Esther bit her lip, stroking the baby’s full head of hair. “How would you feel about calling her Harriett? She brought us together; she deserves to have a namesake.”
He nodded immediately. “I agree. She’s a good woman.”
Esther smiled down at her daughter. “Harriett Wilson. I like it.”
Thomas swallowed hard. “You can name her Perry.”
Esther shook her head. “I think we’ll use that as a middle name, but she should have our name. Harriett Perry Wilson.”
Thomas blinked quickly to hide the tears that sprang to his eyes. “I love you, Esther. More than I ever thought it was possible to love.”
“Do you want to hold her?”
Thomas shook his head. “I’d break her.”
“No you won’t. Just make sure you support her head.” She carefully placed the baby in Thomas’s arms and watched his face light up.
He stood, walking her and speaking softly. “I’m going to make sure nothing bad ever happens to you, Harriett. There’s no little girl in this world who will ever be loved as much as I love you. I just want you to know that it doesn’t matter at all who your father is. From today on, I’m your daddy, and I’m going to make sure your life is as good as it can be.”
Harriett opened her eyes and stared up at him. She looked at the man holding her in his arms, and after a moment, closed them again and settled back to sleep. Thomas held her tightly, knowing that no matter how many children he and Esther had, he would never love any of them more than he loved this one.
*****
Harriett was four months old and they still hadn’t heard a thing from Charlie’s parents. Esther wasn’t sure if they’d given up on finding her or were having a hard time. Harriett was growing fast and brought joy to them every day.
The winter wheat was starting to grow again, and Thomas was busy in the fields every day.
One Wednesday afternoon Bertha had come over with her children, her tiny son held in her arms. Their new baby was three weeks older than Harriett, and the two mothers laid the babies together on a blanket on the floor. “I’m sure they’ll be married one day,” Esther predicted with a smile.
Bertha laughed. “I don’t think little Timothy could do any better than Harriett. They look really good together.” Bertha’s five older children were playing outside, her two teenage girls watching the younger children.
“Thanks for coming to visit today. I was getting a little stir crazy.” Esther had done fine through the winter with the new baby to take care of, but now that spring was upon them, she was having a hard time.
“It’s to be expected.” Bertha took a bite of the cookie Esther had made that morning for the visit with the other woman. “How are you taking to motherhood?”
Esther smiled. “I had no idea it was possible to love a little person so much. I think I’ll have a dozen.”
“I’m sure Thomas will be happy to accommodate you. He loves being a father. It’s obvious in everything he says and does.”
“It is. He’s a good father, too. I was a little worried when I came out here that he’d resent the baby, but he is as protective of her as I am.” Esther took a sip of her coffee.
Bertha’s oldest, Jane, came running into the house. “Ma! Come quick! There’s a stranger here!”
There were so few strangers in the area that having one arrive was cause for alarm. The only people they saw were the other families in their church, unless they went into town.
Bertha frowned as she stood to go to the door. Esther looked down at the babies and picked up her gun from where it was lying on the shelf above the worktable. She had no idea who it was, but if it was a stranger, that meant danger to her.
When Esther stepped onto the porch beside Bertha, her heart began beating faster. There, in a fancy carriage, were her in-laws. They’d found her. “Take the children and go in with the babies,” Esther whispered.
Bertha looked at the gun in Esther’s hand and obeyed immediately. “Children, inside!” She didn’t know what was happening, but she wasn’t about to stand there and find out when her children were in danger.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry climbed down from the wagon, looking at Esther. Mrs. Perry folded her arms across her chest, glaring. “You had a child and you weren’t going to tell us. Our grandchild.”
Esther nodded. “I did. You made it clear I wasn’t good enough to be your daughter-in-law, so I was certain I wasn’t good enough to have your grandchild. Why would I stick around for you to reject the baby?”
Mr. Perry glared down at his wife. “Just like I told you. With the way you treated her, she had a right to leave and keep that baby from us.”
Esther was surprised at Charlie’s father taking her side. He always agreed with everything his wife said.
Mrs. Perry looked at her husband and then at Esther, tears in her eyes. “I won’t hurt him. I just want to hold him. Just once.”
Esther bit her lip. Was the woman being sincere? Or was she planning on running off with the baby? “It’s a girl. Her name is Harriett.”
“You should have named her Charlotte after Charlie.” Mrs. Perry bit her lip as soon as she said the words.
“Harriett is a fine name,” Mr. Perry argued. “May we see her, Esther? I’d like to see my granddaughter. She’s all we have left of our son.” His eyes pleaded with her to agree.
