Child of Promise (17 page)

Two days later as Beth was finishing the notes on her last patient for the day, Helen stuck her head in the door.

“There’s one more patient,” she said. “He just walked in and insists he’s got to see you right away.”

Struggling to hide her exasperation after a particularly trying and busy day, Beth looked up. “And what exactly did he say his complaint was, that it can’t wait until tomorrow?”

Helen smiled mysteriously. “He said to tell you it has to do with his heart, and it’ll surely break if he has to wait a moment more to see you.”

“What?” Beth stared at Helen in amazement. “That’s the craziest—”

The door swung open. Noah stood there, a broad smile on his face. Beth’s shocked glance moved from him to Helen.

“Just relaying exactly what the patient told me, Dr. MacKay,” the older woman said before hurrying away.

Noah gestured to the office before him. “May I come in?” He pointed to his chest. “There’s this problem with my heart, you know. A problem only a certain lady doctor can cure by giving me another chance.”

“And how exactly do you plan to make amends?” she asked, her pulse quickening.

“Well, for starters,” Noah said, walking into the office and closing the door behind him, “by taking you up on your offer to marry me. If you’ll still have me, that is, after the fool I’ve been.”

Beth rose, came around her desk, and walked up to stand before him. “Yes, I guess I’ll still have you.” She smiled, her heart overflowing with joy. “Yes, I think I will indeed.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.” And with that, Noah took her into his arms and kissed her.

Two months later, the day before their wedding, Beth frantically tried to see the patients she had scheduled that morning so she could take the rest of the afternoon off to finish up some last-minute wedding details. As things always happen, however, just as soon as Doc left on a house call, Cora Bledsoe walked in with a broken toe from dropping a big jar of spiced apples on her foot. Then just as Cora finally hobbled away on crutches, Nola Teachout stopped by to discuss some personal female problems.

It was almost four in the afternoon before Beth was finally able to leave the clinic for the day. Her mind reeled with the myriad tasks still before her. First thing, though, she must pay a visit to the post office. The complete set of the
Men of the Bible
series she had ordered for Noah had arrived, and she wanted to give it to him tonight as an early wedding present. Then she needed to pick up some scented bath soaps and a new bottle of cologne to take with her on their honeymoon. Though such fancy indulgences weren’t her usual habit, Beth wanted to do everything she could—

From behind her, an arm snaked about her middle, jerking her backward. Startled from her thoughts, Beth gasped, then swung around, her medical bag held high to defend herself.

“Hold up there, Elizabeth. Hold up, I say,” a tall, chestnut-haired young man cried, instantly releasing her and backing away. “I meant ye no harm. Truly I didn’t.”

Beth gaped up at him for a moment, hardly believing her eyes. Then with a most unprofessional squeal, she dropped her bag and flung herself into the man’s arms.

“Ian! Oh, Ian. I can’t believe it’s you!”

Ian Sutherland grinned down at her. “Now, that’s a far better welcome than being brained with that deadly looking bag.” His arms tightened around her and he pulled her close. “A wee kiss would be even more welcoming, though.”

She laughed, stood on tiptoe, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Now,” Beth said, leaning back to admire how fine and handsome her childhood friend had become in the years since they had last parted, “tell me everything. When did you get in? Claire never mentioned a thing about you coming back to Culdee Creek for a visit. And how could you spare the time to leave your farm or, for that matter, that bonnie lassie you claim to be so fond of?”

“Well, for starters, I just got off the train from Denver fifteen minutes ago, so ye’re the first person I sought out. If ye’d been paying closer attention, ye would’ve heard me calling yer name a long ways back. And I didn’t tell Claire I was coming. After getting your letters of late, I just decided to come.

“As for the bonnie lassie”—Ian paused to draw in a breath—“she claimed she grew weary of waiting on me to make up my mind and upped and wed another.” His mouth twisted wryly. “So much for undying love and devotion. Understandably, I was so verra crushed and heartbroken I decided a change was long overdue. I sold the farm. Most likely I’ll eventually return to Culdee and the Highlands, but in the interim I decided a wee adventure or two was in order.”

Beth shook her head and sighed. “I must admit I was surprised you stayed with the farm as long as you did. I never took you for a man ready to settle down yet.”

He grabbed her hand. “I’d settle down with the likes of ye in a heartbeat, lass. Ye’ve only just to ask.”

“Oh, Ian,” she said with a laugh, “you’re still the charmer as always.”

His expression grew solemn. “I’m not saying this to be the charmer. I’ve always loved ye, lass. Ye know that.”

“And I’ve always loved you. But as a dear, dear friend, as my second brother.”

“Yer feelings for me used to go a lot deeper than that, Elizabeth.”

Beth squeezed his hand and smiled. “That was a long time ago, Ian. And we were so very young.”

A sudden thought assailed her. If Ian hadn’t written Claire of late, and he hadn’t yet been out to the ranch, he couldn’t possibly know about her plans to marry Noah tomorrow. In all the excitement, Beth had forgotten to write and tell him. This was no place, however, out on the boardwalk in the middle of town, to tell him.

