For the next week, Will gradually grew sicker, developing a rash on his chest and a higher temperature. Drew stayed by his side, sensing that he needed him.
Elizabeth visited as much as she could, but some days she needed to stay home.
The doctor dropped by twice a day and insisted he was going to be fine, but Elizabeth was scared. He slept a lot and he looked so miserable.
This day, she sat next to him, feeling the heat from his body through her clothes.
"Mama," he muttered in his sleep.
"I'm here, baby. Shhh."
He moved up closer to her, his head on her chest.
"Mama," he whimpered. Her eyes filled with tears, her heart hurting because she couldn't help him.
"Dear God," she whispered. "I can't lose him. Please help my baby," she prayed. Her tears poured down her cheeks, dampening his hair which was already wet from sweat.
She stroked his hair, placing a cool rag on his head every few minutes. After awhile, she fell asleep too, out of exhaustion.
AT THE THORNTON RANCH
Kylie was hungry and she only wanted her Mama. She refused to eat bananas or sweet potato or anything she normally did.
"Grandma, can you try?" Em pleaded. "She just won't eat."
Charlotte picked up Kylie, now thoroughly exhausted from crying. She poured some cow's milk into a bottle that the previous toddlers in the family had used and went into the living room by the fire.
"Mama," the little girl whimpered, turning her head away.
"She's not here, love. Try for Grandma." Charlotte put the nipple in Kylie's mouth and miraculously, she wrapped her lips around it and sucked. "Good girl." She watched as she closed her eyes and drank every drop in the bottle, succumbing to sleep. She kept the nipple in her mouth for awhile, making sure she was completely asleep before she removed it.
"Gamma! Me hungry," Abbie yelled, running into the room.
"Abbie Joy, shhh. Kylie is sleeping."
"Kiki cry lots."
"She does, but so did you when you were little."
"Me big?" she asked as she climbed up next to her.
"Bigger than Kiki."
"Yeah." She nodded, her blonde curls bouncing. "Gamma?"
"Yes, Abbie?"
"Me love you!" She stood up and kissed Charlotte's cheek.
"I love you too."
Maddie walked in. "Abbie, are you hungry, sweets?"
"Yeah." She climbed down and walked out with her big sister.
THE BOARDING HOUSE, THAT EVENING
"Mama?" Will whispered. His throat was raw. He touched her face. "Mama?" he whispered louder.
"Will?" Her eyes opened and stared.
"Thirsty," he said.
She sat up and poured him a glass of water. "Drink slow, babe." He took a few sips and sat back, exhausted. She touched his forehead and sighed. "How do you feel, Will?"
"So tired."
"I think your fever is broken."
"What does that mean?"
"You're getting better." He nodded and closed his eyes, falling asleep again.
Elizabeth got up and left the room quietly. "Thank you, God." She looked up and then closed her eyes, extremely thankful for what seemed to be an answered prayer.
She wandered down the stairs to find her husband.
He was in the kitchen talking to Jake and Drew. They looked up as she walked in.
"Elizabeth?" She covered her face and burst into tears, nearly falling to the ground before Jack caught her. "What happened? Is he worse?"
She shook her head and cried into his shoulder. "No….his fever….it broke." Jack sighed and said a quick silent prayer. "I'm so grateful."
He nodded and kissed her forehead.
"Jack, I need to get home. I need to nurse Kylie. It's been hours."
"I'm sure she's fine. Mom probably gave her milk from the cows."
"I know, but I need to go before I leak everywhere." She blushed and kissed his cheek. "I love you."
"I love you babe. See you tomorrow?"
She nodded, wishing he could go home too. She missed sleeping next to him every night.
She kissed Drew and Jake goodbye and went to get Bella from the stables.
As Elizabeth walked to the stables, Travis stopped her. "Elizabeth, how's Will?"
"His fever broke a little bit ago."
"Thank goodness."
"Yes. I need to get home for Kylie. I'll talk to you soon, Travis."
"Of course. Here's a telegram and a letter for Maddie. Have a good evening, Elizabeth."
"Thank you." She slipped her mail in her pocket and started walking again.
About twenty minutes later, she rode Bella into the barn and unsaddled her, fed her a bit of oats, and checked on the cows and chickens.
When she finally walked into her cozy house, she knew she needed to eat, feed Kylie, and go to sleep.
Charlotte was in the kitchen with the kids, eating dinner. "Mama!" Kylie bounced in her chair and smiled.
"Hi, sweetie! Mama needs to nurse you." She picked her up and held her, feeding her right at the table while eating her own dinner.
"Elizabeth, how's Will?"
"His fever broke so he's getting better."
"Oh good! I'm so glad." Charlotte's eyes teared up but she kept her composure.
"I'm lonely, Mama." Jay looked up, a sad expression on his face.
