With affection Flora looked at the twin chair next to hers. It was Jeb’s, and it had the imprint of his bulky frame in it. For many nights they had sat close together, reading or talking, holding hands, staring dreamily at the fire, contented and happy.
She looked up, and the calendar on the wall caught her eye. It was one she’d gotten with a picture of an angel watching over two children who were making their way down a dangerous pathway. December 23, 1856. I can’t believe we’ve been married for over a year. It seems like no time at all … or it seems like always.
Ruby came in the kitchen door.
Flora could hear her stamping the snow off her boots and muttering to herself. Wrapping the robe around her, she went into the tiny kitchen. “Ruby, dear, what are you doing here this time of night?”
Ruby was still Flora’s maid, but she had moved in with a man named Turley. The circumstances of their relationship were a little vague, but Flora never pressed her. Ruby was certainly not a slave; she was a paid servant, and Flora believed that Ruby’s personal life was none of her business.
“Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve, ain’t it? And looky here, not a sign of a fire in this here stove! What you gwine to feed Mr. Jeb when he gets home, I ask you? Snow?”
“I don’t think he’ll be able to make it home for Christmas, Ruby,” Flora said dispiritedly. “No one’s heard from the 1st Cavalry in two weeks.”
“He’ll be here,” Ruby said solidly, shedding several layers of outer clothes, scattering snow as she went. “And you with no Christmas dinner fixed for him. Good thing I brung over this here turkey to cook tonight, with Mr. Jeb comin’ home with no fire in the stove and jes’ icicles to eat.”
“He’s a soldier, Ruby. He can’t always do what he wants,” Flora argued.
“He said he’d be here, an’ he’ll be here. If’n you don’t know Jeb Stuart, I do. When dat man sets his head on something, he gets it done.” Finally down to her skirt and blouse, she started tying on an apron and stared at Flora. “Am I standin’ here lookin’ at you with your bare feet?”
“I—I was just reading—”
“Miss Flora, you git back to that sittin’ room right now and set down and wrap up, and I mean it,” she scolded. “Otherwisen, your toes’ll likely freeze off, and then what? Then you’ll just have little hooves like a little tiny pony, and they won’t be cloven hooves, neither. So that means the Bible says they’d be dirty.”
“I think you mean unclean, Ruby,” Flora said with amusement over her shoulder.
Ruby disappeared into the bedroom muttering, “Like I got time to go huntin’ wool socks for silly white ladies dat would let their own feet freeze off and can’t even cook their own supper.” She fetched Flora two pairs of wool socks, still muttering. “You is a good woman, Miss Flora, but you better make sure you be a good wife to Mr. Jeb. Freezing your feet off is one thing, but not havin’ a man his dinner when he gets home is ’nother can of worms altogether.”
Ruby had cheered her up; she had been depressed, missing Jeb. She always missed Jeb terribly when he was on a patrol. She felt alone, lonely, and somehow bereft, as if a part of her were missing. And I suppose it is. I am bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, she reflected. She had been reading Genesis, and she turned back a few pages to read again of the union of Adam and Eve and how God had ordained this miracle for all married people.
And in spite of what Ruby thinks, I am a good wife to Jeb. And oh, I’m so glad! I was so afraid I wouldn’t be, that I wouldn’t know how to be, that I wouldn’t be good enough for a man like him. But it hadn’t worked out that way. She smiled, thinking about her honeymoon and how wonderful it had been. Jeb had been very gentle, and she had quickly learned to please him. A memory floated to her mind of how she had awakened the morning after her wedding and how for a moment she’d been terrified to find a man in her bed. But since then, every night she slept with him and every morning she woke up to him, she had been filled with joy. She’d learned that the intimacies of marriage were part of the wonder of being a wife, married to a man she loved passionately. She was so grateful that she and Jeb suited each other in that way.
From the kitchen, Ruby called, “I got this here fire going good now, no thanks to some folks. And I got that lazy Turley to scrounge around and get you a turkey. It’s a little scrawny, but I’ll roast it up good. And he got some sweet taters, too, and I knows how much Mr. Jeb loves sweet tater pie.”
Suddenly Flora was hungry; she had been listless all day, missing Jeb so much that she didn’t really want to eat. But she felt much better now, and so she got up, fetched her warm wool robe and slippers, and joined Ruby in the kitchen. “Where in the world did Turley get that turkey, Ruby?”
“Hit’s a wild turkey, but he dressed it out so nice it almost looks like one boughten at a market. Turley, he’s a right good hunter. And he does what I says, ’cause then he knows I’ll be nice to him.”
