Bargain For Baby

by Kirsten Osbourne

  His mother looked her up and down, her eyes stopping at Becky’s enormous stomach. “That would be very nice.”

  “Have a seat, and I’ll bring them.” Becky walked toward the kitchen, not letting his mother’s obvious interest in her condition bother her. She needed to carry on as she was and not let something like that completely derail her.

  Amos followed her into the kitchen. “I’ll carry the tray.”

  As soon as they were away from the others, Becky looked at him. “How did she take the news that you were married?”

  “Not well. Patricia was one of the young ladies that I escorted for a while in New York.” He shook his head. “Mother was hoping I’d marry her.”

  “But you’re already married.”

  “There is that.” He tapped her nose with the tip of his index finger. “Get that tea. Mother’s liable to come looking for us if we make her wait too long.”

  “Did you tell her I was expecting before you came here?” Becky asked as she took down the silver tea set he’d gotten her as a gift the previous day. The man had yet to come home for supper without having a gift in hand.

  “I didn’t. I thought she’d see that for herself when she arrived.”

  “I see.” Becky was more nervous than ever. The woman had wanted her son to marry someone else, and she’d brought a former flame. How was she going to compete with that when she was so far along?

  She put the tea onto the tray and added two different kinds of cookies. She put milk into the small pitcher and put sugar cubes into a bowl. “There. Would you carry it?”

  “Of course. And don’t be nervous. She can’t make me divorce you and marry Patricia. Nothing could.”

  Becky took a deep breath and preceded him into the parlor, going to sit on the open spot on the sofa beside Patricia. His mother frowned at her. “You sit in the other chair, dear. You’re going to crowd Patricia with your big belly.”

  Amos shook his head. “No, Becky’s more comfortable on the sofa, and as she’s carrying your grandchild, she should have choice of places to sit.”

  Becky stood up. “I really don’t mind, Amos.”

  “I do. You sit where you’re comfortable. If Patricia feels crowded, she can trade places with me and take my chair.”

  Becky nodded, sitting down on the couch again. “Would you care for tea, Mrs. Bowen?”

  “Yes, and one of each kind of cookie please.” Mrs. Bowen waited to be served, and Becky was certain it was because that was what she was used to back in New York. She had served enough people in her life that it didn’t bother her to do it either. Yes, she was one of the people who served others while his mother was one who she would serve. It seemed hardly fair.

  She handed the older woman the tea and plate of cookies before looking at Patricia. “What would you like?”

  “Tea and both types of cookies as well, thank you.” Patricia had an air to her voice that made Becky want to shove the cookies up her nose.

  “How long will we have the pleasure of your company?” Becky asked, praying they planned to only stay for the weekend.

  “Are you already trying to get rid of us?” Mrs. Bowen asked, a frown on her face.

  “No, ma’am. I was merely inquiring. I do need to make sure I have enough food on hand to cook for everyone.”

  Mrs. Bowen looked at her son. “You’re letting your pregnant wife cook? Why don’t you hire help for her?”

  “I enjoy cooking,” Becky said, wondering if anyone would listen to her.

  “If my wife wanted help, she’d have it. At the moment, she’s enjoying cooking and cleaning. Maybe after the baby comes she’ll want some help, and in that case, I’ll provide it for her.” Amos wasn’t going to let anything his mother said upset him. He was too happy about spending the night in bed with his wife that evening.

  “I think you should get her help now.” Mrs. Bowen crossed her arms under her large bosom.

  “I’ll make note of your thoughts.” He accepted tea from Becky and bit into one of the cookies. “These are amazing as always, my love.”

  Her heart seemed to stop for a moment as he called her that, but she realized immediately it was for his mother’s benefit not hers. “Thank you.”

  He took a sip of the tea, winking at her over it, and she shook her head at him, embarrassed that he would flirt with her in front of his mother. “I plan to start building a barn this weekend. We want a cow for milk. After that, I’ll build a chicken coop. Becky wants to have farm fresh eggs to cook for breakfast every morning.”

  His mother shuddered delicately. “And who will milk the cow and collect the eggs?”

  Becky shrugged. “I’ve done both more times than I can count. I would be happy to continue doing both.” She truly didn’t mind doing chores. Work was a part of life, and if you refused to be happy while you did it, there was much misery in your future.

  “Don’t encourage him, dear. You’ll end up being his slave for life. You need servants.”

  Patricia made a sound of disgust. “It’s just as well you married before I arrived, Amos. There’s no way I would have been able to perform all the duties of a houseful of servants the way your . . . little wife seems to be doing. And in her condition!”

  Amos smiled at the young lady. “Which is why we never would have suited as husband and wife, Patricia. Becky suits me perfectly because she expects no one to wait on her, and she simply works as hard as she can for both of us.”

  Patricia looked over at Mrs. Bowen. “I really hope we can head back to New York on Monday. This has been a failed trip.”

  Mrs. Bowen looked at Becky. “When are you due?”

  “In about three weeks.”

  “Then yes, Patricia, we’ll head back Monday. I’ll have just enough time to return you to your family and come back to be here for the birth of my grandchild.”

