The Lost Baroness

by Judith B. Glad

  "Goosebumps," Buff translated.

  "Exactly," Mother Superior agreed.

  The door opened and they all looked toward it. The elderly nun who stood there had a little girl by the hand.

  "Rosel!" Siri went to her knees, her free arm around her daughter. "Oh, Rosel! Min dotter! Min älskling! Tack gode Gud! Ah, tack gode Gud!"

  The little girl clung to her, her high, sweet voice repeating "Mamma, mamma, mamma," over and over.

  Buff, his eyes suspiciously stinging, looked over to see Mother Superior biting her lip. "Thank you," he said. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

  * * *

  Siri could not let go of Rosel. She still did not entirely believe a djävul like Jaeger would have taken her daughter to the safest possible place for her to be. When they reached the carriage, escorted by the stern-faced Mother Superior and two other nuns, Buffalo lifted them into it together. Rosel immediately crawled onto her lap.

  She whispered something, too soft to hear. Siri bent over. "What did you say, min älskling? I did not hear you."

  "The bad man. He told me you were dead. I didn't believe him, though."

  "Of course you didn't. You knew I'd find you." Hugging Rosel close, she asked the question that had haunted her. "Did he...did he do anything to hurt you?"

  "No, but he told me he would beat me if I cried." She sniffed. "I didn't, but I wanted to." She snuggled closer. "I didn't like it when he made me get into the sack. It was dark inside, and he tied it around his waist." A small giggle. "I heard his belly growl."

  Siri looked across the carriage at Buffalo. He nodded when she mouthed Tack gode Gud!

  Siri couldn't persuade Rosel to release her when they reached the hotel, so Buffalo carried them both through the lobby and up the stairs. People stared, and Siri didn't even care.

  Rolf saw them enter the suite and came running. "Mamma! Mamma! Rosel!"

  Buffalo let Siri down, and she pulled her son close. She didn't know how long she and her children clung together there on the floor. When she finally looked around her, only Buffalo was in the room. "Where are--"

  "Gone out," he said. "They figured we needed some time alone."

  Disentangling herself from the children, Siri went to the wing chair beside the fireplace. "Buffalo, I know what we told the nun, but if you--"

  "If I want to marry you tomorrow, you won't argue. Is that what you were going to say?" A smile played over his lips.

  "Nej. If you do not wish me to marry you, I will not hold you to that promise."

  "Siri, I can't think of anything that'll stop me from marrying you. Anything but your absolute refusal, and then I'd do my best to change your mind."

  "But...but you are rich and important and I am only a--"

  He cut off her words with his mouth. After he'd kissed her thoroughly, he lifted his head. "Only the woman I love." His fingers traced lightly down her cheek. "Now, how do we convince your kids they need a new pa?"

  Epilogue

  "It's a castle!" Rosel bounced in the seat. "See, Rolf. It's a castle."

  "Castle, castle," Rolf crowed, pushing his head out the window. His little shoe dug into Buff's groin, making him wince. He had to agree with the kids. This brick mansion his folks had built did have the look of a castle, with its tall, sharp-roofed tower and many narrow windows. Standing alone as it did, out a ways from town, it looked like it ought to be surrounded by a moat and have pennants flying from the roof instead of lightning rods. The carriage pulled into the circular drive, passing between lines of young trees, not yet leafed out. Elms, Ma had told him in one letter. The magnificent trees she'd loved, back in New York. Be a while before these are anything but spindly, he thought, as he lifted the boy and saved his manhood.

  "How are you doing?" he said to Siri. She gave him a tired smile, reassuring him. This trip had been hard on her. She'd insisted on traveling by boat, even though she'd never gotten over her fear. Then at Umatilla, they'd been delayed by snow in the Blues. Once the road reopened, the journey had been slow and difficult, for if they weren't struggling over roads knee-deep in mud, they were rattling along on mud frozen in spine-shattering ruts. At least once a day, she'd been sick, until he was worried there'd be nothing left of her when they reached their destination.

