Mail Order Motherhood (Brides of Beckham Book 8) (13 page)

She fried the bacon and potatoes and then added eggs.  Within minutes she had a good meal cooked, and the four of them gobbled it down.  When he had wiped his mouth with his sleeve, Frank said, “Yeah, she’ll do.  I’ll keep her, Albert.”

Mary glared at him.  “Don’t you think you should ask me first?”

Frank shrugged.  “I don’t guess so.  Albert doesn’t want you, and from what I can tell, no one else does either.”

Mary looked at Albert.  “Are you going to make me stay here and marry this man?”

“I don’t know what you want me to do, Mary.  There are no jobs available in town.  You don’t want me to put you on a train somewhere.  You won’t help my wife around the house.  You either stay here and marry him, or figure something else out.  I’m done.”  Albert looked at Frank.  “You mind if Clarence and I spend the night here?  I don’t think we can make it home safely this late at night with the snow.”

Frank nodded.  “That’s fine.  I’ve got a couple of spare rooms.  No sheets on the beds, but Mary can take care of that after the dishes are done.”

“You expect me to do the dishes?  I just cooked dinner!”

Frank laughed.  “I expect you to cook and do dishes three times a day and keep the house clean.  If kids come along they’ll be your responsibility too.  Get on it, woman.”

Mary reluctantly walked to the basin and washed the dishes, grumbling all the while.  When she was finished, she made both of the beds.  “Where do I sleep tonight?” she asked, her voice sharp with anger.

“In one of the spare rooms.  I’ll have you all to myself tomorrow night.”  He leered at her, and she ran from the room, choosing one of the rooms and slamming the door hard.

Albert looked at Frank.  “You’re not going to mistreat her, are you?”

Frank shook his head.  “Course not.  She just needs to know I’m boss from the beginning.  Kinda like when you’re training a horse.”

Albert chuckled.  “You two are going to have an interesting life together.”

*****

Clara didn’t expect them back for lunch, but when it was almost supper time and the two were still out, she became worried.  She served supper, but kept glancing out the window every few minutes to see if they were home.  She put two huge portions of dinner in the oven, and watched as the girls did the dishes.  When it was time to put the children to bed, she was almost shaking with fear, but did her best to not let the girls know it.

“Mama, where are they?  Do you think something happened?” Natalie asked.

“I’m sure everything is fine.  They probably realized it was too dark to come home, so they stayed in town.”

Natalie eyed her skeptically but didn’t argue.  She got into bed without another word and waited while Clara kissed first Gertie and then her.  “Good night, Mama.”

Clara turned at the door and smiled at both the girls.  “Good night.  Sleep sweet.”

She closed the door behind her, hurrying down the stairs to continue her vigil.  What would she do if something happened to them?  She couldn’t run a ranch by herself.  She sat in her chair at the table and knitted, knowing she had to do something to take her mind off things.  Finally, when it was well past midnight, she went to her bed. 

She lay awake in the darkness with tears streaming down her face.  She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without either of them.  Albert…how had she come to love the man?  She’d promised herself she wouldn’t love anyone the way she’d loved Nathan, and yet here she was.  Lying in the dark crying over him.

She slept for less than an hour and woke early, her stomach more than a little upset.  She wasn’t sure if it was from lack of sleep, or from worrying about her men, but she knew something was making her sick.  She fixed breakfast, automatically making the same amount she made for all six of them and laughing at herself.  She forced herself to eat a small amount of dry toast, but she vomited it almost immediately.  Both of the girls knew how worried she was and watched her carefully.

*****

Albert woke later than usual the next morning in the room he was sharing with Clarence.  He could hear pans being banged around in the kitchen and assumed Frank had told Mary to get out of bed and feed them all.  He smiled.  He’d solved his and Clara’s problem, but it looked like Frank was going to be able to handle Mary after all.

He went down to breakfast and ate the pancakes Mary had made.  She hadn’t exaggerated.  She was a good cook.  She wasn’t Clara, but she was almost as good.  He put his hat on after breakfast.  “Clarence, it’s time for us to get home.  Your ma must be worried sick.”

