James watched the exchange with interest. He wondered if Mirisa realized that her eyes betrayed her heart. “Did your brother leave?”
“Yes, I had tea with him and got another lecture on the evils of all of you and a million reasons I should leave with him and find a boring man to control my life. Is there anyone who doesn’t know your reputations?”
Meeks looked at her and smiled. “I hope not since we worked very hard to get them.”
Dominic joined them as the waiter poured him a cup of coffee. “Did the men leave with the horses?”
“They left this morning with the Ross boys who had a very noisy wagon filled with piglets and chicks.”
James leaned over touching Mirisa’s stomach. She looked up at him surprised as did everyone at the table. “You’re pregnant.” She didn’t respond. “I’m sorry; I hope that wasn’t something you hadn’t told Dominic yet.”
“She told me this morning.”
Garnett looked at them both. “Really?”
“Well, she can’t ride her horse back if that’s the case. She’ll have to ride in a wagon or something but she’s not riding if she’s pregnant.”
“James, I was pregnant when I rode up here.” Mirisa picked up her tea and tried to determine why they all had looks of disbelief.
“I don’t care. We didn’t know you were pregnant and I assume you probably went to the doctor to confirm it.” Mirisa nodded. “The fact that you thought you were and didn’t tell us is enough to know that you have no sense at all. You’re not riding the horse back.”
“She’ll be fine.” Dominic got up from the table and held out Mirisa’s chair. She leaned over, picked up another cinnamon roll and kissed James on the cheek.
“Thank you James.” He blushed.
“Mirisa, your feminine ways won’t work on me. You are not riding a horse home.”
They came out the front door to find a small two person open carriage in front of the hotel with an off white horse hooked up to it. She smiled because she knew that’s why Dominic stopped at the front desk when they came down for breakfast. Garnett came out behind her and wrapped an arm around her. “I think right now I am extremely jealous.”
Mirisa turned burying her face in Garnett’s shoulder as he held her. Mirisa was always so soft that the regret of not pursuing her rose in his throat.
Dominic tied her horse up behind the carriage as Meeks and James came out. “You’re not going to let her drive it are you?”
“James, do you think you can complain about anything else?” He took James’ horse and tied it to the back of the carriage. “There you can drive her.” Dominic helped her in the carriage and mounted his horse.
James climbed in with Mirisa and they headed for home. Several times they had to chide James for going too slow but all in all they made extremely good time and reached the ranch by early afternoon. She thought it was a great ride and thanked Dominic when he helped her out.
Garnett unsaddled her horse and drove the carriage over to Alexander’s to store it until the barn was built. James came in and fixed her a cup of hot tea and told her to sit down before she fell. He threw a blanket over her lap started a fire. Dominic came in with their bags and put them in the bedroom. He bent over and kissed her. “It’s going to be a very long year.”
THE SUMMER settled into a very hot and dry season that caused the river to drop over a foot. Dominic hired Senior Gomez to tend to the gardens since the heat was hard on Mirisa in her condition. The barn was started north of the stable and over three acres were fenced in with log and stone fencing. The orchard was within the fence and Dominic brought in peach, fig and lemon trees and had Sr. Gomez’s small adobe built on the edge of the orchard.
Dominic had to make arrangements to return to Natchez to handle problems on the plantation and wanted to take Mirisa back until after the baby was born but she told him that it would be too hard to travel that distance since her morning sickness had not passed. He argued that she should have the baby at the Plantation but he finally gave in to Mirisa. Garnett went back with Dominic so he could handle selling his family home in Vicksburg. Their business took up more time then even Dominic had anticipated but he was determined to return before the baby was born.
Mirisa was sitting out on the porch sipping her tea enjoying the cool breeze that swept across the river when James came out and sat down next to her. “How are you doing?”
“I need to do something other than sit and talk to myself.”
“I see you are a little testy this morning.”
“I am. I never thought life would be so boring or that my stomach would get so round. Do you think it will go back to normal?” She ran her hands around it almost comforting herself.
“Sorry, I can’t help you there. Do you want to go out later?”
“Are you going to let me ride my horse?”
“No, I’ll hook up the carriage.”
“When are you coming back?”
“Probably late afternoon. I think there’s a concert in the town common and we can have dinner at the tavern.”
“Thank you.”
September had brought a little relief but still no significant rain that made it as far south as the ranch but her summer vegetables had been bountiful. She had hired two girls to help her put up preserves for the winter and the apples and pears were just starting to ripen. James had ordered hundreds of canning jars and clay jugs to put up the vegetables and fruit as well as harvesting the grapes for wine. Their first attempts at making wine were disastrous when it fermented to the point of being moonshine that knocked you on your backside after one shot. After she filled up both pantries as well as Senior Gomez’s, she had Tom Jr. pick up the preserves and deliver them to the general store and to the church pantries.
When they got home she was wearing a soft pink dress that masked her pregnancy but not the softness of her face. Meeks walked up behind her and put both hands under her stomach and kissed her neck. “Will you run away with me?”
“I didn’t know you liked pregnant women.”
