Naomi's Safe Place

She saw two of the men walking across a pasture adjacent to the house, enjoying themselves despite the low clouds. As she returned their waves, Keith noticed her. She smiled in greeting, gesturing to indicate that he could stay...It seemed odd, to give permission - but in such a crowded house, there was nowhere for Naomi to call her own save the tiny guest room she had been given. Once she had settled on the porch as the ideal place to sit and work or read, however, the men had started treating it as though it was her private sitting room...Keith dropped down onto a wicker chair nearby, landing heavily as he let go of his crutches. Naomi saw him wince and wondered whether he needed to see Dr Griffin.

"Two more of the men have had responses from those mail-order bride agencies," he said, looking out at the damp greenness of the pasture. "And another has heard back from his hometown. Seems his childhood sweetheart is still unmarried."

Each of the prospective brides had also received a letter from Dr Griffin, explaining the health of the gentleman in question. But it was Keith that Naomi had her eye on...