by Mari Collier
Rita had her hands on his shoulders and was smiling back, tears streaming down her face. “Look at you, just look. You've grown so tall and that scar has almost disappeared.” They started to walk towards the house. “How's Mama?”
“She's fine. She'll be mad that y'all didn't wait in town for us to come guide y'all in.”
Rita snorted. “I do not need an escort.” They were walking hand in hand as they had done when Lorenz was little. “What's Mama's husband like?”
“He's the most bodacious man I ever met.”
Rita stopped and stared at him. “Bodacious? Where in the world did you learn to speak like that?”
Lorenz smiled more broadly. “Mama and Papa taught me, and they're teaching me to read and write and cipher. I've even started studying Luther's Small Catechism, but since it's in Deutsch, it's taking longer. My accent ain't, isn't real good yet.”
“Unbelievable,” Rita murmured. They picked up their pace as they felt the first spatters of rain while thunder rolled in the background.
Anna came running out the door, and they hugged and pulled each other into the house. Lorenz shrugged and grabbed the milk pail. He knew he best get it into the springhouse or it would be wasted, and he would hear about it over and over again. He'd bring in the pitcher of milk and come back for the horses. He figured most of the things on the packhorse would go into the house anyways.
“Mein hertzan, my heart, my kinder.”
Anna's words were like balm on Rita's closed heart. She let the tears flow faster and faster and did not care. The world never saw Rita cry, but Mama was different. Mama knew, Mama cared, and Mama loved her. It didn't matter that she was twenty-three and six foot tall, she was still Mama's little girl. “Oh, Mama, Mama,” she kept saying over and over.
Finally they drew apart. Anna used her apron to wipe her tears and then Margareatha's tears. “Velcome home, Margareatha,” she managed to say in English. “Do du remember any Deutsch?”
“Very little, Mama,” and Margareatha began to cry again. Anna put her arms around her and held her tighter.
Finally the shaking body calmed, and Anna released her. “Du still have your beautiful red hair,” Anna murmured. Then she felt the tugging at her skirt and looked down.
“Ach, Mina.” She bent and picked her up. “This is your sister, Margareatha.”
Mina was rapidly nearing her fourth birthday and losing her baby fat. Her reddish-brown curls were deepening to a darker brown with tints of red left from the sun. Her brown eyes were solemn as she gazed at her older sister, smiled shyly, said “Hullo,” very softly, and buried her face on her mother's shoulder.
“Tsk, Mina,” said Anna.
Lorenz came through the kitchen with the milk. “How much of your stuff comes in here?” he asked.
“Everything but the feed bags. I emptied those out last night.”
“It figures.” He went outside and returned with a saddlebag from Rita's riding horse and part of the packs lashed to the extra horse.
Rita bent and picked up one of the bags and opened it. “Here I have something for you.” She rummaged inside and came up with a small case. “This is for you, Mama.” She handed Anna a set of nacre buttons. To Mina she held out a small heart locket with the word Baby inscribed on the front. “I didn't know what else to get you until I was actually here. There's some tobacco in there for Lorenz and for Daniel, and Mr. MacDonald, if he smokes.”
Anna's eyebrows were raised, and she stared at her older daughter. “Du did not need to buy for us anything.” She could see the traveling suit Rita wore, while beautifully tailored from expensive fabric, the skirt was not really a skirt, but split up the middle for riding a horse astraddle like a man.
Rita shrugged and said, “Oh, Mama, I wanted to.” Impulsively she hugged her mother again, Mina and all. “Let's see how this looks around your neck, Mina.”
Mina raised her head and turned, her eyes opened wide at the unexpected treasure, and she smiled.
Lorenz opened the door and deposited the rest of the bundles from the packhorse. “It's really coming down out there.” Water was dripping off the brim of his hat. Thunder crashed above to emphasize his words as he disappeared.
“I must to the supper see. Du can take those things into Mina's room. She'll show du.”
When Rita returned, she had changed into a dull green work shift with three quarter length sleeves, a square neckline, and tied at the waist with green ribbon. “What can I do to help?”