“Come along.” She tugged on his hand. “I just have a few errands to run, and then we can get something to eat. The hotel where I stay has a small dining area, and they’ll be serving supper soon. Surely you’re famished after that long train trip. We’ll go there and talk some more.”

“Aye, I am famished. Lead on, lass,” Ian said. “I left my bag at the train depot, and it should be fine there for a time. Besides, in the years I’ve been gone from here, Grand View has grown. I’m not so certain I can find my way about the place anymore.”

Beth grinned and quickened her pace. “Oh, but you will soon enough, my friend. You will soon enough.”

After a satisfying meal of beefsteak, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and a rich custard drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream, Beth smiled across the table at her dinner companion. “There’s something I need to tell you, Ian,” she said. “Something very, very important to me that I hope you’ll understand and be happy about.”

He glanced up from his cup of coffee. “Aye, lass, and what would that be?”

Beth paused for a steadying breath to help calm her. “I’m getting married tomorrow. To Noah Starr.”

Ian’s mouth tightened. He stared at her for so long, Beth began to wonder if she shouldn’t say something more. Then, at long last, he shoved his cup of coffee aside and leaned back in his chair.

“I thought ye’d gotten over that daft, girlish affair a long while ago. Noah’s a fine man and all, but he’s far too old for ye. And then, I never saw ye as the kind of woman cut out for the life of bein’ a preacher’s wife.”

Irritation flared in Beth. Perhaps this news was a surprise for Ian, but he could’ve chosen his words with greater care. A daft, girlish affair indeed!

“Well, contrary to your assumptions, my feelings for Noah are far more than the simple, childish love that you seem to think they are. And Pa, when he married Abby, was nearly as old as Noah is now, and Abby was quite close to my age. So, there’s hardly any difference between the span of years between Noah and me, and Pa and Abby.”

Ian scowled. “Maybe so, but ye’ve yet to address the issue of yer suitability to be a parson’s wife. I know ye, Elizabeth. Ye’re far too independent and freethinking to settle for all the close watching ye’ll be getting once ye wed Noah Starr.”

His observation stung, mainly because she knew he was right. It was no one’s business how she lived her life, but Beth knew she was unrealistic to imagine it’d be otherwise as Noah’s wife. And though it didn’t matter to her what others thought about her, she didn’t ever want to harm Noah in any way.

“All newlyweds need to make adjustments,” she retorted. “And it’s not as if Noah isn’t well aware of my opinions on things. That’s one of the reasons I love him so. He’s kind, generous, and loves me just as I am.”

Ian gave a disbelieving snort. “Well, mark my words, lass. That’ll soon change once ye’re wed. Noah Starr can’t afford any hint of scandal or impropriety.”

“As I said before,” Beth muttered. “We’ll work things out.”

Ian cocked his head, studying her quizzically. “So, ye’ve gone and decided to give up yer medical practice, have ye, and devote yer life in the service of the Lord? Funny, but I never took ye for such a deeply religious person.”

Beth glared at him. Leave it to Ian to speak his mind, whether one cared to hear it or not. But he was right. Even as a girl, she had been dutiful but never fervent in her religious devotion. And then when she had gone away to medical school . . .

Nonetheless, the Lord had begun to touch her life, through Millie and Noah, through her patients, and through the events that had transpired since she had returned to Grand View. Was she truly a spiritual person, though?

No, she couldn’t in truth say she was, but at least now she felt more open to the Lord and His workings in her life. Once again, she felt loved and accepted by Him. And she was willing, no, eager, to learn, to trust, and to obey.

It was a good start. Even Beth saw that as the truth it was.

“I never said I intended on giving up being a doctor just because I’m marrying Noah,” Beth said at last. “And perhaps I’m not as deeply religious as I should be, but at least I now care again enough to try. That’s a start, to be sure. With Noah and the Lord’s help, I intend to keep on trying, day in and day out, for the rest of my life.”

She reached across the table, offering her hand to Ian. “Please be happy for me, Ian. Please give me your blessing on this. It’d make my wedding tomorrow that much better if I knew you were happy for me.”

He eyed her dubiously for a moment, then sighed and took her hand. “More than aught, Elizabeth, I’ve always wished for yer happiness. And if marrying Noah is what ye truly need, then I’m happy for ye.”

He smiled wryly. “To be sure, though, two lasses standing me up in less than a year is hard on my pride. Verra, verra hard indeed.”

On June 7, Beth and Noah were married. Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, which took up a collection, they were able to have a few days away honeymooning in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor Hotel and Casino. After a late-morning wedding and a reception that lasted until a bit past noon, Beth and Noah departed in a buggy for the Springs. They arrived at the Broadmoor at about seven and checked into their room, which was luxuriously furnished with a big bed with a huge, dark-walnut headboard, an ample wardrobe, a sitting area with a table and two overstuffed chairs, and a fine Turkish rug. They freshened up and headed down to the elegant dining room for a sumptuous supper.