Love comes softly (16 page)

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"So thet's it," Marty thought. "An' he didn't tell me fer fear it might be ruined agin by 'mean' weather, as he calls it." The visit took on even more meaning for her.

Ma shared with Marty the news that young Jason Stern was there 'most everytime I turn me round.' With misty eyes she told how Jason had come Christmas Eve and asked permission for Sally Anne and him to be 'a marryin' when the preacher came for his spring visit.

"He seems a right good young man an' I should feel proud- like, but somehow it be hard to give up my Sally, her not yet being' eighteen, though she will be, jest by the marryin' time."

Marty thought back to her own tearful pleas, begging her ma and pa for permission to marry the young Clem. She was about the age of Sally Anne too. She suddenly saw her own ma and pa in a different light. No wonder they were hesitant. They knew that life could be hard. Still, she was glad that she had had those few happy, even though difficult, months with Clem.

"Thet Jason," Ma went on, "he already be a cuttin' logs fer to build a cabin. Wants 'em ready fer spring so there can be a cabin raisin' an' a barn raisin' too. Workin' right hard he is, an' his pa's a helpin' him. He's gonna farm the land right next to his pa. Well, we couldn't say no, Ben an' me, but we sure gonna miss her happy ways an' helpin' hands. I think it be troublin' Laura, too. She jest not been herself the last few days. Moody an' far-off like. She always was a quiet one, but now she seems all locked up in herself like. Bothers me, it does."

Ma stopped and seemed to look at something a long way off. Then she pulled her attention back to the present.

"We's all gotta settle in an' add to Sally Anne's marriage things-- quilts an' rugs an' sech. Got a heap to do twixt now an' spring."

Then Ma changed the subject, catching Marty completely off guard.

"How be things a comin' with the Doc?"

"What Doc?" puzzled Marty.

"Why the one Clark be a workin' on to git to come to town.

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The one he be a makin' all the trips fer an' gettin' all the neighbors to sign up fer. He's most anxious like to git him here afore thet young'un of yourn makes his appearance."

At Marty's dumb-founded look, Ma finished lamely "Hasn't he been a tellin' ya?"

Marty shook her head.

"Hope I haven't spilled the beans," Ma said, "but ever'one else in the whole west knows 'bout it, seems to me. Thought you'd be a knowin' too. But then maybe he thought it best ya not be gettin' yer hopes up. Might be ya jest not mention my big mouth to him, huh?"

Marty shook her head, dumbly agreeing.

So that was it. All the urgent trips to town and sometimes beyond, even in poor weather, coming home cold and tired, to get a doctor to the area before her baby was due. She still shook her head as she got up to put on the coffee pot. She had to move quickly before Ma saw her tears.

Lunch was a sumptuous affair. Marty thought back to the time of Ma's first visit when all that she could offer her was coffee. How different this was with the abundance of fresh bread and jelly, fancy cakes, tarts and cookies. Ben remarked several times about her good cooking and she responded that she should be, his cook had taught her. Missie wakened and joined them in her chair, asking for a gingerbread boy. Time passed all too quickly as they shared table and conversation.

Marty was reluctant to see them go but thankful for the unexpected time together, and she did want them to arrive home before night fell.

After they had left she turned happily to cleaning up. Her eyes twinkled as she turned to Clark.

"Thank ya so much fer invitin' them."

At his surprised look she went on.

"Ma let it slip, not knowin' thet I didn't know." She couldn't resist adding, "I noticed though thet ya didn't invite all of those young'uns with the hearty appetites."

They shared a laugh together.

January went crawling by. Clark made more trips to town. or wherever he went. Marty was no longer puzzled, but she felt

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quite sure that he was going off on these cold days on her behalf. Her sewing was nearly completed now and she looked at the small garments, prepared for her coming baby, with much satisfaction. She would be so happy to be able to use the baby things.

Clark fretted about a cradle and Marty assured him that one wasn't needed yet as she planned to take the wee one into her bed until he grew a bit. Clark was satisfied with that, saying that come better weather he'd get busy on a bigger bed for Missie and let the baby take over her crib.

As the month finally drew to a close, Marty felt that the time had come when she could share her secret with Missie. The two of them were alone in the house, Clark having again left for town.

"Come with Mama, Missie," Marty said. "Mama wants to show ya somethin'."

