BECCA Season of Willows

by Sara Lindley

  Becca pulled some coins from her reticule and handed it to the Doctor.

  “Thanks Doc. You’re sure? Around six or seven months?” Doc chuckled.

  “I’m pretty sure. It’s still early. Now calm down and relax. You need to take it easy.”

  Becca bit her lip.

  “Doesn’t it seem awful early for this?”

  The Doc chuckled at her and shook his head.

  “Becca, it only takes once and it looks like River took care of business on your wedding night. So just relax and enjoy being with child.”

  Becca waved and stepped outside the Doc’s office and turned running into a solid wall of male chest. She smelled mint and grimaced knowing it was River.

  She looked up into her husband’s face and gave a squeal as he lifted her in his arms and took off back to the wagon.

  “What are yah doin’ River? Put me down! I’m heavy!”

  River kept walking to the wagon as they started to draw attention.

  “You not heavy!”

  Becca turned and saw Marie Ettles.

  “Good morning, Marie. How are yah?’

  Marie gave Becca a strange look and chuckled. She waved and said a hello as Becca was carried the rest of the way to the wagon.

  He set her on the bench seat and got in to drive. The horses took off and Becca pointed to the mercantile as they approached it.

  “I needed something from the mercantile.”

  River snorted and ignored her pointing.

  “Hiyuh! ( No!) I leave you at mercantile. You ran to Doctor. You no need mercantile!”

  Becca grabbed his arm.

  “Well, I do now! Stop!”

  River sighed and stopped at the mercantile. Becca tried to jump down and River frowned grabbing the back of her skirts and yanked her back in the seat.

  “You speak now Becca! You tell me why you at Doctor! You sick?”

  Becca let out a long breath.

  “I would rather not talk about it here in the middle of the street. It is private.”

  River snorted and pulled his hat down.

  “It not middle of the street. Middle of street out there.”

  He pointed to the middle of the wide main street in town.

  “It not private too! You run down street like crazy woman! People see you running down walk like wild chicken!”

  She looked away wanting to laugh and put her hand over her mouth.

  He had a point there. She did run down the street like a crazy woman, wild chicken included!

  Becca bit her lip and River raised a eyebrow watching all her ‘tell tale’ signs that she was hedging telling him the truth.

  River sat back and crossed his arms watching her as she ran through a gamut of emotions in front of him. Apprehension. Unbelief. Fear. Joy. Resolve.

  Becca huffed and finally threw up her hands and spilled it.

  “River? I am going to have a baby. Your child.”

  River grinned, lifted his head to the sky and screeched. He shouted out something in his language so loud that two stray dogs yelped and growled as they tucked their tails and ran for cover.

  He laughed and took her in his arms setting her across his lap and kissed her. He quietly started to sing a little song in Sioux as he set her back on the bench seat. He jumped out of the wagon to lift her down to the store front.

  Mr. Jeb heard the screech and came running out to see whose cat had been run over and found River with Becca. And River was grinning like a jackass.

  “What in the Sam Hill is going on? What the hell was that noise? I thought someone’s cat had been run over!”

  “Mr. Jeb! Becca just told me we shall have child. I am happy!”

  Mr. Jeb gave a whoop and laughed.

  “Well damn! If that don’t beat all! Congratulations! Man alive River! You work fast!”

  River chuckled and hugged Becca to his side.

  “Well! It’s high time for some youngins around here! I told Francis Shelby that the women around here needed to start supplying some girls. I’m glad to hear that you are increasing Becca!”

  The sound of Marie Ettles and her cane came from behind them and she patted River on the back as she passed into the Mercantile.

  “Always knew you were a good one for getting things done River. We need more young people around here! My son needs a wife! I guess he can wait a few years for one of yours to grow up.”

  Becca frowned and shook her head.

  “Marie Ettles! How is it that every time we have some family news you are there to hear it? It absolutely boggles my mind! And anyway, it just might be a boy!”

