In Search Of Love: The Story of A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) (10 page)

Doctor Carmichael released Katerina to the care of her husband and his family.  “You may have recurring symptoms from your concussion, including headaches, blurred vision and dizziness.  They should pass, given time.  If any of them last very long, come back in and I’ll see about getting you seen in Portland.  On the other hand, you may have no symptoms.  You will still need to be careful.

“No heavy lifting, no horseback riding and no activity where you have a risk of falling.  You had a serious head injury and must be careful,” he said.

“Yes, Doctor, I understand,” she said.

“I’ll see that she is cautious, even if I have to hog tie her,” Patrick promised.

“I don’t think you need to go that far,” the doctor laughed.  “I’d like to see you in two weeks,” he said.

On the way home…

“I’m going to stop by the farm and get the things you need and then we’ll go on to Mama’s,” Patrick said.

“I’m not really sure it’s necessary to stay at your mother’s place,” Katerina said.

“Are you going to be the one to tell her that?” asked Patrick.  You heard what she said.  “Not open for discussion.  She meant it.”

“I guess I’d better stay on the good side of her,” Katerina admitted.  “Besides, she can teach me more about cooking.”

When they arrived at the Murphy’s, Mama Murphy said, “My patient is here.  Patrick, tell me what the doctor said she couldn’t do.”

Patrick did so, and his mother said, “Katerina, you simply concentrate on getting better, so you can get back to living your life.  The girls and I will do what needs to be done here.”

“Yes ma’am,” Katerina said. 

Three nights later…

Lying in bed, Katerina turned on her side to face Patrick and said, “I’m not broken.  You can touch me.”

“Now honey,” he said, “You know the doctor said we had to be careful.”

“I’m not going to be lifting,  I’m not going to fall or anything.  You can even do all of the work.  I want my husband back.”

He moved to kiss her gently.  She intensified the kiss, thrusting her tongue between his parted lips, exploring the interior of his mouth.  She captured his hand, and moved it inside the top of her gown and placed it on her breast, and squeezed his hand  He began to roll the pebbly surface of the nipple between his thumb and forefinger.  He kissed her hungrily, bringing forth a moan from deep within her body. 

She got out of bed and removed her night clothes and got back in beside him.  Unbuttoning his nightshirt, she pressed herself against him.  Clutching his member, she massaged it to a state of steely erection.  He moved a hand through the silky hairs guarding the entrance to her chamber and found it to be lubricated and ready.  He mounted her, being careful not to allow his full weight to fall upon her.  Slowly, and carefully, they made love.

“Mmmm… That was nice,” she said.  “See, I told you I wouldn’t break.”

Lying in his arms, she said, “I would like for you to give me a baby.  I want to be a mother.  What do you think?”

“I like the idea,” he said.  “I will have to do some work to the cabin.  We’ll need to add some more space.”

The next day…

“Do you still have Patrick’s baby things around?” she asked Patrick’s mother.  

“I suppose they’re in the barn, but I doubt they’re usable.  You’re not… Are you?” she asked.

“I don’t think so, at least not yet, but I want to be.  I want to have a little boy, just like Patrick,” she said. 

“Heaven help us,” his mother said.  She laughed, “He was a good baby and a good little boy.”  She sighed wistfully, “It would be nice to have a baby around again.”

“I think so too,” Katerina said.

“I’ve been thinking about your injury.  Would you consider staying here until the doctor checks you out?”

“Mama, that would be two weeks.  I don’t want to be a burden for you and the girls,” Katerina said.

“
Child, you could never be a burden.  It’s a pleasure just having you around.  The bonus to that is Patrick would be around too.  If that’s your only objection, then it’s a done deal.”

Katerina said, “Patrick asked me if I wanted to be the one to tell you I didn’t think it was necessary to stay here.  He said he wouldn’t want to be the one.”

“Patrick was always the smart one of the bunch,” his mother said laughing.  “Now can we put the issue of your staying here until the doctor releases you aside?”

“Yes, we can, and thank you,” Katerina said.

Two weeks later…

Doctor Carmichael pronounced Katerina to be on the road to recovery.  “You can resume normal activities, but I must caution you to be careful.  We don’t know much at all about the lasting effects of a concussion.  Symptoms may return, or they may not.  We simply don’t know.   The theory is a concussion is the result of the brain being shaken violently.  The operative word is ‘theory’.  If symptoms return and last for an extended period of time, come see me.  Frankly, I don’t know what I could do, but at least we can check your vital signs. 

“Now, go and be well,” he said.

On the way home, Katerina said, “Resume normal activities means I can go back to my classroom, right?”

“Aw honey, I don’t know.  I don’t like the idea of your being out traveling alone,” Patrick said.

“Now you said it looked as if  a wheel hit a rut and threw me out of the wagon.  My being alone or with you wouldn’t have ma
de any difference.  I might still have been thrown out,” she said.

“I don’t want to argue with you, so I won’t.  I’ll just say I’ve never seen it happen before.  I’m sure more experience handling the reins would help, though,” he said.

“And how do I get more experience?  By driving, right?” she asked.

“Yes, but with me in the wagon with you,” he said. 
I’m not going to win this one,
he thought.

“I’ll make you a deal,” she promised.  “Let me handle the reins when we go anywhere, for a while, and I’ll wait a little longer.”

It was the best he could hope for, so he said, “It’s a deal.  I just had one other thought.  When you are controlling the horse, pay attention to what is in front of you.  You have to help her.”

“Did I tell you how much I love you?” she asked.

“Not today,” he said. “Your getting hurt drove home to me how important you are to me.  It’s my job to keep you safe and it’s a job I’m taking seriously.  Having said that, I love you too.”

“We are blessed, aren’t we?” she asked.