"You're lonely? You mean in your room?"
"Yes. Can I sleep on Daddy's pillow?"
"You want to sleep with me? I thought you told me yesterday you were a big boy and you weren't scared."
"I'm still little." Elizabeth smiled at her big "little" boy.
"I guess you are. Yes, you can sleep on Daddy's pillow, Jay."
"Thanks Mama. I'll be good."
"Me seep Mama, too!" Abbie said, not wanting to be left out.
"Why don't all of you sleep in my room?"
So that's what they did. Em and Maddie slept by the fireplace, Carlie slept on the floor next to the bed, and Jay and Abbie slept in the bed, while Kylie was in her crib.
"Mama?"
"J.T. time to sleep."
"Mama, I'm not lonely."
"That's good buddy. Neither am I."
"I miss Daddy."
"Me too. They'll be home soon."
"When?"
"When Will is all better."
"When?"
"Jay, shh."
"Yes, Mama." He was quiet for a moment. "But when?"
Maddie started giggling and then Em joined in, followed closely by Carlie.
"Girls, don't encourage him." Elizabeth said the words but really she was trying to stop herself from giggling too. After a moment, she started laughing but it came out more like a snort.
"Mama piggy!" Abbie said, causing everyone to laugh again.
She didn't bother stopping them. She just counted all her blessings, the six that were in the room with her and the many others that weren't.
A WEEK LATER
Finally, with no new cases of scarlet fever and Will regaining a bit of strength everyday, Jack and the twins were able to return home two weeks before Christmas.
The school board decided to keep the school closed until January, which the children were happy about.
While they waited for Jack and the boys, Maddie drank tea with her mom in the kitchen while the kids slept.
"Mom, I'm getting worried. I haven't heard from Nate in almost three weeks."
"That's a bit strange. Maybe he's busy with school exams."
"I guess. I was used to a weekly letter, but…"
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Elizabeth stood up and rushed out of the room to find her coat. She dug in the pocket and pulled out a telegram and Maddie's letter. She sighed, grateful they were in there.
"I'm so sorry, babe. I got these about a week ago. I was so tired from being with Will all day, I forgot Travis had given them to me."
"It's ok. I'm just glad he wrote. Who's the telegram from?"
She opened the telegram and smiled. "Caleb." Her smile disappeared when she read it, though. "They can't come for Christmas."
"Why not?"
"It doesn't say. Oh, I'm disappointed."
"Me too. I'm sorry, Ma."
Elizabeth looked at Maddie. "Aren't you going to read his letter?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry. I can leave you alone."
"No it's ok, Mom." She gently opened the seal and took out his letter.
DEAR MADDIE,
I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR WILL IS SICK. I HOPE DREW AND THE REST OF YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS STAY HEALTHY. I HOPE YOU ARE WELL.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AT CHRISTMAS. WILL YOU MEET ME AT THE TRAIN? I'LL BE IN TOWN A WEEK BEFORE THE HOLIDAY.
MY EXAMS ARE GOING WELL. I NEED TO STUDY FOR AND TAKE ONE MORE AND THEN I CAN COME HOME TO YOU.
I MISS YOU SO MUCH. I LOVE YOU.
NATE
Maddie sighed and closed the letter.
"You ok, babe?"
"Yeah. I just miss him." She stood up and washed her cup, staring out the window at the now snow covered pond where he proposed. "Perfect day," she whispered.
"Anyone home?" Jack called from the living room.
"Jack, the kids are napping." Elizabeth walked in the room and smiled at him.
"Sorry. I guess I'm just excited to be home. It's been three weeks, you know." She walked over and wrapped her arms around him.
"Three long weeks," she mumbled.
"Gross, are you guys gonna kiss?" Will asked. "Lets go to our room, Drew."
Jack put his hands on her face and gently pulled her lips to his. "It's good to be home."
Maddie walked in. "Sorry. I'm going to go milk the cows and feed the chickens."
"I'll help, Maddie." Jack kissed Elizabeth one more time and then followed Maddie out the door.
"You don't have to help, Dad. You just got home."
"Yes, but you've been doing the boy's chores for weeks. I don't mind helping."
"Ok. Thank you."
They each milked and fed a cow and then fed the horses and chickens without speaking.
"Maddie, you ok?"
"Sure."
"Did you hear from Nate?"
"Yeah, he'll be here in a week."
"Are you excited?"
She smiled. "Yeah. It will be nice to have him here."
"I was thinking, I want to give you and Nate something. A wedding gift."
"That's very sweet, but you don't need to."
"Yes I do. You're my oldest daughter. I'm going to miss you so much and I want to help you out, like I helped Amy and Caleb."
"What do you mean?"
"I want to pay for the materials for the house Nate wants to build."
"Dad, I don't think that's a good idea. I appreciate it, but no."
