Bargain For Baby

by Kirsten Osbourne

  The whole time the baby was growing as well as could be expected. She’d taken to the infant food better than anyone had hoped for, and there were no problems with her not being able to tolerate it.

  By Monday, Becky was walking a few steps when she needed to, going to the water closet without any assistance, and helping with cooking. Her mother wouldn’t let her stand up, so she was sitting at the table peeling potatoes.

  When the doctor came, he proclaimed her fit to stand for up to ten minutes at a time and suggested she spend some time on the back-porch swing. At his words, she stood and hurried to the back porch. Sure enough, Amos had added a swing while she was ill, and she sat down there, soaking up the sun.

  Having some of her freedom back did a great deal for her disposition as well. It took some of the work off of her mother, and she was able to think for the first time since her discussion with Becky’s father.

  Minerva carried the baby outside and sat in the swing beside her daughter after seeing the doctor off. “I don’t want to stay with you forever,” she said without warning.

  Becky looked at her mother. “What do you want to do?”

  “I’m going to be a midwife again. It’s obvious that there aren’t enough qualified medical professionals in town. I can help.” Looking at the baby in her arms, Minerva sighed. “I had forgotten just what a joy it brings me to hold a child as they breathe their first breath. I will be as big a part of your life as you want me to be, but I’m not going to live with a newlywed couple. You and Amos deserve privacy as you learn to be a family.”

  “You can stay until other arrangements are made. I think I’ll need you for a while yet.”

  “You will. I just talked to the doctor about that. He thinks I should stay here for at least another month. After he’s given you permission to return to all normal activities, I’m going to be on my way. I might talk to your Mrs. Franklin and live in the boarding house. It sounds like she was good to you.”

  “Did I just hear my name?” a voice asked from below the porch.

  “Mrs. Franklin!” Becky carefully got to her feet and hugged the older woman as she climbed up onto the porch with them. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “I don’t care nothing about seeing you, Becky. I’m here to look at that baby of yours.”

  Becky grinned. “I want you to meet my mother as well. Mom, this is Mrs. Franklin. Mrs. Franklin, my mother, Mrs. Minerva Brown.”

  Mrs. Franklin nodded cordially, but Becky could see the anger on her face. “Hello.”

  “It’s so nice to meet you. Becky has told me wonderful things about all the help you gave her.” Minerva held the baby out for the other woman to see.

  “Someone had to help her out. Her parents abandoned her.”

  “That’s true. We did. I wanted to let her stay, but my husband wouldn’t let me. I can understand very well why you’d judge me harshly for that.” Minerva held her head up, but there was sorrow in her eyes.

  “Mrs. Franklin, Mama came here to help me when I was in labor. I would have died without her. My father has kicked her out now.”

  Mrs. Franklin’s entire demeanor changed. “I’m sorry to hear it.” Her hand rested on the other woman’s arm. “Consider me a friend.”

  Minerva smiled at that. “I was just telling Becky that it would be nice if I could have the same arrangement she had with you. I am going to start midwifing again, but it’s been a lot of years, so it may take me a while to build up my business.”

  Mrs. Franklin nodded. “You just let me know when you’re ready. Becky’s old room is still empty, and I’ll save it for you.”

  “The doctor thinks I’ll need to be here for at least another month until Becky is on her feet again. She’s had a really rough time of it.”

  “I wish you’d let me know. I’d have been here to help out.”

  Becky smiled sweetly. “There was no reason to bother you. My mother came and stayed to help me out. By the time she leaves, I’ll be ready to stand on my own two feet again.”

  Minerva looked between the two, realizing that this woman had been a substitute mother for her daughter when she’d been unavailable. “I’m going to leave you two alone. The baby’s ready for her nap.”

  Mrs. Franklin took the spot beside Becky on the porch swing. “Are things really all right between your mother and you?”

  “They’re so much better. She stood up to my father, and he now says he has no family at all.”

  “That’s sad, but it’s his choice. I can’t imagine anyone rejecting you and that beautiful baby. I got your note. You’re calling her Belle?”

  “Yes, it means beautiful. Everything about that little girl is beautiful to me.” Becky leaned her head against the back of the swing. “Just think, a month ago I was wondering what I was going to do when the baby came and how I’d be able to work. Now I’m sitting here on a porch swing rocking while someone else takes care of my baby, and my husband will be home before long.”

  “How’s it going with Amos?”

  “He’s wonderful. He loves the baby so much. The first time he held her, you could just see on his face how much he cared for her. His mother is supposed to be here again soon, and I’m not looking forward to that, but Amos is so much more than I ever dreamed he’d be.”

  “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

  Becky nodded. “It’s so different than the love I felt for Cliff that I didn’t recognize it at first. Now I can’t imagine ever not loving him.”

  “I’m glad you accepted his offer. It was very smart of you.”

  “I can’t think of anything that would have been better for me or my baby.”

  Amos walked up on the porch then, smiling at Becky. “You’re on the porch! What did the doctor say?”

  “He said I can stand for as much as ten minutes at a time, and I should enjoy the porch swing and the sunshine.”

