by Caryl McAdoo
“If what?”
He shrugged. “If Texas is big enough for two of you.”
Her laughter turned a few heads at the cook-fire, too. “I love you, Flynn.” For a long minute, he held her eyes with his. She dared not blink. Then another question sprang to mind. “What were you and Ma joshing about yesterday?”
“Told her I couldn't get the thought of her and mam plucking feathers all day.” He laughed. “We both got tickled and then took to laughing at each other.”
“Oh. Well. Sure pained me to see the two of you cutting up so.”
“Why? Don't you want us to get along?”
“Oh, yes, I do. It's just . . . I wanted it to be us. It should be us. It isn't like we need to wait, you know. How much does a good wagon cost anyway?”
“Seventy—five dollars for a good used one.”
“That much?”
“Yes, ma'am. Afraid so, and mules will be another twenty—five or more, plus the harnesses and trace chains.”
Before she could ask how much those were, someone hollered. A commotion stirred about everyone at the cook-fire. Then a deep guttural moan sounded. Flynn jumped to his feet and stepped to the porch's edge.
She joined him, careful not to touch his shoulder with hers. Aunt Esther held her extended belly, and his mam had an arm around her waist, helping her toward the Worley's cabin.
“Aww, looks like the baby's coming. That's wonderful. She was really scared about it happening on the trail.”
Sideways, he eased another good foot away then turned toward her. “Do you need to go help?”
Both hands went up in front of her, palms forward. “Not me. I don't know a thing about birthing babies.” Her ma disappeared into the cabin, followed by Izzy, and Alicia returned to the rocker.
Once he joined again, she eased forward. “Lord willing, I'll know all about what Auntie's experiencing next year. That's what I'm praying.”
Pa's voice rode the evening breeze. “Alicia, come on and get Katie Kay and the children all together.”
“Mercy. That isn't fair.” She stood. “Of course, it falls to me to corral all the children.” She smiled. “Soon enough, Charity and Arlene can handle that. I sure would like to kiss you goodnight, but of course, that can't happen.”
She winked then hurried to fetch the little ones.
The girls helped with Katie Kay together, and she saw to the boys taking care of their necessities then made them shuck their clothes and got them all into their nightshirts.
Spreading pallets, she agreed to let the boys stay together with the promise of no talking. When they finally all got still, she read to them from the Bible.
Then turning the lantern's wick down, she sang a lullaby. Katie Kay dozed off first, then Rich, but Aaron wanted his favorite song before he'd give it up.
She lay in the midst of them all, still as the pond water on a no-breeze afternoon, until certain her brother had succumbed good and gone. When all were out, she eased back down the ladder and out onto her porch.
Pa remained with the other men around the cook-fire, and Flynn had joined them, but she didn't dare leave the cabin. Appeared to be no news. Uncle Laud paced, seeming unable to sit still for nothing.
Poor him. He had to be concerned about the wellbeing of his sweetheart. Every now and again, she'd holler out.
Alicia decided then and there her births wouldn't be nearly as bad.
At least Gabby was nowhere to be seen.
After a few minutes, she decided laying down would beat standing there and went back inside and changed. In her nightgown, she knelt beside her bed.
“Have mercy, Lord. Help Auntie get the new baby here all safe and sound. In Christ's name, Amen.”
Chapter Ten
“Lesha.” The whisper drifted through Alicia's dream, then little fingers massaged her cheeks. “Lesha.” Her name grew louder. Small lips kissed her cheek, then tickled her ear. “Auntie says get up.”
She opened one eye. Katie Kay, only inches away from her face, grinned. “I'm a big sister.”
“You are?”
“Yep. Mama had a real live baby doll. Auntie said be quiet and get dressed.”
Rolling over, she glanced toward the ladder. Lights were on down there. Her mother's smiling face appeared at the top of the steps. “Shake a leg, sweetheart, then get the boys up. They're needed in the field today.”
Katie scooted off the bed then stepped over still, sleeping bodies to the ladder. Her mother leaned back, and both disappeared, the three-year-old climbing down in front of Ma.
