were just bills and those were already being taken care of through automatic payments. But something caught his eye.

A handwritten letter. From James Folk. He'd prayed for that name before—many times. It was one of the kids he wrote to.

Seeing the letter from him was almost as exciting as receiving a Christmas card from Marianna. He tore it open.

Dear Mr. Stone,

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write you back. It's been almost a year since you wrote after I got caught for drinking and driving. I read your letter back then—well, at least most of it. I wasn't very interested at the time. Your talk of God was something a guy who was enjoying doing his own thing didn't want to hear at the time.

Then, when my mom was helping me pack up my things for college, we found your letter again. She recognized your name. We wondered if you were the singer who my mom likes. We checked online and found out you were. I took that letter to college with me because, well, because I never had a letter from someone famous before.

At college I found out my roommate Mick was a Christian. This bummed me out at first, but the more I watched him, the more I wanted to be more like him. He seems content nearly all the time and not caught up with all the drama of college. Remembering you were a Christian, too, I pulled out the letter again.

I've read it at least once a day for the last month. And the more I read it, the more sense it made. The weird thing was that my roommate was telling me some of the same things you wrote in your letter. I thought that must be God talking to me, because things like that just don't happen.

So what I wanted to write and tell you is that last night I prayed the prayer you included in the letter. I'm going to tell my friend tomorrow. I know he'll be excited, but I wanted to have a day to just let it sink in. I feel a difference already. I'm more excited about my future. Mostly I have hope. I just wanted to write and tell you that. Just think—I'm never gonna be alone again. I know God will be with me wherever I go.