Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [89]
“Be patient,” the minister continued. “Do what you can to make amends. But remember, it isn’t going to be easy. Show her how committed you are. If you love her, though, stick it out.”
“I do love her…. I’m not giving up on our marriage,” Matt said. He stood and offered the pastor his hand. “Thank you.” Larry Dawson had been refreshingly nonjudgmental, kind and helpful. He’d told Matt what he needed to hear, given him a plan of action and promised to pray for him.
Leaving the minister’s, Matt drove into Grand Forks, met with an attorney he chose from the Yellow Pages and began to feel some hope. He arrived back at the ranch just as Margaret was leaving the barn. He paused when he saw her, wondering if he should say anything.
Scowling at him, she removed her gloves. “I thought I was finished with you once and for all.”
“I spent the night in town. Had some thinking to do.”
She snickered as though she didn’t believe him.
Matt followed her to the house and stopped on the front step. “I thought you should know I saw an attorney this afternoon.”
“Good. When’s the divorce final?” She looked straight through him, her face emotionless.
“It wasn’t a divorce attorney.”
“More’s the pity.” She started inside.
“Margaret, for the love of God, would you listen to me?”
She hesitated, her back to him. “I have the distinct impression I’m not going to like what you have to say.”
“What will it take to make this right with you?” he shouted.
“Take?” she shouted back, finally confronting him. “You think you can buy your way out of this? Do you think I can pretend this never happened? Do you seriously believe I can put it out of my mind? Haven’t you figured it out yet? Nothing you say or do could possibly make this right with me.”
“Look, I realize it isn’t an easy situation. I’d give anything to have spared you this, but it happened and I can’t deny it. Keep in mind that I wasn’t married to you at the time, and once we got married I didn’t see Sheryl again. Still, we’re both going to have to deal with this pregnancy. I’m sorry. Sorrier than you know.”
Slowly, thoughtfully, she shook her head, dismissing everything he’d said. “What about my pregnancy, Matt? What about my baby? This should be a happy time for us…. But all I can think about is that another woman’s having your baby, another woman is giving you a child first.” Tears shone in her eyes and she seemed about to say something else. Instead, she stormed into the house and slammed the door.
More than ever, Matt had the feeling he was going to need the prayers Pastor Dawson had promised.
Dennis Urlacher and Jeb McKenna had been friends most of their lives. When he wanted to talk about Sarah’s pregnancy, Dennis figured the one person who’d understand his fears would be her brother.
Driving out to the bison ranch for a fuel delivery, Dennis couldn’t stop worrying about his wife and child. Sarah’s pregnancy had been difficult from the start. They’d feared with the first spotting that she’d miscarry. The trauma of those few weeks had taken an emotional toll on them both. When Sarah became bedridden, it’d been a hardship in more ways than one.
In the last months, the pregnancy had taken a turn for the better and Sarah was allowed to get around to a limited degree. After a huge number of expensive tests, it was determined that the baby was developing normally. For Dennis, relief alternated with panic about what could still happen. He desperately wanted this child; he’d waited a long time for a family and he deeply loved Sarah.
Knowing he was due to deliver fuel that afternoon, Jeb was waiting for him when he arrived. Dennis wasn’t usually one to chat. Jeb knew and understood that. Perhaps it was one reason they’d remained such good friends—they didn’t need a lot of conversation to be content.
Marriage had changed Jeb. After the farming accident that cost him his leg, he’d become something of a recluse. But in the months since he’d married Maddy, Dennis had seen the old Jeb, with his subtle sense of humor and gruff