Where was her father? Why was it light outside?
How long had she been asleep?
Soon enough, all her questions got answered.
Instead of working the field, she’d been elected to watch Katie Kay, cook, and see to Aunt Esther while her mother and Aunt Liberty caught themselves some rest. Other than losing her cotton money for that day, suited her just fine.
Though she hated her pa not having any company taking the lint to the gin, he could handle the ten hours on the road, and for her, the alone time with him to talk about the shindig and thirty minutes at the mercantile wasn't worth it.
Even if she didn't get to go.
At least Gabby wouldn’t be there. The girl still acted like a friend as if her touching Flynn's hair hadn't happened at all, and she'd been minding her ‘P’s-and-‘Q’s as far as Alicia knew.
Once she got the boys fed and off to work—if a body could call what they did work—she tucked Ma into bed, hoisted Katie Kay to her hip, and set out to see herself a newborn baby girl.
Esther didn't look too worse for the wear. Hair might have been a bit of a mess, but she wore a grin that had to be bigger than Texas. “Want to hold her?”
“Oh, yes.” The baby's skin color made her look like Alicia figured Indians' would. It was so red! And her little head resembled the pointy end of an egg. Poor little thing and poor Aunt Esther, too. She gently tapped the tiny chin.
“Good morning, little one.” She glanced up at the new mother. “What's her name?”
“We haven't decided. I liked Gabriella before the Harrells showed up.” She reached over and touched the tiny bundle. “Then I thought maybe Angel or Angela, but your Ma’s got dibs on all the 'A' names.” She laughed, and Alicia joined in.
“Can I unwrap her, count her toes?”
“Sure you can.”
The sweet darling was so tiny without all her bundling! And she had ten teensy toes, each no bigger than Alicia’s smallest fingernail! Yet, perfect miniature toes! “Look, Katie Kay! Want to count these adorable little toes with me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” She ran over and leaned in almost on top of her wee sister. “Aww, aren’t they so cute?”
After numbering the digits one by one, the new big sister climbed up into her mother's bed and cuddled with her.
Alicia crooned and cooed, and the new baby looked her square in the eyes. Soon as she got her swaddled again, the doll angel opened her mouth wide and turned toward her chest, stretching her neck.
“Oh, my. I think she’s hungry.”
“Probably. She's been nursing since she was born!” Auntie extended her arms and Alicia returned the precious addition to the Worley family.
“I've never seen a prettier brand-new baby girl. I don't remember Arlene too well when she was that little.” That was the gospel truth and a good way around what she really thought—which would be way too rude to say.
“What about me, Lesha?”
“Well, you could already walk before I saw you.” She held out her arms and Katie Kay did the same. She swung her onto her hip.
“Ma said I needed to cook. Are you hungry? What were you thinking for dinner and supper? Anything particular, or should I come up with something?”
Wow. Aunt Esther’s breast was huge. She quickly looked away. Never remembered them being so large in her dresses. With an expression that couldn't exude any more love, Auntie tickled the baby's chin until she woke enough
to nurse some more.
“Biscuits or cornbread? I've been doubling the recipe since the Harrells came. That’ll cover both meals and any extra always gets eaten, and there should be enough leftover beans for dinner.”
“Great.”
“Then since the Lord blessed us, thought we could have a bigger pot of rabbit stew for supper. Laud ran the snares yesterday evening. We've got three fat rabbits all salted and ready.”
The little one slept in her mother’s arm, head back, mouth open and still sucking every now and again. “As for me? All I want to do is sleep.”
“All right then. Do you want me to take the baby? Put her in her bed?” She looked around the cabin.
“No, she can just sleep here with me this morning. Laud emptied a drawer for her and padded it with some cotton in a pillowcase. While I was laboring, I guess. So that'll be her crib for now.” She snuggled down more prone and met Alicia's eyes.
“She'll be fine with me. Thank you so much.”
Sitting Katie Kay in her high chair—passed down all the way from Flynn, she'd learned—she gave her a wild fig and started a batch of biscuits.
