"Goosebumps," Buff translated.
"Exactly," Mother Superior agreed.
The door opened and they all looked toward it. The elderly nun who stood there had a little girl by the hand.
"Rosel!" Siri went to her knees, her free arm around her daughter. "Oh, Rosel! Min dotter! Min älskling! Tack gode Gud! Ah, tack gode Gud!"
The little girl clung to her, her high, sweet voice repeating "Mamma, mamma, mamma," over and over.
Buff, his eyes suspiciously stinging, looked over to see Mother Superior biting her lip. "Thank you," he said. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
* * *
Siri could not let go of Rosel. She still did not entirely believe a djävul like Jaeger would have taken her daughter to the safest possible place for her to be. When they reached the carriage, escorted by the stern-faced Mother Superior and two other nuns, Buffalo lifted them into it together. Rosel immediately crawled onto her lap.
She whispered something, too soft to hear. Siri bent over. "What did you say, min älskling? I did not hear you."
"The bad man. He told me you were dead. I didn't believe him, though."
"Of course you didn't. You knew I'd find you." Hugging Rosel close, she asked the question that had haunted her. "Did he...did he do anything to hurt you?"
"No, but he told me he would beat me if I cried." She sniffed. "I didn't, but I wanted to." She snuggled closer. "I didn't like it when he made me get into the sack. It was dark inside, and he tied it around his waist." A small giggle. "I heard his belly growl."
Siri looked across the carriage at Buffalo. He nodded when she mouthed Tack gode Gud!
Siri couldn't persuade Rosel to release her when they reached the hotel, so Buffalo carried them both through the lobby and up the stairs. People stared, and Siri didn't even care.
Rolf saw them enter the suite and came running. "Mamma! Mamma! Rosel!"
Buffalo let Siri down, and she pulled her son close. She didn't know how long she and her children clung together there on the floor. When she finally looked around her, only Buffalo was in the room. "Where are--"
"Gone out," he said. "They figured we needed some time alone."
Disentangling herself from the children, Siri went to the wing chair beside the fireplace. "Buffalo, I know what we told the nun, but if you--"
"If I want to marry you tomorrow, you won't argue. Is that what you were going to say?" A smile played over his lips.
"Nej. If you do not wish me to marry you, I will not hold you to that promise."
"Siri, I can't think of anything that'll stop me from marrying you. Anything but your absolute refusal, and then I'd do my best to change your mind."
"But...but you are rich and important and I am only a--"
He cut off her words with his mouth. After he'd kissed her thoroughly, he lifted his head. "Only the woman I love." His fingers traced lightly down her cheek. "Now, how do we convince your kids they need a new pa?"
Epilogue
"It's a castle!" Rosel bounced in the seat. "See, Rolf. It's a castle."
"Castle, castle," Rolf crowed, pushing his head out the window. His little shoe dug into Buff's groin, making him wince. He had to agree with the kids. This brick mansion his folks had built did have the look of a castle, with its tall, sharp-roofed tower and many narrow windows. Standing alone as it did, out a ways from town, it looked like it ought to be surrounded by a moat and have pennants flying from the roof instead of lightning rods. The carriage pulled into the circular drive, passing between lines of young trees, not yet leafed out. Elms, Ma had told him in one letter. The magnificent trees she'd loved, back in New York. Be a while before these are anything but spindly, he thought, as he lifted the boy and saved his manhood.
"How are you doing?" he said to Siri. She gave him a tired smile, reassuring him. This trip had been hard on her. She'd insisted on traveling by boat, even though she'd never gotten over her fear. Then at Umatilla, they'd been delayed by snow in the Blues. Once the road reopened, the journey had been slow and difficult, for if they weren't struggling over roads knee-deep in mud, they were rattling along on mud frozen in spine-shattering ruts. At least once a day, she'd been sick, until he was worried there'd be nothing left of her when they reached their destination.
"I am happy to be here," she said, leaning forward to look past her daughter's head. "Are you certain this is your parents' home? It is so...so big! Så storslagen!"
Under the noise of the children's excitement, he said to Siri, "The manor house in Aalborg is even grander. I wish I could have proven your claim to it."
She shook her head. "I am content," she said with a smile. "There is still no memory of that girl, although each time I hear her name, it seems familiar." Her hand, softer now, with smooth fingernails and white skin, squeezed his. "No title, no fortune could mean so much to me as having you. As being loved." She raised his hand to her lips and kissed it." Jag älskar dig, Buffalo."
Just then the front door burst open. Three kids tumbled out, followed by a small woman wearing an apron over a dark dress.
"Well, that's my ma, and those look like my brothers and sisters--only bigger--so this must be home." He opened the door before the carriage had completely stopped. Before he could help Siri alight, Iris and a young lady who could only be Reggie were climbing all over him. Behind them stood a tall young man with the look of Pa about him. "Rhys? Is that you?" he said as he hugged the girls.
Siri was still waiting on the carriage step when his Ma careened into them, and he had to brace himself or fall flat. "Hold it, Ma! I'm real. You don't have to pinch me to make sure."