Mary hurried to the door.  “You can’t leave me here.  Can’t you at least go to the wedding?  I don’t think I should stay here with a stranger that I’m not even married to.”

Albert let out a loud sigh before nodding reluctantly.  He could see the problem with being alone with a man she barely knew.  “We’ll follow the two of you into town.”

She shook her head.  “No, I want to ride with you.”

“We either follow you and Frank into town and stay for the wedding, or we go on home now.  Either way would be just fine with me.”  He hoped she’d be angry with him and just tell him to go.

Mary looked like she was about to cry.  “Follow us into town, then.  My sister would not be happy with you, though.”

Albert laughed.  “Your sister knew you for who you were.  She wouldn’t care one lick.”

He waited until the couple was ready, and he and Clarence followed them into town.  They witnessed the wedding, and Albert couldn’t help but laugh when Mary stomped on Frank’s foot after the ceremony.  As soon as they were pronounced man and wife, Albert shook hands with Frank.  “I hope you two are happy together.”

Frank shrugged.  “We will be.”

Albert led Clarence to the sleigh, and they turned toward home finally.  He looked at his pocket watch.  It was going to be afternoon before they got back.  Poor Clara would be worried sick.

*****

As the day progressed, Clara did her best to keep to her normal schedule.  She baked bread as soon as the dishes were done and did the laundry, including all the linens, hanging it in the basement.   She even stripped the curtains off the windows and washed them so she wouldn’t have to think about anything.  The physical labor kept her mind off her worries.

As she was cleaning off the table after lunch, she heard the horses and rushed to the window.  She sighed with relief.  There they were.  She threw the door open and rushed outside into the cold.  She wore no shoes or coat, but she didn’t care.  She needed to know her family was fine.

“Everything all right?” she called.

Albert nodded.  “I need to see to the horses, but then I’ll be right in.”

Clara went back into the house and pulled the remains of lunch from the oven, setting the table for the two of them.  She was so relieved they were all right she had tears rolling down her face.  She’d never take anyone for granted again.

When they came back into the house, Clara didn’t wait for Albert to remove his coat, and instead threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.  “I was so worried.”

Albert wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.  “I’m sorry.  Mary was…difficult.  She didn’t want to go anywhere and demanded I find her a place to live in town.  I didn’t feel right about sending her back to Texas with no family there, so I took her to some of the ranches around town, trying to find her a job as a housekeeper, or find someone stupid enough to take her as a bride.”

Clara nodded.  “I should have guessed it was something like that.”

Albert rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging out of his coat.  He walked to the basin and washed his hands, before taking a seat at the table.  He continued his story, while she served lunch to both him and Clarence.  “It was late before I finally found someone who would take her as a bride, and I didn’t think it would be safe to travel home.  So I stayed the night with Frank, my friend who married her this morning, and thought to come home first thing this morning.  Of course, then she decided that she couldn’t be alone with the man until they were legally married, so we followed them back into town and stayed for the wedding.”  He shook his head.  “I should have just dumped her in town, but she looks so much like Sally, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

Clara sat down across from him and took his hand.  “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“You’re not angry that we worried you?”  His eyes searched hers carefully for any sign of anger.

She shrugged.  “You’re not dead, so I’m elated.  I might get mad later.”

He laughed softly.  “You look like you barely slept.”

“I only got about an hour.  I couldn’t stop worrying about you.”  She looked around.  “I got a lot of cleaning done while I worried, though.”

He squeezed the hand she held.  “House looks great.”  His eyes searched hers.  “Thank you for caring enough to worry about me.”

She sighed.  “How could I do anything else?”

While he ate, he told her about Frank and how he’d demanded that Mary fix him a good meal before he’d agree to marry her. 

Clara bit her lip to keep from laughing, but after a moment, she couldn’t keep it in any longer.  She burst out laughing, holding her side.  It didn’t take long for Albert to join her.  She had tears rolling down her face.  “It sounds like he’s the perfect husband for her.”

