Healing Montana Sky Read Online Free PDF

hands on her chest and sent an apologetic glance at the minister. “I was praying to the Virgin in this case, Reverend,” Mrs. Cameron rushed to explain. “She understands the needs of mothers and babes.”
    Reverend Norton frowned, but there was no disapproval behind the look. “Come in, Mrs. Cameron, and meet Mrs. Valleau.”
    Mrs. Cameron took a step into the room, but there was no space for her to go farther. She turned to Antonia. “We have a newborn whose mother has died. Will you come and nurse the wee one? For if she doesn’t have sustenance soon, she’s not long for this world.”
    Antonia’s eyes widened at the extraordinary request. She glanced down at Jacques. Have I enough milk to spare? We are barely surviving ourselves. But she couldn’t allow a baby to die. She nodded. “I be glad to help.”
    Reverend Norton waved in Alice’s direction. “Mrs. Cameron, the wife of our doctor. Mrs. Cameron, this is a newcomer to our town, who has recently lost her husband.”
    A chagrinned expression crossed the woman’s face. “I’m sorry for appearing so discourteous. Condolences on your loss. And that of your bairns.”
    “Thank you.” Antonia stood. She set Jacques on her hip and held out her other hand to Henri. “Where be this babe?”
    “Thank the good Lord!” Mrs. Cameron raised her eyes heavenward. “Now may we please be in time to save Camilla!”

    Erik cradled his tiny daughter with one arm. Camilla felt so light. He’d carried suckling pigs who weighed more than the little mite in his arms.
    Now that his frantic dash to reach the doctor had ended with him holding his dying daughter and waiting, he finally had time to examine her. In the oval shape of her face and delicate features, he saw his wife again, and his heart ached. He stroked a finger over the soft blonde hair on her head, barely more than fuzz.
    A tiny hand flailed, as small as a coin.
    He caught her wrist to study the slender fingers, the miniature nails.
    Her fingers curled around his pinky, causing a wave of love to wash over him, the emotion so strong it made him dizzy. This is what it means to be a father. He hadn’t known he could feel this way. Hadn’t realized such a love was possible. He’d wanted his firstborn to be a son to help around the farm. Now, he wouldn’t trade his precious Camilla for a schoolhouse full of boys.
    He had a horrific vision of laying their daughter in her mother’s arms and burying them both in a single grave, and his guts twisted.
    Please, dear Lord. Let me keep her. I swear to be a good father.
    The sound of the opening door made him look up. Erik’s first glimpse of the woman wearing a leather tunic and leggings, russet hair caught in a long braid down her back, made him think Mrs. Cameron had found a squaw to nurse his baby. Not that he cared. Any breast full of milk would do. But then the woman stared at him with sad golden eyes, and he revised his estimation. Not an Indian, but Camilla’s savior, nevertheless.
    The woman held a baby in her arms. A boy. Plump, with big dark eyes and a gummy smile. Please God, may my daughter soon look as healthy as he does.
    A young boy of five or six who had his mother’s golden eyes followed on her heels and then leaned against her leg when she stopped a few feet away.
    One hand on the mound of her stomach, Mrs. Cameron made breathless introductions that he barely caught. Although the fact she was a recent widow and had left her home in the mountains penetrated his foggy brain.
    Reverend Norton stepped into the room. “I’ve heard the tragic news. I’m so sorry to learn of Daisy’s death. Mrs. Norton and I are here if you need us. If. . .the baby needs to be baptized right away. We’ll be in the kitchen.”
    Erik wanted to shout, “NO!” But instead, he took a deep breath and gave the minister a nod of thanks before the man left the room. Truth was, he was grateful . If my little mite isn’t going to stay with me, then she’ll need to be