Angel of the Cove (9 page)

Laura hugged the baby tighter. “Most women think that 'fore it happens to them. But when the pains start, you gotta keep thinkin' about how good it's gonna be when it's over.” The mother pulled the baby away from her and stared at him. A loud squall rang from the tiny mouth. “He's gonna be a loud one, but he shore is a purty baby.”

“That he is. In fact he's the best-looking baby I've ever helped deliver.”

“Is that right? And how many babies have you helped deliver?”

Anna giggled. “Just one, but he's still the prettiest I've ever seen.”

A weak smile pulled at Laura's lips. “Oh, Miss Anna, you shore do make me feel good.”

“I hope so. That's what I'm here for.”

The baby squirmed in Laura's arms, and she snuggled him closer. “You was so good helpin' Granny, I thought you'd been doin' it for years. I reckon I was wrong about you.”

“Wrong about me? What do you mean?”

“When I heared that Granny had a girl from outside the mountains comin' to help her, I was scared. I thought you might be real uppity, and I didn't want you to help me with my baby.” Laura paused. “But I was wrong, Miss Anna. You done proved that to me today. I don't reckon nobody could have been kinder to me than you was. And I'm askin' you to forgive me for settin' my mind to something before I even met you. I hope you ain't mad at me for doin' it.”

Anna shook her head and smiled. “There's no reason for me to be angry with you. After all, we hadn't met. Now that we have, I hope we're going to be great friends.”

“I hope so too. We's lucky to have you here.”

“No, I'm the lucky one to be here with Granny. I've never met anyone who knows so much about treating people's illnesses.” Anna helped Laura settle the baby back into its nursing position and pulled the shirt tight around the baby. “Laura, I meant to ask Granny, but I forgot. Why did she wrap the baby in your husband's shirt?”

Laura ran her hand over the top of the baby's head. “It's jest a mountain way of doin' thangs. Been passed down for years. It's 'sposed to bring good luck.”

A crash from the other room caught Anna's attention. “Uh-oh, that sounded like something hit the floor. I guess I'd better see about your other two children.”

Laura reached out to Anna. “Watch out for them two. They can be a handful.”

Anna felt a twinge of fear at the thought of the two surly-faced children. She tucked the cover around Laura and the baby. “They're such good-looking children. How old are they?”

“Lucy's seven and Ted's five.”

Anna smiled and hoped it looked sincere. “I'm sure we'll be friends in no time,” she said. She hoped she sounded convincing.

Laura gazed up at Anna. “Thank you for stayin' with us while Pete's off to git my sister. I thank you kindly for that.”

“It's my pleasure. Your husband said for you not to worry. Some of the neighbors are going to check on your livestock while he's gone, and I'll take care of all of you here.” She reached down and touched the baby's cheek. “Especially this little fellow.”

Laura inclined her head toward the kitchen. “Well, you ain't tangled with them other two yet. Let me know if you need me to step in.”

Anna glanced over her shoulder at the other room and swallowed. She wished for a moment that Granny hadn't left with Pete. Of course she needed to be at home in case someone else needed her, and Pete was going right by her house. With a sigh Anna squared her shoulders and headed to the kitchen.

Lucy and Ted sat at the kitchen table, their arms folded on its top. Anna stopped next to the table and stared at the two children. Their mouths were turned down in frowns. Her gaze drifted to the floor, where a pot lay on its side. She stooped, picked it up, and placed it back on the stove. Taking a deep breath, she turned to the children. “What's the matter?”

Lucy's eyes peered at her from underneath the auburn hair that hung across her forehead. Her lips protruded in a pout. “We're hungry. When's Mama gonna cook supper?”

Anna pasted a big smile on her face. “Your mother has to stay in bed with the new baby. I'll fix you something to eat.”

They looked at each other and then back to her. Lucy crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “You know how to cook?”

Anna searched her mind for something to say. “Well, I'm sure I can't cook like your mama can, but I'll try.”

Both of them sighed and sank down, their chins resting on their hands. Ted stared up at her, his freckled face drawn into a frown, and wiped the sleeve of his shirt across his nose. “What you know how to cook?”

Anna glanced around the kitchen and sighed. “We'll soon find out,
but I think I'd better get a bucket of water first. We used most of what your Pa brought in from the well while your brother was being born.”

Her statement triggered no reaction. She might as well have been talking to her uncle's horse Toby as these two. She waited a moment before she spoke again. “Would you like to help me draw the water?”

Neither child said anything. They stared at her without blinking.

Anna grabbed the oak bucket from the dry sink near the back door and stepped outside. The setting sun cast orange and red streaks across the sky, and Anna stopped for a moment to take in the beauty before she walked to the well behind the house.

A box-like wooden structure, perhaps two feet high and open at the top, rose out of the ground. A bucket dangled above it from a rope that looped around a crossbeam between two upright posts, and a handle for rotating the overhead beam lowered the bucket through a small opening to the water below. Anna wrapped her fingers around the handle and carefully lowered the bucket into the well. As she waited for it to fill, she thought about the two children in the kitchen. She had to think of some way to gain their friendship or her time at the Ferguson farm would prove unbearable.

Lost in thought, she pulled the bucket back to the surface and had just emptied it into the water pail she'd brought from the house when a man appeared at the entrance of the Fergusons' barn. She had often thought her brother was tall, but this person would tower over Robert's six feet. The man's height wasn't the only thing that caught her attention. The bulging muscles beneath his shirt gave evidence of great strength.

His unflinching gaze locked on her, and he plodded toward her. His eyes narrowing, he stopped a few feet away from the well and glanced at the water bucket, then back at her.