Flora reached out and touched the bird. “He is a good size.” A thought came to her, and she glanced up at Ruby. “What do you mean ‘be nice to him’?”
“Jes’ whut it say.”
“Why, Ruby, surely you don’t mean you’d be letting Turley take some liberties?” Flora teased.
Ruby smiled, and the new gold in one of her front teeth gleamed. She had just gotten it from the new dentist in Leavenworth, and it was her pride and joy, so she smiled most of the time. “I knows what I be doin’, Miss Flora, and ain’t no call for you to be tellin’ me about no liberties. Me and your poor papa thought you and Mr. Jeb would scandal the place up to heaven till we got you two married. Good thing we did, too, jest in the devil’s nick of time.”
“Yes, thank you so much for that, Ruby. Jeb and I are grateful.”
“Orter be. What are you doing in here, anyways?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Oh, so now Miss Flora’s hungry, is she? Droopin’ too much over Mr. Jeb to even put on socks like a Christian woman, but now youse hungry?”
“Yes,” Flora said meekly. “But I’ll just fix myself some ham and beans real quick, and then I’ll help you.”
“Oh, jest sit down at the table there. I can fix them ham and beans faster’n you can find the pot to cook ’em in.”
“But I want to help,” Flora insisted. “Jeb should have a good Christmas dinner, and I really am very grateful to you and Mr. Turley for providing us with this feast.”
“Thought you said Mr. Jeb wasn’t coming home for Christmas,” Ruby said smartly.
“Well, perhaps he will,” Flora said, with much less doubt now.
“He said he would, and he don’t tell no stories, not dat man. Men like Jeb Stuart don’t grow on no trees. You jest better hang onter him, Miss I’m-Too-Pouty-to-Make-Supper.”
“I intend to do that, Ruby. So you just step aside and tend to that turkey. I can fix my ham and beans, and then I’ll help you with those sweet potatoes for Jeb’s pie.”
The day dawned with a bright sun, and the snow began melting. The bitter cold of the Kansas winters had not been pleasant, but Flora was used to them. She’d gotten up early, and she and Ruby had spent all day cooking. Ruby knew how to make corn bread dressing, so the two of them had gone to the commissary and had gotten cornmeal and fresh milk so Ruby could teach her how to make it. They were busy all day, and the time went quickly. They finished cooking in the late afternoon.
As evening fell, Flora had again almost lost hope of Jeb returning in time for Christmas.
“You might as well quit looking out dat window. He’ll come when he come,” Ruby said. “Now you set down here and behave. I’m gwine ter knit Mr. Jeb a pair of new wool socks. They’ll be too late for Christmas, but I knows his birthday is in February. I’ll be finished long afore then.”
“I should learn to knit,” Flora said aimlessly, her gaze wandering again toward the window. Though night was falling, she still hadn’t closed the curtains. She hoped Jeb would see the welcoming light—if he came home.
“
He’ll be here,” Ruby repeated with emphasis. “You got dat present wrapped you got for him?”
“Yes, it’s under the bed.”
“What about me? You gots mine wrapped?”
Flora smiled. “Yes, I have. Do you want it now?”
“No, I don’t want it now. It ain’t Christmas. I’ll take it tomorrow ‘fore we eat all dis turkey and dressing.”
Ruby went to bed early that night. The small house had a room in the attic that had been fixed up by the previous tenant, and she often stayed up there when she worked late. It was actually warmer, Ruby said, than the downstairs.
Flora waited and listened to every sound. The night was quiet, and a soft gentle snow had begun to fall. She finally rose and murmured sadly to herself, “I might as well go to bed. He’s not coming.”
She turned to go to the bedroom, when suddenly she heard the sound of horses. She quickly ran to the door, and despite the cold she threw it open.
Bordering their tiny yard were the parade grounds, and a troop was coming in—and then she saw Jeb! He swung out of his saddle, gave some orders, tossed the reins of his horse to one of the men, then hurried toward the house. Flora could see his blue eyes sparkling yards away. He bounded to her, swept her up, and swung her around. “How’s my very favorite girl? I’ve missed you so much! I bet you didn’t think I’d make it in time.”
“I wasn’t sure, but Ruby was positive.” She took his heavy overcoat.
Jeb kissed her lovingly and said, “I’m going to thaw out a little.” He went to the fireplace, holding his hands out to warm them.
“Did you see any Indians?” she asked as she hung his coat on the back of a cane-back chair to thaw out and dry.
