Chapter 11

The rest of the winter was spent working on the farm, working on their relationship with each other and with God. It was a good time and Christmas went well, attending church, and getting to know the people in the community better as winter progressed.

Despite the progress they'd made, Meg was still concerned for her sister, and she often expressed her concerns to her husband, who would then tell her that in the spring, just after planting, they would go find her sister. Meg then decided to write inquiries into newspapers about the whereabouts of her sister, Heather, who was blind and a deaf mute, but she still didn't get a response.

In early February, Meg was helping Jack with the chores, when she fainted. Jack brought Mrs. Nilsson around, who suddenly became a bit more compassionate and talked over some facts with Meg. Later that evening, Meg approached Jack after the meal.

"Jack, honey, you like your nephew Henry well enough don't you?"

"Of course Meg, dear, he's my nephew and I'll always love him. Especially now that he's getting a bit older and can be my little buddy." he said.

"How do you feel about them when their younger? Like brand new?" she asked shyly.

"Oh they're not easy but with help...hey are you trying to tell me something?" he said a little excitedly.

"Yes Jack in about six months or less you're going to really be a daddy!" Meg giggled.

"Hey that's great! Do you think that it was from back when we first...?" he asked.

"Haha well you never know!" she laughed as he pulled her into a hug and kiss.

The next several months flew by quickly for Jack and Meg as they worked the farm, Jack worked the fields with help from neighbors & friends, and Meg planted her kitchen garden. Even so, Jack stilled babied Meg as she began to progress in her pregnancy and really began to show.

One day, in early June, Jack took Meg and Henry into town because they hadn't been there in quite a while. Jack dropped her off at the general store to browse with Henry, while he went to pay some toward his mortgaged property at the bank.

Meg was leading little Henry around the store as she picked out items, when he suddenly ran out of her grasp and into a tall woman wearing a bombazine gown. Meg, in her simple cotton dress and sun bonnet, scooped up the squirming toddler and apologized to the woman who seemed well to do.

The woman looked down at the young mother compassionately, until recognition crossed her face and her expression changed entirely.

"Megan Mellody is that YOU?"

"Oh hello Mrs. Brace, I almost didn't recognize you! How are you doing?" Meg said, nervously shifting Henry to her hip.

"Well not as fine as you! All grown up I see, with a babe in arms and another one on the way I see!" she said a bit sarcastically.

"Well I can explain, Mrs. Brace..." Megan tried to explain, but Mrs. Brace cut her off.

"You better explain or ... Oh you poor girl! Who did we place you with? Did whoever we place you with do this to you?" she said while grabbing Megan arm, dragging her along.

"Well actually yes, but...Hey!" Meg said as Mrs. Brace dragged her out of the store.

"It's my Christian duty to help my children's placements if they turn unsavory! I will not have my girls turned into demonidestes!" Mrs. Brace proclaimed as she pulled Meg along.

"Demonidestes? What's that?" Meg asked.

"As if you didn't know...actually its better if you didn't know." she said.

Suddenly Jack came out of the bank and when he saw a posh older woman in a bombazine gown pulling his wife along the boardwalk toward the train-station, he just had to run over to intercede.

"Out of my way young man, I'm on a mission of mercy with this young woman!" Mrs. Brace said as she tried to brush Jack out of the way.

"Jack!" Meg exclaimed.

"Well ma'am I believe this is my business since that young woman you're manhandling just so happens to be my wife!" Jack said, his arms crossed across his chest.

"Your wife? You don't look old enough for a wife! Anyway who did you get her from that she became your wife? Just give me the name of the man who adopted her." Mrs. Brace exclaimed.

"Well that's easy enough, but I was the one who took her off the train." he said.

"You did? Did you know sir how old this young girl was when she was on the orphan train?" she retorted.

"Well I know how old she is now, and let me tell you she's every bit that age. And I love her." he said.

"Okay Megan tell them how old you are!" Mrs. Brace said.

"Well Mrs. Brace, I'm sorry, but I'm over 16 ½ years old. I'm know I'm probably too young to be having a baby, but..." Meg shyly admitted.

