Chapter Eighty-Five

The family stayed together at the big house until supper. Rosita and Rosa served broths and soups on trays to the family. Their injuries were aggravated by the train trip and the ride from Stockon.

Sally and Esther were settled in at her home. She honored her wish to avoid all the people at the mansion. One serving of soup and a bath—Esther was asleep in the guest bedroom. Sally sat beside her bed and prayed for healing, physical of course but that of the child's soul. She shuddered inadvertently at how the orphan had been misused. "But her soul is still in there I know. Risking her life for the boys."

She finished braiding her hair wet as she slept along with her simple prayers for joy and peace to return to the woman-child.

By sundown, everyone was ready to end their homecoming at the big house and head to bed. Victoria kissed Jarrod and JT as Heath readied them to return to their house.

Heath had sent his active boys with McColl to bunk down for the night. They loved the older man that all the children saw as a grandfather figure. Rachel and Vicky would ride to their home with him. He didn't want to scare off Esther with a noisy arrival.

Elisabeth walked over with their children on Heath's arm. She was winded and heavy with child.

"Please Lord, keep this baby safe with me for another week or two. I must be able to take care of Jarrod and JT. Something is not right about Jarrod. He isn't healing as he says."

Heath kissed Elisabeth on the cheek after everyone was settled in bed.

"Leaving one nurse here tonight with the men so you can get some rest. Send William quickly for Sally if you need us. Hannah is over at the mansion with her Grandmother since she has trouble with the stairs. Fritz got Nick and the boys upstairs. Worried about Nick's knee. He has a hard time giving time to heal up right. Sitting still ain't his gift."

"Thank you Heath for taking charge."

"Just what family does."

—-&—

The second nurse cleaned Chip's and James David's wounds under Maris's watchful eye.

"No signs of infection."

"Thank you, Lord."

Both boys profusely apologized again and again.

"Boys I love you, you are safe and we all make mistakes. Just thanking the Lord everyone is home."

She gave both boys laudanum to sleep and trimmed the wicks.

"Now to your husband. He's a might strong-willed man."

Maris laughed, "Believe me I know."

And they walked arm and arm down the hall to the master suite. They passed Hannah on the landing.

"Was coming to tell you Grandmother is already asleep after her sherry. Pa wanted me to stay on her trundle."

"What a dear blessing you are, Hannah." Maris kissed her cheek.

"I will be here if you need anything, Aunt Maris."

"Thank you," and Maris proceeded down the hall with the nurse.

"Mrs. Barkley, may I ask how far you are?"

"My moons were never regular but by quickening, I should have four more weeks."

The nurse hid her worried look. She looked more like a lady due any day as her sister-in-law did earlier. She had done midwifery since she was a young woman and attended nursing school. She kept her suspicions to herself.

"Let's see to your husband. We will start with some whiskey. It settles him before I start with the bandage."

Maris laughed, "I can imagine it does and ma'am, I can see you don't allow his bullishness to bother you."

"No, Mrs. Barkley. I have had, let us say challenging patients before. And I like to win."

Maris laughed again and smiled. She took a deep breath of gratitude that they were all home safe and sound."

—-&—

Hannah waited until the nurse and Maris closed the door. She headed down to check on the boys. Chip was snoring loudly and Hannah giggled. She pulled his quilt up and saw his stuffed rag dog on the shelf. She impulsively put it under his arm. He groaned and pulled it closer to him.

"Not as grown up as you think, cousin," she winked.

She nervously went to James David's room. As far as she knew, this was the first time he had seen it since Maris's redecoration. She had hemmed his drapes and painted a stencil trim on his chair rail of braided antlers. She wondered if he knew she had done it.

Hannah pushed open the door and his eyes immediately flew open.

"Didn't mean to bother you."

"You didn't, sweet Hannah." with a bit of slurred speech.

She smiled back and sat on the chair at his bed. He was in a laudanum haze. James David reached for her hand and held it. She felt warmed by the intimate gesture.

"Hannah, have you seen my new room?"

"Yes, I was here quite a bit with Maris. Nick refused to let her do anything alone. He takes such good care of your mother."

"I know. I was a jackass. Uh sorry—-" thick-tongued.

Hannah couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, you were."

He chuckled with his eyes closed, "Nick had my buck mounted. I swear it moves."

"I think that's the pain medicine."

"Who did the painting?"

"I did."

He opened his eyes clearly, "You did, Hannah? Thank you."

"You are welcome," and he dozed back for a few minutes still holding her hand tightly.

"Hannah? When I thought I was going to die, you know what was sorry I never did." he surprised her by talking again.

"What, James David?"

"Kiss you. I wanted you to be my first kiss. Real kiss."

"Oh," was all she could muster.

The deeper breath of sleep took over and his hand relaxed. She stood up and trimmed the light even lower. She smoothed her dress and straightened his blankets; she poked him gently to make sure he was truly asleep. She took a deep breath and lightly kissed him on the lips. He smiled with his eyes shut and she tiptoed out of the room.

—&—

Nick as predicted was unpleasant about the changing of his bandage. No words or yelling but loud groans and moans. Maris got a look at the mangled flesh and realized why Heath was so concerned.

The event took three whiskeys to settle Nick down. Maris would hold the glass to his lips and he would hold her hands on the crystal intimately. They made eye contact and wouldn't break it until the nurse was finished.

"Anything else tonight, Mr. Barkley? I will be in the guest room."

"Thank ya but no. Maris can get ya if she needs ya but I am tired of being poked and prodded and watched like a hawk. I do appreciate you, nurse but I am home. Don't need anyone in my quarters buts the wife." with a voice laced with too much whiskey.

Maris shook her head at the nurse who was nonplussed, "Good night sir. Ma'am, you know where I am."

She trimmed the lights and went into her dressing room. She used the water closet and saw another tinge of blood.

"Just been on my feet too long," she convinced herself, "I would think a bloody show would be more. Surely it would be."

Maris came out in a new burgundy robe and nightgown. Her increasing size had eliminated most of her wardrobe, even the let-out pieces. She braided her hair at her vanity and looked longingly at her wedding rings in the porcelain dish. She had not been able to wear them in two months. She splashed on some rosewater and got into bed with Nick. Only the moonlight through the sheer curtains shone out.

"Thank you God for bringing them all home," she said aloud.

"Amen," Nick added.

"You, awake?"

"Yes ma'am. I know when my beautiful wife is next to me. I am hurt but I ain't dead."

She giggled.

"Maris, move over closer. Want to hold you and da baby."

She moved as close as she could to him. One of his large hands encompassed her shoulder and breast. The second was on her stomach."

"This is what I want fer now. Can't have no martial bed. Learned that from Doc Merar when Peg was 'xpectin'. Cuddling and loving, all I need." and he began to sleep soundly. His snore reassured her and she was asleep within five minutes herself.

—-&—-

"Grandmother Victoria? Are you alright? Need to use water closet?"

"No, go back to sleep child. Just needed my knees."

Hannah was confused and moved the wick higher. Victoria was on her knees with tears pouring down her face by their bed.

"Just thanking the good Lord they are all safe."

Hannah joined her on her knees, "Then we will double the thanks."