Love's Healing

By Mildred Colvin

Serena Lancaster is grieving the death of her brother and his wife, but more than anything she wants to claim their orphaned baby who is being raised by foster parents. Her wealthy father disowned his son for leaving the family business and becoming a lowly farmer. Serena can’t tell him her true reason for going to Oregon, but he doesn’t mind her visiting an aunt who lives nearby. Thinking all is well, and she will soon be in charge of her niece, she is stunned to find opposition from the foster family’s son. It doesn’t help that he stirs emotions that have nothing to do with the baby.

Daniel Morgan served two years in the cavalry and received an injury that almost cost his life. His death was assumed when he went missing after that terrible battle, and his parents and wife were notified. Now he’s home, ready to take up where he left off, eager to see his wife. But his parents have shocking news for him when they introduce their newest foster child, an infant of only two months. He isn’t interested until he learns this is his wife’s child after marriage to a man named Lancaster. Now she’s an orphan. Bitterness fills his heart toward anyone by that name, so when a Lancaster shows up and claims she’s the baby’s aunt, he refuses to be moved by her charm and beauty. Why doesn’t he hand the infant over and be done with both of them instead of telling her she needs to stay at least a month? He has no idea.

Can Daniel find happiness when it seems betrayal and heartache is now his lot in life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mildred Colvin
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005121525

Mildred Colvin

Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

Book preview

Love’s

Healing

Mildred Colvin

Historical Christian Romance

Love’s Healing

Copyright ©2020 by Mildred Colvin

All Rights Reserved

Cover photo copyright © Mildred Colvin

Smashwords Edition

Scripture portions are taken from the King James version of the Bible.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

About the Author

Note from the Author

More on the Oregon Trail

Other Historical Romances

DEDICATION

My children and grandchildren are very special to me, and each contribute to any success I have as an author by giving a word of advice, an idea for a story, helping me untangle important strands of the plot that has me stumped, encouraging me, or posing for a cover. I appreciate their willingness to help, and yes, that includes the two in-law children. I dedicate this book to all of you, but especially to the one who dressed up in old fashioned clothing and posed for the cover of Love’s Healing. Thank you, Keirra.

Chapter 1

Willtown, Oregon, May 1865

Daniel Morgan relaxed in his parents’ kitchen for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

Here, Son. His mother’s hand trembled as she held out the glass of fresh well water. This will help cool you.

Thanks, Ma. He took a deep drink, letting the refreshing taste wash the dust of his travels from his throat. I can’t stay long. I need to get home to Melissa. She doesn’t know I’m back. It’s been forever. Two and a half years of...

He stuck one of his mom’s delicious rolls into his mouth and took a bite. He couldn’t say what he’d started to. Not in front of the folks. His sweet, innocent mom wouldn’t understand what it’d been like fighting renegade Indians, who’d as soon kill as look at a white man. The terror of knowing an arrow could strike without warning. And she wouldn’t believe what he’d gone through after being left for dead on a gruesome battlefield. How he’d wakened to find his company gone and two of his buddies lying nearby. He’d taken time to make sure they were beyond help, then hobbled away before the renegades returned for their dead.

Talk to us, son. His father pleaded. Tell us what happened. We got word you were dead almost two years ago.

He swallowed, stalling for time to think. What could he tell them? Sometimes he wished he’d gone back east and fought in the War Between the States. It couldn’t have been any worse.

Finally, he looked up, meeting his father’s gaze. Apparently, I was in a battle. I only remember waking up to find my company gone. In case the Indians returned, I left. The thing is, I didn’t know where I was, or why.

You lost your memory? Ma’s shocked voice drew his attention.

He nodded, touching the scar hidden by his hair. Partially. The most recent things. I never forgot Melissa or you. The blessing is I still don’t recall the battle, but I wandered aimlessly, without knowing where I was going. I tried to find civilization. A cabin in the woods even, but I must have wandered for days, and hid when I heard a sound. I barely lived off the land, trying to stay alive. When the cold began, I built a lean-to and waited out winter’s cold rainy season, determined to survive.

Oh, Daniel. Her voice wavered. Were you still in Oregon?

He gave a short laugh. At that time, I didn’t remember where we were fighting, but I ended up less than thirty miles away.

So close, yet so far. His father mumbled.

Yes. Daniel reached for another biscuit. He’d never get enough, even if he ate them all. That spring, I started out again on foot, knowing only what my uniform told me. I was a member of the First Regiment, Oregon Volunteer Cavalry. I figured if that was true, the Indians had taken my horse, because there was none in sight when I awoke. The only thing I knew for certain was I needed to find civilization. I needed help, or I’d never survive.

But you did. Ma placed a hand on his arm, lending her comfort, which he welcomed.

He nodded. Yes, by the grace of God, I did. The hardest was not knowing how to get wherever I needed to be. For days I had nothing to eat but a few berries and a few rabbits. I kept going south through the wilderness until I stumbled on a cabin I thought had been abandoned. It was sparsely furnished, but had books to occupy my mind and food to eat. I spent a week there before the owner returned. When an Indian stepped through the door, I was certain my life was over.

He smiled at his mother’s gasp. It was his cabin, and I believe God sent me there for a purpose. His name is Gage Janvier. His mother was an Indian, his father French. You may not remember, but several years ago, we met here in Willtown. At that time, he was living with a woman he called his spirit sister.

I don’t understand. How did you meet him? He had his parents’ full attention.