Supper preparation became a flurry of half commands, fingers pointing at the drawer holding the silverware, the cabinet holding the dishes, and snatches of conversation to patch the holes in their lives.
“Ve vent to Saint Louis after ve vere married and saw the American Fur Company before ve vent on to see Papa and Johanna.” Anna's face was flushed from stove heat and from memories.
“Some grain buyer for Red's shipping line found Daniel in a Kansas fort where he'd been taken after his village was annihilated. We'd had flyers and inquiries out.”
“Your uncle is much better, but he has to take things easy.”
“Are you truly happy, Mama?”
“Ach, ja, Mr. MacDonald is not like your father.”
As if on cue, a very wet MacDonald walked in the door and hung up his hat. Before he had completely turned around, he was attacked by Mina. She practically leaped up into his arms, and he buried his face into her neck as she screamed in delight. He sat her down and turned to greet his wife and then Rita.
Rita had her hand to her throat, her mouth open as though mouthing the word no. Her copper eyes showed the white above and below and her tanned skin turned an underlying pallor of white.
Anna had stepped forward, pride, love, and welcome in her face and voice as she said, “Mr. MacDonald, I vant du to meet Margareatha.” Her voice trailed away as she saw the look on MacDonald's face. Before he could speak Daniel and Lorenz were crowding through the door to get out of the rain.
“Lorenz, wrap Mina in a coat and go select a wine for supper tonight. Daniel, go with him. Now!” His voice cracked like a whip on the last word.
Lorenz took one look at his rigid back and Rita's white face and grabbed an extra coat, slung it around Mina, picked her up, and jostled Daniel out the door. Both of them bent their heads to deflect the force of the wind and rain.
“What was that all about?” demanded Daniel.
“I dunno, but Rity's got her back up about something. Come on, let's get under cover.” They practically ran the few steps to the washhouse.
“It's getting dark in here,” complained Daniel. “How are we supposed to see?”
“It isn't going to matter,” replied Lorenz. “Rity likes brandy, but will drink wine. Just as long as we grab a bottle and give Papa a few minutes to settle whatever's going on in there. We'll hear about it later.” He almost added after Mina goes to bed, but decided that would be a dumb thing to say. Mina would want to know too. “Go ahead and open up the barrel, and we'll pick something.”
Anna was looking at her daughter with a slight frown on her face as her sons left the house. “It would seem,” MacDonald's voice rumble out, “that yere lassie recognizes a Thalian when she sees one. That means she has been talking with her fither, and he tis alive.”
“No,” snapped Rita. “I've not seen the man.”
“Then who have ye spoke with?”
Rita set her mouth. “That's none of your business.” She turned to Anna. “Mama, why did you lie to me? You must be miserable!”
Anna took a deep breath and stepped next to her husband and grasped his hand. “I haf not lied. Mr. MacDonald ist a fine, good man.”
Rita stared at the two of them. They were united against her. Her eyebrows drew together in puzzlement.
“I suggest we suspend this conversation till the wee one has gone to bed. She tis nay eld enough to comprehend what we twill be saying. There twill be a truce whilst we eat.”
“Ja!” Anna agreed and looked at her d
aughter.
“We'll need to wait until Lorenz and Daniel go to bed.” Rita's voice was firm.
“Why? Lorenz kens who his biological fither tis and were he tis from. Tis time Daniel twas aware of his heritage,” said MacDonald. “He has heard Mina's story once so he twill have an inkling of what we speak.”
Rita stared at him, a look of complete horror on her face, and she turned again to her mother, her voice condescending as though speaking to someone with less wit. “I do not know how he has deluded you, but surely you must acknowledge that Daniel cannot understand what we will be discussing.”
“Vhy, because he does not have two hearts from Mr. Lawrence like du and Lorenz?” Anna snapped the words back.
This volley left Rita open mouthed again and blinking her eyes.
Amusement flooded MacDonald's voice. “Do ye think yere mither a fool? She lived with Toma for over twelve years. She birthed all of ye. She kens who has two hearts and walks in the minds of others. As I said, a truce till later. The laddies are returning, and I twill nay have Mina upset.”