  Marie waved at her as if she were silly.

  “Oh settle your horses down! You know I’m thrilled for you! Jeb! How much are you selling those scrawny looking, diseased chickens for out back?”

  Jeb gave her a dour look.

  “So Marie, you want chicken for dinner again I see…well, I guess I have to charge extra for all the work I’ve done getting them starved and diseased.”

  Becca laughed as River whispered to Marie in her ear. Marie looked at him and grinned.

  “Heavens to Betsy River! I never realized how good you smell! You smell good enough to eat!” Marie found she was revealing a little too much in the middle of the Mercantile. She brushed her sleeve and looked at Jeb Greer who was grinning at her and winking at River.

  “Well Jeb Greer, I’ll have you know that River here says it is a well known fact that all chickens with yellow feet are healthy no matter what they may look like.”

  Jeb smiled at River with a wicked mirth in his eyes.

  “Is that a fact? Well! All those chickens have yellow feet so I guess we are good to go! You want two just like last week?”

  Marie nodded and pursed her lips ready to bargain.

  “That’s fine! Now let’s talk turkey!”

  Becca ran for a basket before the haggling started and yanked River with her to the other side of the store and got up in his face.

  “You just love stirrin’ the pot with her don’t you?”

  River’s face held no remorse at all.

  “Yes! It is fun!”

  Becca barked a laugh.

  “You rascal!”

  River waggled his eyebrows at her.

  “Yes! You love this rascal!”

  He bent to his wife pulling her into an embrace and kissed her soundly. Becca chuckled and smacked him on his chest.

  Jeb Greer’s voice could be heard all over the store.

  “Here now! This is a decent, God-fearing store!”

  River released his wife and chuckled.

  “Yes Jeb. I kiss my wife here. We are decent and God fearing too.”

  Jeb and Marie looked stunned and then started to laugh.

  Jeb slapped his knee.

  “So when are your apples coming in River? I have folks already askin’ about them.”

  River stepped over to talk with Jeb about the apples as Becca finished her shopping without River causing more commotion.

  As she pulled down packs of sugar and coffee she thought about the life growing within her. It was River’s child. She was thrilled and she knew Mac and Mazie would be too. She didn’t like leaving them at home with Tuck but River was hauling lumber in the back and didn’t want the children hurt.

  A stab of guilt shot her when she realized she hadn’t written Uncle Frank and Auntie since she informed them of Nola’s death. She simply must write them and tell them of Harrison’s death and their child coming. Everything had happened so fast. But there was time now to let them know.

  She grabbed salt and spices as she headed for Jeb to get more corn meal and flour for the winter. Lard, salted pork, and…Becca shook her head and got another basket getting her list.

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  Their ride home was spent with Becca teasing River about his stirring up trouble with the gossips in town, River laughed as she went through her laundry list of what not to do and River laughed again as she crossed her ar
ms.

  River touched her nose with his finger as he drove the team homeward.

  “You do not complain when we lay together at night Becca. I hear happy sighs and shouts. And I work hard and provide for you and our children so you be quiet. We love each other and that is good.” Becca looked at her wonderful husband and chuckled.

  Yes, I love him dearly. It is sad to say but I love him more than I did Harrison. Sadly it seemed Harrison wanted more of a business deal and someone to warm his bed than to have a partner in marriage. And at the time that was fine. But then after Nola’s death, I started to know River and to love him.

  I was ashamed of my desire for him at first and never wanted to really think about it but old lady fate stepped in and took over. Now, after all the sorrow, I couldn’t be happier. Thank you, Harrison. You were the best of men for me. You were generous to give me my River. Thank you Nola for being my sister and friend.

  Becca cuddled up to River.

  “I don’t just love you because we please each other River. I love you because of the man you are and what I see when I look in your eyes.”

  Becca kissed his shoulder and the wagon stopped. She looked up in River’s face seeing love shining through.

  “It is same for me, Becca. I love what I see for me in your eyes.”