He was with Clay and Abigail Monroe. Abigail is Gage’s spirit sister, or what we might call sister of the heart. Anyway, he lived with them for a while, and I met him in Willtown briefly. He found some acceptance here, but not enough to feel safe. Finally, he went back to his cabin and visits the Monroe family occasionally.

That’s interesting. Pa shook his head. I never saw the boy.

He welcomed me, and we quickly renewed our friendship. Daniel thought about Gage and how he’d helped him. Not only physically, but spiritually.

He’d spent three months with him before going back to his unit. Although his faith in God had taken a beating, what remained was all that had pulled him through each day for the last two years. That and the memories he held in his heart of the young wife he’d left at home, knowing she would wait for him however long it took.

But he didn’t want negative thoughts. He only wanted to get home to his Melissa. They’d been newlyweds when he joined the Cavalry to protect the settlers. He felt a surge of excitement at the thought of seeing her again and taking up where they left off. He’d waited long enough.

He gave his mom the best smile he had as she rose to fill his coffee mug, then pulled a high-backed chair from the long, hand-hewn oak table and sat across from him.

His dad, at the head of the table, bowed his head on his laced fingers for a moment before looking up. Son, when we got word you’d died in battle, it broke our hearts. You’re our only son, and we love you so much. His father’s voice broke, and he swallowed.

I know, Dad, Daniel lowered his gaze. We all went through a hard time. I love you both, too. I wrote when I returned to my unit. I never heard from you or Melissa, though.

Dad looked up, his eyebrows lifted. We didn’t get a letter from you then. Melissa didn’t either. We only heard a few weeks ago that you were alive. We could scarcely believe God’s blessings when we received the wire telling us you were coming home. We thought there had to be some mistake. Then your letter finally arrived after that, explaining where you’d been. How you’d scarcely escaped death just to become lost for so long in the wilderness. We knew God had His hand on you. Melissa would have been so happy, if only—

Sure she will! That’s why I need to get to her. Maybe she didn’t get her letter. I stopped here first because I need to borrow a horse. Three miles is too far to walk anymore. Daniel gave a brief laugh. Got a bum knee. That’s all right, though. I’m ready to get my life back on track. I’ve got plans. Things I want to discuss with Melissa, but I think she’ll like what I have in mind.

Son, listen to me. Dad put his hand on Daniel’s arm. Melissa isn’t here.

Something about his father’s tone, and the pain lurking in his eyes, sent a shiver down his spine. Something was wrong. What do you mean? I didn’t expect her here. She’s at home, isn’t she?

His father took a deep breath, and his mother let out a strangled sob. She sat with her head bowed, her fingers pressed against her mouth while silent tears ran down her cheeks. Shivers of fear chased down Daniel’s backbone. He thought he’d made it through the valley. Reuniting with his wife was the hilltop he’d waited for so long. Would that be jerked from him, too?

He turned to his father. What’s wrong? Where’s Melissa?

She’s gone, son. Dad cleared his throat. Doctor Clark did what he could, but he couldn’t save her. She died two months ago, just before we got word you were alive. She never knew.

Dead? He stared in disbelief at his father. His chest hurt. He couldn’t breathe. How could God do this to him? Why, after everything that happened, did he have to come home to plunge into darkness again?

A baby’s cry cut through the stunned silence. Daniel scarcely noticed when his adopted sister, Susannah Donavan, entered the room. Nothing seemed real. Why would his father tell him Melissa was dead? He had to get home. She would be there waiting for him, just as they’d planned.

He pushed his chair back and stood.

Daniel. His dad’s voice stopped him. There’s more,

He sank back into the chair, wishing to be at home alone where he didn’t have to think. What more could there be? Why was a baby crying? He was vaguely aware of Susannah and his mother whispering in the corner. He could only concentrate on memories of his sweet Melissa with her large, trusting eyes as green as the prairie in spring and her hair flowing free and long with unmanageable curls the color of a flaming sunset. How could she die? What would he do without her?

His mother returned and handed a soft green and white quilt to his father. A fluff of orange-red baby hair stuck out one end.

This is Mary Abigail Lancaster. His father pulled the quilt back until Daniel saw a tiny baby’s face. She puckered and let out a lusty wail.

He turned away. He didn’t care about some baby his parents had taken in. He needed to get home, to see for himself if Melissa was there.

Daniel, listen to me. His father’s voice broke through the fog of pain around his heart as he spoke in a slow, deliberate voice. Son, Melissa died in childbirth. This is her baby.

Each word his father spoke slammed against Daniel’s heart as a battering ram, opening the door to more hurt. He stared at the child in his father’s arms. He hadn’t seen his wife in two years. She couldn’t have had a baby. Unless...

When we got word of your death, it almost killed her. His father continued, but Daniel scarcely heard. He shoved his chair away. How much more did God expect him to take? Had Job in the Bible felt this helpless rage building within when his servants brought word of one disaster after another? Surely Job couldn’t have hurt any more than he did right now.

Months after word came of your death, she met and married Caleb Lancaster. Tommy performed the ceremony. His father shook his head. If only we’d known you were alive, we could have avoided so much grief. Melissa would still be alive. He shrugged. Probably Caleb, too.

Who cares about him? Daniel’s fist hit the table, rattling the dishes and startling the baby into another round of squalling. He tried to ignore the infant as his mother took her and patted her back. She settled in a chair and held a bottle of milk until the baby latched onto the nipple. Susannah stood silently watching from a distance.

In the resulting silence, he spoke in a quieter voice, still laced