The Bride Price by Tracey Jane Jackson Page A

her drawers and then paused with a sigh. “He’s so handsome.”
    Della gathered hoops and skirts for Amelia and turned to face her. Amelia slipped her corset on and Della pulled the ties. “Now, Miss Amelia, don’t you go doin’ nothin’ reckless. That man’s far too old for you. He’s got a ring on, so’s he mus’ be married.”
    Amelia wrinkled her nose. “Oh. Well, I don’t mind, Della. I can still look at him.”
    “Miss Amelia!”
    Amelia giggled. “Perhaps he’d like me to read to him.”
    Della tied off her corset and helped her with the rest of her clothing, all the while mumbling warnings that Amelia had no intention of listening to.
    * * *
    “Wake up, beautiful girl.”
    “Jamie?” Sophie’s eyes fluttered open, and she stared at the vision of her husband standing over her bed. “Where have you been ?”
    “I’ve been here, sweetheart. What do you mean?”
    “No, you haven’t been here. I’ve been looking for you.” Sophie tried to sit up but felt frozen to the bed. “Why can’t I move?”
    “Ten-Cow, I’ve been here the whole time. Have you forgotten me already?”
    “What? No!”
    “Then why haven’t you found me?”
    Tears streamed down her temples and she shook her head. “Jamie, I couldn’t find you.”
    “I don’t know why you couldn’t find me; I have been here waiting for you. I thought you’d never come.”
    Sophie felt both relief and frustration as she stared up at him. “Why can’t I move? I need to touch you. I need you to hold me.”
    “I can’t do that, sweetheart.”
    “What? Why not?”
    Sophie’s eyes flew open and she sat up, sobs racking her body. “No, no, no! Jamie, come back.” Jumping out of bed, she made her way to the window and drew the drapes back, with the silly hope that maybe Jamie was behind one of them. “Where are you?”
    She stared out the window and let out a little sigh at the scene. Unfolding before her was the most incredible sunrise she had ever seen. Truth be told, it was the first sunrise she had ever seen. Sophie and Jamie were not morning people, so were more likely to see a sunset. Oranges and yellows filtered over the ground, contrasting the stark white of the snow, and it was almost as though the sun were painting the landscape in front of her.
    Sophie stood for several minutes, praying for wisdom as she watched God’s artistry before her and then walked to her door and popped her head into the hallway to listen. The house was eerily quiet, indicating everyone must still be asleep.
    Grabbing her book, she made her way over to the window seat. Pulling one of the curtains further open for light, she managed to get through the first five

CHAPTERs before movement out the window caught her eye. Several men, including Richard, worked with the horses, putting them through what appeared to be military movements.
    Sophie stayed glued to the window in utter fascination for close to twenty minutes. Just as she was ready to go back to her book, Richard looked up and seemingly straight at her. Sophie doubted he saw her from so far away but pulled herself away from the window just the same. The last thing a man with a big head needed was someone staring at him. He might think she cared.
    Hearing the household slowly rising, she turned as Betty knocked and came in to help her dress. Once she was finished, Sophie made her way downstairs, delighted to see that Christine had popped around for a quick breakfast before heading to the hospital.
    As they sat down to breakfast, they got on that very subject. “Christine, I believe some simple changes at the hospital could very well make the soldiers more comfortable. Would you be open to hearing them and perhaps discussing them with the doctors?”
    “I’m always happy to listen, Sophie. I’m just not sure if the doctors would be, however. Especially Dr. Palmer. It’s not our job to tell them what to do, we’re there to assist and comfort the men.”
    Christine sat down again and gave