“It sounds like he deserved every word. I’m glad you finally said it. Good for you!”
“I wish he wasn’t so overprotective. He’s really making me crazy. I can’t figure out if he’s really that worried about the baby, or if he thinks I’m going to leave him. I get the impression that he thinks I’m going to leave him.”
Clara thought about that for a minute. “Albert knows him much better than I do, of course, but I think that may be exactly what he’s worried about. I know he was an orphan.”
“I honestly think that Albert is the person he’s known longer than any other. He said that Albert was really the only person who had ever been there for him.” Daisy didn’t feel she had the right to reveal anything other than what she already had. She didn’t know if Eli wanted people to know about his early life.
“That’s probably his problem then. He doesn’t think anyone is willing to be in his life for any period of time.” Clara shook her head sadly. “You’ve got a long row to hoe with him.”
“I know.” Daisy sighed. “I guess I need to go home and have a good long talk with him. I deliberately didn’t go home for lunch, and I’m sure he expects me to be there.”
Clara hid a giggle behind her napkin. “He won’t be pleased, but I’m sure it’s what he needs.”
“I’m glad you don’t think I’m a terrible person for making that decision,” Daisy said. “I was worried I was being too harsh on him.”
“Too harsh? You’ve been a saint to put up with his nonsense for as long as you have!” Clara took a sip of her coffee. “You need to come over for supper tonight. You need to be around other people for a change.” She gestured to where Jasmine and Natalie were sitting together giggling at a table close to them. “I think my daughter and your sister might end up being good friends anyway.”
Daisy looked over at Jasmine and smiled. Her sister had always had a hard time making friends, because of her reputation as a trouble maker. In school, she’d been the one sneaking snakes into the teacher’s desk, not the boys. Daisy was happy that she was able to finally rise above her bad reputation.
Daisy nodded. “I think that’s a great idea. I don’t know that Jasmine has ever really had a friend that wasn’t one of us.”
“One of us?”
“Her sisters.”
Clara frowned. “She seems so sweet. Is she shy?”
Daisy laughed. “Not at all. I’m the shy one. Jasmine is…special.” At Clara’s questioning look, she shook her head. “She won’t be any trouble. I’m not going to gossip about my sister.”
“That’s fair.” Clara paid for her meal and stood up. “We need to get back to the ranch. We left Gertie with the little ones, because it was Natalie’s turn to come into town. It’s hard to bring all the young ones, so I let the girls take turns staying with them. They both like the chance to come to town.”
Daisy stood as well and noticed both girls had gotten to their feet when they saw Clara. “What time do you want us at your house?” she asked, rubbing her belly absently.
“Would six work? Does that give Eli enough time to finish for the day and give you time to get to our place?”
Daisy thought about it for a moment before nodding. “I think so. We’ll be there by six-thirty at the latest.”
Clara grabbed Daisy and pulled her into a tight hug. “I look forward to it.”
Daisy looked at Jasmine who came to join her. “You ready to go back to the ranch?” she asked.
Jasmine nodded. “It’s laundry day. Time to get back to work.”
Daisy smiled, linking her arm with Jasmine’s. “Have I said thank you for all the help you’ve given me in the past few months?”
Jasmine eyed Daisy warily. “Is that a trick question? If I answer are you going to turn into crazy Daisy again?”
“I think I have full control of my emotions again,” Daisy replied.
“I’m so glad to hear it. I was getting worried about you.”
*****
Eli walked into the house at noon and saw that it was empty. He immediately went out to the stable to see if the horses were there. When he saw they and the wagon were missing, he got back on his horse and headed to town. If Daisy and Jasmine had left right after breakfast, they had plenty of time to get back and see to lunch. Where were they?
“If she left me, I’m just going to drag her back. She’s not leaving me, and she’s not taking my baby away from me! I’ll find her and she’ll stay with me no matter what it takes,” he mumbled as he rode toward town.