  Becky’s eyes widened. “You will?”

  “I will. I hope you’ll be ready for me.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Of course, I will.” Becky’s eyes met Amos’s, and hers were filled with trepidation. She didn’t want his mother there when the baby was born.

  Chapter Five

  After the supper dishes were done and everyone had gone to their respective rooms that night, Becky and Amos were lying in bed, flat on their backs, trying to ignore how odd it was that they were sharing a bed with no real intimacy between them.

  “I don’t want your mother here when the baby is born,” Becky said softly.

  “I know you don’t. I don’t know that we have a choice, though.”

  “Shouldn’t I be able to choose who is present at the birth of my child? Isn’t this something that should be my choice?”

  Amos rolled to his side, facing her, and he put a hand on her arm. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow and ask her to wait to come back until after the baby has been born.”

  “That would be nice. I really don’t feel comfortable around her, and I think I should be comfortable with everyone who is present for the birth of my child.” She froze for a moment. “You don’t think she wants to be in the room with me when the baby is born, do you?”

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t think she’s even been present when my sisters have given birth. You’ll be fine.”

  “Good, because that would make me very uncomfortable.”

  “I can understand that.” He pulled her close to his side, cradling her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry she was so ugly to you.”

  “I think she was even worse to Patricia. Why would she bring someone all the way across the country to marry a man who hadn’t agreed to marry her in the first place?” She closed her eyes, not sure she wanted an answer to her next question. “You didn’t agree to marry her, did you?”

  “Of course I didn’t. I’ve only agreed to marry one woman, and she’s lying in bed with me at this very moment.”

  “Oh, good. I was worried for a moment there.” Becky relaxed against him, finding being this close to him a great deal more comfortable
than she’d expected it to be.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from all the dragons in your life, just like a knight in shining armor. Even if one of those dragons happens to be my mother.”

  She giggled. “She does seem to breathe fire.”

  He grinned. “Yes, she does. But don’t worry, I have a mighty sword that will slay the evil dragon if she attacks my lady.”

  “You certainly are going to win the knightly tournament, milord.”

  “Go to sleep, little imp.”

  “Can an imp take on a dragon by herself?”

  “I wouldn’t try it . . .”

  * * *

  To Becky, the weekend seemed to drag on forever. Every time she turned around, Patricia was needing something different. Her tea was too cold; her milk was too warm. She needed her toast to be golden brown, not dirt brown.

  By Sunday night, Becky was done with the woman. “Can’t we throw her out in the snow?”

  “We could if it was snowing. It’s downright balmy outside.”

  “Then maybe you could get some ice from the ice house in town, and I could spend an entire day shaving little pieces off the ice for us to throw her in. That would please me.”

  He laughed, turning to her in bed. “They’re leaving first thing in the morning. We won’t have time for such an elaborate scheme. Maybe I should just put her over my shoulder and carry her to the creek. It will be ice cold at this time of year.”

  “Ooh, that’s not a bad idea at all!” Becky turned toward him, her belly pressing against his side, and put one hand on his chest. “I’m going to miss sleeping with you. It’s been comforting having you here.”

  He looked at her, barely able to see her in the darkness. “Would you like me to keep sleeping here with you?”

  “I’m sure I crowd you. I don’t want to keep doing that.”

  “You don’t crowd me at all. Or if you do, I don’t mind. I would honestly feel better sleeping down here with you. I worry that something will happen to you or the baby during the night, and I’ll be upstairs and not know.”

  She sighed. “It would be selfish of me to ask you to sleep here. Enjoy your big bed upstairs.”

  He rolled to his side facing her and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her passionately. “I’m sleeping down here from now on, and that’s final.” He loved their time in bed together before they fell asleep. It was always platonic, but they spent time getting to know one another better.

  “I’m glad they’re leaving tomorrow morning,” she said softly. “I should be ashamed to say that, but I’m not. I want them gone. Patricia has not been kind, and your mother hasn’t been the sweetest woman in the world either. I can’t believe how unhappy they’ve made me.”

  “I’m sorry. Hopefully Mother will get home and realize she doesn’t want to come back. I’m going to talk with her on the way to the train station tomorrow and let her know that we would rather she waited until after the baby is born to visit again.”

  “I’d appreciate that. And I hope she listens to you.” She had little faith that Mrs. Bowen would listen to anyone else’s opinion about anything, though.

  He pulled her close and held her as they both fell asleep, saying a silent prayer that his mother would listen. His wife shouldn’t have to put up with his mother during the last few weeks of her pregnancy.

  * * *

  Becky packed lunches for all three of them as they left the following morning. Mrs. Bowen wrinkled her nose. “They have a perfectly good dining car on the train. You don’t need to cook for us.”

  “I was trying to be considerate and save you a little money, Mrs. Bowen. Forgive me for offending you.” Becky plucked the lunch bags away from the other two women and gave them to Amos. “Please share these with your men today. Surely at least someone will appreciate a homemade lunch.”

  Amos hid a grin as he kissed Becky. “I’ll do just that. See you this evening.”

