Free Ada's Secret by Nonnie Frasier Page B

Hell for what he did. He despoiled you, stole what little you had, and beat you so badly that we all thought you were going to die. He will pay maybe not on this earth, but someday, there will be reckoning for what he did to you.” Lettie turned and smiled at me, “You were the product of that difficult time.” Her eyes filled with love. “But out of the evil man creates, God gives us wonders.”
    Lettie continued, “At the time I was putting the professional staff together for the Silver Dove when Jeremiah and I found your Ma, half dead, in that awful alley. We nursed her back to health and when I offered her a job at the Silver Dove, she decided to come to Denver with us. We didn’t know she was with child until three months later. I told your ma she should go to the Cottage for Wayward Girls in Colorado Springs. I knew the Sisters there would take care of you and find you an adopted home.”
    Lettie smiled at Ma. “Your ma had another crazy idea. She wanted to raise you right here at the Silver Dove!” Lettie threw her hands up in mock exasperation. “I told her that this was no life for a little girl, but she wanted to give you everything that money could provide. I had my reservations, but I finally agreed because even now a single woman can’t make a decent living alone. Annie knew she could provide you everything you needed if you were here. You gave your mother a hard time during the birth, but you were strong and determined even from your first earsplitting cry.” Lettie and Ma both laughed with the memory. “You were so determined and feisty even then.”
    “Annie,” Lettie spoke softly, “I still think we made the right choice.”
    “I think she did too,” I said, smiling.
    Ma answered Aunt Lettie, “Lettie, I have always been grateful to you for letting me stay. You saved my life, delivered my daughter, and gave me a good job. I owe you too much for me to ever leave you.”
    Ma continued, “You were right about one thing, though, this hasn’t been an ordinary life for my little girl, but I know that we gave her all the things a young lady could ever want. She never knew hunger, and she has grown into a strong young woman.”
    Ma looked deeply into my eyes. “Ada, never be ashamed of who you are. You are an honorable woman, and you have every reason to be proud of it.”

Chapter 12
    G race’s coarse breathing drew my thoughts back to the current situation. My story was now revealed, and Grace would judge me as she wished. I couldn’t tell if Grace’s tears were from her pain or mine. She took my hands in hers and kissed my upturned palms.
    “Like I said before,” Grace rasped, “all I know is that you are quite a woman, and I am proud to call you my friend.”
    Grace gave one final push and the baby made his grand entrance into the world. As we held the new little Teller, we counted his fingers and toes and allowed him to suckle Grace’s waiting breast. He knew exactly what to do. We smiled, “Just like a man,” we said as our eyes met over the tiny new life in her arms.
    “Frank and I had talked that if we had a son we’d name him Nathaniel, after his father.
    The door to the cabin suddenly burst in with a loud crash. Frank in the lead and Patrick on his heels, rushed into the bedroom with their rifles locked and loaded. They stopped wide-eyed and panting from the exertion of breaking through the door.
    “What the hell?” Frank stood dumbstruck.
    “Frank, come meet your son, Nathaniel” Grace said.
    “Are you OK? Is the baby OK?” Frank set his rifle beside the bed and began inspecting his new child as Grace nodded.
    “Nathaniel, welcome to Teller family,” Frank said, beaming.
    Soon Tillie and Rickey were crowding in the doorway. “Aunt Ada. I only did what you told me to,” Tillie said. “I took Ricky up to play beside the road because Ma was making such scary noises.” Tillie wriggled free of Frank’s grasp and crawled up on the bed to see the new baby.
    “I was