“Shh” she said. She took his hand and guided to her entrance, now slippery with her lubricating juices. “Does than answer your question?” she asked, as he slid a finger inside and slid it back and forth until he found the spot. He felt her, pressing against his hand, felt the tension as her passion rose to the climax and then the release.
Her hand clasped him and guided him past the folds. “Wait,” he said. “Let me get a…”
Her hand stopped him, even as she guided him in and began to move. “I want you to give me a baby,” she said, pulling him in deeper into her body. She was moving to meet him on each thrust. As his member grew inside her, his pace picked up. Both of them were moving in sync, each taking the full measure of the other. Then it was over. They lay in each other’s arms, and when he was ready, they made love again. They fell asleep, arms entwined. Josiah didn’t know when she got out of bed and cleansed herself, nor did he know when she came back to bed, her head resting in the hollow of his arm and shoulder.
As was his custom, he rose before daybreak to begin the day of a rancher, “Wait,” she said, as he began to dress. She held her arms open. “Come back for a few minutes,” she said with a smile, her arms apart, inviting him. He stopped where he was, and got back in bed and made love to his wife once more. The last thing he saw before he turned away to begin dressing was the beautiful smile he had loved so much but had seldom seen recently. He left the room, drank the cup of coffee Beaulah had ready for him and went out into the darkness to begin his day’s work.
CHAPTER 19: FATHER GOES HOME
After a two week stay, Anna’s father, Caleb had to return to Plymouth for business reasons. Anna’s coolness toward him had remained throughout the visit. Her mother would not be returning at the same time, having been persuaded to extend her visit. Margaret had explained to her husband, she felt the need to stay close to Anna for the time being. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the decision.
Prior to the end of the visit, Josiah had asked Caleb if he would like to spend a day out on the range with him. He readily accepted the offer and expressed his appreciation. While not totally comfortable in the saddle, he nevertheless could ride. As they rode out that morning, Josiah explained the concept of open range, how the roundups worked and the contracts with the Army. Caleb was an intelligent man and frequently had questions.
He asked out the separation of other brands. He also asked about the unused parts of the cattle, such as the horns, the hooves, the hides, and so on.
Josiah said, “I imagine a lot of it is left to the elements, though I’m sure a use will be found for much of it someday. The hides will be tanned and made into leather goods. Some of the products in your business probably come from Wyoming.”
“I would think the hides would be more valuable if it were not burned by the branding,” he said.
“That is probably true, but it’s the only way of marking the cattle as belonging to someone. Stealing cattle is a hanging offense in most of the west. The brand is the identification mark and it needs to be one that is not easily altered.” He drew a design in the dirt. “For example, an ‘A’ would not be a good brand because running iron could change it from the A to the Bar A. An iron shaped like so,” and he drew an arc, “Would change it to the Rocking A, which happens to be a registered brand in Laramie. Our brand is the Devil’s head for Diablo and would be a difficult change with a running iron.”
At the end of the day, he shook Josiah’s hand and said, “Thank you for a most informative day. I do appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. Caleb, I do appreciate your way with Anna while you’re here. I do wish you two could mend your fences and be friends before you leave,” Josiah said.
“Interesting term, ‘Mend your fences,’ and after today, I really understand the connotation. Josiah, I will try. That is all I can say, I will truly make an effort. In the end, it is up to Anna,” he said.
“That’s all I ask,” Josiah said.
“Josiah, would you? Have shot me, I mean?”
“Yes, I would have.”
“What about the consequences?”
“Caleb, out here, there isn’t much law. These are the consequences.” He patted his Navy Colt revolver.
Everyone made the trip into Cheyenne to take Caleb to the train. Josiah had seen Caleb and Anna talking several times, but didn’t know the outcome. At the depot, Caleb shook Josiah’s hand and thanked him again. He bade his wife goodbye. He turned to Anna. She came into his arms and hugged him. Then she kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for coming, Papa. It meant a lot to me.”
Caleb humphed and said, “It meant a lot to me too. Be well, Anna. You have done well for yourself and I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Papa,” she said as the tears began to fill her eyes. He turned and strode toward the train as the conductor called “All Aboard”. The train huffed, puffed, hissed and showered sparks as it slowly moved off to the east.
Before returning to Diablo, they stopped at the general store to pick up the needed supplies. Anna showed her mother the extent of shopping in Cheyenne. They had dinner in the cafe, and then headed home, with Rebecca sitting between her Mama and her adoptive grandmother.
CHAPTER 20: A NEW ARRIVAL
Ten months later…
“Josiah, wake up! Josiah! I think my labor has started. Wake up, honey, please!”
Josiah stirred from the deep slumber he had been enjoying. “Whaaaa…?” The shaking of his shoulder continued. “What’s the matter?” Now wide awake, he jumped from the bed and began getting dressed. “I’ll get Beulah, and I’ll go get the midwife. Do you want anything first?”
“No, I’m okay, just get started. Tell her I broke water.”