  Becky spent the day washing the sheets the women had used and doing her best to remove any traces of either of them. They had been difficult the entire weekend, and she wanted everything that reminded her of them completely gone.

  When Amos returned home, he saw that everything was clean and fresh, and the house had even been aired out.

  “I couldn’t handle Patricia’s perfume clinging in the air for another second. Now you can’t even tell they were here.”

  Amos laughed, pleased with her for taking matters into her own hands. She was a hard worker, and she asked nothing of others she wasn’t willing to do herself. “Well, I’m glad every memory of them is gone. I was ready for them to leave as well.”

  “How did the talk go with your mom? Is she going to wait until after the baby is born to come back?”

  “She said she would. I hope she was telling me the truth.”

  “Me too. I have no desire to have her back so soon.”

  He shrugged. “When she comes back, she’ll probably bring either a maid or a nanny.”

  “I want to take care of the baby myself, but I wouldn’t say no to a maid.” Becky grinned at him to let him know she was joking.

  It was late that night when she heard the wind start to howl. The baby was kicking more than usual, so she got out of bed to peer out the window. It was snowing, and not just a little. April was a little late in the year for a blizzard, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t happening.

  As she stood watching, she felt something liquid on her legs, and she gasped. Her water had broken.

  She found a clean nightgown and went to the water closet to change, and then she went back to the bedroom, sitting on the bed beside Amos and touching his arm. “Amos, there’s a storm . . . and the baby’s coming.”

  He sat up straight, confused. “Baby? Now?”

  “Yes, the baby’s coming, and there’s a blizzard.”

  He jumped up and looked out the window, frowning. “I don’t know if I can get Hannah out here. It’s too far.” What was he going to do? There’s no way he could deliver a baby himself, and he knew a woman needed help with these things.

  She bit her lip. “Then you’ll have to help me. It can’t be that hard.” Her mind raced, and she tried to stay calm and not panic. Her plan was to have Hannah at her side the entire time.

  He shook his head, backing away from her. “I know nothing about giving birth. There’s no way I could do it.” The mere thought frightened him.

  She took a deep breath, her hand going to her back as a contraction started. “I’ll do it alone then. Make sure you bring me a knife to cut the cord.” She’d talked to Hannah over and over about the process, and she was pretty sure she could handle it on her own. She was a strong woman, after all.

  “You can’t do it alone. I’ll try to get Hannah!” He looked out the window again, frowning. “The storm isn’t quite as bad as I thought.”

  “Be careful!” She sat down on the edge of the bed, and carefully started to prepare it for birth. She had a list of things to do from Hannah, and she was more than willing to do them. Keeping busy would be very good for her.

  Amos saddled his horse, already in a bit of a panic. How was he going to possibly make it to town in this storm to bring Hannah home with him? And then he spotted the stranger in front of him.

  “Go to her mother. She can help.”

  “But will she?”

  “There’s only one way to know . . . and I suggest you hurry!” The stranger faded from view, and Amos thought for a moment about whether he wanted to waste the time trying to get her mother to help or if he should go for Hannah.

  Instead of trying to make it to Creede, he carefully followed the road to the next house . . . her parents’. When he arrived, he wasn’t sure what to expect, but he pounded on the door, hoping against hope they’d hear him over the howling of the wind.

  Her father came to the door, and Amos explained. “I’m sorry to bother you in the middle of the night, but your daughter is in labor. She’s my wife, and we live just south of here.” He said
a silent prayer that the man would be willing to help in some way—any way!

  Her father shut the door in his face, and he took a deep breath, turning away. If they wouldn’t help, he’d have to go into town and find someone who would. He just prayed he could make it through the snow to find Hannah.

  Just as he was reaching for his saddle, he heard a yell. “Mister! Please take me to my daughter!”

  He turned and looked, and there was her mother, dressed for the cold. He grabbed her waist and lifted her onto his horse. She was just as slender as his wife. “Thank you!” He had a little more hope now that he had someone who could help Becky make it through the birth.

  She nodded, pulling her scarf up to cover her face against the storm.

  The ten-minute ride took more than half an hour in the snow, and when he got to the house, he said a silent prayer of thanks for the safe travels. He knew there was no way he could have made it without God’s help. He’d almost missed the turn off, but the stranger stood in the road right before his house, pointing the way.

  He dismounted, reaching his hands up to lift her mother down. “You go inside. I’ll see to the horse.”

  He watched her as she fought to open the door, the wind too strong. He led the horse to the stable and cared for him, praying the whole while that his wife was getting cared for the same way by her mother.

  * * *

  Becky was in the kitchen boiling water when she heard the door open. She was surprised Amos had been able to get to town so quickly in the storm, but she was very thankful he had. She called out, “Hannah? I’m in the kitchen!”

  She sat on the edge of a chair, thankful she no longer had to worry about delivering the baby on her own. The nurse was there, and she would see to the safety of both Becky and her child.

  Becky blinked as her mother entered the kitchen instead of Hannah. “What are you doing here?” The last person she wanted to see was her mother.

  “I’m here to help you. You can’t have that baby by yourself.” Her mother approached her, looking like she wanted to touch her, but not sure how the gesture would be taken.