Courage to Love (Flynn Family Saga) Read Online Free PDF Page B

fault!”
    Maggie stroked Samantha’s hair.  “I need to stay.  The bleeding could start up again.”
    “I don’t care!  I want to die!”
    Maggie slapped her.
    Samantha put a shaking hand to her face.  “You—you hit me!”
    Maggie nodded.  “I know you’ve been through a lot.  I know how you feel, but—”
    “No, you don’t!  You never had a child!”
    Maggie bit her lip.  “You’re right.  I don’t know how you feel.  I’m sorry.”  She stroked Samantha’s damp hair back from her face.  “You’re in shock from lack of blood, and you’re grieving your child.  So is your husband.  So please, don’t make it any harder on him by threatening to take your own life.”
    Samantha nodded.  She turned back to Maggie.  “I’m so scared, Maggie.  Everything is so different from what I thought it would be.  It’s cold and wet and hot and dry and the wind never stops.  And now I lost my baby, and my mother is a thousand miles away.”
    Maggie put her arms around the girl and held her and let her cry.
    Samantha clung to her.
    Finally, Samantha’s sobs subsided.  “I’m so ashamed.”
    Maggie shook her head.  “Tears are nothing to be ashamed of.  And as for the other, let’s let that be our secret, just between you and me.  All right?”
    Samantha nodded.  “Maggie?”
    “Yes?”
    “Could I—could I hold my baby?  Just for a moment?”
    Maggie hesitated a moment.  Then, she nodded.  She cleaned off the tiny form and wrapped it in a blanket.  Then, she handed it to Samantha.
    “A boy,” Samantha whispered.  “A little boy.”  She shut her eyes.  “We were going to call him Benjamin.”
    Maggie’s throat tightened.  “You still can.  I—I could baptize him for you, if you like.”
    Samantha nodded.
    Maggie went to the back of the wagon.  “Henry?”
    Henry Worthington came to the wagon with his hat in his hand.  “Samantha?”
    Maggie drew a deep breath.  “She’s all right.  But your son...”
    Henry bowed his head.
    Maggie touched his shoulder.  “I—Samantha wants me to baptize him.”
    Henry’s head jerked up.
    Maggie swallowed hard.  “If that’s all right with you.”
    Henry cleared his throat.  “It would be a comfort to me, Mrs. Flynn.  Thank you.”
    Maggie nodded and went back into the wagon.
    Henry took his wife’s hand.  He touched the pale, still face of his son.  Tears shone in his blue eyes.  He looked at Maggie.
    Maggie picked up her old battered canteen.  She poured a few drops onto the child’s head.  “I baptize thee Benjamin Worthington in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
    “Amen,” Henry whispered.
    “Amen.”  Samantha’s voice sounded clear and strong in the confines of the wagon.
    Maggie’s throat ached.  She climbed out of the wagon and went to the Barrett wagon.  She helped Abby prepare Jed’s body for burial.  Then, she dragged herself into the lead wagon and changed into her black dress.  She opened her trunk and took out the Bible Sam had given her.  Her tears fell on the page as she wrote Jed’s name in the book.  She hesitated, and then she wrote, “Benjamin Worthington.”  Maggie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and left the wagon.
    Most of the travelers had already assembled at the gravesite.  Ben and Frank were already there.  Maggie drew a deep breath.  “Jed Barrett was a good man.  I’m sorry he was taken from us so soon.  He had a ready smile and a quick wit, and he was always willing to help his neighbor.  I do not have the power to bring him back, but I will try to honor his memory by living up to his example the best I can.  Benjamin Worthington was born too soon.  Our hearts go out to his parents, Henry and Samantha.  May God give them comfort.  Let us pray.”  Maggie waited for her flock to bow their heads.  “Father, we commend unto your care Jed Barrett and Benjamin Worthington.  Hold them in your loving hands, and please be with