Tina stared at him after his quick command. “Let’s get you propped up so you can eat right.” He piled his bedroll around her back to get her close to sitting upright, making her feel a little dizzy for a minute.
Next, he pulled up a chair to sit beside the bed, a plate of scrambled eggs in one hand, a fork in the other. “Looks like you haven’t eaten much since…so try to keep this down.”
Tina took the small bites he offered her, in between washing it down with water and resting.
“What you going to name him? Did you have names picked out?”
Tina thought back to conversations months ago with Robert when she figured out she was with child. Their first born was already named after him. Should she name this son after him again? No, she couldn’t bear it after losing two people with the same name.
“Oliver or Olivia.”
“Looks like you got you an Oliver, then.”
“Yes, I do.” And I need to gain strength to take care of him, she thought as she swallowed the next bite of food Mr. Hamner held in front of her mouth.
***
Leif had no idea it would take so much time and attention to take care of a mother and an infant. But then Tina couldn’t do things like a healthy mother would be able to handle on her own.
The rancher’s wife he used to work for had given him items he needed for the baby and instructions on what to do until Tina felt up to taking care of the child on her own. Mrs. Ferguson had seven children and would have another next spring. She didn’t offer to take Tina and the baby in to take care of them, but considering the house was overrun with noisy kids, it wouldn’t have been the space or quiet for Tina and Oliver to recover.
About all he’d done for the past three days is take care of the two. Actually they both napped most of the time, but Tina was able to move around some now. Being confined in the brothel had probably hampered her physical healing.
Leif opted to sleep on the porch when he could catch a few winks between feedings and diaper changing. He was exhausted, but in a good way. Probably best he’d slept since Britta died. It was gut-retching the first night, taking care of the two in the dark, thinking this should have been the quiet, intimate time between him and Britta as they took care of their first born.
Tina had sobbed in pain and anguish that first night. Leif ended up crawling in bed beside Tina and holding her until exhausted sleep took over her mind.
He had to help Tina with bathing and getting on and off the chamber pot. They had both been embarrassed at first, but he reminded her they’d both been married, and he was just one human helping another.
Now he was getting used to Tina’s little snores, and the baby’s fussing. Tina had nightmares at times, surely about the train wreck, but she hadn’t talked about it yet. They had to still be fresh in her mind—like the scars on her body. He’d only laid down beside her one more time since the first night. Rubbing her shoulder usually calmed her down, just like rubbing tiny Oliver’s back calmed him.
Washing her body and seeing her cuts and scratches still sent shivers down his spine. Why she hadn’t lost the baby that day was a miracle in itself. He wrapped her wrist differently, giving her better use it seemed. Or maybe just the natural act of taking care of the baby was making her use it more.
The fact was, Tina and the baby were on the mend, and they needed to decide what to do next.
Leif had moved the chairs out to the porch after supper, and Tina had walked out there carrying Oliver herself.
“It feels so good to be able to move around again, even with the shooting pain down my leg.”
“Be grateful you can.” He didn’t mean to sound gruff at all, but it still bothered him this woman was alive and his wife wasn’t.
“I know. So many people…lost their chance in a split second.”
Her remark startled Leif. Here he was thinking about his loss and she was thinking about her own, plus all the others who died that fateful day on the train.
“I’m sorry, I should have thought before I spoke.”
Tina shook her head and gave him a weak smile. “No need. I know what you meant.”
She took a deep breathe, and Leif watched her scan the prairie around the cabin. They were only here temporarily, but it was a nice, quiet place to recuperate.
“Now that you’re on the mend, we need to decide what to do. My boss had already replaced me, so I have no job or home here. We can’t stay in this cabin much longer. It’s used as a weather shelter for his ranch hands staying out with the herd.
“Do you have any family to go to? You haven’t said a word about anyone.” And Leif hadn’t asked before now either.
Tina shut her eyes to concentrate, or shut out bad memories. He hated to push her, but it had to be done.
“My mother died from consumption when I was fifteen, and my father a year after I was married. He had heart problems and had been limited on his activities for a few years.”
“You haven’t said much about your husband yet,” Leif pointed out.
“My husband, Robert, died this spring.”
“Siblings?”
“I have a brother in Kansas and that’s why we were traveling. He left Texas this spring and we were going up to live with him.”
“What’s he do?”
“Sidney and I weren’t raised on a ranch, but he wanted to experience a cattle drive.”
Leif shook his head to confirm many young men were lured to sign on to a cattle drive. “Yes, we’d hire on extra men before we started north, too. Some stayed with us the whole way, and others wandered off, not being about to handle working outside twenty-fours a day for months at a time.”
“I hate to say it, but I can’t imagine my brother liked the work.” She smoothed her baby’s hair with a gentle touch. “But now he works on a ranch in central Kansas so it must have worked out for him.”
“Uncles, aunts, grandparents?”
Tina grimaced and shook her head. “My grandparents moved here from Ohio in the ’50s. I probably have relatives back there but I wouldn’t know who or where they are.”
“How about your husband’s family?”