“I didn’t either.” Meeks moved his hands on Mirisa’s stomach then stopped. “Your stomach is moving.” She put her hands over his and moved it slightly to the right where you could really feel the movement.
“Meeks, what are you doing?”
“Come feel this.” Meeks put James’s hand on the spot and Mirisa moved it slightly and James looked at her.
“That’s the baby?”
“I hope so.”
James backed up and looked at her stomach. He put his hand on it again to find the movement before took his hand off. “Is it supposed to be moving like that?”
“I don’t know.” The baby moved again and she put James hand right over the area.
“Well, if you don’t know how in the hell are we going to do this?”
“James, I think I’m the one who has to do the hard part.”
“Can you ride with that happening?” She smiled and told Meeks she should be okay. The three of them rode slowly to the tavern had a basket packed so they could have dinner on the lawn as the sun was setting. Mirisa leaned back against James as the music filled the air.
“Have you heard from your father yet?”
“No. I am concerned with his safety more than whether or not he can be here. I am so afraid that he is ill or...” She turned away to compose herself. “I hope my children never leave my side for I would worry endlessly.”
“How many do you plan on having?”
“I think six would be nice. Yes, I think six would be perfect.”
Meeks put his hand on hers to bring her attention back to him. “I think we need to get you home.” James stood helping her up and they headed back to the house. A large tumbleweed blew happily across the field trying to make it to the road at the same time as the carriage but James slowed down as it rolled by heading south. James picked up speed again when a whole slew of tumbleweeds hit the side of the carriage making Mirisa laugh as James cursed under h
is breath and stopped the carriage. Meeks dismounted and untangled the balls throwing them behind the carriage where they picked up the wind once more and went happily along their way. Her favorite chore when she worked on the ranch with them was dislodging the tumbleweeds from the fence lines though she found it amusing as they tried to corral them when the last thing tumbleweeds wanted was to be stopped from their journey.
The lanterns in the stable were lit and Senior Gomez was standing in the doorway holding a bucket in each hand. James stopped the carriage and set the brake as Meeks dismounted and helped Mirisa out of the carriage. Meeks went to put his horse in the stall noting that Garnett and Dominic were home. Dominic was standing between the houses talking to Garnett when she climbed out of the carriage and started walking toward the house.
“Where have you been?” Dominic scowled at James who ignored him.
“I was restless so they took me to listen to music and dinner.” Mirisa could see his blood pressure rise as though they had broken some unwritten rule. Dominic turned to James when she took his hand and put it on the baby. He turned back and looked at his hand. Mirisa smiled and as the baby moved she moved his hand.
“Is that the baby?”
Meeks and James knew not to respond since they knew Dominic would not appreciate them having touched Mirisa much less doing it before he did. “Now, did you want to yell at me for something?” Dominic took Mirisa in his arms.
“Mirisa, I missed you so much.”
“Then I image you shouldn’t have been gone so long. Did you bring me something back?”
“I brought you fresh apples from the orchards as well as a dozen more crab apple trees, several boxes from Mrs. Ross and several boxes from the plantation that Jasmine put together for you.”
“Thank you.” Mirisa kissed her husband before she headed for the house as he watched her.
Dominic poured a cup of coffee and leaned up against the counter watching James frying fresh ham. “Any problems while we were gone?”
“Nothing we couldn’t handle.” James poured a cup of coffee and put the eggs on the counter with the biscuits.
Dominic fixed a plate and they walked out and sat down on the porch as Garnett and Meeks walked up. “Anything from her family?”
“No, not a word. Did you send out more inquiries? I’m a little concerned about what we are going to do if we don’t have someone here for the baby.”
Garnett sat down putting the latest newspapers on the table. “Well, there are certainly enough women with children around here that you should be able to find someone.”
Dominic thought about it for a moment. “I think I’m more afraid of something going wrong.”
“Why didn’t you bring someone back from the Plantation?”
“I didn’t think about it. How many people are living here now?”
“I think there are about 100 people in town but probably more. When we were in last night, I noticed that two more houses were being built and the lawn of the town center was teaming with families enjoying the music. Meeks drew up deeds for more land south and east of the town and we have several responses to inquiries for a doctor.”
“How many men have moved out of the bunkhouses?”
“Not that many from our ranch. Most of the new men being hired by Tom are arriving with families and hoping to start a new life away from the memories of war.”
“Damn, I’m starting to feel old. Settling down wasn’t my plan.”
Meeks sat down with a plate of eggs and ham. “What is your plan?”
“I don’t have one.”
Mirisa walked out in a long shift, barefoot and her hair totally out of control. James pulled her back and kissed her cheek talking to her quietly as she broke out laughing. “If we don’t have a doctor, one of you will have to help deliver the baby.” They all looked at her as though she must be kidding.
“Well, if you don’t start eating more you will have a very small baby.” James put some eggs on a plate and put it in front of Mirisa with a cup of warm milk.
“James, I hate to tell you this but I think small might be better.” He looked at her and turned bright red.
Dominic laughed. “Mirisa stop torturing him.”
“Well if my father doesn’t come, James will be the one to deliver your son. I don’t think there is anyone else I would trust to do it. Frankly if you know how to make a baby, you should learn how to deliver it.” Mirisa was dead serious and they knew she was right.