Didn't much like cutting up an animal that had been alive the day before, but she liked eating more. “Soon as I get these ready, you want to go to the garden with me and see what we can find for the stew?”
“Yes, ma'am!” The used-to-be-baby-now-big-girl clapped her hands.
“Shhhh.” Alicia crossed her lips with a finger. “We don't want to keep Mama and the baby awake. They’re so tired. She blew Katie Kay a kiss then got back to work, keeping the little precious busy helping and away from her mother and new sister.
Carrying dinner to the field was a nice break. Katie Kay ate hers on her pa’s lap. She sure did love Uncle Laud, he was such a good Da! She was a Da’s girl for sure. Alicia and Flynn ate together, sitting a ways off and enjoying a few moments of privacy.
“Looks like we're going to finish day after tomorrow.”
“That's great, so no picking on the day of the shindig?” She looked past him to the field, but the sea of white seemed endless. “Has Laud said anything about him and Auntie going tomorrow?”
“No. Hasn't said much about anything other than that new baby girl.”
She laughed. “Can you blame him?”
“Not at all.” He stood and handed her his spoon and bowl. “Best get back at it. We need all the money we can get our hands on.”
“Amen to that.” Proved about all she could do to not touch him, kiss him, or shove him toward his work, or hug him until the cow went dry. Any and all of it!
Oh, Lord, have mercy.
That evening, everyone bragged on her biscuits and stew. She accepted the praise and thanked them, but Auntie’s supervision was what made it so good. Even from bed, she could out-cook most.
The only scar on the night was her father’s absence. Way past normal before the first trace chain tinkles reached the cook-fire.
Her mother stood and took a step toward the creek. “Praise God. There he is.”
Sure enough, he'd finally got home. Flynn ran to take care of the mules and wagon.
Once Pa stepped down and walked into the lantern light, Ma gasped. “What in the world happened?”
“Any supper left? Let me eat a bite, then I'll tell you all about it.”
“Yes, sir.” Alicia raced to the stewpot, filled him a bowl, retrieved his biscuit from the dutch oven, and grabbed him a spoon out of the jar. “Here, Pa.”
Like nothing else was worth talking about anymore, everyone waited patiently while her father chowed down. Halfway through, he nodded toward her. “You fix this?”
“Yes, sir.” She smiled. “But Auntie watched over me.”
“Right tasty, Daughter. Did yourself proud.”
“Thank you, Pa.”
Aaron, who had been shooting marbles with Rich, strolled into the circle, looked hard at his father, then leaned back. “Wow, you got a shiner there, Pa. You been fighting?”
He shoved in another spoonful, then nodded.
Her brother laughed. “What does that other guy look like?” Fist balled, the boy swung, hitting an imaginary foe. “You lick him good and proper?”
Pa handed Aaron the bowl, and the scalawag stopped asking questions then went to eating the leftovers. “Only one wagon in line ahead of me.” He shook his head. “Only got eight and eight—tenths cents a pound today. The seed was down though, so I come home with a hundred thirty—two and almost six bits.”
His son pointed the spoon at him. “What about the fight, Pa? Come on! That's what I want to hear about! What started it? Did he call you a bad name?”
“Aaron Van Zandt! Your father would never get into a fight over anyone calling him a name. He's a Christian man for Heaven's sake. What's gotten into you, boy?”
Ma looked about ready to grab him up by the ear. He sat there wide—eyed with his mouth open. She spun on her husband. “And you! Out with it! What in the world happened to you? Were you robbed?” She broke into tears.
He stood and went to her, embraced her. “Don't cry, Mallory. Goodness, you see I’m fine.”
“I know,” She sniffled and wiped her eyes with her hands. “But . . . you come in late . . . with that black eye, and then have to eat. Then you go to talking about that stupid cotton! I'm with Aaron!” The boy walked over and stood beside her.
“I want to know what happened to my husband! If I came in with a black eye, you'd sure be expecting me to tell you!”
Alicia looked around the crowd. They were all looking at each other, then the ground or the sky.