"Why?"
"Nate feels like he needs to take care of me and show everyone he's capable as a husband by earning the money himself and building our house. I offered to contribute one time and we ended up fighting about it."
"He's stubborn."
"He is," she acknowledged with a grin. "But he's wonderful and he loves me and if it means living in the boarding house for the next five years until he makes enough, then we will do it."
Jack sighed and kissed her forehead. "You amaze me, Bug."
"Why?"
"It's amazing how much you've grown up in the last few months. You are going to be a good wife to him and a blessing."
"I hope so. I'm going to try hard."
A WEEK LATER
Maddie waited, shivering in the wind, for the train to arrive. Finally, the whistle sounded as it turned the corner into town. Her heart pounded and she was ready.
She watched as the train finally stopped, grinding it's breaks.
Nate stepped off the train and smiled, picking her up off the ground as soon as he was close enough. It felt so good to hold her again. He slowly put her down, his arms still around her waist, their foreheads touching.
"Marry me Maddie," he whispered.
"Ok." She kissed the very corner of his mouth, her lips lingering for a few seconds longer than she intended. "I love you," she told him.
"I love you too."
He sighed, took her hand and walked with her to the ranch. On the way, once out of town and away from prying eyes, he gently pushed her up against a tree and kissed her as if he hadn't seen her in a year.
"Oh my goodness," she said, pushing her face into his shoulder, thoroughly overwhelmed. "I didn't know you could kiss like that."
"Me either."
"One hundred and fifty seven," she blurted.
"What?"
"Until we get married. We have one hundred and fifty seven days to go."
"Good grief, that sounds like forever."
"Not when you remember that we'll be together for the rest of our lives." She raised her chin and kissed him softly.
"That sounds better." Forever with the beautiful Maddie Carlin? Yes, it definitely sounded better.
THAT AFTERNOON, THORNTON KITCHEN
"Jack? What are you thinking about?"
Elizabeth came over and sat on his lap. "Now I'm thinking about you." He kissed her and pulled her close.
"What's on your mind, sweetheart? You're so quiet."
"I wanted to pay for materials for Nate and Maddie's house but she turned me down."
"They had a falling out about him paying for everything himself."
"I know. Now I have another idea."
He looked at her, a gleam in his eye and his dimples popping. "You seem to think it's a good one."
"It will keep them happy and me at the same time."
"Ok, well, tell me."
AFTER DINNER
"Nate, I'm going to go take care of the animals. Why don't you keep me company?"
Maddie looked up at her father. "Dad."
"We'll be back soon. Don't worry."
Maddie could tell her Dad had something up his sleeve. She only hoped that whatever it was, wouldn't end up with her and Nate in a fight.
Nate kissed her cheek and followed Jack out to put on their coats.
"Mom, what's going on?"
"I'll let your Dad or Nate tell you. It's his thing."
"Mom, please?"
"Maddie, don't worry." She patted her shoulder and went to start bath water for the little kids.
IN THE BARN
For a little while, Nate wasn't sure why he had asked him to help. Jack just fed the horses and brushed them.
"Nate, I'd like to speak with you."
"Yes, sir."
"You can call me Jack."
"Ok. Jack."
"When Caleb and Amy moved to Regina, Jake and I paid to rent their home for the two years they were there."
"Yes, sir. I mean Jack. Maddie told me. That was very generous."
"Maybe, but it really was just me taking care of my children." Nate nodded. "Maddie and I have always had a strong bond, from the moment I held her after she was born."
"Yes, I know."
"I know that you are going to take care of her. I don't doubt that, because, if I did, you wouldn't be marrying her." Nate nodded again. "Even though that is true, I still feel the strong need to give you both something. You are going to be my son in about five months and I take care of my children."
"Forgive me, but what are you saying?"
"I wanted to pay for the home you want to build for her. Maddie said no. She told me how you feel and I respect that very much. So, what I'm proposing is a compromise. When I was transferred here years ago for my new assignment, there were Elizabeth, myself, and the five oldest. The Mounties provided a one bedroom home just outside town. It was cramped to say the least."
"I can imagine."
"Over the years, others have lived in it and now, I own it. Or I will in a few days when I buy it from Travis."
"Sir, I appreciate what you're trying to do…"
"Nate, let me finish, then you can tell me what you think."
"Sorry."
"I want to fix up that house, adding an extra bedroom and a new roof and some other things. I would love it if you and Maddie would live in it while you save up for your own home."
Nate was silent for a few moments. "Sir, if you could tell Maddie that I had to go and that I'll see her tomorrow." Jack saw the look on his face and in his tear filled eyes. He had either crossed the line or he was happy.
"Nate, hang on. Tell me what's going on." Jack put his hand on Nate's arm.
"I need time."
Nate stood up and walked out, heading toward his home.
