Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(30)

“It’s not selfish.”

“Our times are in God’s Hands,” Seth added. “Because of that it is no use worrying about things or when we are or aren’t going to die, maybe even not being sad though we can’t help being that. God will comfort those who have lost relatives.”

“”I don’t know the Bible well,” Jamie said. “I hardly know it at all because I don’t have one. The Reverend gives interesting talks but I don’t remember a lot and sometimes my mind wanders.”

“We could get you one,” Seth said. “Then you can read it. I like reading it and sometimes I write a few notes about it as I go along so I can understand it better.”

“If we get out of this I’ll buy one,” Jamie replied. He kissed Pamela. “Look how the two mothers have already begun to lick their foals. It’s amazing how they do that and how they look after them, isn’t it?”

“God gives them that instinct,” Seth said, thinking of Sadie and little Hannah.

“Yes. Thank you for doing that. You’re a good friend, also because you came to check on us. Today is a special day for you. Were you helping in Lone Pine or have you come from your farm?”

“We helped get people who were trapped out of their houses in Middle Pine. In Lower Pine the houses are made of wood so no-one was hurt there. We’re on the way home now.”

Home, Hannah thought, and that had a nice ring to it, except that the house to which she was going would not be that. She would be with the other Seth soon and she should have gone to him while they were in Middle Pine.

But she was needed when Sadie’s baby was born and there might be more emergencies on the rest of their journey. Meeting Seth would have to wait though she felt sorry for this Seth because he needed to see his bride to be. She watched him straighten as the foal tottered to its feet and tried to quell the feeling of tenderness which came over her. This was not her Seth and she must remember that and get the ring off her finger as soon as they left the farm.

“Before we go I’ll just check the house with you,” Seth said to Jamie.

“I don’t want to put you in any danger,” Jamie replied.

“It is better that two of us do it. We’ll bang walls before we go in and make sure none of the cracks are too deep. But I think you’re right about sleeping in the barn until you’re sure about the house. I’ll come over and we can see exactly what needs to be done in a couple of days.”

“You need to be with your lady,” Jamie said.

Seth looked at Hannah. “She can come too. Is that alright with you, Hannah?”

“I’ll be pleased to come,” she replied.

And that will be a surprise for Pamela and Jamie, Seth thought, but I’ll tell you at the time about Rachel. Seth looked at Hannah briefly and felt as if the knot which seemed to have settled on his chest would explode. He wasn’t going to bring Rachel, he decided, but if it was Hannah he would because she had shown over and over again how resilient she was and how willing to be involved in the rescue effort.

Which Rachel would be too, of course, and the other Seth would be glad to have Hannah when she returned. Though not tonight, Seth decided, because she’d had a long day and needed to have some rest. The cut on her arm might need more attention. They would go in to Lower Pine tomorrow where they would both be married.

He would have to make some convincing explanation to Seth though because the man might not understand why they went to the younger Seth’s house first. He would probably feel that Hannah could have tidied up at the Reverend’s house and really she could have done that. It was his fault that she hadn’t.

But if she had stayed he wouldn’t have got to know her as well as he had and that was a bleak thought. She was so beautiful. She was resilient. She had a sense of humour. She had not once complained. She was interesting to talk to. She was compassionate. She was clever. She was open and honest and didn’t pretend to be something she wasn’t.

If Seth fussed he would punch his nose. He would do more than that because nobody was going to give Hannah anything less than the respect she deserved.

The four of them walked round the house examining it closely. The bricks were huge, Hannah noticed, in the way they were in Middle Pine. Because of that when they collapsed a lot of damage was caused. It had been a miracle that not more people were killed in Lone Pine and none in Middle Pine, but because many of them were out of their buildings when the earthquake struck they had avoided the danger of their houses collapsing on them. But not all, was her next thought. Twenty seven had died.

She mustn’t think of it because it didn’t help anyone and made her feel a bit desperate. “Some of these cracks are very deep,” she said. “The bricks are heavy, have low strength and are brittle, which is not good in an earthquake. People shouldn’t use adobe in an earthquake area.”

“Lots of people do,” Jamie said.

“I didn’t know that,” Pamela added.

“My father owns a building company,” Hannah said. “He won’t use adobe at all, only traditional bricks which are smaller. If I were you I would go in, get everything out and build another house. You can live in the barn while you do it, like Seth did when he built his house.”

“Let’s get everything out quickly,” Seth said and the earth below them rumbled and shook once again. Jamie put his arm round Pamela and Seth did the same to Hannah. After a few seconds the earth stabilised and Jamie made for the front door.