Blessings of the Heart and Samantha's Gift (32 page)

Rachel sprinted for the road, praying all the way. The car’s motor was getting louder and louder.

She could see headlight beams now, brilliant and blinding. Between her position and that of the speeding car she caught a glimpse of a small, moving shadow.

It might be a deer,
her subconscious insisted. And what if it wasn’t? With no thought for personal safety, Rachel ran out into the road, waving her arms wildly over her head and shouting, “Sam! Look out!”

Behind her, Sean gave a guttural roar when he saw her luminescent silhouette aglow in the glare of oncoming headlights.

The driver braked. Skidded. The car started to slide sideways, tires screeching.

Sean lunged for Rachel. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Airborne for what seemed like ages, he finally got his arms around her. He twisted to use his own body to cushion her fall and they landed in a heap by the side of the road. The vehicle came to rest mere feet away in the same shallow ditch, its lights blurred by tall grasses and brush.

Irrationally angry, Sean bellowed at her, “Are you
crazy?
What did you think you were doing?”

Rachel was wobbly when he helped her to her feet. “Sam,” she gasped. “Samantha. Did you see her?”

“No. Where?”

He scanned the darkness beyond the car. In the distance he could see small lights bobbing down the driveway from the Brody house. It looked as if several people were sensibly using flashlights to guide them.

“I don’t know where,” Rachel said. She sagged against him. “I thought I saw her just before…before the crash.”

Refusing to let go when he knew he’d come so close to losing her moments before, he said, “Okay. Show me what you think you saw. We’ll look together. Then I’ll come back and see about the driver.” He sneered in the direction of the car. “The guy’s probably feeling no pain. I can smell the booze from here.”

“Over that way.” Rachel pointed with a shaky hand.

Sean didn’t like the tremulousness of her voice. He’d never heard her sound so weak, so dispirited. “Can you make it?”

“I’m fine,” she lied. “Hurry.”

“Looks like the cavalry’s almost here,” Sean told her, indicating the Brody driveway. “Let’s wait. We can borrow their flashlights instead of stumbling around in the dark.”

Rachel wasn’t willing to delay. She grabbed his hand and forged ahead. “No. I’m sure I saw something. I…” Her legs suddenly gave way.

Sean caught her before she fell. He didn’t have to ask what was wrong. He could see for himself.

They’d found Samantha.

No one argued with Rachel when she was chosen to accompany the unconscious child to the hospital. Her own bumps and bruises from the near miss with the out-of-control car were her ticket to ride in the same ambulance. She’d have suffered the injuries gladly to earn the opportunity to comfort the poor girl.

Unfortunately, Samantha remained unconscious. Patting her cool, limp, little hand, Rachel kept asking the paramedics, “Why doesn’t she come to?”

“We won’t know till we get some tests run,” one of them answered. “We’re taking good care of her. Why don’t you lie down until we get to the emergency room, ma’am?”

Rachel was adamant. “No. She needs me.”

“There’s nothing you can do for her right now. You’d better take care of yourself so you’ll be able to look after her when she wakes up.”

“I’m fine. Just cold,” Rachel said, shivering.

“That’s from shock.” The medic gently wrapped a gray blanket around her shoulders, guided her to the spare gurney and lifted her feet to swing her whole body around.

The appeal of a moment’s respite was so strong that she let him ease her down onto the pristine sheets and pillow. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he said. “I understand how you feel. I’ve dealt with lots of mothers and they all act the same way when their kids get hurt.”

Bone-weary and beyond responding, Rachel closed her eyes and turned her face to the wall to hide her silent tears.

S
ean had lingered at the accident scene just long enough to make sure Rachel and Samantha were safely aboard the ambulance, then headed for his car.

What he wanted more than anything was to be reunited with Rachel. To comfort her as best he could. If things didn’t turn out okay for little Sam he didn’t know what either of them would do. He’d been so angry when that drunk driver was pulled out of the wrecked car and arrested he’d wanted to strangle the guy with his bare hands. It had taken several police officers—plus Hank Brody—to keep him from trying.

Right now, the ambulance bearing Sean’s loved ones was headed for an emergency facility near Salem. He’d been told that if more specialized care was needed once initial assessments were made, one or both patients would be flown by helicopter to Little Rock. He was determined to get to them before that. He had to. Nothing was more important.

His hands clamped the car’s steering wheel, every muscle tense, as he raced on through the night. How totally helpless he felt! This was a situation where a strong belief in God, like Rachel had, would sure come in handy.

If there is a God,
he countered.