“Well, come over here and sit yourself down beside me, and I'll tell you.” He looked around. “Tell you all before I get myself in any more trouble with my sweetheart.” He led her over to the bench and sat.
“Someone had posted a bill at the gin about a matched pair of young mules at the livery.
“Figured I'd see if they were any ’count. Outside the mercantile, this dude all decked out in a corduroy suit, top hat and bow tie to boot, stood on a wooden box speechifying about William Henry Harrison.
“Just as I drove past, a fight broke out. Next thing I know, this big galoot pulls me off the wagon and hits me right in the eye.”
“Oh no!” Her mother turned and studied his eye, touching it lightly.
Pa sighed. “The ruffian tore my shirt when he grabbed me.” He pointed out the rip in his sleeve. Thankfully, it stayed only on the seam. “I tried to get back on the wagon, but another idiot takes a swing at me. I ducked.”
“Well done, friend.” Uncle Reagan swung a fist in the air.
“Then someone fired a gun and killed the fancy man.”
The ladies gasped in unison, including Alicia.
Uncle Laud spoke up. “Shot him dead? Mercy!”
“Over politics?” Aunt Liberty glanced at her brother. “Mercy is right, Laud.”
“Took a good two hours for the sheriff to get around to talking to me. I didn't see who fired so couldn't help him much. Seeing how my rifle was still primed and ready under the seat, not smelling for fresh shot powder, he let me go.”
“Hard to believe.” Flynn had rejoined the group in time to hear. “A man getting killed over the election.”
Her thought exactly, but for a fact, Alicia's father wasn't a liar.
“It happens.” Uncle Reagan, her soon-to-be father-in-law, shook his head. “Tempers run hot over politics. You know about the Burr-Hamilton duel, don't you?”
“Who were they?” Alicia had maybe heard something about it, the names sounded a little familiar, but she couldn't remember any particulars. Must have been a long time ago, and she couldn’t vote, so why bother paying attention?
Uncle Laud rose and stepped over behind his wife, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Well, Esther and I have an announcement.”
Rich jumped to his feet and ran over beside his Da. “Me, too!”
“Yes, sir, Son. You, too.” He glanced at her father. “We waite
d for you to be here, Seve my friend. We want to introduce you all to our beautiful new daughter, Josie Jo Worley.”
“Aww, that’s so cute.”
“Little Josie Jo.”
Aunt Esther smiled all around. “I'm glad you all approve. I thought it went so cute with Katie Kay, and my grandmother was Mary Jo, so her middle name is after her. I just thought of the Josie to go with it.”
She lowered her eyes to the sleeping baby in her arms.
“I just love it, Auntie.”
So, the talk turned to the new mother and baby then to scheduling who was doing what the next day. Ma doted on Pa, and Aunt Liberty insisted she'd take care of her sister-in-law, freeing Alicia to help in the field.
That put the hauling to Flynn and Ma.
“I can take the load myself, Auntie. I mean if you want to stay.” Her love nodded at her mother.
“No, I appreciate that, dear, but I need to pick up some things for the house and for Esther. Besides, if tempers are still running hot, they'll not pay me no never mind, seeing how I can't vote one way or the other.”
Of course, under no circumstance would she be allowed to go with Flynn, but maybe he and Ma being in cahoots was a good thing.
If anyone could talk her stubborn father into anything, it'd be her Ma. With her father coming late, she'd probably only get ten minutes on the porch with her love. If that.
Once there, she got right to what was paramount. “I should have twenty dollars, if I can keep up to getting what I've been picking the next two days—”
“You sure about that?” He smiled. “I've only got fifteen and two bits of cotton picking money coming.”
“Oh, I'm adding in the cash my grandmother gave me, eight dollars from her. And I'm adding at least eleven, maybe twelve more from my picking.”
“Good to know. But even with my fur money, we're short. No reason to buy a wagon if we don't have mules and harness.”
She wanted to throw herself into his arms and cry on his shoulder, but instead, she exhaled then rocked forward. “What are we going to do? I was hoping Pa would count the wagon as a roof over our heads. Be the same roof Ma will have from him providing. He couldn't argue much with that.”