He went to the part of the house where Beulah lived. He knocked on the door. He knocked again and heard stirring inside. “Beulah. Beulah, Anna’s labor has started. I’m going to get the midwife. You take care of Anna.” He ran out of the house, to the barn and then saddled his horse. At a gallop, he rushed to the home of the midwife. Rapping on the door, he called out, “Mrs Stone?”
A middle aged woman with silver hair answered the door. “Mr Moore, what’s happening?”
“Anna’s says labor has started and she needs you.” Josiah said in a rush.
“How far apart are the pains?” Mrs Stone asked.
“I don’t know,” replied Josiah. “I think she just woke up with a pain in her back. She said to tell you she had broke water.”
“Okay, I’ll get dressed and be right there,” she said. “We have plenty of time, so don’t worry. Beulah is there, isn’t she?”
“Yes, Beulah is there. Can I get your horse and carriage?” he asked.
“Yes, that will help. I’ll be ready by the time you finish,” she said.
Josiah had just finished hitching her horse to the carriage when she came into the barn carrying her black medical bag. “I’ll ride on ahead,” he said, and went to his horse.
Back home, he ran into the house and bedroom. Anna was sitting in the rocker with a serene look on her face. “Our baby is coming, Josiah.” A grimace crossed her face.
“A pain?” he asked. She nodded and relaxed as the pain passed, “How far apart are they?”
“Fifteen minutes or so. They haven’t been really bad yet. Is Mrs Stone coming?”
“She’s right behind me and should be here in ten minutes or so. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Josiah. I’m having a baby. Women do that all of the time.”
“Yes, but they’re not having our baby,” he said and smiled at his beautiful wife. He heard the sounds of a horse outside. “That’s her. I’ll go take care of her horse.” He left, and returned, with Mrs Stone. “Take good care of her. She’s really important to us.”
“I will. She’s going to do just fine. She looked good when I saw her two weeks ago. Now you go and let me examine her and see where we are.”
Beulah came out of the bedroom to find Josiah had rekindled the fire
she had started earlier. “I’ll have you some hot coffee in a few minutes, then I’ll start breakfast,” she said.
Daylight was breaking when she handed him his coffee. “I just checked and Mrs Stone said the pains have been coming every ten minutes and Anna is doing fine,” he said.
Rebecca had awakened and was dressed by Beulah, a task usually done by Anna. Breakfast was eaten and the dishes were cleared away. Lunch was prepared and consumed. After lunch, he entered the bedroom to find his wife sitting on the side of the bed. He sat by her, and put his arm around her. “I love you, Anna.” She squeezed his hand as another pain hit. They were now coming every five minutes.
“Mr Moore, you need to leave the room and send Beulah in. It won’t be long now.” He told Beulah, she washed her hands and dried them on her apron.
As she left the kitchen, she patted him on the shoulder and said, “She’s going to be all right, Mr Josiah. We gone take good care of her and the baby.”
An hour later, Mrs Stone came into the parlor and said, “Would you like to see your son, Mr Moore?”
“Yes, is Anna all right?”
“Your wife is a strong woman. She did well. You go on in, she’s going to want to sleep after her hard work.”
When he walked in, his beloved wife was radiant. She was holding their son, wrapped in a baby blanket they had recently purchased. “Come look at our son. Isn’t he beautiful? He has all of his fingers and toes, Mrs Stone said he was perfect.”
“How do you feel? Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Tired and sleepy, but I’m fine. Would you bring Rebecca in? I want to introduce her to her brother.” She pulled her precious bundle closer and watched the tiny rosebud lips making the sucking motion. She smiled. “We did good, here. When you go to Cheyenne, I want you to send mother a telegram and let her know.”
During the course of her pregnancy, Anna made sure Rebecca knew what was going on. When the baby started moving, she would place her little hand on her belly and let her feel the movement. “Is that our baby?” she asked. “You have a baby in your belly, Mama?” When she felt the movement, a big grin spread over her face.
Josiah brought Rebecca into the room. Anna moved the blanket away from his face and said, “Rebecca, this is your brother. Isn’t he beautiful?”
“Uh huh. What’s his name?” Rebecca asked.
“We haven’t decided yet. We want you to help us pick out a nice name for him,” said Anna.
“Can I touch him, Mama?”
“Of course, honey, softly, though,” Anna said.
The little girl carefully rubbed her hand across the baby’s face. A look of wonderment and a big smile came over her face. “I like him, Mama,” she said.
Two days later, they decided on Josiah Robert as his name. He would be called Bobby. Rebecca would come to be called Becky. There was a small revision to the bedtime story routine. Anna would now sit in the chair in Rebecca’s room, holding Bobby while she read. Bobby heard Thumblelina at a very early age.
Josiah brought another chair into the room and began to join the group for the bedtime story. He was familiar with the story because his mother had read it to him.
