Read A Cousin's Promise for Free Online

birds, bubbling brooks, buzzing bees, the clippety-clop of horses’ hooves, or the gentle whispering of tree branches blowing in the wind.
    God, grant my deaf cousin a sense of peace, and keep her safe when she travels to Pennsylvania, Loraine prayed.
    When she approached Wayne’s room, she paused outside the door and whispered another prayer. “Dear Lord, give me the right words today, and help Wayne to be more receptive than the last time I was here.”
    ***
    Wayne had been trying with little success to read a magazine, when he heard someone step into his room. He turned his head toward the door, and the rhythm of his heartbeat picked up speed. It was Loraine.
    “How are you doing?” she asked, approaching his bed.
    “About the same.”
    She pulled out the chair by the side of his bed and sat down. “I thought you might like to know how the funerals went today.”
    He nodded and set the magazine aside.
    Tears clung to her lashes as she looked at him. “Timothy’s and Raymond’s families are deeply grieved, as is Katie. It was a sad time for all.”
    “Figured it would be.” He winced and looked away.
    “Are you in great pain?”
    He shook his head. “The medicine they give me takes care of that fairly well, but I’m sure I’ll have even more struggles once I’m home and the phantom pains begin.”
    “What’s phantom pain?”
    “I’ve been told that it feels as if the missing limb is still there. The doctor said it might feel like someone’s twisting my foot up to my knees, even though there’s no leg there.”
    Loraine grimaced. “That sounds baremlich! Isn’t there something that can be done about it?”
    “Just pain medicine, and that might need to be adjusted. I’ll be going home in a few days.” He sighed. “I guess that’s when the challenges will really begin.”
    “So soon? I thought they might keep you longer—until you could be fitted for a prosthesis.”
    “If I decide to wear one, that’ll come later. I’ll have to use a wheelchair for now.” He stared out the window, wishing she would stop asking questions and quit looking at him with such sympathy. It made him feel like even less of a man than he already did.
    “Have you been to see Jolene?” Wayne asked, needing a change of subject.
    “Jah. I went there before coming here.”
    “How’s she doing?”
    “As well as can be expected. She’ll be getting out of the hospital soon. Then she’ll be going to stay with her aunt in Pennsylvania who teaches the deaf.” Loraine’s eyebrows pulled together as she frowned. “So many changes for so many of our friends, and all because of one terrible, senseless accident.”
    He leaned into the pillow and groaned. “What’s done is done. We’re not God. We can’t change the past.”
    Several minutes ticked by, then she reached for Wayne’s hand. “When we get married and start our own family, I hope we can teach them to appreciate each other and make good decisions.”
    He pulled his hand away as he shook his head. “There will be no family for us because I can’t marry you, Loraine.”
    “Why not?”
    “I told you before.” He grunted and motioned to his leg. “With only one good leg, how do you expect me to farm?”
    “Well, maybe after you get a prosthesis—”
    “If I can’t farm, I can’t earn a living!”
    “There are other things you can do, Wayne.”
    He slowly shook his head. “I’ve never wanted to do anything but farm, and I won’t burden my wife with having to care for an ugly, crippled, half-man.”
    “You’re not ugly or half a man.” She shook her head. “And you won’t be a burden. Once you adjust to an artificial leg, you’ll be able to do many things on your own.”
    “I won’t hold you to your promise to marry me,” he mumbled. He folded his arms and stared at the wall. “We’re not getting married, so you’re free to move on with your life.”
    “I don’t want to move on with my life. Not without you, Wayne.” A hint of