Albert wiped a tear from his own eye grinning at her.  “He is the perfect husband for her.  He’s going to keep her hopping.”  He finished his meal and pulled Clara into a tight hug.  “Thank you for not being angry when I took her to town without you.  You were really good about her being here, even though I know she had to be making you absolutely crazy.”

Clara smiled, hugging him close.  “I’m glad she’s gone.  I’ll say that now.”

He grinned.  “We’re all glad she’s gone.”

Chapter Eight

Clara’s preparations for Christmas were in full swing.  Albert had told her about inviting one of his friends for Christmas dinner, and he’d brought her a turkey, which she’d prepared to cook on Christmas morning. 

She found that she had a little less energy every day, and her stomach always seemed to be rioting against her.  She was in her bedroom wrapping the gifts when she realized what must be wrong.  She hadn’t had her flow since October, and it was now Christmas.  Why hadn’t she seen it sooner?  She was carrying his baby.  She didn’t even know if Albert wanted another child.  They already had enough mouths to feed. 

She worried, but decided she wasn’t going to put off telling him.  She’d heard tell of a lot of women who would wait for a special occasion to announce their pregnancy, but she’d tell him that night.  The next day was Christmas Eve, and he’d work then.  On Christmas, they’d go to church in the morning, and have their Christmas dinner shortly after church.  She wanted telling him out of the way, before their festivities. 

After the children were in bed that evening, she put her hand on her stomach, thinking about what it would be like to have a baby around the house.  She knew both girls would enjoy having a younger sibling.  Natalie had really come around and loved being there.  Clarence had loved Montana from the minute he’d gotten off the train.

She walked down the stairs quickly, holding her hand to her belly as she did.   She saw him sitting quietly at the table, carving something small.  “Is that another Christmas gift?” she asked.

“No.  I’m just messing around.”  He set the wood down and smiled at her.  “You happy?”

She nodded.  “I’m really excited to see the children’s faces on Christmas morning.  They’ll be thrilled.”

“They will.”  His hand reached up to stroke her cheek.  “I’m so glad you and the children came out here.  You were just what we needed in our lives.”

“How would you feel about more children?  If they happened to come along?” she asked.

He looked at her surprised.  “I hadn’t really thought about it.  You didn’t have children for so long that I figured you were past that.”

She shrugged.  “I thought so too.”  She looked down at her hands.  “I guess not.”

“You mean…?”  His eyes were wide as he stared at her.

“Yes, we’re expecting.  Probably about July.”  She bit her lip, worried that he would be unhappy with her condition.

His face lit up in a grin.  “I think that’s exactly what we need.  We have your kids and my kids, but we need one that’s ours, too.”  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly.  “I love the idea.”

“I wasn’t sure how you’d feel.  I didn’t think I could have more children, just because I hadn’t, and I had symptoms for a while, but never really connected it.”  She rested her hand against his cheek, thrilled that he wasn’t angry with her.  “I’m glad you’re happy about the baby.”

“There’s no reason to ever be sad about a baby.  If all of ours were under five, and you had another coming, that would be hard, but it would still be a blessing.  I love children.”

She nodded.  “I do too.” 

“So when should we tell the children?” he asked.

“Why don’t we tell them at breakfast in the morning?  I’d love to start making tiny little blankets and clothes tomorrow.  They’ll be hard to explain if the children don’t know about the baby.”

He chuckled.  “That would be hard to explain.”  He shook his head.  “I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around this.  We’re really having a baby!”

Clara couldn’t believe the joy in his face as they talked about the child.  “Do you know where the closest midwife is?”

“The one Sally used is just a couple of miles up the road.  You’ll be fine.”

She sighed and nodded.  “I admit, my biggest fear about moving here was how far we’d be from the nearest town.  I wasn’t sure I’d feel safe without having a doctor I could run to.”

“Well, if it comes to it, I’m sure I could help.  I’ve helped the horses and cows give birth on several occasions.”

