After supper, the children returned to spend the night in the wagon with their mother and father. It comforted Ulla to have them there and she knew it would do Cord good to see Will if and when he awakened again.
It was shortly after the bugle sounded the next morning that Cord opened his eyes for a moment and looked at her. He mumbled a little and she wanted to believe he’d tried to smile at her, but she could have imagined it. She took his hand in hers. She also wanted him to assure her he was going to be all right, though Saul kept telling her he had lots of hope for a recovery. “I’ll try to be patient because I know you’ll speak to me later, my love. At least I know you are going to wake up.”
“Mama,” Becky’s voice sounded sleepy.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Is Daddy all right?”
“He just woke up for a minute.”
She moved beside her mother. “Can I talk to him?”
“He went back to sleep, but I’m sure he’ll be awake soon. You’ll be able to talk to him then.”
“All right.” Becky leaned against her.
“Why don’t you lie back down? You need to get as much sleep as you can. I might need your help later and I want you to be rested.”
Becky nodded and moved back beside her little brother. Ulla knew it wouldn’t take her long to go back to sleep. And it didn’t.
There was a light knock on the canvas covering the back of the wagon. Ulla moved to it and pulled it aside. “Good morning, Pete.”
“I thought I heard voices in here. Has Cord woken up?”
“He mumbled a few words, but went right back to sleep. I suppose you heard me talking to Becky.”
“I see.” He nodded at her. “Liam came to get the cow. He said Charlene was going to milk for you and they’d take care of her. Said they’d tie her to his wagon until Cord was better again.”
“I hate for her to have to do that.”
“Don’t worry about it. Ivy and I would’ve have done it, but they insisted. He also told me Esther is coming to get Becky soon. She says it’s a way she can help out since her brother, Eli, has volunteered to drive your wagon.”
“I feel…”
“Now, don’t start trying to do everything yourself, Ulla. Eli said his folks got along fine without him yesterday and he wanted to drive for you again. You know we all want to help you.”
“I know, but I feel I should be doing something.”
“Your job is to take care of Cord and nurse him back to health and not to worry about anything else.” He held up his hand when she started to speak. “Now, I’m going to hitch up your team and Ivy is preparing breakfast. She said she’d let you know when it was ready.”
Ulla didn’t have a chance to say anything because Pete gave her a quick smile and hurried away.
~ * ~
They had camped for nooning. Esther had brought Becky to see her mother, but the little girl chose to go back with her friend because Esther had told her they were going to spend some time with Kathleen. Ivy said Will was asleep in the Nettleton wagon. Ulla had not wanted to socialize so she climbed back into her wagon and busied herself mending the clothes Cord had torn on the rocks at the waterfall. She was thinking how much she enjoyed doing this menial task for him when a grunt drew her attention. Laying aside her sewing, she moved closer and leaned over him. “Are you hurting, Cord?”
His eyes opened and he looked at her. Before she could say anything else, he whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. I’ve already told you, you’re a hero in my eyes.”
He seemed to ignore her statement. “I honestly tried to save him. I really did. I’m sorry I couldn’t.”
“You did save Will. He was a little frightened, but otherwise, he’s fine.”
“Ulla, I know I killed my son.”
“Please believe me, Cord. I thought you understood. You didn’t hurt Will. I’ve told you this before, but I’ll tell you again. You saved Will’s life and put your own in jeopardy. Our son is the same healthy little boy he was before he climbed out on that limb.”
“I’m sorry, Ulla. I don’t believe you.” His eyes began to flutter.
Ulla had to bite her lip to keep from shouting at Cord. Instead, she said in a firm voice, “Don’t you dare go back to sleep. I’ll be right back.”
Cord lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Ulla went to the back of the wagon and waved to Pete who was talking to his wife.
He hurried toward her.
In a matter of minutes, Ivy came running up beside her husband. “Is something wrong, Ulla?”
“No, Ivy. I just want you to bring Will to me. Cord thinks he let the boy die and I need to prove to him that Will is alive and well.”
Pete looked surprised. “Cord’s awake?”
“He’s in and out, but I’m hoping he’ll stay awake long enough to see that Will is still with us. I can’t convince him otherwise.”
“I’ll get Will.” Ivy hurried to her own wagon.
“Do you want me to get Doc, Ulla? He’d probably like to know that Cord is waking up.”
“Yes, but tell him to wait a few minutes to come. I want to talk to Cord alone for a little while.”
Pete nodded. “I understand.”
In a matter of minutes, Ivy reappeared with a whimpering Will in her arms. “I had to wake him, so he’s a little out of sorts.”
“He’ll be fine.” Ulla reached for him. “Come to mama, baby. You can go right back to sleep in a little while.”
Will cuddled against her and stopped whimpering as she moved back beside the mattress where Cord lay. She was disappointed to see his eyes closed. “Cord,” she said gently to make sure he was asleep again.
He was.
“Oh Will, we’re going to have to wait until your daddy wakes up again.” She held the little boy close and rocked him. He soon fell back to sleep and she lay him on the other mattress, then picked up her sewing. She decided she would keep Will with her until she could prove to Cord his son hadn’t been harmed. Then she’d send someone for Becky. She wanted her whole family together.
