There was a whippoorwill tree behind the house, not a large one but large enough, as Nick had learned as a small boy, to hide from a casual glance. If you wanted to find someone, particularly at night, you had to know they were there and really look for them. This made it ideal for quiet meetings such as the one he was having with Angela. He leaned against the tree, feeling the rough bark on his back, Angela leaned against his chest while he wrapped his arms around her.
Nearby, Jordan played with her wooden blocks. Nick had them specially made-his right hand was too uncertain for delicate carving work-and then sanded them four times just to make certain there were no splinters to injure her fingers. They lay there peacefully and watched the little girl play.
"Ya be so happy."
Nick grinned. "I feel like I got my brother back. It's been so long since he and I talked. Really talked."
Angela traced a shirt button. "Ah don member ma brother's much."
"Brothers can be great. When I was growing up, Jarrod was always there. I couldn't do anything without him showing up to make certain I wasn't going to get hurt by doing something stupid. Trying to climb a tree that was too high? There was Pappy. Deciding to go over a waterfall in a barrel? Pappy again. Trying to ride a horse way too big and dangerous for my age? Pappy to the rescue, just like always."
"Eva time?
"Always." Nick studied the big dipper. "I want to have two boys. At least. Maybe four."
"Fo?" Angela rolled her eyes. "Ya can sure tell who havin' da babies."
"Well, what do you want?"
She paused, then turned wondering eyes at him.
"Ah don' know. Ah never had no one ask me tha b'fore." She pondered for a moment. "When I was a small'un Ah used to dream of workin' inside. Not gettin' ma hands all cut and sore from pickin' cotton or workin' the fields. Workin liek Ah works with Silas now, would'uv seem'd like heav'n. But if Ah coul' do anythin'..." She thought about a minute longer "Don' know anymore. Now when Ah think of wha' I would wan Ah think of a plase for ma pony where Jordan could ride. A home that Ah could make ma own. Ah coulds decide Ah wans a table there and put a table there. Or where Ah could decide wha' kinda flowers be plant'd. Maybe even some pichers on tha wall, jes where I wans to hang 'em. A place of ma own." She turned to Nick. "wha' 'bout you? Ya wans a big house liek this?"
Now it was Nick's turn to think.
"You'd think it would be, wouldn't ya? No, I don't want a big house, really. I want a place with enough land to stretch and grow; have a herd of my own, like here only smaller. I want a small orchard, just big enough to a few apple trees and peach trees; enough to make some pies and jam and just to munch on when I get hungry and my wife slaps my fingers if I try to sneak from the meals she's cooking."
Angela laughed at the description.
"House-well the house doesn't really matter. I want to live in one that isn't white. Maybe painted a light blue. And a big old featherbed, so soft you can drown in."
Angela's eyes widened. "A featherbed." She whispered, as if it was most incredible thought in the world.
"Of course, Jordan has to have her own room. Not just a closet room either, one big enough to hold her toys in. And a good-sized barn. We're going to need milking cows, plus at least two cutting horses along with Cocoa, Easy and a pony for Jordan..." he trailed off, seeing her withdrawn expression. "What's wrong?"
"Ya talk leik it's really goin t'happen is all."
He took her hand in his own. "It is going to happen. I'll make it happen."
"Can't happen. Not heah. People won' let it. "
"I know that; we'll leave."
Her eyes dropped.
"Angela, I promise you. I think I may even have a place."
She shook her head.
"You'd haf ta leave ya fam'ly"
"You'll be my family." He sighed. "I love them but….I feel like I'm living for someone else's dream, someone else's goals. I want to have my own life and goals. Does that make me selfish? To live in the lap of luxury and have everything anyone could want but not be happy because it's not truly mine?"
"Ah don' think so. Ah'm livin' w' more than Ah eva had n' Ah'd still leik a place uv ma own. Ah don' think it wrong fo ya to wanna hev a life of ya own."
Nick smiled at her, then winced suddenly.
"Ow!" He clenched his right fist, then began shaking it as it started to spasm.
"Heah, Ah brought sumthin' ta help."
She pulled out a small hide that held a sharp smelling ointment and began to massage it into his hand.
"That betta?"
"Ouch!" he protested. "That hurts! You're rubbing too hard."
"Doan be such a baby!"
"Hey! I'll have you know I'm a big, tough cowboy."
She snorted.
"Yeah? Ask Jordan." He turned to the baby playing with her blocks. "Jordan, I'm a big tough cowboy, right?"
Jordan got a look of intense concentration, then a distinctly pungent odor filled the air.
"I really hope that's not your answer."
Angela started giggling.
"Let me go 'nside n change her diaper."
"Just stay here and change it. You can show me how to do it."
"You goin' ta change nappys?" Angela scoffed.
"It's part of taking care of Jordan. I'm happy to learn."
Angela glanced at him doubtfully.
"Come one, let's get cracking." he insisted.
Shaking her head, she demonstrated the process as she talked.
"Well, ya pulls out ya new diaper and place it heah. Gets ya rags ready, then take off tha pin heah an' pull down tha nappy leik this."
She pulled down the diaper and Nick's face fell.
"Is it too late to change my mind?"