Missie didn't have to be coaxed. She loved to be 'showed somethin'.' Together they went to the bedroom where Marty lifted each tiny garment from the drawer and showed it to Missie. Her face glowed as she did so.

"Look, Missie," she said. "These are fer the new baby. Mama's gonna get a new baby fer Mama and Missie. Jest a tiny little baby, only 'bout so big. Missie can help Mama take care of the baby."

Missie intently watched Marty's face. She wasn't sure what this was all about, but Mama was happy and if Mama was happy, it must be good.

"Ba-by," Missie repeated, stroking the soft things. "Ba-by, fer Mama-- an' Missie?"

"Thet's right." Marty was wildly happy. "A baby fer Missie. Look, Missie," she said, sitting on her bed, "right now the baby is sleepin' here."

She laid Missie's hand on her stomach and Missie was rewarded with a firm kick. Her eyes rose to Marty's in surprise as she quickly pulled away her hand.

"Thet's the baby, Missie. Soon the baby will sleep in Mama's bed. He'll come to live with Mama and Missie an' we'll dress 'im in these pretty clothes an' bundle 'im in these

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soft blankets, an' we can hold him in our arms, 'stead of how Mama be holdin"im now."

Missie couldn't get it all, that was for sure, but she could understand that Baby was coming and Mama was glad, and Baby would use the soft things and live in Mama's bed. Her eyes took on a sparkle. She touched Marty timidly and repeated, "Mama's ba-by."

Marty pulled the little girl to her and laughed with glee, "Oh, Missie," she said, "it's gonna be so much fun."

Clark returned home that night with a strange looking lump under a canvas in the back of the sleigh.

"Well," Marty thought, "I'm sure thet be no doctor," and her curiosity was sorely roused.

After Dan and Charlie had been fed and bedded, Clark came through the door carrying the surprise purchase.

A new rocking chair! Marty could scarcely believe her eyes.

"A new rocking chair," she said aloud.

"Right," said Clark. "I vowed long ago thet iffen there ever be another baby in this house, there gonna be a rockin' chair to quiet it by."

He grinned as he said it, and Marty knew that the words were really a cover up for other feelings.

"Well," she answered lightly, "best ya sit ya down an' show Missie how it works afore ya go off a chorin'."

Clark did so, pulling Missie up onto his lap and snuggling her down. They took two rocks and the child popped up again to stare at this wondrous thing. She watched, swaying, as Clark rocked a few more times, then snuggled up contentedly, enjoying the new marvel.

Clark soon left for chores and Missie crawled up on her own to try to make the chair respond right.

"It's gonna be so much fun to have," Marty told herself. "Jest imagine me with my young'un all dressed up fancy like, an' me a sittin' there rockin"im. I can jest hardly wait."

The baby seemed impatient too, for it gave a hard kick that made its mother catch her breath and move back a mite

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from the cupboard at which she was working.

When Clark came in from the chores, Missie scooted down from the chair and ran to take his hand.

"Daddy, come," she urged him.

"Hold on, Missie, 'til yer pa gits his coat off," Clark laughed. "I'll come-- I'll come."

Missie stepped back and watched him hang up his coat, then took his hand again.

"Come see."

Both Clark and Marty thought that she was still excited about the chair, and it would have been hard to know who was the more surprised when she stopped in front of Marty.

"Look-- ba-by," she cried, pointing at the spot. "Ba-by fer Missie."

Marty flushed and Clark grinned.

"Well, I reckon it be at thet," he said, picking up the little girl.

"So Missie is gonna git a new baby, an' we'll rock 'im in the chair," he continued, walking away with the child as he spoke. "We'd better be a gittin' some practice, don't ya s'pose. Let's rock a mite while yer mama gits on the supper."

And they did.

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Chapter 21

A New Baby

It was mid-February and Marty sat opposite Clark at the table. Both of them seemed absorbed in their own thoughts. Clark's shoulders drooped slightly. He had failed in spite of all of his efforts. A doctor had been secured for the town and surrounding community, but he wouldn't be arriving until sometime in April-- too late for what Clark had wanted him for. He prayed that all would go well.

