Hearts Aglow by Tracie Peterson

beside her. “They didn’t want my help any more than they would have taken yours.”
    “Truly? But why?”
    “Because I’m white.”
    “But you’ve helped them before.”
    Christopher looked out toward the muddy creek. There was only a minimal amount of water within its banks. They could certainly use some rain. He felt Deborah reach out to touch his hand. He turned back to see her worried expression.
    “Will it always be like this?”
    “So long as good men allow this to be the acceptable manner of behavior.” He shook his head. “But let’s try to put it aside. Today’s for celebrating, right?”
    She nodded. “But it doesn’t seem folks truly understand. Texas was different back then, Mama says. Before the war, they didn’t seem half so worried about the color of a person’s skin. Before Texas became its own country, the Mexican government respected men of all colors. Seems we’ve lost something in our liberty.”
    Christopher stood and helped Deborah to her feet. “Hopefully we’ll get it back,” he said, escorting her to the food.
    “Come on, you two,” Lizzie said as she and G.W. neared the food tables. “I can hardly wait to try a little of everything.”
    Deborah laughed. “You’d be hard-pressed to sample it all.
    Mother said there were over two hundred dishes.”
    “Oh my.” Lizzie looked to G.W. “I don’t suppose I can.”
    “Well, I sure intend to give it my best,” G.W. said, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
    “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Deborah added. She looked to Christopher. “Lizzie’s been a bit queasy of late.”
    “I thought it would be behind me by now, but in some ways it seems worse.”
    “For how long?” Christopher asked.
    Lizzie considered the question for a moment. “Probably the better part of the last month. Seems to strike without warning at most any time of the day or night. I’ve always had trouble with nausea since I learned I was in a family way, but it seems that lately I have more trouble than ever.”
    Christopher thought for a moment. “Any other problems?”
    Deborah looked at him oddly. “Do you think something’s wrong?”
    Now Lizzie and G.W. looked alarmed. Christopher put up his hand. “Don’t make more out of this than needs to be. I’m just trying to be thorough.”
    “I’m tired all the time, but you told me I would be,” she replied with a smile.
    “I’d like to examine you tomorrow,” Christopher said immediately, holding up his hands. “Not because I think anything is wrong. Come with Deborah to the office, and I’ll see if I can’t find something for the nausea.”
    Lizzie and G.W. seemed to calm and exchanged a smile. “She’ll be there,” G.W. told Christopher. “I’ll bring them both myself.”
    Christopher nodded. “Then we’ll discuss this more at that time.”
    As G.W. and Lizzie strolled toward the food, Deborah tugged on Christopher’s arm. “Do you think there’s a problem?”
    He chuckled. “You are definitely one for speaking your mind – still, it would serve you well not to say the first thing that comes into your head. Especially when standing right in front of a patient.”
    “Well, there’s no patient standing here now. What is it you suspect?”
    He grinned. “Well, consider this. Your sister-in-law is only about four and a half months along, but in the last month she’s grown considerably in size. The nausea has been more severe than most women and even now is extreme. I’m thinking she might be carrying twins.”
    Deborah’s mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide. “Twins?”
    “Don’t say anything just yet. We should have a better idea tomorrow.”
    “Oh, there’s Mother with our dishes,” Deborah said, pulling Christopher along. “We have a plate and silver for you, as well.”
    Christopher liked that he’d been included in the family. When he’d first arrived in the community, few wanted to associate with him, much less allow him to practice his medical