Dominic changed the subject which was making him very uneasy. “Mrs. Ross sent back several boxes for you. She said it was things you would need. She also thought I should find some kind of woman who does that stuff.”
“What stuff Dominic?” Dominic lit a cigar and was clearly uneasy.
“Does this baby make all of you uneasy?” Mirisa looked around the table. “I can’t believe that the four of you are afraid of a baby when you have delivered horses. How old are you? Have none of you ever fathered a child?”
“Not that we are aware of.”
“I guess that’s the main reason you prefer to bed married women. Well, if I can carry this baby for almost a year and deal with throwing up, swollen ankles and growing out of my favorite clothes, I certainly think you can learn to deliver him.”
They all remained stoic preferring to ignore the fact that she was even aware of their behavior though the fact that she could come into a room without a sound exposed her to one too many conversations not designed for her company. Her natural quietness often startled one of them as they scrambled to redirect the conversation by asking her an innocuous question.
Dominic thought about it for a moment. “I’ll find a midwife.”
There were five large crates sitting in the guest room with the tops pried off and stacked against the wall. Mirisa had decorated the room in cotton curtains and bedcovers with eyelet lace in a beautiful off white. The blown glass lanterns were exported from New York at a great expense and the small writing desk sat under the eastern windows. James had found the iron bed in Austin and had the mattress hand stuffed. The small book case was filled with children’s books and dolls. Dominic walked into the room finding her sitting on the floor going through a box.
“When did you decorate the room?”
She looked up smiling. “Obviously, while you were gone.”
He shook his head. “Alright, how did you find all of these furnishings?”
“Meeks and James ordered them through the general store because they didn’t want me riding into Austin to shop.”
“Well, I’m glad they had some sense about them.”
“You shouldn’t wonder considering James is far more protective of this baby than even I am.”
He sat down on the bed and picked up the small little clothing that she had started to put in piles. “How do you feel?”
“Fat.”
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. “I fell in love with you because of your beauty and yet I find you more beautiful since you have been with child. It has brought out softness to your face and a grace in the way you cradle the baby that brings me to my knees.”
She watched him so unused to his being emotional and then got up on her knees in front of him as he took her face in both of his hands and kissed her so deeply. It was these moments that she cherished, that she sought to find in him and that kept her through the days where he was too busy to express his love.
Dominic told her that he had books to work on but would be in the great room if she needed help with anything. Mirisa thanked him and watched as the moment dissipated in front of her eyes. He reached down in the crate before he left and put the items on the floor in front of her and picked up the crate. “Let me know when you want the next one emptied. I don’t want you bending over them.”
She nodded as Dominic left the room. Mirisa spent the morning looking at each piece of clothing smelling them before deciding it would be just as easy to have everything washed. She put her hand on the edge of the b
ed to help get up off the floor as James came in with a tray of cakes and hot tea. James set it down on the small table and put out his hand bringing Mirisa up slowly.
“Why don’t you sit for a moment and I’ll bring in the basket for the clothes. I assume you will want to have them all washed. Then I’ll empty another crate but I don’t think it is good for you to be on the floor.”
Mirisa sat down in the overstuffed chair and stirred honey in her tea. James was her idea of a perfect husband. His blonde hair still curled around his neck making him look so young. She smiled as she thought about what a wonderful friend he had become and how beautiful his children would be.
“Something you wish to share?”
Mirisa blinked smiling wider. “I was thinking about how much I love you.”
“Do you want me to shoot your husband? I will you know.”
“No you won’t but thank you for being part of my life.”
“You’re welcome.” James lifted a quilt off of the top of the crate revealing a small cradle made out of maple. He lifted the cradle as she watched and placed it next to the bed. The scroll work on the headboard was elaborate and had the family name carved in the center with small birds and vines wrapped around it. “It was probably Dominic’s when he was a baby.”
“Does he ever talk about his mother?”
“No. It’s hard to talk about someone you never knew or to understand the touch of a mother when you never experienced it but his father blamed him for her death.”
“Dominic’s mother died in childbirth?”
“I don’t know if she did or shortly after from something else.”
Mirisa nodded as James picked up the crate and took it outside. She curled her feet up under her and picked up a small cake dunking it in her tea. James came back in with the basket and carefully put the bundles of clothes in the bottom before walking over to the next crate.
“Don’t they need you to go over the books?”
“No. They are quite capable of reading them without my help.” James lifted out little covers and pillows showing her before putting them in the basket to be washed. Then he lifted out a bundle of what appeared to be folded cloth and a box of sewing threads and needles. The last thing in the box was her books, journals and needlepoint work. James asked her where she wanted them and she said on the bed so he put them down and removed the crate. The fourth crate was from Mrs. Ross and had more books and clothing. The final crate was filled with toys that the Ross boys had outgrown and on the bottom was a large box. James handed her the box to find a beautiful white Bible. She opened it to an inscription from Charlotte and a small note telling her that it was time to start documenting her future and her family. She smiled as she handed it to James. He put it on the desk and picked up the final crate.
The Visitor_Texas 1863_1869 Page 16
