Free Tracie Peterson by A Place to Belong Page B

into Maggie’s eyes, he found a sincerity he hadn’t dared to hope for.
    “I know it will please your father, and if it means much,” Garrett added, “it pleases me.”
    “Garrett, please don’t rush me about my father. I still feel uncomfortable about this whole thing. I won’t lie and tell you otherwise. I feel trapped, but I know that going to him is the right thing.” Maggie tried to clear the hoarseness in her voice. “I can’t pretend I feel anything but pain about the past and my father.”
    “I understand. I just love Jason so much. He’s been like a father to me.” Garrett immediately regretted the words.
    “I wish he’d been a father to me,” Maggie breathed.
    “I wish he could have too. Selfishly, I’m glad he left Topeka. I’d be a far worse man if I’d never met him. But because I care for you, I’m sorry he had to leave you.”
    He cared for her. Maggie warmed at the thought. Refusing to get carried away, Maggie pushed the feeling aside.
    “There are a great many things I wish I could change,” she finally said, looking up at the sod roof. “But wishing doesn’t make it so. It doesn’t bring people back to life, or give you a place to belong.”
    “Maggie, you’ll always have a place to belong. You belong to God, but you just don’t know it yet. You belong with your father, but you can’t get past the mistakes. And,” Garrett sighed, “I’d like to think you belong with me.”
    Maggie offered a gentle smile. “All I can do is try,” she replied. “But it’s going to take time, and I’ll need your understanding.”
    “I promise to help in whatever way I can.” Garrett whispered the words although he wanted to shout in triumph. With God’s help, he had broken through the wall of protection Maggie had built around herself. The foundation for friendship had been laid.
    An hour later, a white-haired woman came bustling through the door and down the dirt stairs of the dugout. She huffed as she struggled to carry in a basket of vegetables.
    “Well, look who’s awake,” she said, spying Maggie.
    Garrett smiled broadly. “We’ve already had quite a lively conversation. I gave her some medicine and made her stay put.”
    “I must say, Child, you gave us quite a fright. Doc will be mighty happy to see you’ve pulled out of it,” the woman remarked, stepping to Maggie’s bedside.
    “Maggie, this is Dottie. She’s the doctor’s wife,” Garrett introduced. “She and Doc have allowed us the pleasure of staying here until you get well enough to travel.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Maggie said sweetly. “It’s so kind of you to let us stay here.”
    “Ain’t nothing at all. I was glad for the company. Doc doesn’t always make it home very early, and it gets mighty lonesome out here on the plains. I was glad to have you both, ’specially this one,” Dottie nodded toward Garrett. “He’s been a Godsend—brings me fresh water for the garden and totes and fetches just about anything else I need.”
    “If she’d waited, I would have carried in those vegetables too,” Garrett added with an admonishing look.
    “Weren’t that heavy. Didn’t see any reason to go bothering you.” Dottie waved him off. “Now how about you, Missy. Hungry?”
    “I think I am,” Maggie replied, realizing she wanted something to eat.
    “Good. I was just about to get us some lunch. Broth for you and stew and biscuits for us.” The older woman pulled on a clean apron.
    Maggie wrinkled her nose. She’d hoped for something more substantial. Nonetheless, she felt very fortunate and cared for. She pushed aside the nagging thought that God had watched over her.
    Day after day flew by. As Maggie grew stronger, she spent more time contemplating her life. She also developed a real love for Dottie and Doc. The older man had infinite patience and entertained his patient with humorous stories from his practice.
    Maggie enjoyed watching Doc and Dottie as they playfully bantered words.