She made a face.  “I’m sure you’re qualified, but not so sure how I’d feel about it.  I’d rather you didn’t see me that way.” 

He grinned.  “Sally said the same thing.  It’s not like I’ve never seen you before.”

She blushed.  “Maybe you have seen me, but you haven’t seen a baby coming out of me, and you’re just not going to!”  She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. 

He laughed softly.  “Whatever you want.  I’m just glad we’re having a baby!” 

“I was worried you wouldn’t want it.  That you’d think we had enough mouths to feed.”

“Not at all.  I mean, I don’t want to feed more mouths, but I’m thrilled we’re having another child.  We make enough.  We’ll be fine.”

She rested her hand on his knee.  “I’m glad.”

“Have you been sick a lot?”

She nodded.  “Mainly in the mornings, but it happens in the middle of the afternoon too.  It started the morning that you weren’t here because you were driving Mary.  I thought it was just nerves because I was worried about you.”  She shrugged with a smile.  “I guess not.”

He stood and took her hand, leading her to the bedroom.  “I’m happy for the baby.  I hope the pregnancy is easy for you.”

“The others were.  Of course, I was much younger then.”

“It’s not like you’re ancient now.  Why, we could easily have another four or five children.”  He quickly undressed and readied himself for bed, climbing in and watching her undress.  His eyes watched her carefully, as if he was trying to see every little change in her body.  “You don’t look pregnant.”

She laughed as she pulled a nightgown over her head.  “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.  I would think that would thrill you.”

He shrugged.  “It never bothered me when Sally became huge with child, and I’m sure it won’t bother me when you do either.  It’s my child changing your body.”

She climbed into bed beside him and snuggled into his arms.  She knew she should probably be disappointed that he didn’t love her, but she was just thrilled that he wasn’t unhappy about the baby.  “I can’t wait to tell the children.  Natalie and Gertie are going to be really excited.”

His hands stroked her.  “I guess it’s a good thing the girls moved into a bedroom together.  Now there will be room for the baby.”

Clara sighed happily.  “There will be.  And we won’t have to do it later.”

He cupped her cheek and turned her face up to his.  “Thank you for giving me a child.”

She rubbed her cheek against his chest, content.

He stroked her back and reached over to turn down the lantern and plunged them into darkness.  Kissing the top of her head, he whispered, “Good night.”

She was already sleeping.

*****

Clara made breakfast the following morning, very excited that they would be telling the children about the baby at breakfast.  Once they were all seated, and Albert had said the prayer, she said, “Papa and I have something to tell all of you.”

She children looked at each other.  “Please tell me Aunt Mary isn’t coming back!” Natalie blurted out.

Clara laughed.  “No, Aunt Mary is not coming back.”  She smiled at her daughter, and then her eyes moved between the children.  “You tell them, Albert.”

“We’re having another baby,” he said, his face spread into a wide grin.

Natalie looked between the two of them.  “Are you serious?  That’s your news?”

Clara nodded.  “Not what you expected?” she asked.

Natalie shook her head adamantly, an angry look on her face.

Gertie jumped up and ran to hug Clara.  “I want a sister!”

Albert smiled.  “We can’t control whether the baby is a boy or a girl.  We’ll feel blessed with either.”

Clarence didn’t comment, but he didn’t look upset by the news either.  Robert smiled.  “I won’t be the youngest anymore?”

“You won’t be the youngest.  Does that make you happy?” Clara asked.

Robert frowned.  “I don’t know.  Do I have to share my train?”

“Yes, you do,” Clara told him.  “You’ll have to share all of your toys whether it’s a girl or a boy.”

Robert gave a long suffering sigh.  “I suppose I can put up with that so I won’t have to be the youngest anymore.”

“Can I help you change diapers, Mama?” Gertie asked.

“That’s a duty I’m happy to share!”  Clara kept her gaze on her older daughter, wondering what was going through her mind.  She’d have to be sure to get her aside and talk to her sometime that day. 