“Robert was an only child and I never met my in-laws since they had passed before we married.”
Tina and the baby looked so much alike. Both had jet black hair and brown eyes, like dark honey.
“Did your children look like you or their father?” Leif blurted out, wondering about the man she’d been married to.
A weak smile lit her face until it saddened again. “Robert had dark blonde hair. What I’d call hazel eyes. Robby looked like Robert, and Emma had my coloring, identical to Oliver.” She wiped away the tear that ran down her cheek. He was used to her tears by now, although it always disturbed him to see her suffering from her memories.
Was this what it felt like for his family? Seeing him feel sad about Britta, and not being about to do anything about it?
“How old were your children?”
Tina shallowed hard before answering. “Robby recently turned four, and Emma was two and a half. They were close, always talking, but not what I could always understand. He was very protective of her.”
“Do you remember the accident?”
“Every night.” She turned away to stare into the distance.
Well, he wouldn’t push her to recount the memory during the daylight hours.
“I’ve been thinking about my family in Kansas. Before my parents and I left to head north, we received word that my sisters and brother had all married this summer. My parents were anxious to join them.”
“Why didn’t you stay with them, then?”
“I started to, but didn’t want to leave my wife and son behind. At the time it made sense, but now, I'm not so sure.”
“Now that I have Oliver—thanks to you—I have something to live for. But, I’d give anything to be with my parents or brother again. Wouldn’t being with your family be better than living here alone?”
But now he didn’t
feel alone, because he had Tina and Oliver to take care of. Would she want to travel with him to Kansas or should he give her money to continue her travel on the train by herself?
“The cattle drive is moving slowly so I was thinking of going back to it. We could catch up with them within a week’s time.”
Tina turned with wide eyes. “We? Are you suggesting we travel together?”
“I wouldn’t mind the company, but you could take the train instead of you prefer.”
“I…I don’t think I could get on a train just yet,” she stammered.
“So we’d take the wagon, and catch up to the drive since the horse team could move faster than the cattle, then travel with them to Kansas. My moder is driving the chuck wagon and cooking. She could help you with Oliver, and you could help with the chores once you get your strength back.” Leif tried to sound positive, hoping the outdoor work would strengthen Tina’s body instead of making her injuries permanent.
“I wonder how hard it will be to track down my brother once we’re in Kansas. Don’t cattle drives usually go to certain towns? Are there ranches around there, too?”
“Depends. He might have stayed around one of the cattle towns, or moved further west.” Leif shrugged. “Abilene’s not allowing drives into town anymore, so he could have gone to Wichita, or Ellsworth. My parents are on their way to Ellsworth, as my siblings have all settled nearby, around an area called Clear Creek.”
Tina’s face showed the first look of relief since Leif had met her. “Ellsworth? I lost Sidney’s letter in the wreck, but I’m sure the postmark was Ellsworth. I’d like to travel with you, and hopefully I could find my brother. I can’t remember the name of the ranch he was working at, but surely someone knows of him.
“I’m sure he can pay you back for everything you’d have to buy and do for me, too.”
She had lost everything in the train wreck. Their trunks of belongings and clothing, her reticule, all their money. She was destitute by the time she was pulled out of the wreckage.
“Would you feel up to traveling in the next day or two?”
“Yes. I’m in pain sitting here, but it’s getting better each day. Maybe the rocking of the wagon will help me heal.”
“Most people on wagon trains prefer to walk beside the wagon instead of sitting jostling inside, but you won’t have a choice because we’ll have to move right along.”
“Either way, Austin reminds me of pain, so I’d rather leave.” She carefully used her right hand to move Oliver in a more comfortable spot on her lap.
“All right. I’ll go into town tomorrow to get supplies we’ll need and we will leave the next morning. We’ll stop and camp when you can’t go further. I’m adapt at campfire cooking so we’ll get by until we meet up with the herd.”
“Can we pick up supplies tomorrow and leave right after that?”
Leif had thought of that, but needed to go to the store, pull his money from the bank he’d just put in when he arrived back, and another stop he didn’t want Tina to know about.
“I need to have the blacksmith look at one of the wheels, so if it needs work, you might as well stay here and rest,” Leif suggested, and glad when she nodded in agreement.
“Ready to go back inside and get some sleep? Little Ollie will have us awake before we know it.”
Leif made sure there was food and water enough for the day in the house for Tina’s use, and left the rifle in case she had company. He hated to leave her alone, but he had to do today’s errands by himself.
He’d left early in the morning, checking in first with the blacksmith, although he was positive the wheels were fine. He needed more pitch for the grease bucket though, and heavy thread and needle to patch a tear on the wagon canvas before it got any bigger.
Banker wasn’t too pleased he was withdrawing all his savings, but it didn’t bother Leif. He needed supplies and he was moving to Kansas. The more Leif thought about it, the better it felt. His parents were right—he needed to be with his family—not alone talking to a tombstone.
Now he pulled the team to a halt at his last stop, the orphanage.