  "I am happy to be here," she said, leaning forward to look past her daughter's head. "Are you certain this is your parents' home? It is so...so big! Så storslagen!"

  Under the noise of the children's excitement, he said to Siri, "The manor house in Aalborg is even grander. I wish I could have proven your claim to it."

  She shook her head. "I am content," she said with a smile. "There is still no memory of that girl, although each time I hear her name, it seems familiar." Her hand, softer now, with smooth fingernails and white skin, squeezed his. "No title, no fortune could mean so much to me as having you. As being loved." She raised his hand to her lips and kissed it." Jag älskar dig, Buffalo."

  Just then the front door burst open. Three kids tumbled out, followed by a small woman wearing an apron over a dark dress.

  "Well, that's my ma, and those look like my brothers and sisters--only bigger--so this must be home." He opened the door before the carriage had completely stopped. Before he could help Siri alight, Iris and a young lady who could only be Reggie were climbing all over him. Behind them stood a tall young man with the look of Pa about him. "Rhys? Is that you?" he said as he hugged the girls.

  Siri was still waiting on the carriage step when his Ma careened into them, and he had to brace himself or fall flat. "Hold it, Ma! I'm real. You don't have to pinch me to make sure."

  "Oh, Buff, I thought you'd never get here. Where is she? Are these the children? Oh, aren't you pretty? And you're such a big boy!" She gathered Rolf and Rosel into her arms, then smiled up at Siri. "Land sakes! You must think we're all a bunch of savages."

  Buff lifted her down and kept one arm around her. "No, Ma, she knows it. Why she's willing to marry into this family, I'll never know, but thank God she is. Siri, this hysterical woman is my ma, Hattie Lachlan. I reckon my pa's around somewhere, as well as the rest of the tribe."

  Ma handed Rolf to Rhys. "Welcome. Welcome to our family." Half a foot shorter, she still managed to smother Siri in a big hug. "Thank you for bringing my boy home."

  Buff detached himself from his sisters. "Take the cat, Reggie. He's in that basket. Yes, Iris, I brought you something from Siam, just like I promised. Now why don't you take these two in and feed 'em. They haven't had a bite for a couple of hours." He gave his youngest sister another squeeze. "I can't believe how much you've grown."

  "I'm twelve now," Iris said, as she took Rosel by the hand. "C'mon. Ma's been making gingersnaps."

  Buffalo shook his head. "She was such a little tyke when I went away. Not much bigger than Rolf. I guess I was gone too long."

  "That's what I kept telling you," Ma said. "But why are we standing out here in the cold wind? Come inside. Siri. I'll bet you're worn out."

  * * *

  By the time supper was over and the kids had all been sent to bed--even the ones who weren't kids anymore--Buff's head rang. He'd forgotten what a noisy bunch his family was. Beside him, Siri drooped in her chair. Only one more thing to do. He sure hoped it wouldn't upset his folks. "Well, Ma, when's the wedding? Tomorrow?"

  He sensed how Siri stiffened.

  "Well, we can do it tomorrow, if you don't want anybody here. Since we didn't know for sure when you'd arrive, we couldn't tell folks when to come."

  He sat back, torn between what he wanted and what he knew Siri wanted. "How long will it take 'em to get here?"

  "Four, five days, I reckon," Pa said. "What difference does it make?"

  "Well, I..." He looked an apology at Siri. "We're going to have a baby. In October, Siri thinks. She doesn't want everybody counting on their fingers." He couldn't interpret the look that passed between his parents.

  "It's March now. Seems to me nobody's going to have to count very high
," Pa said. "A week's not going to make much difference."

  "And who cares, anyway?" Ma said. She got up from her chair and went to wrap her arms around Siri. "You've already brought me two of the sweetest grandbabies anybody could ask for. Now you say there's going to be another one. Siri, it doesn't matter a gnat's eyebrow how long a time passes between the wedding and the birthing. What matters is how welcome the child will be. And yours will be as welcome as any babe ever born."