Rita projected her mind outward to determine if her mother was withholding something and discovered she could not enter. Anna's lips narrowed and she exclaimed, “Not in this house! I vill not permit it.”
The laughter was back in MacDonald's eyes as he turned to meet the young men and took his daughter. “Did ye find a nice bottle of wine?”
Lorenz looked at him and grinned. “Yes, Papa.”
MacDonald perched Mina on his shoulders and washed his hands, and then the other two took their turns. “Supper vill be on as soon as du are out of the vay,” said Anna.
The meal was not exactly strained silence. There were still too many years between them and a type of family normalcy returned after saying grace and the passing of bowls and platters began. Rita closed her eyes and smiled when biting down on the yeast rolls that went with the stew. “Oh, Mama, they are as good as I remember. Did Lorenz tell you that I ran a bakery in Tucson?”
“Ach, ja, he did. Did du remember how I taught du to bake pies?”
“Yes,” laughed Rita, “but it was hard at first with only dried fruit. It wasn't the fresh fruit we used from Grandpa's orchard.”
“Have you heard from O'Neal lately?” asked Daniel, forgetting how that name could throw Anna into a foul mood.
“Yes, he's made accommodations with the Union and the Union Army by paying for his father's pardon, and they left him alone and the ranch intact. He doesn't think they'll get a Reconstruction Bill through congress as long as President Johnson remains so favorable to the South.” Rita then addressed her remarks to Lorenz. “Why didn't you stay with Red after you went back to Wooden looking for Mama?”
Lorenz looked at his sister and answered in a flat voice. “Then Zale would still be alive.”
Daniel figured something should be said to put his employer in a good light. “At least he sent the telegram telling the Marshal that you didn't kill his uncle and steal the gold.”
Lorenz looked at Daniel, slightly amused. He knew Red hadn't bothered to enlighten Daniel about anything. “He had to. He knocked his uncle out and took the gold. He needed it for, uhh, some purchases.” Lorenz figured Mama would have a fit if he said buy some women to ship to Carson City.
His euphemism didn't work. Anna laid her knife down and snorted. “I told du the man ist evil.” She turned to Rita seated at her left. “How could du vork for such an evil man? No, vait, do not answer. Mina, eat your supper.” She realized Mina was listening with rapt attention. “Little pitchers big ears have,” she said to everyone in general.
Daniel figured it was time to leave O'Neal out and said to Lorenz, “You never said how you managed alone like that. Did you work some place?”
“Naw, I took some of the gold coins when I left camp.” Lorenz stopped abruptly.
MacDonald looked at Lorenz. “And how do ye intend to repay Mr. O'Neal? Ye already owe him for Dandy.”
Lorenz sat silent for a moment and raised his head. “When Zale's reward money gets here, I reckon.” At the rate he was going, he figured he'd be an old man before he paid everyone back.
Anna was outraged. “I do not vant any money going to that man. It vas Confederate gold.”
Rita glanced at MacDonald and was amazed to see him fighting a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and realized what a handsome man he was. The mouth line was medium with a full under lip, the nose small and well-shaped, the eyes were black-brown set underneath a high forehead, the head square and covered with deep black, straight hair combed back. His shoulders were broad and he gave off an aura of a powerful, intelligent man. Her heart thudded in her chest just looking at him. No wonder her mother had fallen for him, but why had he married someone so much older? Then she remembered the booklet had said the Thalians lived to be well over two hundred years or more. Her mother was still glaring at him. Was there a chance she could separate them? She would need to talk with Daniel.
“Mayhap tis a conversation we should save for later,” said MacDonald mildly. “Is the wine any good?”
Slowly a smile went across Anna's face. “Ja, it's fine.” She wiped Mina's face.
MacDonald looked at Rita. “Ye picked a good time to return. Yere mither and ye twill be able to talk with nay interruptions when we all go into Arles next week”
Rita looked at her mother and then at MacDonald. “All of you? Why”
“We're going in for my adoption,” said Lorenz. My name will be MacDonald.
