Read Online The Montana Doctor's Bride (New Brides of Montana) by Susan Leigh Carlton - Free Book Online Page A

wish to discuss, I cannot accept your proposal.
    Sincerely,
    Elizabeth
     
    Sitting with Jack, in the church after services, Carter showed him the latest letter, “Jack, what do you make of this?  She has some problems, and for some reason, does not want to tell me about it.”
     
    Jack looked at the letter.  “Carter, I don’t have a clue.  It’s obvious she cares for you.  She may have an illness and does not want to burden you with it.  I just don’t know.  If she is that important to you, I think you should go to her and see if you can help.”
     
    “I think you are correct.  It will take a week to get there, but I believe it’s worth the trip.  I’m going to make arrangements.  I don’t think I will write I’m coming.”
     
    Eight days later…
     
    Carter hired a carriage and drove to the home on Shady Grove Road.  He looked at his house; it was neat and appeared to be well cared for, as did Elizabeth’s.
     
    He went up the steps and knocked on the door.  He heard a noise from inside, so he knew she was home.  He heard the snick of the lock and Elizabeth opened the door. 
     
    “Yes?” she said.  A shocked expression appeared on her face, when she recognized him.  She fainted, dead away.  It happened so fast, Carter almost did not catch her before she crumpled to the floor.  He carried her to the davenport, and then went to the kitchen, where he dampened a towel.  He wiped her forehead gently and called her name as she began to stir.
     
    “Carter, it’s you.  What are you doing here?”  I didn’t know you were coming,” she stammered.
     
    “I came because I thought you needed help.  Your letters concerned me, and I had no choice but to come and make sure you were well.”
     
    “I am well.  Whatever gave you the idea I was not?”
     
    “Your letters gave no hint what was bothering you.  I was afraid you had an illness and didn’t want to burden me.  I had to know, Elizabeth.”
     
    She sat up.  “Excuse me, I have to attend to something; I’ll be right back.”  She left the room, and returned five minutes later, carrying a little boy.  “Carter, this is the circumstance I did not want to drop on you.  He is your son.  I named him Carter Patrick.  He recently had his second birthday.”
     
    He stood.  “You had my son, and didn’t want to tell me.  Why, for goodness sakes.”
     
    She said, “You shouldn’t have to pay for an indiscretion on my part.”
     
    “If I remember correctly, it takes two to make a baby,” he said. 
     
    “I came to your bed, it was my fault,” she said.
     
    “Fault?” for God’s sake, “Elizabeth, he’s a blessing.  For two years, I’ve been a father and didn’t know.  You should have told me.”
     
    “Jim Gilbride said the same thing.  He offered to write if I was afraid to, but I asked him not to do so.”
     
    Carter extended his arms to take his son, but he turned away, his head in the hollow of his mother’s neck and shoulder.  Carter wrapped his arms around the mother and son.  His eyes were moist.  “You shouldn’t have gone through this alone.  I wouldn’t have let you, had I known.”
     
    “I know that.  You needed to put the shock of losing Lucy, and the nightmares of war behind you and couldn’t do that here.  When I realized I was with child, you had been gone two months, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell you, so I put it off and kept putting it off until it was too late.  Then I was afraid to tell you.”
     
    He released them, and motioned to sit down.  “We have so much to talk about.  We have to decide how we are going to do this.”
     
    She sat beside him.  “I don’t hold you responsible for anything.  Carter is the joy of my life.  I always wanted to be a mother and now I am.  He’s a happy child and is no trouble.”
     
    “Listen to you,” Carter said.  “You’re talking about my son.  I am responsible.  I came back here wanting to marry you and take