But suppose there was? What would he say to Him?

Sean had no idea, nor did he think the Almighty would be inclined to listen to the prayers of a cynical guy like him. Why should He?

Maybe for Rachel’s sake,
Sean answered. For Rachel’s sake he’d have to try.

Keeping his eyes on the road ahead he first drew a deep breath. “Hey, God? You up there?” he began. “It’s me. No, forget that. I’m not asking for myself, I’m asking for Rachel. You know Rachel. She’s one of Yours. She’s probably too traumatized to ask for help herself right now so I’m asking in her place. And for Samantha, too. Okay?”

Sean felt silly talking to an invisible being. Next thing he knew he’d probably be seeing guardian angels the same way Samantha said she did.

Angels? A vivid recollection of the accident leapt into Sean’s consciousness. He’d never forget the sight of Rachel bravely trying to flag down that oncoming car. Reflected light had played tricks with her appearance, making her waving arms look like wings in motion. That was how he’d known where she was. It was that glowing image he’d jumped for when he’d come running out of the Brody’s driveway.

His heart started to pound erratically. That was
exactly
what had happened. No question about it. He was positive. So how had he and Rachel landed at least three car lengths up the road from the end of the drive, instead of beneath the wrecked car? If there was a logical, scientific explanation, he sure didn’t know what it might be. Unless…

The urge to dismiss the notion of divine intervention was strong. Stronger still was his assurance that he’d been an unwitting part of something amazing.

His hands trembled on the steering wheel. His heart felt lodged in his throat. “God?” he whispered. “Jesus? Are You really out there?”

Though no audible answer came, Sean was certain there had been one. He was finding it hard to see the roadway through eyes misted by tears of intense gratitude. Cautiously he slowed his frenetic driving pace, while his heart threatened to pound its way out of his chest.

As the beginnings of faith touched him he sensed a subtle change in his outlook, a kind of peace he’d never felt before. It flowed over and through him like the passing of a warm wind or the rising of a blush to one’s cheeks.

“Okay,” he said, nodding resolutely. “You win, God. If You want me, You’ve got me, although what You’d want with the likes of me, I sure can’t imagine. Just keep taking care of the people I love, will You? Please? That’s all I care about.”

Sean had barely finished speaking when he realized he’d arrived at the hospital. He cut the wheel hard to the right and drove straight to the emergency entrance. As he climbed out of his car it occurred to him that he’d just turned more than one hard corner to get to where he found himself right now.

Sean barged past the receptionist without asking anyone’s permission and straight-armed the swinging door. The treatment room was crowded. He spotted Rachel pacing in front of a closed curtain. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her hair was a mess and her cheeks were pale and dirt-smeared, but she still looked wonderful to him.

He hurried across the room. “Rachel!”

She didn’t hesitate to step into his embrace. “Oh, Sean.”

For a long moment he just held her, breathing in her familiar scent and giving silent thanks that she was okay. Finally he loosed his grip and looked at the curtain.

“Is Sam in there?”

“Yes.”

“How is she?”

“I don’t know. They won’t let me see her. The doctors are with her right now. I’ve been trying to listen to what they’re saying but it’s too noisy in this big room.”

“At least they got to her right away. Have they checked you out yet?”

“No. I’ll be fine as soon as I know Samantha’s going to be all right. I’ve been going crazy, waiting and worrying.”

“I’m here now. We’ll wait together.”

He turned, keeping one arm protectively around her shoulders. “Come on. Let’s sit down. You look awful.”

“Oh, thanks a heap.”

Sean gazed down at her tenderly. “That’s my girl. When you snap at me like that, I know you’re okay.”

“I didn’t snap at you for no reason,” Rachel argued. “You said I looked awful.”

“You’ve never looked better to me.” There was a definite catch in his voice.

“Really?”

“Really.” Once again realizing fully how close he’d come to watching her die, he couldn’t convince himself to stop touching her, holding her close, so he sat down first and urged her onto his lap.

Rachel willingly settled there, wrapped in her warm blanket and the comforting arms of the man she loved. Tomorrow there would be plenty of time to explain why they ought to stop seeing each other. Right now, all she wanted was to retreat from reality by cuddling up to Sean.

“I wish…” he began.

She raised her face to him. “What do you wish?”

“Nothing. You rest. Now’s not the time to talk about it.”

“Hmm. I wonder. After what happened tonight it seems to me that waiting too long to do
anything
can be a mistake.”

“Maybe you’re right this time.”