  Becca tipped her head and kissed him.

  River sighed with satisfaction and clicked the team onward to home.

  As they came over the rise, they saw a strange carriage at the front of the main house. Tuck was standing outside patting his foot looking like he had just tussled with a sack full of polecats.

  River was frowning at him as Tuck helped Becca to the ground.

  Tuck looked madder than hell.

  “Tuck? Why is it when Becca and I go to town we always find strangers in our house when we return?” Tuck shoved his bulk off the railing post.

  “Beats the hell out of me! I’m ready to ride one of them out on a rail. Some fancy jackass is in there questioning the children like he has a right to and it’s pissin’ me off!.”

  River lifted Becca to the ground and took off for the door before Becca could move. River slammed into the house looking around for the problem. With one look he spotted him.

  Ernest Biggs was hovering over Mac and Mazie sitting in River’s big chair and the man was leaning on the chair arms staring at them in an intimidating gesture. Becca came in behind him and was stunned when River moved so fast she hardly saw him.

  River grabbed the man by the back of the neck and threw the man away from his children. River turned and stood in front of them to protect his children. The Woman and the man on the couch jumped in surprise and the woman screamed.

  River stood tall and glared at Ernest who looked surprised and a little scared. All Ernest Biggs saw was a very scary Sioux warrior. Becca was seeing another side of her wonderful husband. The fierce father, warrior and protector. River narrowed his eyes.

  “Who are you?”

  Mac hugged Mazie and pointed at Ernest.

  “Ahte! That man said he is going to take Mama away! I told him NO! Becca our Ina!”

  River jerked his head to Ernest in a gesture of disgust.

  “YOU! Frighten my children? Why you here? Who are you?”

  River looked to the three faces for answers.

  He heard Becca gasp as she ran to the woman.

  “Auntie! Uncle! What are you doing here with …him? I’m so glad to see you!”

  She stared at the man at aside the front doorway.

  “Why is Ernest Biggs here?”

  Becca looked at Ernest and frowned. She took in Ernest with a wary eye and disgust in her voice. “You had better not lay a hand on our children again…Ernest!”

  Becca moved over to the children and kissed them on their cheeks.

  “Don’t worry, your father and I will handle this.”

  River turned to her and narrowed his eyes.

  “Becca…?

  Becca knew she’d better start talking. She knew that look on River’s face meant he would start kicking ass and suffer the consequences later.

  Becca smiled settling her children as she went to her Uncle and Aunt hugging them.

  “Uncle Frank and Auntie Marcie, this is my husband Still River McGann. River? This is my Aunt and Uncle who took Nola and I in after our Mother died. That other man is Ernest Biggs. I don’t have the slightest idea why he is here and I really wish he wasn’t!”

  Becca started speaking Sioux haltingly. She talked for several sentences when Ernest snorted.

  “So Becca. You ran all the way out here to marry this big Indian buck. How nice!”

  Becca glared at Ernest, now realizing just how nasty a man he is.

  “Shut your mouth Ernest Biggs! Don’t you dare call the finest man on this Earth anything out of that filthy mouth of yours. He is far and away much more man than you.”

  Ernest scowled and snorted.

  “My God Becca! It’s bad enough you run from me all the way to this dirty, uncivilized country but you marry a Indian? Why you’re nothing but a dirty squaw now. No better than a whore!”

  Ernest saw a blur and was rammed into the wall with a huge knife at his throat. Ernest gasped seeing the ‘dirty Indian’ was very close to killing him.

  Auntie screamed and Uncle Frank rose shouting at Ernest. Becca didn’t pay attention to what he said as she rushed to River.

  “Don’t Kill him River! Even though he deserves it! Don’t kill him.”

  River let the man go. As he touched ground, Ernest adjusted his clothes and brushed his coat with his hands.

  “Yeah, that’s right Injun! I’m an important man back east. You kill me and you’ll hang for it.”

  River turned and went to his children. Mac and Mazie clung to him.