"Oh, Buff, I thought you'd never get here. Where is she? Are these the children? Oh, aren't you pretty? And you're such a big boy!" She gathered Rolf and Rosel into her arms, then smiled up at Siri. "Land sakes! You must think we're all a bunch of savages."
Buff lifted her down and kept one arm around her. "No, Ma, she knows it. Why she's willing to marry into this family, I'll never know, but thank God she is. Siri, this hysterical woman is my ma, Hattie Lachlan. I reckon my pa's around somewhere, as well as the rest of the tribe."
Ma handed Rolf to Rhys. "Welcome. Welcome to our family." Half a foot shorter, she still managed to smother Siri in a big hug. "Thank you for bringing my boy home."
Buff detached himself from his sisters. "Take the cat, Reggie. He's in that basket. Yes, Iris, I brought you something from Siam, just like I promised. Now why don't you take these two in and feed 'em. They haven't had a bite for a couple of hours." He gave his youngest sister another squeeze. "I can't believe how much you've grown."
"I'm twelve now," Iris said, as she took Rosel by the hand. "C'mon. Ma's been making gingersnaps."
Buffalo shook his head. "She was such a little tyke when I went away. Not much bigger than Rolf. I guess I was gone too long."
"That's what I kept telling you," Ma said. "But why are we standing out here in the cold wind? Come inside. Siri. I'll bet you're worn out."
* * *
By the time supper was over and the kids had all been sent to bed--even the ones who weren't kids anymore--Buff's head rang. He'd forgotten what a noisy bunch his family was. Beside him, Siri drooped in her chair. Only one more thing to do. He sure hoped it wouldn't upset his folks. "Well, Ma, when's the wedding? Tomorrow?"
He sensed how Siri stiffened.
"Well, we can do it tomorrow, if you don't want anybody here. Since we didn't know for sure when you'd arrive, we couldn't tell folks when to come."
He sat back, torn between what he wanted and what he knew Siri wanted. "How long will it take 'em to get here?"
"Four, five days, I reckon," Pa said. "What difference does it make?"
"Well, I..." He looked an apology at Siri. "We're going to have a baby. In October, Siri thinks. She doesn't want everybody counting on their fingers." He couldn't interpret the look that passed between his parents.
"It's March now. Seems to me nobody's going to have to count very high
," Pa said. "A week's not going to make much difference."
"And who cares, anyway?" Ma said. She got up from her chair and went to wrap her arms around Siri. "You've already brought me two of the sweetest grandbabies anybody could ask for. Now you say there's going to be another one. Siri, it doesn't matter a gnat's eyebrow how long a time passes between the wedding and the birthing. What matters is how welcome the child will be. And yours will be as welcome as any babe ever born."
Buff never did understand why Siri and his mother both burst into tears. All he knew was that from that moment on, his wife was part of his family.
THE END
About the Author
Among her varied careers are a couple Judith B. Glad actually chose, rather than falling into. With her children in school, she decided it was time for her to follow her own dreams, so she went back to school and studied botany. After completing her M.S., she became a botanical consultant, and spent the next twenty-odd years picking flowers for a living. Well, it was a little more complicated than that, but she picked enough flowers to keep her happy.
Consulting is not always steady work, so one slow winter Judith decided to spend a little time at her second career choice. Now she'd done a lot of writing as a consultant, but somehow describing proposed mine sites and interpreting statistical data wasn't the kind of writing she wanted to do. So she wrote a book. And another, and... Before she knew it, she was spending more time writing than picking flowers.
Judith lives in Portland, Oregon, where her garden blooms all year 'round and the long, rainy winters give her lots of time for writing. Visit her website (www.judithbglad.com) for samples of her stories.
Non-English Words and Phrases
These are Swedish, unless otherwise noted.