This time Rita's mouth fell open. “Adopted? Why?”
“Because, he's papa.” Lorenz's eyes turned flinty grey and dared her to dispute him. The finality in his voice left Rita temporarily without voice. Somehow, she must talk with Daniel.
Anna stood as the others began to push their plates to the side and rise from the table. Well trained, they all picked up their plates and utensils and carried them into the kitchen.
“I'll start the laddies on their lessons since ye have someone to help ye this evening.”
The dishes went quickly while Rita and Anna stayed on subjects certain to not antagonize the other. “Du may vant to get your night clothes out vhile I take Mina outside,” said Anna as she retrieved the youngest from MacDonald's lap. “Or do du vant to come along and see vhere it is.” There was no need to explain “it.”
“I think I'll walk along.” They grabbed the men's slickers and wrapped themselves and Mina against the storm.
When they returned, the women disappeared into Mina's bedroom after MacDonald had bid Mina goodnight with a hug and a kiss. Rita itched to ask if he was always like that and decided against it. She put out her nightclothes for later and hurried out to the front. Maybe there was a chance she could smoke while Mama was still in the bedroom, but the opportunity slid away and her frustration mounted until she heard Anna call for MacDonald to come and tell Mina a story. He went into the bedroom, and Rita lit and inhaled deeply on the cigarillo she'd hidden in her pocket. She looked at her two handsome brothers with their broad shoulders, straight features, grey eyes, cleft chins, and wavy, curly black hair; handsome in a lean, angular way, and tried to fish out some information.
“Do they always work together like that?” she asked.
“Always,” answered Lorenz. He grinned. “I quit trying to fool them both within a week of being here.”
Rita frowned and wondered how to get rid of Daniel. Surely, they could not have been serious about discussing lineage with Daniel present. She looked at his papers and saw that Daniel was practicing adding and subtracting. “I didn't know you were interested in ciphering,” she admitted.
“You never asked.”
Rita picked up one of Lorenz's books. It was Luther's Small Catechism written in German. “You are reading this?” she gurgled out.
“Some of it. Most of the time it's still just memorization, but the words start making sense after I've gone through a page.” Lorenz grinned at her. “It seems I haven't forgotten everything.” He s
tressed forgotten and looked at Daniel. Daniel ignored him.
Silence descended on the siblings until Anna and MacDonald walked out of the short hallway. “Ye might as well put up the books for now,” said MacDonald. “It seems we need to cover a few misunderstandings. Did ye wish me to start?” He looked down at Anna as he asked the question.
“No,” she sighed. “I'll start.” She wet her lips, and MacDonald put his arm around her shoulders. They made a striking couple: both were tall, one with white hair, one with black. “I made a mistake vhen I married Mr. Lawrence so young. Having all of du vas not a mistake. Du vere, and are, everyone of one of du, beautiful, vonderous gifts from God, and I fought so hard to keep him from killing du. It vas a mistake to go with him to Texas, but I still thought I had to be the obedient frau.”
Rita pushed her chair back and tried to think of some way to stop this. Was her mother as mad as the Thalian? “Mama, you cannot say anymore.” Before she could stand, MacDonald broke in.
“Why? Because Daniel does nay have two hearts like ye and Lorenz have from yere biological fither?”
Rita gulped in air and stared at him, unable to rise. She had forgotten to put out the cigarillo, and smoke curled up in a lazy, scented spiral.
Daniel shook his head as if to clear it. “What are you people talking about?”
“Yere heritage, the one ye can pass down to any wee ones ye may have.”
“None of us can have children,” Rita said through clenched teeth.
“That may nay be true. Ye exist, and all of yere full siblings, except one, exist. I exist and Mina exists. Tis true we lost our wee laddie, but in this world who tis there to say why. I am nay medical, but there tis truly something fecund about this world.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Daniel let his impatience get the better of his tongue. When he saw MacDonald's eyebrows go up, he said, “Sorry, ma'am.”