Montana Rose Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Psa. 34:18 (NIV) “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Audrey walked quickly down the hall to her bedroom. On the way, she decided to change into a pair of gray slacks and a white short-sleeved dress shirt. There were many days living on the ranch she wore jeans. Thankfully, the wedding business gave her a reason to dress up. After changing clothes, she ran in her office to pick up a wedding catalog, sitting on the chair was the diary. She just could not resist reading the next entry.



Diary entry 17 July 1903

“Today I felt the first flutter of the baby inside of me. What a feeling knowing that mine and Marcus' baby is growing! Marcus says it does not matter whether the baby is a boy or girl. Thinking about all of this, reminds me of the secret my friend Alicia shared with me a few weeks ago. She had come over so the two of us could visit over a cup of coffee. I immediately knew something was wrong – her red rimmed eyes gave it away. She looked heartbroken and vulnerable. Nothing like what I thought of her a few years ago. After Alicia sat down at the dining room table, I urged her to talk to me. She looked hesitant at first, but then said, “I can't hold my secret inside any longer Abbey.” It was that day she shared with me a secret no one could ever know. Alicia told the story of what happened before we became friends and around the time Bradley Wellington left town.


That cloudy day in August, Alicia had asked Bradley to meet her at Bitterroot Creek which flowed on the east side of town. They were standing in the shade, under the massive tree where they shared their first kiss. Alicia grabbed both of Bradley's hands and shared the news – she was pregnant. Expecting that he would be happy and insist they get married immediately, but instead he instantly blamed her and yelled that he was leaving town. After all, he had plans – plans that did not involve sticking around here, in some small town. He had no desire to live in Montana, but instead had his sights set on moving far away, to a big city like Denver. He had never told his plans to his father or his brother. After all they wouldn't understand. They were content to stay here. He wasn't going to let anyone, even Alicia, stand in his way. He spouted off all of this and turned away from Alicia. Then hopped back on his horse, which he had rode there and galloped away. Alicia screamed after him, pleading for Bradley to come back. Later that day, she was feeling desperate and walked all the way to the Wellington home. When she got there she found that she was not the only one left crying – Bradley's mother answered the door only to inform her that he was gone.

Three weeks later, Alicia had lost at least ten pounds, she could not eat or sleep. Her mother and father thought she would eventually get over losing her longtime boyfriend. They meant well, both of them worried and prayed for their daughter, but neither one knew about the secret she carried inside of her. One cool summer night she was awakened by a horrific pain ripping through her body. That night she lost the baby. After falling into a deep sleep, Alicia woke up with plans of her own. Ever since she could remember, she had dreamt of becoming a nurse. But now the profession had taken on new meaning. Her hope was that one day she could save someone's baby to make up for the one she had lost.”

Just as she had finished reading that entry, Jamie walked into the room and nodded, “Oh, I see what's been keeping you.” as he spotted the diary in her hand. Audrey put down the diary, and as she did, spotted a slip of paper under her desk that looked like it had fallen there. She pushed it into the pocket of her pants to look at later, and walked down the hall ready to go. Ms. Conrad was famous for her peach pie, and she bet that was what she had made tonight for their little meeting.

By: Andrea Axness