  Ernest stared at Becca and looked her over.

  “You’re coming back to civilization with us Becca. Enough of this foolishness! Your Uncle owes me and I want what he promised! Although now, you will be just another a woman in MY bed instead of my wife. Your Uncle promised to give you in marriage to me to pay a debt.”

  Becca sneered at him wanting to spit in his ugly face.

  “Too late Mr. Biggs! I am a married woman. Married legally. And what’s more, I am with child so just leave! You aren’t welcome here!”

  “Tut! Tut! Becca my dear. I’m afraid that is impossible. You see Becca, your Uncle has terrible luck at cards. It was the only way he could make good on what he owes me was to promise me one of your girls.”

  Uncle Frank looked like he was going to faint. “I never promised! I never…”

  Ernest looked at Frank and shouted. “SHUT UP!”

  Aunt Marcie clasped a hand to her bosom and looked at her husband with hurt all over her face.

  “Oh Frank, No! You didn’t! Tell me you didn’t! I knew you went to that horrid place and gambled but…the girls?” Her husband crumpled beside her.

  “I owe so much Marcie. It was compounded by interest. This was what he asked for in payment. He wanted a chance to marry one of them. I thought I could get out of it later. And when Becca left I thought that would be the end of it. But he wouldn’t release me. He made serious threats. I couldn’t let that happen.”

  Auntie held her hand over her mouth and started to cry.

  “No! Frank! No! He threatened you Frank?” Frank pulled his wife to him.

  “No dearest. He threatened you and Nola. And that I couldn’t abide.”

  Becca felt a stirring of rage coming to the surface. How dare Ernest do this to her kind old Uncle. Yes, Uncle Frank, her Aunt and sister. He had plenty to answer to but Ernest was evil. Absolute evil incarnate to threaten her dear Auntie and Nola!

  “I can’t and I won’t go with you! You! YOU! Snake in the grass! I’m already legally married to Still River McGann. And I’m mother to these beautiful children from my first marriage here. So you just pack up and go back east where you belong! I’m staying here and so are my Auntie and Uncle. I’m h
appy here.”

  Ernest barked a laugh and straightened his vest.

  “Your first marriage? You mean this is the second man for you in such a short time? Well you are a whore, Becca! I should just set you up in business at one of my pleasure houses and let you screw all the men you want.”

  Ernest laughed loudly. Uncle Frank stood and looked mad enough to spit.

  “You son of a bitch! You…”

  River started shouting in Sioux which no one but Becca and the children understood. Becca was very sure that no one would want to hear what he said either.

  Ernest barked a laugh and glared at them all.

  “It looks like the only solution here is to make you a widow again Becca? Then we’ll just send these two children to heaven too. I’ll be quick.”

  River screamed drawing his knife as he shoved Becca behind him, lunging at Ernest. That gave Ernest the time he needed to draw a small pistol from his coat.

  Becca screamed knowing what was going to happen. And things happened fast! Too fast!

  The next thing Becca knew there were two shots. River threw his knife into Ernest Biggs chest at the same time and he grunted.

  River twisted as his legs gave out. He fell to the floor on his back gasping for breath.

  Ernest started to laugh as the gun went off and jerked as the knife hit him. Then a bigger shot sounded. Ernest stood wide eyed and the fell forward just a foot or two from River. Tuck holstered his gun as he came through the door.

  Becca screamed as well as her Aunt who quickly fainted in the arms of her shocked husband. Frank laid her on the couch fanning her as Becca and the children seemed to come alive.

  Becca fell on River as he gasped for breath and Mac rushed to him trying to stop the blood with his hands.

  “Ahte! Papa! NO! Father! NO! I love you!”

  He started to cry which then Mazie started too. Becca was already lifting River’s head. River choked and coughed.

  “He dead?”

  Becca bobbed her heads frantically and sobbed.

  “Good. Tuck…we killed him.”

  River swallowed and looked at Becca and held Mac’s hand still.