He inhaled the crisp air as his feet crunched a carpet of fallen foliage. Leaves still clinging tenaciously to branches blazed reds, oranges and yellows. How he loved this season when the leaves changed color and bathed the world in God’s breathtaking strokes—just like those from an artist’s palette. He asked Maddie, “Ready?”
Hesitantly she nodded.
“Okay. I am gonna shoot first again. Watch me.”
His aim was flawless. When all the cans had been knocked in the air and fallen to the ground, he turned to face her. She stood with her hands clenched, but her eyes were open and she wasn’t in hysterics.
Luke was pleased. He opened the loading gate on his Colt and reloaded, then held it out to her.
“Just hold it a minute. Get the feel of the gun. Always make sure you keep the gun pointed away from you. Away from other people. It is a very dangerous weapon.”
When she didn’t seem afraid of it, he moved behind her helped her hold it, aimed it for her. “Look at your target. Don’t take your eyes from it.” He moved back the trigger and waited for her to tense.
She didn’t.
“Good. Now shoot at any can I just put up there.” He stepped back.
She fired and missed.
“Try again.”
Again and again and again she missed. She drew a ragged breath.
“You are aiming.”
She released a huff. “Well of course I am aiming. You want me to hit a silly can, don’t you?”
He couldn’t stop his smile. “Well, that was the gist of coming out here today.”
She glowered at him.
“Try again. Get a feel for where the can is, then raise the gun and shoot. Don’t try to aim. Just point and shoot.”
“That makes no sense,” she huffed, but she tried it anyhow.
And shot a can!
“I did it!” Excited, she spun around in circles.
Luke reached out to stop her. “You are still holdin’ a loaded weapon, woman. It is not a toy to be taken lightly. It is meant for killin’.”
He gently moved her in place again. “Always treat it with respect. Now hit another can.”
When she did actually accomplish hitting a few more, he took the Colt from her, holstered it and grabbed his Winchester.
“Now let’s try this a few times. I want you comfortable with usin’ both of them.” He wrapped his arms around her while he helped her bring the butt of the handle up to her shoulder.
“This has quite a kick to it. Plan ahead for its kickback.” She fired, and fell back against him.
“Wow! That was fun.”
“Guns are not fun, darlin’. They should only be used while huntin’ for food or for self-protection.” He stepped away. “Now try it yourself.”
She did, and promptly fell ignominiously on her backside.
Luke roared with laughter, but rushed to help her up. “Are you hurt,” he asked when she rubbed her shoulder.
“It hurts some, but not in a painful way. You weren’t kidding when you talked about the kickback.”
Luke reached out and took the rifle from her. “That is enough for today. You did real good. I am proud of you.”
She made a face. “I missed most of the cans and I wound up on my bottom sitting on the ground. How is that good?”
He chuckled. “Because in between all of that, you actually hit a few cans.”
A few weeks later Maddie decided it soon was going to be too cold to do a lot of outside chores. She decided to clean the rug while it was still pleasant enough to be outside. Aunt Mary had told her the best way to do that was to hang it over the clothesline and just beat the rug with a broom. “Good time to do that is when you are angry with your husband. You can take out all your frustrations on the poor rug.”
Maddie had chuckled at the woman’s nonsense.
It took a while to heft the heavy braided rug over the line, but finally it was ready. She took a good whack at it and choked on the dust.
Looking down at her dress, the one she’d just let out the seams on to accommodate her expanding waistline, she placed the broom on the ground and walked back inside to change. She’d found a pair of old jeans in a trunk in one of the bedrooms and thought they’d be perfect for ‘rug cleaning duty.’
Luke and Matt rode up a while later. “Glad you were able to come out to check on the bay’s leg. I know how busy you get in town somedays, but you were always better with healin’ animals than I was.”
Matt nodded. “Hope it won’t be anything serious. The shoes are all right? No cracks or anything?”
“I didn’t see one. Somethin’s causin’ him to limp though. I know he is gettin’ on in age, but he is as solid as can be otherwise. A real good horse. Don’t want him to come up lame.”
Matt’s glance took in the entire yard. He burst out laughing, pulled back on his reins and stopped his horse.
Luke looked to see what was wrong.
And closed his eyes.
There was his wife, her face flushed with exertion, outside beating their blue and white braided rug, wearing a pair of men’s overalls!
His brother clearly couldn’t stop staring. Several men stood outside the bunkhouse, wide grins on their faces. Luke could only imagine the thoughts going through their minds. And he didn’t like a one of them.
Jumping down from his horse, Luke scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside the house.
“Put me down!”
“Woman, what are you thinkin’?” He deposited her right inside their door, then assessed her from the top of her head, down to her toes, then back to the overalls again. “Those pants show everythin’! Are you tryin’ to drive my men insane? Bad enough they go into town on the weekends. I don’t need them havin’ to drive there durin’ the week as well. And you know what I am talkin’ about!”
He huffed. “Where in tarnation did you get those?”
She looked hurt. “In one of the old trunks in a spare bedroom upstairs.”
Matt stood in the doorway, his face wreathed in a grin. “Must be Sam’s. He is the smallest.”