He didn’t have to go far. He found the two sisters driving toward him about halfway to town. He motioned for Jasmine to pull to the side of the road and he went to Daisy’s side of the wagon. “Where were you?” He didn’t add that he thought she’d left him, but she could see it in his eyes.
“I told you we were going to town for supplies. We ran into Clara and Natalie in town and had a nice lunch at the restaurant. We’ve been invited to their home for supper tonight, and I said yes. Jasmine and I will be leaving for their house no later than five-fifteen. I suggest you be in the wagon by then.” Daisy turned back to Jasmine who was watching her with wide eyes. “Let’s go.”
Eli watched as Jasmine drove away with his wife shaking his head. He’d heard women went a little wild when they were carrying, but this was the first time he’d really seen it with Daisy.
*****
They weren’t alone until they were in bed that night, and Daisy presented him with her back immediately instead of settling down with her head on his shoulder as she usually did. He thought about letting it go for a moment, but then he decided they needed to talk things out. They didn’t have enough time alone now that Jasmine was there, and this might be the only time they really had where they could talk privately.
“I won’t let you leave me,” he blurted out. He hadn’t been meaning to start the conversation that way, but the words were out, and he couldn’t pull them back no matter how much he wanted to.
Daisy shifted her bulk in the bed until she was facing him. “I have no intention of leaving you. Why would I leave the father of my child a month before he’s born? Are you crazy?”
He looked at her in the darkness for a moment before saying in a soft voice, “I thought that’s where you were when I came home from working today. I thought you’d left me to go home to Seattle.”
Daisy shook her head at him and sighed. “I can’t go home to Seattle. Do you know why?”
He shrugged. “Because it would be too embarrassing to admit you couldn’t make it work?”
“Not at all. I’m not that proud.”
“Why then?”
“Because Seattle’s not home anymore. Montana is. How could I be home in a place where you’re not?” She reached out and rubbed his arm where it lay atop the quilt. “I came here because I wanted to. I married you because I wanted to. Yes, I had you investigated by Higgins, but only because that was the only way my parents would allow me to come. I read your letter and was ready to leave that day.”
“But you wouldn’t have married me if it had been a negative report.”
Daisy shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t have. My parents wouldn’t have allowed it. I was eighteen when I married you. An eighteen year old woman has no freedoms unless her parents allow her to. Why do you think I could have jumped on a train to marry a stranger without my parents’ permission?”
“I guess I never really thought about it.”
“I don’t think you’ve thought about a lot of things. I love Montana, and I love being married to you. Why would I ever leave you?”
“I don’t know.” His voice was soft in the darkness, and she could hear his apprehension. She knew that he cared for her, even though he had a hard time admitting it. It was there every time he helped her. It was there in the way he’d gone behind her back to arrange for Jasmine to come home with them.
“I’m never going to leave you.” Daisy watched him, hoping he would react to her words.
&nb
sp; “Everyone else has.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Eli wished he could take them back. They were true, though. No one had ever stayed in his life for any period of time. No one loved him enough to stay with him.
“Well, I won’t. Albert has been part of your life for how long now? Do you worry he’ll leave?”
“No, but that’s different. We’ve been friends for years.”
“And I’m going to be your wife for the rest of your life. I’m not going anywhere either. You need to start trusting that.”
He sighed. “I’m trying to trust that. I’ve just never loved anyone the way I love you, so it’s hard.”
Daisy stared at him in the darkness. “You love me?”
“Of course I love you. Why else would I be so worried that you were going to leave me? I wouldn’t care if I didn’t love you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I tried really hard not to love you, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“Why didn’t you want to love me?” Sometimes the man made no sense to her at all.
“I knew if I loved you it would hurt more when you left.”
“I’m not leaving!” She wanted to scream but knew there was no point. She’d just wake Jasmine and have to explain why she was making so much noise, and no one wanted that.
“I hope not.”