“Yes, we are…”

Once she received the doctor’s blessing, Katerina and Patrick’s life returned to some semblance of normality. 

Several cooking lessons from the Murphy women were of benefit to Katerina and to Patrick.  She was much more comfortable in the kitchen and preparing meals for her husband.  Mama Murphy had donated a goodly number of jars of her canned vegetables, along with instructions for preparation.

Back in her classroom, Katerina found her students had missed her and her teaching techniques and she was warmly welcomed back. 

On Patrick’s admonition, she now paid more attention to the road in front of her on the way to and from school and encountered no obstacles that posed a threat to her well being.

Six months later…

Spring had come to the Willamette Valley.  With Patrick’s assistance, Katerina now had a garden and had spotted several shoots of her plants emerging from the cultivated soil.  She was so thrilled, she took Patrick to show him.

Patrick had returned to the kitchen for his breakfast after his morning’s feeding and milking chores.  Katerina had prepared bacon and several of the eggs she had gathered the previous day.  She put the plate in front of Patrick and sat at the table with him.

“You’ve already eaten?” he asked.

“No, my stomach is a little queasy this morning and I’m going to hold off for a while.  Oops,” she said and bolted from the table heading for the back door.  Barely making it to the edge of the porch before she hurled the contents of her stomach over the edge.  She continued retching, but there was nothing left to heave. 

A concerned Patrick came to the door.  “What’s the matter, Honey?  You look a little green around the gills,” he said.

“I don’t know.  It came on all of a sudden, I didn’t think I was going to make it to the porch,” she said.

The same thing happened for three straight mornings.  The sight and smell of food early in the day brought on the trips to the back porch.  “That settles it,” Patrick said.  “We’re going to the doctor today.”

“I can’t today, I have so much to do,” she said.

“There’s nothing you have to do so important, it can’t wait until tomorrow,” he said.  “Now get dressed, we’re going to town.”

“Yes, darling,” she acquiesced and left to change for the trip to town.

In Doctor Carmichael’s office, she described her symptoms.  “Do you think it might be from the concussion?” she asked.

Doctor Carmichael smiled and shook his head.  “I don’t think so,” he said.  “Let me check you over and then we’ll talk, but first, this mostly affects you in the morning?”

“Yes, and usually when I’ve fixed Patrick’s breakfast,” she answered.

After his examination was complete, he said, “Let’s get Patrick back in here and we’ll talk about it.”

A concerned Patrick came back into the room.  Doctor Carmichael looked at the two of them and asked, “How do you feel about becoming parents?”

Katerina recovered first.  “Par… You mean I’m pregnant?” she asked.

“That’s what all of your symptoms seem to indicate.  Morning sickness, and tender breasts are both early signs of pregnancy.  Congratulations,” he said.

“I feel so silly, not noticing.  I’m late and usually as
regular as a clock.  Thank you very much.  I’ve been hoping for this since I came to Oregon.

“We have to stop back by the farm and tell your parents.  They are going to be as excited as I am,” she said.

Patrick had a big silly grin plastered on his face.  “Wow, I’m going to be a papa,” he said.  “I can’t believe it.”

Walking on air, they stopped by the mercantile to pick up some needed supplies and headed home via Patrick’s parents farm.

When they walked into the kitchen, his mother had just taken a pie from the oven and put it on the window sill to cool.  “I didn’t realize the aroma from a pie would carry that far,” she said.

“Mama, come sit down,” Patrick said.  “Honey, you tell her.”

“We’re pregnant,” she said.  “We just came from Doctor Carmichael’s and he said we’re going to have a baby.  Can you believe it?”

“Well, thank the good Lord,” she said.  At last, I’m going to be a grandma.”  She grabbed Katerina’s arms and began dancing around the kitchen with her.

“Mama, be careful,” Patrick said.  “You might hurt the baby.”

“Nonsense,” his mother said.  “This is a time for rejoicing and it won’t hurt her, I promise.”  Grabbing Patrick’s arm, the led them in a jig around the kitchen. 

Her husband came into the kitchen.  “What’s going on?” he asked.

“We’re going to be grandparents.  Katerina is expecting!” his excited wife said.

“Glory be to God,” he said in true Catholic fashion.  He grabbed Patrick’s hand and pumped it up and down several times.  “Congratulations son.  It’s a time to be proud.

“And you, little lady, give me a big hug,” he said to Katerina.

He enveloped her with his strong muscular arms.  “You’re a blessing.  A good wife to our son, and now the mother-to-be of our grandson.”

“Grandson?  Aren’t you jumping the gun a little?” his wife asked.

“No, it's going to be a boy, but a little girl would be all right too,” he said.

“I hope we don’t disappoint you,” Katerina said.

“How could you disappoint us when you are having our first grandchild,” he asked.

Patrick’s mother said, “Do you want to keep this private?”

Katerina said, “Aside from our marriage, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  I want to share.  What about you, honey?”

“I want the world to know,” Patrick said.

“Sunday dinner at our house, this weekend and I’ll ask everyone to be here,” his mother said.

Sundays at the Murphy’s was always a noisy event.  The announcement Sunday was no different.  As the family gathered around the long table, laden with food, Patrick’s father said, “Katerina has asked if she could return thanks today.  Let’s all join hands and bow our heads.  Katerina…”

Katerina gave thanks for the food, and for the ongoing warm welcome to the family she continued to receive.  She then asked for the food to be blessed, and in closing said, “Lord, bless the life growing within my body.  Amen.”

Mary Margaret said, “Did I just hear what I think I heard?”

“Patrick and I are going to have a baby,” Katerina confirmed.

Pandemonium broke out.  Congratulations from all present were bestowed, while Patrick stood beside his wife, his arm holding her close.