Luke pushed him, but his brother didn’t move. “Get out of here. Go check on the horse.” He pushed him out the door. Matt chuckled all the way to the barn.
“What were you thinkin’?” Luke shook his head and scratched the back of his neck.
“That I did not want to get my dress dirty. That is all. The first time I hit the rug, dirt and dust flew all over me.”
Luke scrubbed a hand over his mouth. By now the humor of the situation was sinking in. The sight of his brother looking wide-eyed toward the clothesline. Mouth agape.
His own wayward musings.
He moved Maddie toward their bedroom. “Why don’t you go change into that lovely dress you were wearin’ at breakfast this mornin’ while I finish beatin’ that rug for you?”
“It is not lovely. It is huge. None of my clothes look good anymore.”
“Nonsense. You are lovely.” How had the woman grown so important to him?
“I’m big.”
“You look beautiful. You always have.” He patted her bottom as he moved her through their door. “Not sayin’ I am averse to havin’ you wear these pants inside the house when it is just the two of us, mind, but I do not think outside is a good idea anymore.”
He closed the bedroom door and went out of the house toward the clothesline. He broke out in a guffaw the minute he got outside.
Maddie stood on a kitchen chair and finished hanging the new white eyelet curtain she’d made to cover the kitchen window. She was pleased with how it turned out. Even more pleased that Luke was letting her replace some of the items his mother had made for the house.
She’d liked the house as it was, but was even happier to be able to make it fully hers. Especially now that it was getting closer to the baby being born.
She felt as clumsy as one of the huge, plodding oxen she’d seen on Mr. Samuelson’s farm when Luke hitched up the wagon and took her on a drive o
ut in the country the other day.
She grew lightheaded when she started to get off the chair.
Stepping down very carefully, she crossed to the settee she’d recently finished a new cushion for. The red and white paisley pattern really helped to brighten the large room. She lowered herself to the straw tick filled cushion, curled a leg under her, then leaned back to let her head clear.
She still had two matching cushions to make. One for each rocker. Her intent was to have them finished before the baby came so both she and Luke would have a comfortable place to rock their infant. Even though Luke preferred sitting in his large, over-stuffed leather chair—he said it had been his father’s—there would certainly be nights when a fussy baby required rocking. He’d thank her for her foresight when those nights came.
She started to stand and swayed again just as Luke came through the front door. He took one look at her and rushed to her, pushing her back down on the settee.
“What happened?”
“I am fine. Just a bit lightheaded.”
He sat beside her on the settee, patted the cushion with his hand. “This is nice. You did a real good job.”
He took one of her hands in his as he peered around the room. “The curtain. You hung it over the window.”
She nodded.
“I told you to let me do that when I got home.”
She offered a helpless lift of one shoulder. “It hardly took me any time at all. And you work so hard on the ranch. You don’t need to be doing things I can do.”
“And the chair next to the window?” He cocked a brow.
Heat stole up her neck and cheeks. “Oh, well, I could not quite reach it.”
He pursed his mouth in thought. “Yes, well that would be because you are short.”
“I am not—”
“Did you fall?” he interrupted.
She shook her head quickly. “No.”
“But?” He patted the settee again. “You don’t usually sit here. Is there some reason you chose to today, or are you jes’ trying it out for size?”
“I got off the chair as soon as I got lightheaded.”
“Umhmm. Lightheaded. While up on a chair. While you are almost ready to deliver my child.”
“Our child.”
“I stand corrected. While almost ready to deliver our child.”
She leaned close and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. A cheeky grin filled her face. “Yes, that about sums it up.”
She rose and he quickly followed, pulling her into his arms for a much more proper kiss.
“Been waitin’ all day to do that.” He moved them both to the door where he hung his hat on the peg by the door, then placed his rifle in the corner.
“Now, lest we beleaguer the point, so that you do not almost fall off a chair again before you have our baby… No. More. Climbin’. Do I make myself clear? I am more than happy to help with what I can.”
She reached up to cup his cheek. “What would I do without you?”
“I promise you, you will never have to know. Now quit ignorin’ my question.”
She grumbled, but the sweetness of his gesture pierced her soul. He liked helping her. More importantly, he liked being around her when he did it. How had she ever gotten lucky enough to have him for a husband?
“Don’t think that was an answer.” His lips tilted up in a smile.
She threw her hands up in the air. “All right. All right. I promise.”
“Music to my ears. What’s for supper?”
~ Chapter 19 ~
Luke had gone out to the north range in an attempt to finalize all he could before winter set in. Work was difficult enough now, but in freezing weather making necessary repairs proved almost impossible.
Maddie stood in her parlor, pleased as punch with how it looked. The new white eyelet curtains hung over the kitchen window, and matching red and white print cushions sat on the settee and both rockers.
Luke seemed content with the changes. That’s what mattered to her. That he was pleased with what she’d done to his house. In no way did she want him to think she was trying to replace his mother.
Kat seemed happy with the changes, too. She’d even asked Maddie if she would make a cushion for her rocking chair, too, now that she had baby Hannah to rock. Maddie had been more than happy to oblige, and Kat seemed really happy with the blue print cushion she’d taken home.
