Free Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon

him."
    Relief flooded through her. "I am so grateful that he is going to be all right. How can I thank you, Doctor?"
    He looked down at her. She was a pathetic-looking girl, he thought. Her hair was wet and plastered to her face. Her eyes were red from crying, and he could not even tell if she had a shape from the way her dress hung on her. He felt pity for the poor, unfortunate girl.
    "What do I owe you, Doctor?" Victoria asked.
    He looked at her and doubted she could pay his fee. "Nothing, ma'am. I did not really do anything for him. There is not much for a doctor to do in such cases. Nature is the only healer."
    "But I insist," she said. "You rode out here in the rain.
    "That is part of being a doctor," he told her.
    Victoria could see that there was no sense in arguing with him, so she decided to ask him if he knew her grandmother. "Doctor, are you acquainted with Alice Anderson?" she asked.
    "Well, yes, I am," he said. "I know her very well. Why do you ask?"
    "She is my grandmother," Victoria told him. She watched as the doctor's eyes widened.
    "How can that be?" he said. "I did not know that she had a granddaughter."
    Victoria studied the doctor. He was not a tall man, but was nice looking with brown hair and soft hazel eyes. She had been struck by his kindness and had liked him at once.
    "My name is Victoria Lee Farraday, and the man in the other room is not my father, as you supposed, but is almost like a father to me. We have come from Georgia to find my grandmother. Would it be possible for you to get word to her that I am here?" she asked, smiling.
    "Of course," he told her. "I will tell her myself. She is a good friend of mine. In fact, I call her Mammaw."
    Victoria smiled. "Bodine told me that many people refer to her as Mammaw."
    "He was right," the doctor said. "Your grandmother is well-thought-of around here.   Is she expecting you?" he asked.
    "No, it will be a complete surprise to her," Victoria told him.
    "A welcome one, I can assure you," he said. "Now, if you will excuse me, Miss Farraday, I will be on my way."
    "Senor Doctor," Consuelo spoke up. "Can I not offer you a bite to eat?"
    "Some other time, Mrs. Delgado. I must get back to town now." He smiled at Victoria. "I will get word to your grandmother, and do not worry about Mr. Bodine; he will be fine. Do not disturb him tonight; just let him rest."
    He left as quickly as he had come. As he rode back to town, he pondered what Miss Farraday had told him. She had sure been a homely little thing; but nice enough, he thought.
    Manuel insisted that Victoria eat something and this time she agreed. "Senorita Farraday," Manuel told her as she ate, "your horse would not let me remove his saddle."
    "I had forgotten Rebel," Victoria said. "He will not allow many people near him. I will have to unsaddle him myself."
    "I will carry the lantern for you," Manuel said. "I am afraid it is still raining." Manuel insisted that Victoria wear his mackintosh. When they returned from the barn, she found that Consuelo had cleared the dishes and made pallets on the floor. Consuelo pulled back a curtained section of the room to reveal a sleeping child, lying on a crude wooden bed.
    "Roberto," she told Victoria softly.
    Victoria smiled at the sleeping child. “ He is beautiful," she said gently.
    "Thank you, Senorita,” Consuelo told her proudly.
    Victoria noticed that the small cabin only had two rooms, and Bodine occupied the only bedroom. "I am so sorry to put you out of your bed," Victoria said to Consuelo.
    "You are not to worry, Senorita. See, I made your pallet in the corner. Manuel will hang up a curtain so you will have privacy. We will not mind sleeping on the floor. I have slept in far worse," Consuelo said.
    Victoria was overcome by the kindness shown to her by the two Delgados. She could tell by her surroundings that they were very poor, yet they gladly shared all they had with her. She lay down on the pallet, her weary body aching for sleep. She would pay them