“Maybe?” One eyebrow arched. “And what do you mean,
this time?
”

Rachel had intended her remarks to distract him and lift his spirits. She might be showing signs of stress, as he’d said, but so was he. If she looked half as world-weary as he did, it was no wonder he’d commented on it. To her relief, he smiled.

“Okay. Maybe you have been right more than once. And I have to admit I’ve been wrong—at least about a few things.”

“Like what?”

“Kids, for one thing.”

Rachel stiffened. “What kids?”

“Sam, to start with,” Sean said. Rachel was just beginning to breathe again when he added, “and maybe having some of my own someday, too.”

“That’s nice.”

“I thought you’d agree.” He gave her a quick squeeze. “So, how about it?”

“How about what?”

“Kids? A family? You and me?”

She pushed herself away from him and struggled to her feet. “No, thanks.”

The dejected expression on his face, in his eyes, hurt her to the core. The truth wouldn’t wait. It wasn’t fair to leave Sean wondering why she’d turned his proposal down flat. No matter how hard confession was going to be, he deserved to hear her reasons.

Drawing the blanket closer as a symbolic shield, Rachel stood at his feet and spoke softly. “I can’t have children, Sean. You need to find a wife who can.”

He stared up at her. So,
that
was it. No wonder she’d acted so upset when her mother had kept needling her about grandchildren. Martha must not know.

“Have you told anyone else?”

Rachel grimaced. “Only Hannah. And Craig. You know how that turned out—he dumped me.”

Sean slowly got to his feet. There was a lopsided smile on his face that confused Rachel. He reached for her. She backed away, tripped on the dragging tail of the blanket and nearly fell. Sean righted her just as the curtain around Samantha’s bed slid open.

They froze, staring at the emerging doctor. He was stripping off his gloves as he announced, “Your daughter’s going to be fine.”

Rachel was glad Sean’s arms were around her shoulders again because her knees felt suddenly wobbly. She started to tell the doctor, “Samantha’s not…” then felt the tightening of Sean’s grip and realized there was a definite advantage to being considered the little girl’s parents. There would be time enough to set the record straight after they’d spent some time at her bedside.

“She’s not badly hurt?” Sean asked, filling in the gap in Rachel’s response.

The doctor shook his head. “Doesn’t appear to be. I’m going to go ahead and order a few tests, just to be sure. I really don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Thank God,” Rachel breathed.

Beside her, Sean said, “I already did.”

Samantha was wheeled to a private room as soon as the tests were completed. Rachel and Sean stood at her bedside, holding hands and watching her sleep.

“I can’t believe she’s going to get to stay in Arkansas,” Rachel said. “What did Robert tell you while I was in being examined, anyway? Why the change of heart?”

“Apparently, Daphne didn’t want the responsibility of a child in the first place. Being related, Robert felt guilty so he insisted on trying, but when he saw his wife with Sam he decided he’d made a big mistake and called everything off.”

Rachel sighed. “Well, that’s one worry behind us.”

“Actually, it’s
two,
” Sean said quietly. He stepped closer to the woman he loved and gently caressed her shoulder. “You see, all along I’ve been bothered by the idea of having kids of my own. If you’d been listening closely, instead of worrying about your own problems, you might have figured that out.”

“But…”

He laid a finger across her lips. “Hush. Let me finish. It took me a while to think it all through but I finally saw the light—in more ways than one. God knew what we both needed. He went out of His way to bring us together.” Sean glanced briefly at the sleeping child. “He provided our first little girl, too.”

Awed, Rachel could hardly believe her ears. She placed her hands flat on his chest and felt the rapid beating of his heart. Her own pulse wasn’t exactly dawdling, either. “Do you think we’d have a chance,” she breathed, “really?”

“Well, there is a catch. I’m afraid we’ll have to get married.”

“I could probably manage that,” Rachel told him. “If you asked me properly.”

A stirring from the bed prompted them to glance at Samantha. Though her eyes were still closed, Sean suspected she’d been listening. He leaned over her to whisper, “I’m about to ask Miss Rachel to marry me, kiddo, so pay close attention.”

“Do you think she can hear us?” Rachel asked.

“Let’s find out, shall we?” Sean dropped to one knee. “Ms. Woodward, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes!” She couldn’t help giggling. “Now get up before the nurses think there’s something wrong with you.”

Sean immediately took her in his arms and swung her around, feet off the ground. “You said
yes!
What could possibly be wrong with me? I feel wonderful!”

From the direction of the bed came an answering giggle. Then a small voice asked, “Can we go home, now?”