James came out after a half hour and told Dominic to take the baby to Mirisa and try to do it without dropping him. James closed the door behind Dominic and went immediately to the bar and took out a full bottle of whisky.
Dominic finally came out leaving the door ajar. He walked over and got a glass and sat down. “Okay, I don’t want to do this again.” His entire body hurt from the tension. “Is she going to be alright?”
“There doesn’t seem to be any problems but you need to let me know if she runs a fever or starts bleeding.”
“Is he going to stay red and wrinkly?”
“No. I think it takes a few days to look normal.”
James leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He didn’t think there was anything in life that could be so miraculous. “Dominic, I think I have to propose to your wife. It’s the only proper thing for me to do at this point.”
James came over early to check on the baby and found Mirisa in the rocking chair nursing and Dominic lying on the couch with his arm over his eyes. He walked over and ran his hand over the baby’s head before he put his hand on her stomach. “He’s so small. How are you feeling?”
“James, if you don’t get your hands off of my wife.” Dominic looked like he hadn’t slept all night and James figured he probably hadn’t.
“After last night, I would think you would be thanking me for putting my hands on her.” Mirisa looked so young and even though James thought she was radiant when she was pregnant she looked so peaceful now.
“Thank you James.” Dominic went into the kitchen for coffee but the pot was empty.
“You're welcome.” He looked up at her and tears were forming in her eyes. “Have you named him yet?”
Dominic answered. “Matthew. How do I make coffee?”
James looked back at Dominic and nodded. “Good strong name. That’s important.” He reached over and picked up the baby as she buttoned her dress. “I need to examine his cord. I’ll bring him right back.”
Dominic walked up and brought her out of the rocking chair. “There’s nothing I can say or do that could even come close to telling you how I feel.” He took her in his arms and at that moment she needed only her husband.
James came over most mornings bringing Mirisa breakfast and telling Dominic he was on his own or could go to the adobe and whine with Meeks and Garnett. “Mirisa, I think Matthew’s starting to focus better or his hearing is very good because he seems to follow things.” James laid him on his knee to check his belly button. It had fallen off and seemed to have healed well. “Mirisa, do you know he has your birthmark?”
“I do. It’s the only way I know I had anything to do with him.”
“Have you registered his birth yet?”
“No. I haven’t been out of the house since he was born.”
“Then I’ll take you into town so you can talk to Preacher Sam because all babies should be registered. Then I’ll take you shopping and out to Ross’ ranch since I have business with Tom.”
Garnett came in to get a cup of coffee and had to reach around Mirisa for the cup. He wrapped one arm around her pulling her up against him and told her she could have his children anytime. James laughed because he knew exactly what he was feeling.
“Garnett you have to learn how to hold them before you can have them.”
“We’ll see!” Garnett walked out onto the porch and sat down with Dominic. “How come no one cooks breakfast anymore?”
Mirisa opened the tin of fruit tarts and put them down on the table in front of Garnett as he reached around her pulling her into his lap. Mirisa said something to him before she went back into the kitchen to make flap jacks. James handed her Matthew to feed and took over cooking as Meeks joined them. The day was sunny with a light breeze. James put breakfast on the table as Mirisa started to unbutton her dress to feed Matthew. She was walking away from them when Garnett thanked her for not breastfeeding in front of him.
“I didn’t think after the birth that any of you would have problems. You know I am the only one at this table who has ever been that exposed.”
“Well, it’s not like we haven't repeatedly offered to return the favor.” Meeks lit his cigar and looked into her eyes. Mirisa turned bright red and looked away.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you embarrassed.”
“Meeks, don’t you think it’s time you consider getting married or something?”
“Why, we have everything we need at this table and entertainment at the card room.” It had been a while since Meeks challenged her world. “Plus we don’t share our world as you well know.”
James stepped up on the porch as Dominic sat down with the pot of coffee. “Up awfully early for a Saturday. Something going on?”
“Nope.” James poured a cup of coffee and looked out over the river. “I’m taking Mirisa and Matthew into town today to register Matthew and go shopping.”
“James, you do realize that she’s married to me right?”
“Of course.” He sat down and put his feet up on the railing. “I love this view first thing in the morning.”
Dominic measured him before he spoke. “Is there a reason I wasn’t told?”
“You’ll have to ask her.”
“Garnett and I have to meet with new buyers this morning.”
“I know.”
Dominic put down the paper and leaned across the table. “Exactly what are you doing?”
James looked at him seriously with that cocky little smile he usually reserved for those times when he was looking down the barrel of his gun. “I’m making sure that she gets back on her feet and to do that she needs to get out of this house and away from the kitchen. By the way, this has to be the worst coffee I have ever tasted.”
“She can have help any time she wants it. So far she has refused except for Sr. Gomez and the girls who do the laundry. She can even have one of those wet nurses or a cook.”
