Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(29)

Except that his description of himself had been inaccurate because he wanted to make a good impression. Probably when Rachel met him she would be disappointed.

“Are you in love with Seth?” he asked.

“From his very first letter.”

“Me too.”

“The house has a few cracks in the walls,” Hannah said, looking at it with a frown. “That’s not very safe.”

“No. I’ll knock gently on the door.”

He knocked but there was no reply and by this time Hannah was circling the house looking in windows.

“I can’t see anyone,” she said. “Maybe they’re upstairs. We need to go in to find out.”

“Let’s check the barn before we go in,” Seth replied and started walking towards it with Hannah close behind him. They reached the huge door and a fair haired young lady walked out.

“Are you alright?” Seth asked.

“Yes, thank you. Two of the horses are giving birth. They haven’t gone full term but the earthquake must have brought it on, Jamie says. It’s the first time I’ve seen foals being born so I’m looking forward to it though I don’t like the earthquake.”

“Can I introduce you to Hannah?” Seth asked. “Hannah, this is Pamela. Pamela, this is Hannah.”

Pamela looked at Hannah’s hand. “It’s nice you were able to marry before the earthquake,” she said.

Hannah looked down. Seth’s ring still on her finger and she had clean forgotten about it. “I like your ring too,” Pamela said to Seth. “I got one for Jamie also. I know it’s not usual but I couldn’t resist doing it before I came and Jamie says he likes it. If Seth is as nice as him, Hannah, you’re going to be very happy.”

“I am,” Seth said. Except that I’m not. I’m wearing the wrong woman’s ring and have given her one that belongs to someone else. I keep getting feelings I shouldn’t for a lady who is not my bride to be. I’m also getting a bit desperate about everything.

Because I knew Hannah still had my ring on her finger and didn’t remind her, except, of course, that if I had said something she might have been embarrassed. A man just didn’t do that to a lady.

“He’s really modest,” Hannah said. “But he’s also rather gorgeous so we can excuse him. Can I watch the foals being born?”

“Yes, of course you can. Come on in.” Pamela led the way and a fair haired young man was kneeling beside a horse where a little head was protruding. Pamela fell on her knees beside her husband, her expression one of wonder.

“It must hurt a lot,” she said.

“I guess it must.” He looked up. “Hello, Seth.” He looked at Hannah.

“Hannah,” she said.

“How do you do. Our house is unsafe at the moment because there are quite a few cracks in it. We were outside when the earthquake occurred and I suggested we don’t go back in until we’ve tested everywhere. If we can get out food and a few other things we can stay in the barn for a while.”

“I can help you check everything,” Seth said.

“Thank you.” Jamie guided out the foal. “It’s a boy.”

“Rudy,” Pamela said. She looked at Hannah. “He’s named after my brother. If the next one is a female it will be called Alison after my sister. Was there much damage in Lone Pine, Middle Pine and Lower Pine?”

“Fifty two houses collapsed in Lone Pine and twenty seven people died,” Seth said, not knowing how else to tell them apart from the truth. The truth was always better, his mother had told him, and it didn’t help anyone to try to gloss over bad news. “Most of the houses collapsed in Middle Pine but no-one was hurt. In Lower Pine the houses are mainly made of wood so they were alright.”

Pamela’s expression was one of horror. “Some were children,” Hannah said.

“That is dreadful. It’s absolutely dreadful.” The tears began to roll down Pamela’s face. “Jamie, twenty seven people died. Twenty seven and some of them were children. If only something could have been done to save them.”

“Their houses were made of adobe,” Hannah said. “It’s strong and long lasting but not in an earthquake.”

“Yes,” Pamela said, sniffing. Jamie washed his hands, dried them and put his arms round her to hold her tightly. Seth dropped on his knees to where the other foal had begun to emerge.

Hannah frowned in concentration. Twenty seven people and she had been trying to forget it. Sometimes she did when she was in conversation with Seth. But twenty seven cold, lifeless bodies lying in Lone Pine was a horrible thought, except that surely they must be in Heaven.

Did everyone go to Heaven when they died? She didn’t know but if they didn’t who would God let in? Maybe she could ask Seth later what he thought. Would God let him and her in because they were allowing Jamie and Pamela to think they were married? Would that kind of thing cause Him to refuse them entry? Jamie sat with his arm round Pamela and Hannah reached down to help guide the foal from its mother.

“It’s Alison,” she said.

Pamela sniffed and blew her nose on a huge handkerchief Jamie had given her.”That’s nice. I’m sorry for being such a baby. It was just such a shock. It could so easily have been us.” She paused. “That’s a selfish thing to say, isn’t it?”