Marty sat quietly, too, her own thoughts depressed. The little one was getting so heavy, and the last few days things just seemed different. She couldn't name the difference but she knew that it was there. She was troubled in her thinking. This was the time when a woman needed a "real" husband, one that she could talk to. Oh, if only Clem were there. She wouldn't have felt embarrassed to talk it over with Clem.

"I've been a thinkin'," Clark cut in; "seems yer time must be gittin' purty close. Seems ya might feel more easy like iffen Ma could come a few days early an' be a stayin' with ya fer a spell."

Marty hardly dared to hope. "Do ya really think thet she could?"

"Don't know why not. Sally Anne an' Laura be right able to care fer the rest. Good practice fer Sally Anne. Hear she be a needin' to know how afore long. I'll ride over an' have a chat with Ma. I hope we won't be a keepin' her fer too long."

"Oh, me too me too," thought Marty.

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She was so thankful for Clark's words that she had to struggle to keep back the tears.

And so it was that Ma came that day, bringing with her a heavy feather tick and some quilts with which to make up a bed on the sitting-room floor. She was an old pro' at this and Marty took much comfort in the thought.

Marty didn't keep her waiting long. Two mornings after, on February sixteenth, she awoke from a troubled sleep sometime between three and four o'clock. She tossed and turned, not able to find a comfortable position, feeling generally uneasy within herself.

What was uneasiness gradually changed to contractions-- not too close and not too hard, but she recognized them for what they were. Around six o'clock Ma sensed more than heard her stirrings and went to her room to see how she was.

Marty groaned. "I jest feel right miser'ble," she muttered.

Ma gently laid a work-worn hand on Marty's stomach and waited until another contraction seized her. "Good," she said. "They be nice an' firm. It be on the way."

Ma hurried out to the kitchen to make sure that the fire that had been banked the night before was still alive. She put in more wood and filled the kettle. She then filled a large pot and placed it on the stove as well. No harm in plenty of hot water. It probably wouldn't be for hours yet, but Ma believed in being prepared.

Hearing the commotion, Clark emerged, already pale- faced, from the lean-to.

"Now ya stop a frettin'," said Ma looking at him. "I know thet she be a little thing, but she be carryin' the baby well. I checked a minute ago. He dropped down right good an' he seems to be turned right. It only be a matter of time 'til ya be a holdin"im in thet rockin' chair."

At a cry from Marty, Ma hurried off and Clark sank, even whiter, into a kitchen chair. "Oh, God," he prayed. "It's up to you an' Ma now. I didn't git the Doc, God. Please help Ma now. She's delivered lotsa babies. Help her now with this 'un." There was no Amen, for Clark didn't end his prayer. He continued it on as he went through the trying day.

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Missie was bundled up in late morning and sent out with her pa so that she might not hear the agonizing groans of her mama.

Marty carried on, taking one pain at a time, her face damp from the effort, her lips stifling the screams that wanted to come. Ma stayed close by, giving words of encouragement and administering what little comfort that could be given.

Time ticked by so slowly-- for Marty who now marked time by contractions; for Clark who, with Missie's help, tried vainly to work on harnesses out in the barn; for Ma who so much wanted the ordeal safely over.

The sun swung around to the west. Would this never end, wondered Marty? It was agonizing. Ma, from her years of experience, knew that the time was drawing near. Everything was in readiness. At fifteen to four, Marty gave a sharp cry that ended as a baby boy made his appearance into the world.

With a sob Marty lay exhausted, so thankful that her work was done, and that Ma's capable hands were there to do what was necessary for the new baby. A glad smile crossed Marty's face as she heard her son cry.

"He's jest fine," Ma said. "A fine big boy."

In short order she had both baby and mother presentable, and placing the wee bundle on Marty's arm went to bear the good news to Clark.

"He's here," she called, "an' he's a dandy."

Clark came running, carrying Missie with him.

"She's okay?" His anxious eyes quizzed Ma.

"Fit as a fiddle," Ma responded, not admitting to any relief on her own part. "She done a great job an' she's got a fine boy. Iffen ya slow down a mite an' take yerself in hand, I may even let ya git a small peek at 'im."

Clark slowed down.

He took off his coat and unbundled Missie, glad that she could now be in. It was getting colder outside.

"Here, Missie, let's warm abit afore we go to see yer mama." They stood together at the fire and then he lifted her up and followed Ma to the bedroom.

Clark looked down on a worn-out Marty. She was tired and