Albert pushed back form the table.  “Thank you for the fine breakfast, Clara.”

Clara nodded at him, glad he’d started to come around and compliment each of the meals she fixed.  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Albert and Clarence put on their winter coats and left.  Clara looked at Robert.  “I want you to play quietly for a moment.  Gertie, would you clear the table and get started on washing the dishes while Natalie and I make the beds?  I know it’s not how we usually do things, but just for today, would you mind?”

Gertie shook her head, eager to please as always. 

Clara climbed the stairs behind Natalie, wondering what was going on.  She was worried about the cold reception their news had gotten from Natalie, because she was usually so excited about children.  When they reached the girls room, they each went to opposite sides of the bed to make it.  “What’s wrong, Natalie?  Aren’t you happy about the baby?”

Natalie shrugged.  “I like babies.”

“What’s wrong then?  I don’t understand why you’re not happier.”  Clara plumped the pillow and rested it back onto the bed.

“I feel like you like Gertie and Robert more than me already.  If you have another baby, you’ll never have time for me!”  Natalie blurted the words out, looking very upset.

Clara sighed.  “How could I like anyone better than my firstborn daughter?”  She sat on the bed and patted the spot next to her.  “The others are younger and need my attention more.  I have to give them more of my time.  With this baby coming, I’m going to need your time.  Expecting a baby makes a woman a lot more tired than usual.  Cooking breakfast in the mornings is making me sick to my stomach.  I may need you to do some of those things for me.”  She gave Natalie a quick hug.  “I’m so proud of the young woman you’ve become.”

Tears sprang into Natalie’s eyes.  “I’ll help as much as I can, Mama.  And…I want to help change diapers too.”

Clara laughed.  “I promise there will be enough diapers for all of us to take our turns.”

*****

Natalie was up earlier than usual the following morning, which was Christmas.  She helped Clara get the turkey ready for the oven, and then she suggested Clara sit down while she cooked. 

Clara smiled at her daughter.  “I’m going to go wake everyone and help the two little ones get ready for church.   Thank you for being such a good daughter to me.”

Albert was already outside milking the cows and collecting eggs.  He was startled to see Natalie at the stove instead of Clara.  “Is your mama sick?”

Natalie shook her head as she carefully turned the bacon.  “She told me yesterday that cooking breakfast is making her sick to her stomach, so I did it for her.”  She shrugged as if cooking breakfast for the family was something she did every day.

Albert smiled, giving her a one-armed hug.  Natalie had always been stand-offish toward him, and he didn’t feel like he was getting a chance to get to know her at all.  “Your mama and I appreciate all the hard work you do around here.  You’re a good daughter.”

Natalie looked at him with surprise.  “Thank you, Papa.”

He turned away and grinned as he went into the bedroom to put on his church clothes.  It was the first time Natalie had called him Papa, and it felt good to him.  He put on his clothes and joined the family at the table.  Both boys were in their suits, and Gertie was in one of the pretty dresses Clara had made for her.

Last Christmas had been terrible, with his wife being so ill, and the children so sad.  He was glad God had blessed them so much in the past year, and he smiled at Clara.  She was a beautiful woman and a good wife.  He didn’t know when he’d come to love her, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself.  She was the wife he needed.  The children loved her, and the fact that she was carrying his child was just icing on the cake.

After breakfast, they opened their gifts one by one.  They had Robert go first, because he was the youngest, and he was thrilled with his new hat and gloves.  He tried the gloves on and clapped his hands together with excitement.  He squealed with excitement when he saw the train.  “Oh, thank you, Papa!” 

His sisters had worked together to make him a new quilt for his bed.  He immediately covered up with it, his eyes wide with surprise.  “Thank you!”

Gertie went next, exclaiming over her new sweater and the figurines her papa had made her.  Natalie and Clarence had worked together, and Clarence had built a small doll bed, while Natalie had made a doll sized quilt for it.  Gertie hugged everyone, thanking them over and over for the wonderful gifts.