“I believe she would only accept help if she were living at the Plantation where she is far more at home. She doesn’t seem to have adapted to Texas despite our being here several years. I get the feeling that she is waiting for something but I’m not sure what.”
“She doesn’t discuss things with me.”
“Actually she tries but you give her attention the way you do any woman. Are you aware that the gardens and orchards did so well this summer that she made a lot of money selling the excess in the General Store? Or that she has set up a little sewing shop with three of the town women and it is very successful. I’m beginning to think she is Rudolph’s favorite supplier of preserves and fresh food. Well that and he is smitten as hell with her.”
Dominic lit a cigar. “She doesn’t need to work for money and what do you mean he has a smitten with her? Isn’t he old enough to be her father?”
“You’re right, she needs to work the way you need to work. And yes, Rudolph is probably old enough to be her grandfather but she does seem to have him under her spell.”
“How much has she earned?”
“Sorry, without her permission I cannot discuss her finances.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Garnett sat down and poured a cup of coffee. “No breakfast?”
“Nope. I have too much to do today.”
“Other than the new buyer, there’s nothing scheduled. Whose finances can’t you discuss? And why does the coffee taste so bad?”
“James is spending the day with Mirisa. And he isn’t allowed to discuss her finances without her permission. James, let me reiterate that I am her husband.”
“Where is Mirisa? Dominic, neither of us can discuss her accounts without permission despite your belief that marriage gives you access.” He looked around as she came out with a plate of sweet rolls in one hand and her son cradled up against her. She put the plate in front of Garnett and Meeks walked up behind her and took Matthew along with a sweet roll.
“Mirisa?”
“Yes darling.”
&nb
sp; “You didn’t tell me you were going into town to register Matthew.”
She stopped and looked at Dominic. “I did.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I did. You were talking to Garnett about some new buyer who was very rich and a potential good client and that was why you were holding back thirty recently broken horses. I believe you have an appointment this morning. I told you that James was taking me into town to register your son and your response was your obligatory nod.”
“Mirisa, you can’t tell me things when I am pre-occupied in an important conversation.”
Mirisa bent over and kissed Dominic’s cheek. “I do believe your son is more important than a bunch of horses but obviously I was wrong since you don’t remember the conversation.”
“Mirisa…”
“Dominic, I suggest you pay more attention to me.”
Garnett watched as his jaw moved just slightly then he looked at Mirisa who for some reason seemed more sure of herself than she was when they rode into the Choctaw Village. Dominic quietly responded.
“Then I will make an effort to set aside time to spend with you and Matthew.”
Meeks leaned up against the railing patting Matthew on the back as James turned so he was facing her. They all knew Dominic included, that the response was the wrong response just by the look in her eyes. Damn, she was beautiful when she was angry.
“Considering that I spend the entire day and evening making your home comfortable and making sure you are wonderfully well fed and happy, it just pleases me to no end that you will make an effort. Are you going to pencil us in between supper and breaking out the cards? Obviously I have not reached the same level of significance as your friends or your business but I am merely a woman.”
She knew he hated being chastised by anyone. “Have I missed something?”
Mirisa stepped back and you could see her struggle before she recomposed herself. “How long have we been married?” She walked back into the house as they all were trying to dust off the feeling that was left hanging in the air.
Dominic brooded over how to handle the situation because no matter what he did there was no way to correct forgetting the one day she cherished. “Damn.”
Matthew started to squirm so Meeks handed him to James who passed him to Dominic. Dominic stood juggling his son and walked into the bedroom closing the door. James kicked back picking up a sweet roll and enjoying the sweet sugar icing and plump raisins.
“Mirisa, I’m sorry. The baby has just been…”
She was sitting on the bed tying the lace on her boot and looked up. “I know but I thought since I asked so little of our marriage or for that matter from you that you would at least treat it as more than a contract.” She watched as he struggled with trying to hold Matthew who was on the verge of letting out a very demanding call for his mother. “Dominic, don’t assume because I don’t voice my unhappiness with our arrangement that things are fine. They aren’t. My love must be returned or it shall wither away unnoticed as will I until I become a mere illusion.” She reached over and picked up a small box handing it to him. “Happy birthday.”
Matthew let out a wail that rattled the windows so Dominic handed him to Mirisa who talked to him until he quit crying. “Sweetheart, it was inexcusable.”
Mirisa stood up and walked over to the cradle picking up Matthew’s blanket. “Dominic, I do wish to thank you for giving me such a beautiful son. I don’t think there is anything in my life that has brought me as much joy as he has.”
Dominic pulled her into his arms and held her while he apologized for being such an unappreciative husband. “Do you want me to sell the ranch and move back to the Plantation?”
“Will I get more of your time?”
“Probably not.” He released her and walked over to the window. “I’m not very comfortable without a purpose and I know I struggle with being a good husband.”