  “That’s wonderful!” He smiled at Mrs. Franklin. “It’s good to see you here.”

  “You should have come to get me when she was so ill,” Mrs. Franklin told him.

  “I would have if I hadn’t been needed every minute of every day. We were taking turns sleeping, her mother, Hannah, and me. It was a rough few days, but we all made it through.” He smiled at her. “I promise that I will get you if she gets ill again if there’s any way possible.”

  “Good, because I consider this girl one of my own.” She hefted her bulk off the swing. “I’m going back to town now. I’ll see you soon.” With that she was gone, and Amos took her place on the swing.

  “Do you really feel all right?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I feel so much better than I have been. It’s so nice to be outside on a beautiful spring day, knowing my daughter is inside napping, while my mother watches over her. I feel like everything in my life is better now that Belle is here.”

  He stretched his arm around her shoulders. “It’s nice to have a minute alone. I feel like people are always around us.”

  “My mother told me today that she’s only going to stay as long as I need her. She’s going to have the same arrangement with Mrs. Franklin as I had, and Mrs. Franklin has agreed to keep my room empty for her.”

  “How much longer will that be? I enjoy having your mother here, and she’s definitely been a godsend, but I’d like to be alone with my wife and daughter as well.”

  “Another month probably, but my activities will gradually increase over that time.”

  “Just don’t overdo it. Lean on her as much as you can.”

  She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. “I will when I can. I do need to build up my stamina so I can take care of you and Belle. What will we do if I just sit around for the next month and I’m still not strong enough to do what I need to do when she leaves?”

  “You’ll just have to do your best, I guess.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you’re feeling so much better. It’s nice to have you up and moving around and smiling again.”

  “It’s n
ice to be moving around and smiling again.”

  He stood, holding a hand down for her. “Let’s go see if your mother needs help with supper. I’m home a little early because I needed to know what the doctor had said. The men are getting used to working without me there.”

  “Is that good or bad?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye.

  “It’s always nice to feel needed, but in this case, it was very good. I know that I can be gone for a few days at a time and my business won’t fall down around my ears.” He smiled. “I brought you a present from town.”

  She smiled at that. “You’re always bringing me presents from town.”

  “You’re going to really like this one.”

  “I always really like all of them.”

  “Go wait in the kitchen, and I’ll bring it in.”

  She laughed, walking into the kitchen and sitting on a chair there. “Do you need some help with supper, Mama?”

  “No, I’m good. What has you in such a good mood?”

  “Amos brought me another present. It seems like he’s bringing me presents every day. That man courts me more than Cliff ever did.” Becky felt a coldness emanate from her mother at Cliff’s name. “You never liked him.”

  “No, I never really did, and that wasn’t just your father talking. I watched him with you, and he didn’t treat you the way I wanted my daughter treated. He didn’t take special care with you like Amos does. Amos is a man I want my daughter to spend the rest of her life with.”

  “I have a feeling you’re going to get your wish. I wasn’t sure when we first discussed marriage, but now I know I couldn’t spend my life with anyone else. He’s too special to me.”

  Amos walked into the kitchen then. “I actually have two presents for you. There’s this one,” he said, handing her a skein of yarn and knitting needles. “This one is to keep you busy, so you won’t drive everyone around you crazy. And then there’s this one.” He pulled a long velvet-covered box from his pocket and handed it to her. “This is for giving me the most beautiful daughter in the world.”

  Becky opened the box and gasped when she saw the necklace there. “It’s beautiful, Amos!”

  “Maybe you can wear it to church when we’re able to go again. It would please me to see it around your neck.”

  She stood up and wrapped her arms around him. “You’re the best husband a girl could ever ask for!”

  Her mother discretely left the room, giving them the alone time they needed.

  Chapter Eight

  Amos took to working half-days while Becky was recovering. It wasn’t that her mother couldn’t handle things on her own. It was obvious she could. He wanted to be as involved in his wife’s life as he could be, and he didn’t want to miss a single moment of Belle’s infancy. He spent a lot of time working around the house, getting it painted and building a small barn.

  Every time he held Belle, he fell just a little bit more in love with her, if that was even possible. His love for her had been monumental from the moment he’d looked at her sweet little face.

  Before going into the house each afternoon, after working on the barn, he’d stop and pick wildflowers for Becky, wanting new flowers in the center of the table so she’d have something pretty to look at. By three weeks after Belle’s birth, she was able to stand up to thirty minutes at a time, and she was doing more of the housework and caring for the baby.

  On Monday night, Minerva waited until Becky was asleep before talking with Amos. “I think it’s time for me to move on. You’re here half-days and Becky is more than capable of cooking supper, keeping up with the housework, and taking care of Belle. I’m just in the way.”

  He frowned. “I’m not sure. Will you stay another week? Please? I’ll pay you if you need me to.”

  “It’s not money. I don’t want to be in the way during this special time. You two haven’t been married long at all, and the baby is still so new. Enjoy each other.”

  “We are. I promise. I will worry a lot more if you leave this week. One more week, please.”

