Mail Order Bride- Illinois

Chapter 16

Jimmy received the multiple letters from his brothers. He wasn’t ignoring them per say, he was just a different person sine he last saw them. The truth is after the war they all were, and they knew it. It is why they had left the ranch in Texas several years ago.

While the other Smith brothers drifted, Jimmy felt like he was called to a higher purpose. Like their father he decided to be a pastor, preaching the word of God. The death of his twin was like missing an arm and a leg. Garret was an extension of himself, at first he didn’t know how to recover the loss. Jimmy at first drowned himself in booze. Then one day he stumbled into a church in North Carolina and it was like coming home.

A senior pastor took one look at him and knew he was lost, looking to be found.

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10.” The old pastor recited as he sat down next to him. Jimmy looked at the pastor unbelieving.

“I don’t think I can be saved after what I have done pastor.” The pastor just smiled,

“All men can and are worthy of being redeemed, are worthy of God’s love. You just have to admit your sins and open your heart to his love. Salvation was made for sinners.” Jimmy just laughed,

“No I’m not worthy.”

“Listen son, men have been fighting wars since God has put men on this earth. What you’ve done and seen is nothing new to him. God sent his only begotten son to this world to teach us the word of God only to have him crucified. Christ’s last words weren’t of anger or of rage but of forgiveness . Christ’s last words were ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.’ Salvation is possible son, you just have to open your heart.”

The pastor patted his shoulder and he got up and left him alone to his thoughts. Jimmy did a lot of soul searching the next several months. He visited that church every day, and had long talks with the pastor. The congregation helped to get clean, gave him a roof over his head, basically they saved his life.

He found himself on the road to becoming a pastor. Jimmy wanted to help people like him, especially men who were lost from the war.

Jimmy had ended up traveling all of the continental United States doing his preaching. He came across his brother James in Kansas City. Jimmy had stayed there for several months before moving on to a different city. While Jimmy was happy to see him and catch up with him about his life, he had no desire to put down roots alongside his brother.

This may make him an awful brother, but it didn’t change the way he felt about his family. They had all drifted apart, he hadn’t talked to his eldest brother Jonathan since he left the farm in Texas. The latest letter from Jaime however had him concerned it was quick and to the point.

Jimmy,

I know things have been hard for you since Garrett died. The war stole something from all of us, but you had it the worst.

Jonathan needs us, from what James tells me some one is coming after his ranch and it’s going to get b****y. While you don’t have to raise a g*n, just please lend us your sharp eyes.

Jaime

Jimmy sighed everyone loved to point out that he was a sharpshooter. He hated it. Everyone called him a natural born tactician. His parents had wanted to send him to West Point, but Jimmy refused to go without his twin. Then his mother and sister died, then war broke out.

In reality it was probably a good thing he didn’t attend West Point. Jimmy would have been at best a lieutenant and as a sharpshooter those are always who he targeted. The men actually leading the troops, so that was sergeants and maybe a few lieutenants. Once they were out no one knew the orders so it was chaos.

Jimmy came back to the problem at hand, what to do about the situation. Well proverbs 17:17 says “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Could he live with himself if he got another letter saying one of his brothers was dead? Jimmy didn’t think so. So Jimmy figured it was time to get himself to Oregon.

Abby noticed the ranch seemed to have an air of tension surrounding it, and she didn’t know the reason. Abby asked everyone what the cause was, but the answers were all the same, “nothing, why would you think that?” If the answers weren’t the same then she wouldn’t be concerned. It was like the responses were rehearsed. Abby didn’t know how to get to the bottom of it but she was going to. This was her home and she needed to remind Jonathan of that.

She needed to put those thoughts aside for the moment. The doctor was coming by today to check on her pregnancy. Abby wanted to go into town, but doctor McNally insisted she was too far along to take the bumpy road. If the doctors estimate on her due date was right, she only had a month left in her pregnancy. Abby was very excited for the baby to come out of her. Abby wasn’t like other woman she knew, she didn’t love being pregnant. She did in the beginning, but as the pregnancy wore on, it got harder and harder on her body. Abby was just ready to have this baby in her arms.

“Hello Doctor McNally!” She called out in greeting as she saw him pull up in his wagon.

“Hello Mrs. Smith!” He called back as he set the brakes and jumped down. Abby wanted to help him, but with her huge stomach she’d only hinder him. James walked up next to her.

“That the doctor,” he asked skeptically. Abby looked at the forty something man with stooped shoulders.

“Yes, who else would it be?” James just continued to look at him with doubt in his eyes. Abby couldn’t help but feel happiness, James was taking the protective older brother quite seriously. She loved it, she never had someone be protective of her before. Abby felt a little pang in her heart that it wasn’t her husband who was behaving this way, but she would take what she could get.

Doctor McNally came up to the porch, and Abby led him into the house and up to her room. James tried to follow, but she Insisted on privacy.

The doctor gave her a quick examine, before they both exited the room where James quickly pounced.

“Well doc how is she?”

“Where’s Mr. Smith, I’d also like to talk to her husband.”

“Working, he’s gone all day,” Abby said simply.

“I’ll send for him,” James said as he ran out worriedly.

“What’s going on doctor?” She asked.

“Well I’m concerned about the swelling. Some swelling is normal, but yours is pretty significant are you on your feet for any amount of time?” The doctor asked. Abby was about to answer when James came back into the room.

“She’s on her feet for most of the day,” he said panting. Dang he must have ran the whole way. The doctor frowned,

“What are you doing all day?” Abby started to answer but James answered for her.

“She cooks three meals for over ten men, and the kids. She teaches the kids. She does the laundry.” The doctor interrupted,

“She’s still doing laundry? I specifically told Mr. Smith in my last visit she wasn’t supposed to do anything too strenuous. Laundry is the definition of strenuous!” The men looked at Abby, and she just shrugged.

“There’s no one else to do it.” The doctor sighed and then said,

“That may not be true a widow came to town recently, I’ll let her know that you are looking for some one to help you.”

“Sounds perfect, let her know we are desperate if necessary.” Just then Jonathan came into the room.

“What’s going on?”

“Mr. Smith the last time I came out here I specifically told you that Abby was too far advanced in her pregnancy to do anything strenuous, why did you not listen to me?” Jonathan looked at the doctor with a blank stare,

“She’s not.” Jonathan looked at her and asked,

“Are you?”

“Brother you really are clueless.” James said to his brother angrily.

“What?”

“Doing laundry is very strenuous on a woman in advanced stages of pregnancy. I’m not sure if that is causing the swelling, but I’m putting Abby on bed rest.”

“What?” Abby asked worriedly.

“What? For how long?” Jonathan asked.

“Until the baby comes, which may not be that long.”

“I thought I still had a month left?” She asked concerned.

“That’s my original estimate yes but all the stress and strenuous activity can induce labor.” The doctor stressed his concerns.

“Is my baby ok?” Abby asked terrified.

“I think so, I heard his heart beat.” Abby calmed down a little and decided to go lay down as the doctor suggested. Abby rubbed her belly and whispered over and over again,

“Everything will be okay.” Abby didn’t worry about the men who she left behind. Her only worry was for her baby.