“Dominic, sometimes I think our marriage hinges on the struggle between our deep love and our profound differences. I am hoping that your love will keep us together and though it is too soon after Matthew, I hoped that we would be blessed with more children and a wonderful life raising them. But I simply can’t pin my happiness on the belief that someday you will want those things.” He was always perplexed by her philosophy but it was obvious that she was unhappy. He never gave any thought to the married women he had seduced under the very noses of their neglectful husbands but he also knew that if he didn’t keep her happy someone else would.
She bundled Matthew slipping him into the wool carrier across her stomach before she walked out to the porch telling James they were ready to go to town. Meeks and Garnett looked at James who headed to the barn to hook up the carriage. Dominic walked back out and put his hand under her elbow bringing her close so he could kiss her. He talked to her softly before she walked down the steps leaving him feeling lousy. Dominic sat down and picked up a sweet roll.
“Did you know she was earning money?”
“Obviously, we all knew except you.”
“Well, I knew the stud services were going well for her but I didn’t know about the rest. She does things so quietly that sometimes I forget she’s around. Is there anything else I should know?”
“Yeah, today’s your anniversary but I guess you figured that one out.”
“And none of you thought to remind me?”
Garnett shook his head before standing. “I don’t think it’s our job or even our intent to make sure your wife is happily married to you. In fact, I think we all have money on when she’ll be available.”
Meeks laughed as he took his cup into the kitchen and rinsed it out. He thought it was a good day to work on plotting land. Dominic and Garnett headed for the stables one regretting hurting her and the other mystified how he could forget.
James treated her to tea at the tavern before they went to the church to talk to the pastor. Mirisa registered Mathew’s birth before she scheduled the baptism for the following week when he would be the tenth child baptized in the small church. Mirisa stepped into the alcove and sat on the bench to nurse her son as James finished up the arrangements. The weather started to warm up but Mirisa kept Matthew bundled as they went to the General Store and bank. James took her arm as they headed up the stairs to a hallway that had six doors. He took out a key and opened the first door that had his name on it in black and gold. It was a small office but elegantly furnished with a view looking out over the street.
“You have an office?”
“Well, with the war over I have a lot of work to do managing everyone’s money. Having it over the bank seemed an appropriate place to work plus I need access to the telegraph office.”
“Aren’t you working on the ranch?”
“Only a couple of days a week. We have more than enough men to manage the ranch and we are making a lot of money so I decided to go back to managing money not horses.”
“Then none of you really need to work all day?”
“Well, one or two of us should always be on hand just because it is good for moral and eliminates problems but none of us has ever had to do the work. We moved the ranch business office across the hall next to the surveyor’s office because it is safer and the money is always deposited into the bank to avoid temptation by unsavory people.”
She walked over to James’ desk and sat down in one of the two chairs settling Matthew in her arm as he slept. James walked around the desk and pulled out her file putting it on his desk. “I want to go over a few things with you before we head to Ross’ for lunch.” She nodded as he went over the bank account in detail before they discussed the figures on the sewing business. He closed up the folder and looked at her. “Any questions?”
“I think you are a wonderful banker.”
“And I believe you are a wonderful client. Now, if you will let me escort you to lunch.” As he was locking the door she looked at the other door to find Garnett had set up a law office.
“Do each of you
have an office?”
“No. Meeks likes working from home and Dominic only comes into town when he needs to. Are you hungry?”
“I’m rarely hungry but it has been unbelievably nice to be out of the house.”
“You can hire someone to help with Matthew.”
“I know. I can’t explain what it means to be a mother because I had no idea before I had him how much I would change. I am so fortunate that I can raise him but it is daunting to have so much responsibility. If nothing else comes out of my marriage, I will always thank Dominic for my son.”
James heard the words catch in her throat and thought she would fight hard for her marriage but seemed resigned to the fact that Dominic did not have the ability to understand feelings much less show them to another and she didn’t have the ability to rein in her emotions.
The Ross house was in the midst of being decorated for the holidays and the kitchen seemed to be brimming with activity as the smell of sweets filled the air. James spent the afternoon in the library with Tom going over his finances and future projections. The cattle ranch was growing as more and more demand was made for corn fed beef. Tom had purchased land from them in the lower valley where the water was abundant and brought in several sharecroppers to grow grains and hay which was used to feed the cows during the colder months. It was so successful that he increased the acreage to begin feeding them year round except the summer months when the grass was plentiful. With the stockyards and train stations west of Dallas, he didn’t have to move the cattle far to get them to market.
Charlotte had arrived with her husband and two small children to visit for the holidays but had not had the opportunity to visit Mirisa and the new baby. James could hear them laugh and knew that Mirisa needed more of a social life than they could ever give her. Charlotte and Mrs. Ross shared so many pieces of advice on babies that Mirisa felt more assured that she could handle being a mother. Mrs. Ross and Charlotte showered her with gifts for Matthew.
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