"Sixteen and a half years old? You're not twelve or thirteen, but over sixteen?" Mrs. Brace said a bit stunned.

"Yes I'm sorry that I lied to you about my age last year...but I didn't wanted to be separated from my sister Heather...but I still was separated from her anyway." Meg said rather dejectedly.

"Well there was no excuse for lying, Megan, but I can see your intentions were noble at the time. As far as your age and that legality, well I suppose considering that you married your adoptive guardian, who was obvious fairly young himself from what I observe, perhaps I will forgive you this once. It seems like you've found a loving home...no matter the unusual circumstances...and that was the objective of the Christian Children's Aid Society overall." Mrs. Brace exclaimed.

"Thank you Mrs. Brace! Yes it is a loving home indeed!" Meg said as she embraced her husband, and he kissed her on the head, stroking her hair.

Meg then asked Mrs. Brace if she had any clues about her sister, Heather, to which Mrs. Brace answered that she could possibly help her, as they walked over to a small waiting room off to the side of the train station. The room had dark wood paneling that was stained a dark oak, and two wooden benches which faced each other. Mrs. Brace took the seat against the wall, and quickly settled herself in place, smoothing her skirts as she went. Jack and Meg settled in the center bench, Jack grabbing her hand in the center of his, as Meg settled herself carefully onto the bench, being aware of the extra bulk the baby provided.

Meg nervously cleared her throat and asked "Mrs Brace, you said that you had news of my sister?"

Mrs. Brace cleared her own throat out of nervous habit and proceeded to pull a small slip of paper and a pencil out of her purse. "Yes Meg, you asked about your sister, Heather. Well, although the details are sparse especially after more than a year, and the fact that the Christian Children's Aid Society's adoption placements are closed, I can tell you that your sister was placed in a loving home in Colorado, not far from the Denver area. I will provide to you the name of someone you can write to to learn more about your sister's whereabouts."

Mrs. Brace continued by passing the slip of paper over to Jack and Meg. Meg quickly took the paper, folded it, and placed it in her bag. She began to thank Mrs. Brace, but then Henry interrupted her and started to fuss, since it was getting close to his naptime.

Mrs. Brace stared at Meg for a few moments, then shook her head while a smile broke across he face. "Oh Meg, it is indeed a sight seeing you care for that child, especially since you were placed here only about a year ago, however it's excellent to see that the child responds to you so well. You make a good mother even now. Be sure to take care of yourself, get plenty of rest, and you will do well when the next one arrives in a few weeks."

Meg looked shyly up from the little boy, who was trying to fitfully rest in her arms. She handed Henry over to Jack, then glanced toward Mrs. Brace saying "Thank you for the compliments Mrs. Brace. After what you said earlier, the compliment was mighty appreciated."

Mrs. Brace again nodded her approval and began to rise, as Jack helped Meg to her feet while balancing Henry on one hip. They walked out of the room and Mrs. Brace said that she had to return to the train to continue onward with her mission, while Jack and Meg told her that they needed to continue on their way as well.

As they walked back toward their wagon, Meg pulled the slip of paper out of her bag and was going to mention about it, when Jack interrupted her saying. "Well Meg that was quite the encounter, meeting up with Mrs. Brace and all. Uh about your sister, well I know you'd like to go look for her, but it's getting rather late, even for a telegram. We'll try the telegraph office, but we do need to get home."

Meg nodded in agreement, then answered "Yes I think maybe a message would be fine, but I agree that we do need to get going, don't we?"

The couple headed over to the telegraph office and attempted to send a message, but since the person's name and location were a bit vague, the telegraph officer told them he'd do the best he could, but not to be surprised if it took a few days or more for a response.

Meg thanked him, then walked with Jack back to their wagon, and they set off toward home again. They had traveled most of the way, with Henry falling asleep in a bundle on the floor of the wagon, and Meg becoming so drowsy that she had momentarily leaned against Jack's shoulder and began to doze, while he put his arm around her shoulder.