Anna tried to smile, but her lips wouldn't cooperate. She tightened her grip on the water bucket and took a step backward. “Hello. I'm Anna Prentiss.” He didn't respond. After a moment she took a deep breath and inched back another step. “You may know my Uncle Charles. Doctor Prentiss. He brought me here to help Granny Lawson.”

“I heared 'bout that.” His expression didn't change, but he nodded. “The livestock's taken care of.”

“Thank you, Mr.…” Anna paused, waiting for him to tell her his name.

“Davis.” He glanced at the cabin and nodded in its direction. “You takin' care of Laura and her young'uns?'

“Y-yes.”

His large hands hanging at his sides reminded Anna of the hams her father used to hang in the smokehouse. He flexed his fingers and took a step toward her. Her eyes grew wide at the vision of his long fingers clasped around her throat. With a sharp intake of breath she backed away.

The man stopped and tilted his head to the side. “I was just gonna tote the water to the cabin for you.”

Anna cast a quick glance over her shoulder. Lucy and Ted huddled together next to the open kitchen door. Fear raced through her. She didn't know this man. If she let him in the house, she and the children might be at his mercy. She couldn't take that chance.

She gripped the handle of the water bucket tighter and backed away. “Thank you. I can manage on my own.”

“Suit yourself.” Without another word, he turned and walked into the field next to the Ferguson house.

Anna whirled around and ran awkwardly into the house, the full bucket of water clanking and splashing against her knee. Closing the door behind her, she ran to the window and watched the retreating figure head toward the woods. He strode into the distance without a backward glance.

When he'd disappeared, Anna looked down at the children. Lucy and Ted clung to her apron, their bodies pressed against her. Fear etched their faces. “Do you know that man?” she asked.

Lucy gazed up at her and nodded. “He lives on the next farm. His name is Cecil Davis. He doesn't smile like most folks. He scares me.”

Ted huddled closer to Anna and pressed his head against her arm. “I don't like him either. You think he'll come back tonight?”

The question sent chills racing up Anna's spine. She set the water
down and put one arm around Ted's shoulders and the other around Lucy's. She leaned over and smiled at them. “I think he's gone home. Don't worry. I'm here to take care of you.”

The children's bodies relaxed, and for the first time since she'd come to the Ferguson cabin they smiled. Anna glanced out the window once more. She hoped she was right and the man wouldn't come again. There was something strange about him. She'd never felt that fear from anyone else, but Cecil Davis didn't look like anyone she'd ever known before. She certainly intended to keep a close lookout for him in the future.

T
he sun had dipped below the horizon when Simon Martin, on his way home from visiting another family, tied his horse to the tree in Pete and Laura Ferguson's yard. He'd almost ridden on by without stopping. Every time he came, he hoped he wouldn't see Pete and Laura's children. There was something about those two that rankled him. They seemed to always be up to some mischief. When he had his own children,
if
he ever had his own children, he was going to see to it they did as he said.

He looked around for Pete but didn't see him anywhere. He stepped onto the front porch and was about to knock when he stopped in amazement. Laughter drifted through the walls of the house. He didn't remember ever hearing the Ferguson children laugh—not like they seemed to be doing now.

He knocked and the noise quieted. Slowly the door opened, and he caught his breath at the sight before him. Anna, a determined look on her face, clutched a rolling pin in her raised hand as if she was prepared for battle. Ted and Lucy peered at him from behind her.

Anna breathed what sounded like a sigh of relief before she lowered her arm and smiled. “Oh, Simon, it's you. What are you doing here?”

He frowned at the children who peeped at him from behind Anna. “Were you expecting someone else?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Of course not.”

He stood there, drinking in the sight of her. Loose tendrils of hair hung over her forehead and smudges of flour dotted her cheeks and apron. Her hand went to her hair as she tucked a stray lock behind her ear.

His chest tightened as he tried to speak. “I…I didn't expect to find you here, Anna. I came by to check on Laura.” He looked past her into the house. “Is she here?”

The children, flour spotting their clothes, suddenly seemed to come to life. They darted from behind Anna and grabbed at his hands. “Mama done had our baby brother this afternoon,” Lucy informed him. “Miss Anna's helping us make a cake.”

Anna laughed and held out her hand to him. “Come on in, Simon, and you can help us too.”

He stopped just inside the door and inhaled. The sweet smell of something baking reminded him he hadn't eaten since morning. His stomach growled, and he grinned. “That cake smells mighty good, Anna!”

Anna grabbed a cloth and rubbed the white smudges from the children's faces. “I'm afraid I can't take credit for what you smell,” she said. “Lucy and Ted have helped me make a molasses cake to welcome their baby brother into the world. It's for his birthday.”

Simon looked down at the two children. Their faces beamed as they gazed up at Anna. He leaned forward and chucked each one under the chin. “It smells good. I hope you plan on letting the preacher have a piece.”

The children's giggles brought a smile to Anna's lips. “Of course you can. In fact, why don't you stay for supper? Mr. Ferguson has gone to get Laura's sister. Granny left me here to take care of everybody until he gets home. We'd love the company.”

The children clapped their hands and jumped up and down. “Stay, Preacher. You kin see our new brother,” Lucy said.

“In that case, I'd love to.”

Ted gave a whoop, and the two turned and ran back into the house. He leaned closer. “They really helped you bake a cake?”

She nodded. “It was the only way I could get them to settle down. They're really active children.”

“I know what you mean. But they must have taken a liking to you.”

“I don't know about that. I was just trying to keep them busy.” A blush rose to Anna's cheeks as he looked at her, but he couldn't tear his gaze away. She put her hand to her face and brushed at it. “I must look a mess. But between taking care of Laura and the baby and trying to watch Ted and Lucy, I've had quite a day.”