Esther nodded briefly, the gun still in her hand. “Come inside.”
She opened the door wide for the couple, and they went to the two babies lying on the floor. Bertha met Esther’s eyes and Esther nodded. It was then that Esther realized Bertha’s second oldest daughter, Rose, wasn’t there. She must have run for Thomas. Even though Esther believed the Perrys were sincere, she was glad to know Thomas was on his way.
Mrs. Perry stood looking at the two infants. “Twins?”
“No, Ma’am.” She bent down and picked up Harriett. “The other baby belongs to my friend Bertha.”
Mrs. Perry stepped closer, peering down at the baby. “She has blond hair like Charlie did.”
Esther smiled. She was identical to Esther except for her hair which was obviously her father’s. “Yes, she does.” She forced herself to ask, “Would you like to hold her?”
Mrs. Perry nodded, her eyes glued to the baby in Esther’s arms. She held her tightly, tears rolling down her face. “She’s beautiful.”
Esther smiled. “She’s a good baby, too. She’s only four months old and she already sleeps through the night.”
“Thank you for letting us see her,” Mr. Perry told her. “I know you weren’t treated well by us, but please know I’ve always considered you a daughter.” By “us” he meant Mrs. Perry, and all three of them knew it.
“Will you write to us and let us know how she’s doing?” Mrs. Perry asked. “Please?”
Esther nodded. “Of course I will. If you want to be part of her life, you can.” From a distance, she added in her head.
The door slammed open and Thomas entered the house, out of breath from sprinting across the fields. Esther smiled at him and held her hand out to him. “Thomas, these are my former in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Perry. This is my husband, Thomas.”
Mr. Perry pulled his eyes off the baby and turned to Thomas. “I owe you my thanks for being a good father to my granddaughter and a good husband to my daughter. I can see they’re both happy and well-cared for.”
Thomas nodded, still out of breath. “They’re my family now.”
“Yes, they are.” He held his hand out to shake Thomas’s.
Thomas swallowed hard, relieved that the couple was being calm and not trying to run off with his daughter. He wasn’t certain what had happened before he got to the house, but Esther looked at peace with Mrs. Perry holding Harriett, and that’s all that mattered to him.
Esther smiled. “Would you like coffee and cookies? I made the cookies just this morning.”
Mr. Perry nodded. “We’d be grateful. The drive from Lindsborg was long in the rented carriage.”
Thomas stayed at the house for as long as the older couple was there. By the time they’d left, they all felt more comfortable with one another. “I’ll write every month with updates on how she’s doing,” Esther promised.
Mrs. Perry had tears streaming down her face as she handed the baby back to Esther. “We can come visit sometime?”
“As long as you give us notice and don’t just show up on our doorstep, that’s fine.” Esther didn’t hate the couple, but she felt safer now that her baby was in her arms again.
“We’ll give you plenty of notice next time. I promise.” Mr. Perry shook hands with Thomas and thanked him again.
Once the door closed behind them, Esther sank into a chair, shaking. “I’m so glad they’re gone!”
Thomas laughed. “So am I. It wasn’t nearly as bad as we’d expected, though.”
Esther stared down at the baby in her arms. Her wide blue eyes looked back at her and she gurgled happily.
Bertha and her children had left an hour before, so the couple was very much alone with their child. “Are you sure they won’t be back?” Thomas asked.
“I don’t think so. I think Mr. Perry has finally learned to stand up to his wife.” Esther sighed. “I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I’m allowed to really be happy now.”
Thomas nodded. “You deserve to be happy.”
“You make me happy. You and little Harriett make me the happiest woman alive.”
Thomas pulled her into his embrace. “I’m so glad you took a chance on a homesteader in the middle of Kansas.”
Esther nodded. “I am, too.”
*****
After the baby was in bed that evening, Esther sat down at the table to write Harriett a letter. “Dear Harriett, I’m so happy to hear your news. I’m glad everything worked out for you in Washington. You’ll have to bring your husband and come visit again. I know I won’t be able to drag Thomas away from his fields to go see you. I miss you so much. I’ve never had a friend quite like you. Little Harriett is growing like a weed. I can’t believe how big she’s gotten in just four short months. She’s already sleeping through the night, and keeps us laughing with her antics. I’ll write a longer letter next time to catch you up, but I don’t want to miss this going out tomorrow. All the best, Esther.”
She folded the letter and smiled. She was so happy for her friend.
Mail Order Maternity (Brides of Beckham) Page 14