Other than sharing the recipe Granny Mac had given her for her biscuits, Maddie really hadn’t been able to do a whole lot to thank Kat for all she’d done helping her adapt to life in the West.
She wanted to make some changes in their bedroom, too, but so far she hadn’t done that. She would have liked to match the curtains to the comforter, but having no idea how to quilt, that wasn’t something she’d undertaken. Maybe someday she’d ask the aunts to organize one of the quilting bees they’d been telling her about. It certainly sounded like a fun way to be around people.
The aunts said what she was doing was called nesting. Getting her house in order for the birth of her baby.
In actuality, she’d started having back pains the day before and had been having pains for hours now. Not bad enough to say anything to Luke about it when he left for breakfast, but she wondered if she should when he came in for dinner. Her eyes widened at the thought. She’d been so busy doing last minute decorating, she hadn’t started dinner yet. She guessed today would just be sandwiches.
She headed into the kitchen and doubled over, grabbing hold of the preparation counter to keep from falling. Stifling a groan from the pain, she braced herself against it, fighting a wave of nausea through the crippling episode. When it passed, she moved to the table and lowered herself into one of the wooden chairs. She breathed in and out deeply, trying to calm herself. That shouldn’t have happened yet.
Willing her heart to still its rapid breathing, she stood again with a hand lightly on her swollen belly. Luke should be home any minute and she had to have dinner ready for him. She pulled out the bread she’d baked the day before and cut some slices before wrapping it back up and placing it back in the bread box. Then she went out and got some of the pork Luke had just smoked in the new smokehouse he and Chet had built, brought it inside, and sliced that as well.
She was ready to put the meat on the bread when she doubled over again. When the pain finally passed, she moved toward the door. “Perhaps I had best head out to the bunkhouse and ask Cookie or Petey to go fetch Luke,” she mumbled aloud.
She made it to the porch before another pain hit. Oh, God. I cannot make it to the bunkhouse! Help me.
She collapsed into one of the nearby rockers and shouted, “Cookie! Petey! Help!”
When no one came, she tried calling out again, “Cookie! Cookie! Help me!” Please.
In the distance, a storm was moving in. Jagged lightning slashed from sky to earth, followed by a long rumble. The sky, that had been a pale light blue only moments before, soon was covered by gray clouds.
With a swiftness that belied his years, the old man came running out of the bunkhouse, Petey following behind him. Cookie grunted as his arthritic knee cracked. “You called out, Miz Maddie?” He took one look at her face and released a profanity laced tirade.
“Cookie! Please! There is no need for such language. Once the baby comes, all of you men are going to have to quit swearing. It is not proper.”
“Well, why’d the baby have to go and choose a time to come when Mr. Luke ain’t around? And they always come when a storm’s comin’.” He swore again, then looked abashed and spit a string of tobacco juice across the porch rail. He rubbed his mouth with the back of his age-spotted hand. “Sorry, Miz Maddie.”
She quirked a dubious brow at him. “When this is all over, remind me to fix you a tisane of meadowsweet and wintergreen. It should help somewhat with your rheumatism. I hate to see you in such pain.” A pain hit and she gripped the arm of the chair. “For now, though, I think you had better get Luke.”
He shouted, “
Petey, go next door and fetch Miz Kat. Be quick now. Tell her it is Miz Maddie’s time.” The boy nodded and ran to the barn to get a horse. When he came out riding bareback, she realized he hadn’t even taken time to saddle the mare.
Cookie looked worried. “The men should be back any minute Miz Maddie, but I am gonna head out to meet ‘em to speed them up. I won’t be gone long now, ma’am. You jes’ stay put right here.”
It didn’t take long for Luke to get home. His heart lurched as soon as he got the message from Cookie, and he dispatched Joe into town to fetch the aunts. He wanted to send for Doc, too, but Maddie had assured him she’d be fine with the women.
This was one of the few times he didn’t believe what she said.
The day darkened due to the impending storm. Panic pumped his blood as he jumped off his horse and threw the reins to Troy, who was right behind him. He ran straight for the porch and up the steps. Maddie sat in a rocker gripping the wooden handle, a grimace on her face. Her color drained to white.
He hunkered down beside her.
“Maddie? Love, are you all right?” He brushed his thumbs over her cheekbones.
Her long lashes were spiked with tears. For once she didn’t try to brush him off. “No, I do not think so. I…I need you to help get me into bed. It hurts too much for me to walk. I am afraid I’ll stumble and fall.”
A few minutes later Kat rode over on her horse and dismounted, throwing the reins over a porch rail. “Petey’s on his way. I told him to go slower since he rode bareback and I did nt want him falling. I left the children with Aaron.”
Luke pulled Maddie to her feet, then held her back and hooked an arm beneath her knees to lift her.
She leaned her head against his chest. “I did not mean you had to lift me, silly. I just needed help to get there in case I had another contraction on the way.” A sharp pain cut her words short.
“But holdin’ you is what I want to do.” He bent to kiss the top of her head.
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