Allting -- Everything
Allvarlig -- Thoughtful, pensive
Älska med mig -- Make love to me
Angelägen -- Urgent
Bry dig inte om det -- Never mind, don't worry about it
Din brutala människa -- You brutal man
Djävul -- Devil
Dominerande odjur -- Domineering beast
Domnad -- Asleep, numb (as a foot)
Du är inte min man -- You are not my husband
Du ljuger -- You lie, you are lying
Du mar djävul -- You are a devil
Du mår ond -- You are a monster
Du skrämde mig -- You startled me
Du, Miststueck (German) -- You piece of filth
Dum -- foolish, stupid
Dum fantasi -- Stupid daydream
Dumbom -- Dummy, Stupid person
En ängel -- An angel
En ängel med gyllene gloria. -- An angel with a golden halo
En artig dam -- A grande dame, a great lady
En gris -- A pig
En häxa -- A witch
En inkraktare i min sängkammare -- An intruder in my bedroom
Fänig -- Fanciful, silly, ridiculous
Fantasi -- Imagination, daydream
Far -- Father
Feer -- Fairies
Flörtis -- Flirt
Födelsedag -- Birthday, date of birth
Förlägen -- Embarrassed
Förlåt mig -- Forgive me
Förstås -- Of course
Förtrollning -- Enchantment, bewitchment
Fruchtloeses Unternehmen (German) -- Fruitless undertaking, wild goose chase
Fruktansvärd -- Terrible, horrible
Gåshud -- goose pimples, gooseflesh
Ge dig iväg -- Go away
Ge tillbaka dem -- Give them back
Ge tillbaka mina barn -- Give back my children
Gjetöst -- A Norwegian boiled-whey cheese
Gloria -- Halo
God middag -- Good afternoon, good day
God natt -- Good night
God uppfostran -- Good manners, good breeding
Grym -- fierce, ruthless, sober
Gud -- God
Guten Morgen, Frau Trogen (German) -- Good morning, Mrs. Trogen
Han är inte min far -- He is not my father
Han rörde min klader -- He handled my clothing
Han talar svensk -- He speaks Swedish
Helvete -- Hell
Himmel -- Heaven
Hindra -- Hinder, slow down
Hjälp -- Help, help me
Högdragen -- Bossy, dominant
Hora -- Whore
Ingenting -- Nothing
Insekt -- Insect, bug
Ja -- Yes (pronounced yah)
Jag älskar dig -- I love you
Jag är obetänksam -- I am thoughtless, I am inconsiderate
Jag är så mätt -- I am so full
Jag behöver inte lyda dig -- I don't have to obey you
Jag blir sjösjuk -- I get seasick
Jag glömde mina barn -- I forgot about my children
Jag heter Siri -- I am Siri
Jag känner mig så skamsen -- I am so ashamed
Jävlar också -- Damn it
Jösses! -- Good grief
Jucka -- Crude term for sexual intercourse
Kineser (German) -- Chinese
Kittlig -- Tickle
Kom in -- Come in, enter
Kuslig -- Threatening, frightening
Las mich los (German) -- Let me go
Lem -- Penis
Lurvig -- Shaggy, unkempt
Mardröm -- nightmare, bad dream
Min älskade dotter, var är du? -- My darling daughter, where are you?
Min älskling -- My darling
Min barn -- My child
Min dotter -- My daughter
Min far -- My father
Min kläder -- My clothing
Min mor -- My mother
Min underkläder -- My underwear
Mina barn -- My children
Mor -- Mother
Nedvetslös -- Inconsiderate
Nej -- No (pronounced nay)
Och han -- And he
Ohyggligt -- Monstrous, terrible,
Oläglig -- Inconvenient
Omoralisk -- Immoral
Ond -- Evil, wicked
Öppna dörren -- Open the door
Ostadig -- Unsteady, weak
Otäck -- Hideous, ugly
Otrolig -- Incredible
Parasoll -- Umbrella
Plåga -- Plague, pester
Porslin -- Porcelain, china
Prydnadssaker -- Knick-knacks
Raring -- sweetheart, nice guy
Rasande -- Angry, outraged
Respektabel -- Respectable
Retlig -- Whining, petulant
Rumpa -- Rump, derriere
Ryggsäck -- Knapsack
Så god -- So good
Så luxuös! -- So luxurious
Så skön -- So lovely, so beautiful
Så smutsiga -- So filthy, so dirty
Så varm -- So warm
Schatz (German) -- Sweetheart
Schrecklich (German) -- Terrible, foul
Sinnligt skön -- Sexually attractive, sexy
Sjuklig -- Sickly, unhealthy
Skål -- Cheers
Skön -- Beautiful, handsome
Skrämmande -- Fierce, warrior-like
Skräp -- Garbage, trash
Skvallra -- Gossip, tattle
Skynda dig -- Hurry up
Släpp mig -- Let me go
Smeknamn -- Nickname, pet name
Snehvid fluesvamp -- A poisonous mushroom, the Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa) found in northern Europe. It is deadly poisonous. In the Western US an almost identical mushroom, the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), is poisonous enough to make most people ill, by tripping them out (badly).
Söker mig -- Seeks me, looks for me
Spänning -- Tension, tenseness
Spöklik -- Spooky, haunted
Stal mina -- Stole children
Storslagen -- Grand, impressive
Svampar -- Mushroom, toadstool
Svensk -- Swedish, a Swede
&n
bsp; Svindlande -- Dizzy
Tack gode Gud -- Thank God
Tack -- Thank you, thanks
Trist -- Gloomy
Trivs inte -- Uncomfortable, ill at ease
Troll -- Troll, evil creature
Tusen tack -- Thanks a lot, thanks a million
Underbar -- Wonderful
Underkläder -- Underwear
Unlænding (German) -- Foreigner
Uppkäftig -- Sassy, irreverent
Vad -- How
Vad stiligt -- How elegant
Vad synd -- What a pity
Vad syndig -- How sinful
Var snäll och -- Please, a plea
Varför -- Why
Varför är du här? -- Why are you here?
Varför kallade du på mig? -- Why did you summon me?
Verdammt (German) -- Damn it
Verdammt noch mal (German) -- Damned thing (sort of...)
Uncial Press brings you excellent electronic fiction and non-fiction. Put a world of reading in your pocket.
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