Daisy cupped his face in her hands. “Listen to me, you crazy man! I love you. I’ve loved you since I first came to Montana. I’m not leaving you!”
He jerked in surprise. “You do?”
“Of course I do! Why else would you make me so crazy? Do you know Jasmine has started calling me Crazy Daisy? What kind of nickname is that? I’ve spent my whole life being calm and sweet, and I meet you and turn into a shrew! You make me crazed!”
“But you love me anyway?”
“Yes, of course I love you anyway.”
“No one has ever said that to me before.” His words were whispered as if he were half afraid to say them.
“Then you’ve never met anyone worth knowing. People should say they love each other. It’s important.”
He pulled her closer. “I’m glad you love me. Please don’t leave me.”
“I told you I’m not leaving you.”
“I know you won’t on purpose…but what if something happens with the baby? Then you’d leave me.”
“What do you mean if something happens with the baby?” Daisy felt like she understood him a little bit less with each minute that passed.
“What if you…die?”
Daisy shook her head. “I’ve had a healthy pregnancy. I’m going to be fine. Two doctors and a midwife have all told you that I’m going to be fine. Can’t you trust them even a little?”
He shook his head. “No, I can’t. I know you’re going to leave me. I know you won’t do it on purpose, so you’ll do it when you have the baby.”
“That makes no sense. I’m not going to leave you. We’re going to be happy for the rest of our lives.”
“I hope so.”
*****
The closer Daisy got to her time, the more nervous Eli became. He went back to the house to check on her three and four times per day, making sure she hadn’t gone into labor. The first snow fell in mid-October, and he was certain that was the night she’d deliver. But the snow melted away, and she was still pregnant.
Daisy was more and more miserable by the day. Jasmine had taken over more of the housework, and Daisy sat and watched her, helping where she could. Her feet were swollen, and she hurt everywhere. It had gotten hard to sleep at night, and she took frequent naps during the day. For the first time, she was glad her sister was there to help her. She’d been happy with her companionship since she’d come, but now she really felt that she needed help with all the work to be done.
When mid-November came, she was still pregnant and ready to scream. She tried to keep it hidden from Eli, and Jasmine got the brunt of her frustration. “This baby had better come soon or I’m going to scream!”
Jasmine hurried over to Daisy with a cup of water. “Sip this. It calms you.”
“I’m sick of water. I’m sick of this house! I need to get out of here, but I hate walking anywhere. My shoes don’t fit anymore.”
Jasmine smiled as she looked at her sister. “My feet are bigger than yours. Why don’t you borrow a pair of my shoes, and we’ll go for a short walk. Just around the house a few times.”
“I don’t want to just see the house. I want to go further.”
Jasmine headed toward the stairs. “I’m going to get you a pair of my shoes, and we’ll walk just as far as you want to walk, and not a step further.”
Daisy waved her away. “Fine.”
A few minutes later they wrapped shawls around themselves, and Daisy stepped outside for the first time in days. “I’m so sick of that house that I’m ready to scream.”
Jasmine nodded. “I know.” She had been listening to her sister rant for days. Why didn’t she remember her other sisters getting this bad while they were expecting?
Daisy kicked at a rock. “Your shoes are too big. My feet are swimming in them.”
“At least they’re roomie and comfortable.”
Daisy sighed as she heard Jasmine trying to placate her. “I’m sorry I’m being Crazy Daisy again. I’m just so tired. I never get enough sleep. The baby feels like it’s going to rip me in two.”
Jasmine rubbed Daisy’s shoulder. “I wish there were something I could do to help.”
“Oh, Jasmine. You’ve been the best sister to me. You’ve cooked and cleaned without any complaint. You said you wanted to be a good person when you first came here, and you’ve become that. You’re not the demented nincompoop you used to be.” Daisy knew if either of them was a demented nincompoop it was her, and not her sister.
“A demented nincompoop? Did you really just call me a demented nincompoop?”