Chapter Thirteen
They had camped for the night when Cord opened his eyes. For a few minutes he couldn’t understand why every part of his body hurt. Then he remembered the waterfall. It was as if he could feel his son’s trusting little arms around his neck and hear him say, “Hey, Daddy.” He didn’t remember if he said anything back to the little boy because he was concentrating on getting the child safely to the river bank and into Ulla’s waiting arms.
But he had failed. Failed miserably.
He felt the baby slipping from his arms then everything went black. Now here he lay with probably more than one broken bone in his body and if they hadn’t fished his body out of the water, his precious son was somewhere on those jagged rocks at the bottom of the falls.
Why couldn’t he exchange places with Will? Why couldn’t he have been the one to hit those rocks at the bottom of the falls instead of his son? Why was the one who didn’t deserve to live still alive when the precious child had died?
In spite of all he could do, a tear rolled down Cord’s face. “Oh, God if I could do it over, I’d do it so differently. I’d be like Ulla. I’d love little Will and let him know it’s because he’s a wonderful little boy no matter whose seed brought him into being.”
His hand moved and he was startled to feel someone beside him. He frowned. It couldn’t be Ulla. There was no way she would want to be this near him. She had to hate him for letting Will die.
She jerked up and he thought she was trying to get away from him.
“Oh, Cord. You’re awake.” Lighting the lantern, she set it beside the mattress and leaned over him. Her face was close to his. “How are you feeling?”
He didn’t answer her question, but said, “I’m so sorry, Ulla. Please believe me. I tried to save him.
“Listen to me, Cord. I know you think Will fell, but he didn’t. You manag
ed to shelter him and he’s fine. You were the only one hurt.”
“Don’t lie to me, Ulla.”
“Now listen to me. I’ve told you this before…I have never lied to you and I never will.” She turned her back and leaned in the other direction. When she turned back to him, she had Will in her arms. “See. Here is Will. He’s perfectly fine.”
Cord looked confused. “How?”
“You managed to hold him away from harm and when they pulled you to the shore, they had to pry him out of your protective arms. You weren’t about to let him go.”
Will stirred and opened his eyes.
“Will…” Cord could barely say the name without choking up.
Will looked around and saw his father. He grinned and reached out to him. Ulla leaned him down and Will patted Cord’s face. “Daddy fall.”
Cord stared at the little boy. “Am I dreaming?”
“No, Cord. You’re not dreaming. Will is safe and he doesn’t have a scratch on him. It’s all thanks to your quick actions.”
“What happened?”
Will’s head fell forward against Ulla’s chest and he looked as if he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
“Let me put him back on the mattress so he can go back to sleep and I’ll tell you.”
“If you don’t mind, put him down here beside me so I can look at him.”
Ulla smiled and lay Will close to his daddy. Cord smiled back at her then at the little boy as if he still couldn’t believe the child was alive. “I’m ready now to hear what happened after I fell.”
~*~
Ulla and the children walked up to the campfire at the nooning. “I feel bad about not helping you do the cooking, Ivy. Especially in…”
Ivy interrupted her. “Don’t be silly. You have your hands full looking after Cord and the children. When he is well, I’m sure you’ll be making those biscuits for all of us.”
“I sure will.”
“Has Cord awakened again?”
“He was for a little bit while we were moving, but I think the jarring of the wagon kept him in pain. I gave him a dose of laudanum and he went back to sleep. He woke up when we stopped, but he was so drowsy I decided to get the children out of the wagon so he could rest while we were here.”
“At least he’s awake and talking, isn’t he?”
“He is, but I’m still concerned about him, Ivy.”
“But you said…”
“I know. I told you I finally convinced him Will was alive, but he fell back to sleep before I could tell him everything that happened after his fall.”
“I’m sure that’s a good sign. He’ll probably stay awake longer next time.” She poured milk for the children. Becky took hers and the plate Ivy handed her and joined Joe on the ground near the wagon.
Ulla looked back into the wagon and smiled. “He has drifted off.”
Ivy nodded. “I bet you’re ready for coffee?”
Will patted his mother’s face. “Coffee.”
The women laughed.
Ulla hugged him to her. “No, baby. You’re too young for coffee. You’re drinking milk.”
“Milk.”
“That’s right, little man. Milk.” Ivy smiled at him and handed his mother a plate filled with a vegetable stew.
Ulla took a seat in one of the chairs and began feeding Will. “I thought Cord would stay awake for longer periods now that he seems to have come to himself. That’s why I can’t help being concerned.”
Before Ivy could answer, Pete walked up and his wife turned to fix a plate for him. “Well, ladies, we may be camping here longer than we thought.”
“What’s going on, honey?”
“Some men rode up looking for a doctor. Seems there was a tornado that almost destroyed the nearby town a few days ago. Several people were killed, including their doctor. A lot more people were hurt, some critically. They’ve been waiting for a wagon train that might have a doctor or somebody with medical knowledge who would come to help them out.”