  Buff never did understand why Siri and his mother both burst into tears. All he knew was that from that moment on, his wife was part of his family.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Among her varied careers are a couple Judith B. Glad actually chose, rather than falling into. With her children in school, she decided it was time for her to follow her own dreams, so she went back to school and studied botany. After completing her M.S., she became a botanical consultant, and spent the next twenty-odd years picking flowers for a living. Well, it was a little more complicated than that, but she picked enough flowers to keep her happy.

  Consulting is not always steady work, so one slow winter Judith decided to spend a little time at her second career choice. Now she'd done a lot of writing as a consultant, but somehow describing proposed mine sites and interpreting statistical data wasn't the kind of writing she wanted to do. So she wrote a book. And another, and... Before she knew it, she was spending more time writing than picking flowers.

  Judith lives in Portland, Oregon, where her garden blooms all year 'round and the long, rainy winters give her lots of time for writing. Visit her website (www.judithbglad.com) for samples of her stories.

  Non-English Words and Phrases

  These are Swedish, unless otherwise noted.

  Allting -- Everything

  Allvarlig -- Thoughtful, pensive

  Älska med mig -- Make love to me

  Angelägen -- Urgent

  Bry dig inte om det -- Never mind, don't worry about it

  Din brutala människa -- You brutal man

  Djävul -- Devil

  Dominerande odjur -- Domineering beast

  Domnad -- Asleep, numb (as a foot)

  Du är inte min man -- You are not my husband

  Du ljuger -- You lie, you are lying

  Du mar djävul -- You are a devil

  Du mår ond -- You are a monster

  Du skrämde mig -- You startled me

  Du, Miststueck (German) -- You piece of filth

  Dum -- foolish, stupid

  Dum fantasi -- Stupid daydream

  Dumbom -- Dummy, Stupid person

  En ängel -- An angel

  En ängel med gyllene gloria. -- An angel with a golden halo

  En artig dam -- A grande dame, a great lady

  En gris -- A pig

  En häxa -- A witch

  En inkraktare i min sängkammare -- An intruder in my bedroom

  Fänig -- Fanciful, silly, ridiculous

  Fantasi -- Imagination, daydream

  Far -- Father

  Feer -- Fairies

  Flörtis -- Flirt

  Födelsedag -- Birthday, date of birth

  Förlägen -- Embarrassed

  Förlåt mig -- Forgive me

  Förstås -- Of course

  Förtrollning -- Enchantment, bewitchment

  Fruchtloeses Unternehmen (German) -- Fruitless undertaking, wild goose chase

  Fruktansvärd -- Terrible, horrible

  Gåshud -- goose pimples, gooseflesh

  Ge dig iväg -- Go away

  Ge tillbaka dem -- Give them back

  Ge tillbaka mina barn -- Give back my children

  Gjetöst -- A Norwegian boiled-whey cheese

  Gloria -- Halo

  God middag -- Good afternoon, good day

  God natt -- Good night

  God uppfostran -- Good manners, good breeding

  Grym -- fierce, ruthless, sober

  Gud -- God

  Guten Morgen, Frau Trogen (German) -- Good morning, Mrs. Trogen

  Han är inte min far -- He is not my father

  Han rörde min klader -- He handled my clothing

  Han talar svensk -- He speaks Swedish

  Helvete -- Hell

  Himmel -- Heaven

  Hindra -- Hinder, slow down

  Hjälp -- Help, help me

  Högdragen -- Bossy, dominant

  Hora -- Whore

  Ingenting -- Nothing

  Insekt -- Insect, bug

  Ja -- Yes (pronounced yah)