CHAPTER 21: ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY
The third day after Josiah Robert Moore’s birth, his mother emerged from the confines of her bedroom into the parlor. “It feels good to be able to see different walls for a change. Josiah was walking behind her, one hand beneath the baby’s head and the other under his bottom and his back. He took careful steps, giving furniture edges a wide margin to prevent any stumbling or tripping that might cause him to drop his precious cargo.
As Anna started to sit, Beulah said, “Wait, Miss Anna,” and smoothly slid a pillow into the area she was planning to sit.
“Thank you Beulah. Everyone is being so nice. You’re going to spoil me,” she said.
“You deserve it, honey, “ Josiah said as he sat down. “Rebecca, come sit by me and I’ll let you help me hold Bobby.”
Rebecca’s eyes grew as big as saucers. She sat by her Papa, and he carefully laid Bobby in her small lap, while maintaining the head and back support himself. “Mama, look, I’m holding my brother. Papa said it was all right.”
“When is it all right, Becky?” he asked.
“When you help me, Papa. Then it’s all right.” She looked at her brother, whose blue eyes were open and looking at her. She bent and kissed his forehead.
After a few minutes, Josiah asked, “Are you ready for me to take him?”
“Uh huh,” she replied. She stayed by Josiah’s side for a few minutes, then bounced up and went to get her dolls. Anna had given her a small blanket for the dolls, and when she returned, they were all bundled up. She climbed onto the davenport and the oldest and the youngest members of the Moore family held their babies.
“That is so beautiful,” said Anna. “It just makes my heart sing.”
“I’m going into Cheyenne tomorrow for some supplies, so if anyone needs anything, be sure to let me know tonight, because I want to get an early start. On second thought, Anna, why don’t you make the list. I can read your writing, but after mine gets cold, it becomes hard to read. Oh, if you write out the telegram you want me to send your mother, I’ll take care of that too.
“While I’m in town, I’m going to stop and see the photographer and make arrangements for a family picture. We can send your parents a copy too.”
“Josiah, that’s a wonderful idea. It will look great above the Davenport. You are so thoughtful. I sure made a good bargain when I agreed to come to Wyoming. I have a handsome husband and two beautiful children. I don’t know what else a woman could ask for.”
“I don’t know about that,” he said, with a smile. “I’m going to see what kind of supplies Jud and the cook need. Beulah, be sure to give Anna your list too. Honey, be sure to list anything you need for the baby.”
“Josiah Robert Moore. He’s not ‘the baby’ anymore, he has a name.” She smiled sweetly at her husband.
“Yes ma’am, ma’am. Whatever you say, ma’am.” Grinning, he left the room, thinking, “I’ve got to be the luckiest man in Cheyenne.”
“It was still dark when he and his two riders set out for Cheyenne the next morning. They arrived in town about thirty minutes after sunup. He stopped at the general store to give Asa his list of supplies, then he and the two riders walked to the cafe for some breakfast. Since this was later than their usual breakfast, they ate with a coming appetite.
He left the two men at the store and went to the Western Union office to send the birth announcement to the Taylors in Plymouth. The clerk took his money and said, “I don’t know when this will get out. The line’s down somewhere. There’s been some Indian raids lately and that’s probably what this is, but I’ll get it out as soon as possible.”
“What’s going on with the Indians?” he asked.
“Sitting Bull’s been stirring up trouble about squatters on Indian Land. No major raids, but a wagon train was wiped out west of Fort Laramie. A couple of ranches were raided near Laramie, but nothing around here that I’ve heard except stealing cattle.”
He walked back to the general store and found his order was ready. “Asa, I’m looking for something to give Anna. She just gave me a son and I want to give her something.”
“Something in jewelry?” asked the storekeeper. “We have some nice rings.”
“That’s a good idea, there. We didn’t have rings when we got married. Let’s see what you have.”
He picked out a diamond ring and a wedding band. “Add that to the bill, Asa. She’s going to like these.”
Before they left town, he told the two riders about the recent Indian problems and suggested they keep a sharp lookout on the way back to the ranch, even though no incidents had occurred in their area. They encountered no problems on the return trip, but when they arrived at the ranch, he called Jud aside and told him what he had heard. “I’d like to have two men close at hand until this is over
,” he said. “Whatever you do, don’t alarm Anna,” he cautioned.
When he walked into the kitchen, he was greeted by his wife, seated at the table while Bobby nursed. “That looks like fun,” he observed.
“Bobby thinks so,” she shot back. “Would you like to try it?”
“I really would, but it would get me all excited and it’s too soon to do anything about it,” he said.
“Well, it’s always there, whenever you’re ready,” she replied, with a smile.
“On a more serious note, I want to take care of something that’s long overdue.” He reached into his shirt and took out a small package. “Let me have your left hand.” He took out a diamond ring and put it on her finger. Then he put a wedding band on the same finger. “Our wedding happened so quickly, I didn’t have a ring and now I do. I love you, Anna, please accept this as a token of my love.” He bent down and kissed her softly.
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