Daisy shrugged. “Amaryllis and I called you that all the time. Well, when we weren’t trying to get Aunt Harriett to agree to sending you off somewhere to be a mail order bride.”
Jasmine stopped walking and stared at Daisy in surprise. “You wanted me to be a mail order bride?”
“Only if it got you out of Seattle. We needed you out of our hair until we were happily married.”
Jasmine thought about that for a moment, looking a bit hurt. “You know, I guess I really can’t blame you for that. I said some pretty ridiculous things to Amaryllis about both Walter and Alex.”
Daisy nodded. “You were awful. You’re much better now.”
Jasmine started walking again. “You know, I’m not sure how much I like the very blunt Daisy.”
“I’m sorry. I know I’m terrible.” Daisy sighed. “This baby is making me crazy.”
“It’ll be here soon, and then it’ll all be over.”
“Yesterday would be nice,” Daisy said. “I can’t wait to hold him in my arms, but more than that, I can’t wait to feel like my body is mine again.” She sighed. “I make it sound like I hate being pregnant, and I don’t. I’m just so sore and tired all the time.”
Jasmine nodded. “I understand.”
They walked on for a few minutes without saying anything, with Daisy stopping periodically to catch her breath and rub her stomach. “I keep getting a cramp in my side. I think we should head back.”
Jasmine eyed Daisy. “A cramp in your side? The baby’s not coming is it?”
Daisy shook her head. “I’m sure I’d know if the baby were coming.”
Jasmine didn’t argue, but she watched her sister carefully as they walked back toward the house. She was stopping every five minutes to catch her breath and rub her stomach. Jasmine was pretty sure the baby was on its way, but she didn’t want to alarm Daisy.
When they reached the house, Jasmine suggested Daisy lie down. When Daisy didn’t argue, and instead went to her room to do as her sister suggested, Jasmine rushed outside. Every morning for the past month, Eli had told Jasmine where he’d be working that day, so she coul
d reach him if she needed to. She tried to remember where he’d said he’d be that day.
James rode up to the house while she was squinting and trying to figure out where her brother-in-law was. She ran to the horse. “You need to get Eli to come home. I think Daisy’s going to have the baby.”
James turned his horse around, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll send him home and then ride to get the midwife.” He spurred his horse on as he rode to find his boss and friend.
Jasmine went back into the house and began boiling water. She wasn’t certain why she was boiling it, but she’d read in books that was the right thing to do so she did it.
She heard a gasp come from Daisy and Eli’s room, and she ran to check on her sister. “Are you all right?”
Daisy nodded. “I…I think my water just broke.” She was soaked on the lower half of her body.
Jasmine smiled. “Let’s get you into a nightgown.”
“But we have to get Eli so he can’t get the midwife. We can’t have a baby with just the two of us.”
“I already sent for Eli when I realized you were in labor. He should be here any minute.”
“You knew? Why didn’t you tell me?” Daisy couldn’t believe her sister would hide that from her.
“I didn’t want you to worry any more than you needed to. Eli is going to worry enough for all of us.” She helped Daisy slide the clean gown over her head. “I’m boiling water, but I’m not sure why.”
Daisy laughed. “Did you read about that in a book?”
Jasmine shrugged. “Sometimes Amaryllis left them lying around the house.”
“You’re allowed to read books, you know. And not just because Amaryllis didn’t pick up after herself.” Daisy started to slow walk through the house. In the book she’d read about what to expect during labor, it had suggested that walking would speed things up.
She didn’t let herself worry while she walked, leaning on Jasmine’s arm, because she knew that Eli was already in a panic knowing she was having the baby.
When the door slammed open, he rushed inside, and swept her off her feet. “You can’t walk around. You’re having a baby.” He carried her through the house and into the bedroom, depositing her back onto the bed. “You need to stay there.”
Daisy (Suitors of Seattle) Page 12