The children crowding around the orphanage door came to mind last night when he and Tina were talking about her children. When he was here before, there was a pair of children fitting the description of Tina’s children.
Didn’t the little boy call his sister Emma? Were Tina’s children placed in the orphanage’s care, because no one realized they had one parent alive?
He had to find out, because the children couldn’t be left behind if they were Tina’s. It would be more work to take care of two injured kids, but his parents would help once they got caught up on the trail.
Leif rapped loudly on the door, knowing it might take time for an adult to answer. Again the door was opened by a herd of little kids. He searched the group, looking for the pair he was thinking about. But they weren’t there. Was he wrong, or were they not at the door? Maybe they had been adopted out? Hair raised on the back of his neck thinking that thought. What if he was too late in checking on them?
“Yes, sir?” The same woman, with a different baby on her hip, walked up to the open door. Then her eyes narrowed as she recognized him. “Did you find a place for that baby, or is it still in your wagon?” She glanced past him, seeing his wagon parked in front of the house.
“I’m happy to say I found the mother and the two are back together.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at a happy ending apparently. “Where?”
He avoiding answering that but gave better information instead. “Mrs. Robert Martin had been in the train wreck. She’s at a neighboring ranch recuperating.”
“I’m so happy for a happy ending for someone in that wreck. It was a terrible accident.”
“And that’s the reason I’m back here today. I’m checking to see if Mrs. Martin’s other two children might be here. She was hurt bad in the wreck. She assumes her children died, but I saw two siblings here the other day which looked like Mrs. Martin and her infant. The little girl had splint on her leg.
“Robby, or Robert, is four years of age, and his sister, Emma, is two. Their parents were Robert and Tina Martin. Any chance you have these children in your care?”
The woman may be worn weary from taking care of all these children, but her heart was in the right place. Her face lit up with excitement. “Yes, they are here!” She looked around at the toddlers around her, searching for the pair as he had been when the door first opened up.
“Oh, they are in the kitchen eating breakfast. It takes longer to get Emma up in the morning because of her leg.”
Leif sighed with relief that they were still here. “So now what? Can I take them to Mrs. Martin, or does she need to come to town to get them?”
“Can she travel?”
At least the woman felt comfortable with him, but should she be? He could be a con man planning to sell children down the road.
“I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Leif Hamner, and I’ve worked on the nearby Ferguson Ranch for years. But most of my time has been on the cattle drives with my parents and siblings.
“Mrs. Martin and her baby are leaving with me tomorrow, heading north to meet up with my family on a drive. Her brother is in Kansas, and she was traveling up to visit him when the train derailed. Mrs. Martin will have safe passage and help with my mother, who is the cook for the drive.”
Leif held his breath, not sure which way he wanted the woman to decide. He hated to go back to the ranch, bring Tina into town, then take them all back out. It was more miles and time than he wanted to do. On the other hand, could he get two children, unknown to him, safely out to the ranch?
“Pop-Pa?” The little girl was at the door looking at him and asking the same question. Yes, she was a miniature image of Tina. The young boy moved to stand behind her.
Did Leif look like their father? Tina hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort. Leif got down on his knees so he wouldn’t tower over the children. “Is your name Robert
Martin, young man?”
Yes, sir. I’m named after my Pa,” the boy proudly proclaimed.
“Do you know your mother’s name?”
“Momma.”
“What did your father call her?”
“Hmm…Tina.”
Leif looked up at the woman who smiled, probably happy the children would be united with a parent and two less children for her to take care of.
“So now what?” Leif stood up and questioned the woman.
“The woman would need to come here to claim the children, sir. We will not release them to a stranger.”
Leif nodded, completely understanding. He shuddered thinking of what could happen to a child otherwise.
“I’ll have to go back to the ranch to bring her in. Depending on how she’s feeling, it might be tomorrow instead of later today.”
“If you tell her the children are here, I’m sure you’ll be right back. And how will they be cared for, I should also inquire since the mother is injured?”
Leif stared at the woman when her words sunk in. He would be in charge of two injured kids, one newborn, and one injured mother—until he got them to her brother. But did he want to? Leif liked this feeling of purpose back in his life.
“I’ll take care of them,” he heard himself blurt out.
Chapter 3
“Oh, sweet Lord!” Tina whispered when Leif told her Robby and Emma had been found.
“Where have they been?!” She had to know who had her children this whole time. And why had they been separated?
“They’re in the orphanage. I realized last night that I had seen two children who reminded me of Oliver when I was there the day he was born. I went back this morning, and they were there.”
“Why had we been separated?!” Her motherly instinct was kicking in, astonished no one had told her they had survived the crash.
“Hard to say. They brought all the children to the orphanage after the accident, and they were never claimed. I suppose since you were unconscious and taken elsewhere, the connection was never made.
“Now, I’m pretty positive it’s them, but you’ll have to go back to town to identify them,” Leif haltingly said. He had sat down on the chair beside the bed when he returned from town.
Tina Tracks a Trail Boss: A Historical Western Romance (Brides with Grit Book 8) Page 3