  Jag älskar dig -- I love you

  Jag är obetänksam -- I am thoughtless, I am inconsiderate

  Jag är så mätt -- I am so full

  Jag behöver inte lyda dig -- I don't have to obey you

  Jag blir sjösjuk -- I get seasick

  Jag glömde mina barn -- I forgot about my children

  Jag heter Siri -- I am Siri

  Jag känner mig så skamsen -- I am so ashamed

  Jävlar också -- Damn it

  Jösses! -- Good grief

  Jucka -- Crude term for sexual intercourse

  Kineser (German) -- Chinese

  Kittlig -- Tickle

  Kom in -- Come in, enter

  Kuslig -- Threatening, frightening

  Las mich los (German) -- Let me go

  Lem -- Penis

  Lurvig -- Shaggy, unkempt

  Mardröm -- nightmare, bad dream

  Min älskade dotter, var är du? -- My darling daughter, where are you?

  Min älskling -- My darling

  Min barn -- My child

  Min dotter -- My daughter

  Min far -- My father

  Min kläder -- My clothing

  Min mor -- My mother

  Min underkläder -- My underwear

  Mina barn -- My children

  Mor -- Mother

  Nedvetslös -- Inconsiderate

  Nej -- No (pronounced nay)

  Och han -- And he

  Ohyggligt -- Monstrous, terrible,

  Oläglig -- Inconvenient

  Omoralisk -- Immoral

  Ond -- Evil, wicked

  Öppna dörren -- Open the door

  Ostadig -- Unsteady, weak

  Otäck -- Hideous, ugly

  Otrolig -- Incredible

  Parasoll -- Umbrella

  Plåga -- Plague, pester

  Porslin -- Porcelain, china

  Prydnadssaker -- Knick-knacks

  Raring -- sweetheart, nice guy

  Rasande -- Angry, outraged

  Respektabel -- Respectable

  Retlig -- Whining, petulant

  Rumpa -- Rump, derriere

  Ryggsäck -- Knapsack

  Så god -- So good

  Så luxuös! -- So luxurious

  Så skön -- So lovely, so beautiful

  Så smutsiga -- So filthy, so dirty

  Så varm -- So warm

  Schatz (German) -- Sweetheart

  Schrecklich (German) -- Terrible, foul

  Sinnligt skön -- Sexually attractive, sexy

  Sjuklig -- Sickly, unhealthy

  Skål -- Cheers

  Skön -- Beautiful, handsome

  Skrämmande -- Fierce, warrior-like

  Skräp -- Garbage, trash

  Skvallra -- Gossip, tattle

  Skynda dig -- Hurry up

  Släpp mig -- Let me go

  Smeknamn -- Nickname, pet name

  Snehvid fluesvamp -- A poisonous mushroom, the Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa) found in northern Europe. It is deadly poisonous. In the Western US an almost identical mushroom, the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), is poisonous enough to make most people ill, by tripping them out (badly).

  Söker mig -- Seeks me, looks for me

  Spänning -- Tension, tenseness

  Spöklik -- Spooky, haunted

  Stal mina -- Stole children

  Storslagen -- Grand, impressive

  Svampar -- Mushroom, toadstool

  Svensk -- Swedish, a Swede

&n
bsp; Svindlande -- Dizzy

  Tack gode Gud -- Thank God

  Tack -- Thank you, thanks

  Trist -- Gloomy

  Trivs inte -- Uncomfortable, ill at ease

  Troll -- Troll, evil creature

  Tusen tack -- Thanks a lot, thanks a million

  Underbar -- Wonderful

  Underkläder -- Underwear

  Unlænding (German) -- Foreigner

  Uppkäftig -- Sassy, irreverent

  Vad -- How

  Vad stiligt -- How elegant

  Vad synd -- What a pity

  Vad syndig -- How sinful

  Var snäll och -- Please, a plea

  Varför -- Why

  Varför är du här? -- Why are you here?

  Varför kallade du på mig? -- Why did you summon me?

  Verdammt (German) -- Damn it

  Verdammt noch mal (German) -- Damned thing (sort of...)

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