The next thing Meg knew, Jack had pulled the wagon to a stop outside their cabin, and gently helped Meg down, as well as the sleeping boy. They put Henry to bed, but then instead of retiring to the chair, or having Meg begin to fix dinner right away, Jack took her hand and led her outside to a part of their yard a few yards from the house.

Meg began to ask what he was onto, but he just said something about the stars. They spread out an old woven blanket, then sat down, until Jack lay down and pulled Meg down beside him.

"Do you see those stars up there? That one's Andromeda and the other is Cassiopeia, then over there is the Big Bear, the Little Bear, Orion's Belt, etc..." Jack went on as he pointed out stars and constellations.

"Yes I think I do see that. Oh Jack, they're so lovely, I didn't know you liked to study the stars?" Meg asked a bit surprised as she leaned her head closer to his, to follow his pointing finger.

"Yeah it's been a favorite pass time of mine since I was a boy. I guess you don't know everything about me yet either?" he said his voice softly teasing.

"Yeah I guess so..." she mused.

"I wonder if someday man will be able to travel up among the stars? See what they're really made of? Wish I could travel there, or even to the moon, but I doubt that'll happen in a million years." he sighed.

"Aw, you want to see the stars and the moon? That would certainly be pioneering of a different sort. Haha, d'ya know what I wonder?" Meg mused.

"No what do you wonder?" he replied.

"I wonder ... if the moon's really made of green cheese!" she giggled.

"Oh Meg, hahaha...I doubt it, but that is something to ponder, I suppose." he chuckled as he gazed over at her.

Meg paused a moment then quietly said, "Jack, do you know where I'd like to go?"

"No, where would you like to go?" he answered.

"I'd like ...to go find my sister, Heather. I worry about her so." she said.

Jack rolled over toward her and brushed a tendril of hair away from her eyes, then said "Oh Meg, there's nothing more I like you to be able to do than see your sister, but right now we need to get the last of our crops in...and besides you probably shouldn't be traveling far for the next few weeks anyway."

Meg was going to ask why to, his last statement, until Jack placed his hand on her swollen abdomen and began to gently rub her belly.

"Oh yeah the baby, I'd sort of forgot..." Meg gasped.

Jack chuckled as he continued to touch her "Yeah we should let Junior cook here for a bit longer before we go rushing off to Denver." he said as he placed a kiss to her belly.

"Junior? What if it's a girl?' she questioned, amused to hear his answer.

"Aw a girl would be fine, so long as she's like her mother, red haired and frisky." he chuckled.

"You think I'm frisky? Well I guess our baby...oh did you feel that?" she gasped as the baby moved.

"Yep frisky as a new colt, just like her mama." he said as he leaned his cheek against her.

"Or papa, if truth be told." she chuckled.

"Oh you want frisky, how about this?" he chuckled as he proceeded to blow a raspberry against her belly.

Meg began to laugh and then said "Hahaha, Oh Jack, that's just silly!"

"Oh you want frisky, fine then..." he said with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

Jack then proceeded to kiss her and unbutton the top of her gown to touch her breasts, but when he rolled over her and began to lift her skirt, she questioned him.

"Ah ha so that's what ya meant by frisky? Hmmm, I don't mind too much, but are ya sure ya wanna see my belly outside here?" she laughed a bit embarrassed.

"Aw Meg, it's nothing the good Lord and myself haven't seen before...I just wanted to...ya know...once more...anyway I think you're beautiful just the way you are." Jack tried to say, though at a bit of a loss for words.

"Aw thanks Jack, love you too...Aw just kiss me boy..." she chuckled as she pulled him down toward her and he cradled her in his arms the best he could to have their time of love.

After awhile, Meg woke up realizing that she must've fallen asleep outside on their blanket. She could feel Jack spooned around her with his arm wrapped around her shoulder and could hear him whisper something about going in before they caught a chill. Meg started to get up, Jack motioned for her to stay down while he got up. Then he helped her stand, wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, and led her back into the cabin, where they changed out of the rest of their clothes and just curled up in bed to sleep the rest of the night until morning.