“And of course, Saul being the wonderful man he is, he went to help,” Ulla added.
“He did. Mr. Pruitt also went with him to assess the situation.” He sipped the coffee Ivy handed him. “How’s Cord? Has he woke up again?”
“He did, but he’s asleep again. I just told Ivy how he’s been moaning and groaning while we were moving. I was hoping Saul would check him while we were camped.”
“Maybe Naomi would come check him. She’s a good nurse,” Pete suggested.
Ulla nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
He sat his plate down. “I’ll go get her.”
Ivy put her hand on his arm. “I’ll go as soon as I pack up, dear. I’ll take Becky and Joe with me. They might like to play with their friends.”
“Thank you, Ivy.” Ulla ate a few bites and set her plate down. “I’ll go check on Cord. I don’t want him waking up and not finding me there.”
“I’ll help you into the wagon, Ulla.”
“Thank you, Pete.”
“Ulla, let me make Cord a plate. If he awakes, he should try to eat something and I think the broth of this stew would be good for him.”
“That’s a good idea. Thank you.” Ulla smiled at her. “It seems all I do is thank you, my friends.”
“You know you don’t have to thank us, Ulla. By bringing us on this journey, you’ve more than earned anything we could ever do to repay you.” He held Will as she climbed into the wagon, then handed him to her. “You take care of your husband and baby and I think I’ll go walk Ivy to the Guggenheim wagon.”
~ * ~
Ivy finished putting away the noon supplies and called the children to come. They responded immediately. “I’ll be back in a bit, Pete,” she said to her husband.
“I think I’ll walk with you.” He winked at her. “Sometimes I just want to have an excuse to hold my wife’s hand.”
She blushed. “Pete, sometimes you say the sweetest things.”
Joe and Becky were walking a few steps in front of them, but they heard Joe say, “Sometimes Mama and Daddy say silly things like that, Becky.”
“My mama and daddy do it, too. Mama keeps telling Daddy how much she wants him to get well so they can have more babies.” She shook her head. “I don’t think they need anybody ‘cept Will and me, but I guess they think they do.”
“Sometimes I wish my mama would have another baby.”
Becky looked up at him as if she couldn’t believe he said such a thing. “Why?”
“Cause she’s always hugging and kissing on me and if there was a baby maybe she wouldn’t do it so much.”
“Don’t you like her hugging and kissing on you?”
“Sometimes, but it’s embarrassing in front of other people.”
“I like for Mama and Daddy to hug and kiss me.”
“You’re a girl.”
“So what’s the matter with that?”
They moved further ahead and Ivy looked up at Pete, shaking her head.
He laughed and squeezed her hand. “I think Joe might have a good idea. I wouldn’t mind having another little Nettleton in the family.”
Ivy bit her lip. “Are you serious?”
“Of course I am. When we get settled, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t add to our family. We’re still young enough and Joe shouldn’t grow up alone. Besides, I’ve seen you with Will. You’re a wonderful mother.”
Ivy didn’t answer.
Pete frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Oh, no, darling.”
“Then what is it? I can tell something isn’t right.
She shook her head. “No, Pete. There’s nothing wrong. That is, with the exception that I have something I need to tell you.”
He stopped and looked down at her. His face was full of concern. “What is it?”
She turned toward him and smiled. “It’s time I let you know our second child should arrive in about six and a half months.”
A myriad of emotions crossed his face as
he stared at her. Finally he whispered, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, darling. I’m positive.”
Pete dropped her hand and swept her into his arms. He kissed her passionately. “Oh, Ivy. That’s wonderful news. I love you so.”
“I love you, too, my husband. I have always loved you.”
As if he suddenly thought of something, a frown crossed Pete’s face and he held her from him. “Wait just a minute. Did you say six and a half months?”
She nodded.
He took on a worried look. “Then that means you were with child before we left Independence, doesn’t it?”
She nodded again.
“Did you know?”
She sighed. “Yes, Pete. I knew.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would you have come on this trip if I’d told you?”
“Of course not.”
“That’s what I thought and I wanted us to come, Pete. Our family needed a new start and you must admit we’ve all been happy since leaving.”
“Yes, but….”
“No, Pete. I know in my heart that it was the right thing to do. Look how Joe has come out and is making friends. In Independence he stayed to himself all the time and only played with Springer. Now he is coming into his own.”
“But…”
“There you go again with that word ‘but.’ Now stop it and think. Look how many friends we’ve made on this wagon train. Of those who know you’ve been in prison, none of them hold your past against you.”
“I know all that, Ivy. I just want you to be safe and it’s my duty to protect you.”
She laughed. “Honey, women have had babies for thousands of years. Everything will be fine. Just you wait and see.”
“I’ll try to believe that, but I can’t help worrying.” He kissed her again.
Joe and Becky came back to where they were standing. “Please, Dad. Stop kissing Mama and let’s go. I want to see if Carney can play with us.”
Pete chuckled. “We’re coming, son.”
Joe turned back to Becky. “I ain’t never going to get married if you have to kiss on an old girl like he does on Mama.”
Ulla's Courage Page 17