  Minerva finally nodded. “All right. One more week, but then I’m moving into Creede and staying in the boarding house. I’m sure I can help out Mrs. Franklin. I don’t like not being useful.”

  “Are you going to get a divorce?” he asked. It had been on his mind a lot that she’d given up her life for his rigid neighbor, and he wanted her to be able to move on. Becky was still heartbroken over the entire situation.

  “I really don’t know.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I feel like I should try to make things work because I was married for more than twenty years, but it’s clear he doesn’t want anything to do with me if I chose Becky and Belle over him.” She shrugged. “I didn’t pick them over him really. I just chose to help them live, and that was too much for him.”

  “If you want to go try to talk to him, I’ll come with you. You just let me know.”

  Minerva patted Amos’s hand. “You’re a good man. I appreciate all the help you’ve given me, and I really appreciate knowing you’ll always take care of Becky and Belle. They need a good man with them.” She got to her feet. “Goodnight, Amos. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Amos watched her walk away, and he realized she felt badly because her marriage was ending, but he wondered what else was going through her mind. She obviously felt badly because she wasn’t keeping her commitments. Did it have anything to do with love? He hoped he and Becky never became like her parents.

  When he slipped into bed, he pulled Becky toward him and kissed her forehead. “It’s never going to be like that for us,” he whispered.

  “Hmm?” she asked, her eye lashes fluttering.

  “Never mind. Go back to sleep.” He watched her face as she fell back to sleep, still cradled against him. His whole entire world was asleep in the room with him, and his heart was full.

  * * *

  The following afternoon while Amos was working on the barn, he saw an unfamiliar buggy pull up to the house. He got down from the ladder he’d been standing on to work on the roof, using his hand to shield his eyes from the sun.

  When he realized who was there, he took a deep breath for confidence before walking over to greet the woman. “Hello, Mother. I thought you were going to let me know before you came back.” He wasn’t surprised she’d come with no notice, but he was irritated with her. He knew she’d upset the household, and Becky was just starting to get better.

  “You know I couldn’t wait to see my grandbaby.” She took the hand he offered to help her down from the buggy. “My bags are in the back, Amos.” She walked toward the house, and he decided not to say anything, simply grabbing her bags and following her inside.

  When he walked into the house, he was surprised to see his mother-in-law standing toe-to-toe with his mother. “You will not upset my daughter or my grandbaby. She’s been through a lot, and we weren’t even certain she was going to live for a while. You have no business visiting unannounced.”

  His mother crossed her arms over her chest. “That baby is my grandbaby just as much as she is yours. I deserve to have a relationship with her.”

  Amos froze for a moment, wondering what Minerva would say to that, but it seemed that she knew his mother wasn’t to be told the truth. “But you don’t have the right to disturb the entire household to form that relationship. My daughter has been very ill, and she is napping while the baby sleeps. You may see the baby after both of them are awake and not a minute before.”

  “No one told me she was ill!” his mother insisted.

  “Mother, I didn’t want to worry you,” Amos said. “Becky lost a lot more blood when the baby was born than she should have, and we didn’t think we’d be able to stop the bleeding.” He hoped he could make the stubborn woman understand why Becky’s peace of mind was so crucial, but she rarely had the ability to think of others.

  “But you did.”

  “We did, but we almost lost her several times. You may see the baby after she wakes up. If we catch
you waking either of them, I will have to ask you to move to the hotel in town or go home to New York.” He wasn’t going to let his mother affect his wife or child.

  His mother huffed out a breath of air angrily. “You make it sound like I’m an evil person, wanting to hurt her and the baby, when we both know that’s not true at all. I think Becky is a dear child.”

  Amos closed his eyes and counted to ten. “You’ll be in the room to the left at the top of the stairs.”

  “I want the room to the right. The room I was in last time.”

  “Minerva is staying in that room. Since she’s kept this household going for the past three weeks, she gets to keep her room, and you can switch to the one across the hall.” At that moment, Amos almost wanted her to argue with him so he could tell her to go stay in town. He was finished with her nonsense.

  “Fine. Carry my things up, Amos.” Her face was filled with anger, and she obviously thought her comforts were more important than anyone else’s.

  Amos wasn’t worried what his mother thought. She had come unexpectedly, and he wasn’t going to kowtow to her. Not now, and not ever.

  As she headed for the stairs, she looked over her shoulder and asked Minerva, “What are you planning on serving for supper? I’ve had terrible food on the train, and I need something good this evening.”

  Minerva smiled sweetly. “I’ll fix something. Enjoying it will be entirely up to you.”

  Amos took his mother’s things to her room before heading back downstairs to talk to Minerva. Someone needed to apologize for his mother, and he knew she wasn’t about to do it.

  “Minerva, I’m so very sorry about my mother. She is not always a kind person, and you caught her at her worst today. She hates travel, and she resents the fact that to see me, she has to get on a train.”

  “She’s just plain mean-spirited and selfish. It’s hard for me to believe that a man as loving and giving as you are came from her.” Minerva angrily mashed the potatoes in the pot in front of her. She was obviously taking her aggression out on their supper.