“Not a one. I think they’re all hunkered down for the winter, which shows that they’re smarter than the 1st Cav. What’s been happening around here?”
“Nothing much. We’re going to have a good dinner tomorrow.”
“That sounds fine! I’m tired of eating stringy antelope.”
Flora scrunched her nose and made a sour face, thinking about eating stringy antelope. “That man Turley, the one so sweet on Ruby, brought her a turkey, so we’re going to have turkey and dressing with sweet potato pie.”
“My favorite!”
As he stood there warming his hands by the stove, Flora was aware of the strange feeling she had. She called it an expansion, but that didn’t adequately describe it. She just felt more alive, more energetic, so much happier with Jeb. When he came into the room or when she touched him, the love she felt for him seemed to grow larger and larger. She went to him and took his rugged hands and held them to her cheeks. “You’re so cold.”
“My hands are grubby and dirty. Flora, you’re going to freeze yourself.”
“I don’t care.”
“One of the men asked me what it was like to be married. One of the younger fellows. He must have marriage on his mind.”
“What did you tell him, Jeb?”
“I told him it was like going to heaven here on earth.”
Flora laughed and lightly pulled his beard, something she often did. “Well, your supper may not exactly be heaven on earth. Ham and beans.”
“Better than antelope. Oh, I’m so glad to be home for Christmas with you, my best love! I got you a present, but you can’t have it until tomorrow morning.”
“I have presents for you, too, Jeb. So yes, let’s wait until tomorrow.”
He picked her up and squeezed her and said, “I’ll go clean up, and then I’ll eat. But I’ll hurry, because I’m ready to go to bed,” he added mischievously. “I haven’t slept with you for two weeks. In fact, I may skip supper.”
“You’ll do no such thing! Ruby tells me that if I don’t feed you a good supper when you get home, I’m headed straight for the pit. Or you are. Or someone is, anyway. No, I want you to eat, my darling. I’ll wait.” She smiled at him. “After all, I haven’t slept with my very own stove for two weeks, either, and I want you to be nice and full and happy when we go to bed.”
The next morning, Flora arose early. As she dressed, she could smell the sweet scent of burning oak. Jeb never seemed to get tired. Even after long patrols, he came back with boundless energy. Quickly she finished dressing and did her hair. She went in to find that he already had big hot fires made in the fireplace and also in the cooking stove.
“Can’t have too much fire after those snowy prairies,” he said. He came over and kissed her. “When do I get my present?”
“Anytime you want it.”
“I want it now, then,” he said boyishly.
“I want mine first,” Flora said.
“All right.” He walked over to where he’d thrown his camp bag. He sorted through it and pulled out two packages, one larger than the other, wrapped in brown paper. “This one first.”
Flora took the larger of the two packages and tore it open. Inside she found a bolt of beautiful emerald green muslin with tiny white flowers.
“You look so pretty in that color. I know Ruby can make you a dress fine enough for a queen.”
“Oh Jeb, it’s perfect! Thank you so much, my darling.”
“Here’s the other present.” He handed her a small velvet box.
She opened it and found a necklace with a gold chain and a tiny cross of emeralds that matched the fabric perfectly. “Oh my goodness, Jeb, it’s absolutely beautiful! But however did you pay for this? It must have been a dear price, indeed.”
“No, you are the pearl of great price,” Jeb said, fastening the necklace around her neck. “And its beauty cannot compare to you, Flora, my dearest.” He kissed her tenderly.
Then she said excitedly, “I have two presents for you, Jeb.” She went back into the bedroom, came out with a box, and handed it to him. “I think you’ll like it. She watched as he opened the box and then laughed as his blue eyes lit up. “You didn’t expect that, did you?”
Jeb pulled out the golden spurs. One of the other officers had ordered them for Flora, so she had been able to keep them a secret from Jeb. “Now you can be the most dashing cavalier of all, riding around with your golden spurs. But promise when you wear them you’ll always think of me.”
“Flora, my girl, these are something!” Jeb rubbed the gold admiringly and said, “No one else can beat this finery. I’ll be strutting for sure.” He looked up at her with his ever-present boyish grin. “And who else would I think of but you? I think of you always, my dear.”
“I knew you’d like them, and they suit you, Jeb.”
“Thank you, thank you, Flora. So … where’s my other present?”
She rose and came to sit on his lap. “Well, I’m afraid that you can’t actually have that one until around August.”
Jeb stared at her for a moment. “What? What does that—in August? Are we going to have a baby? In August?”
“Yes, we are. Merry Christmas!” She watched him as he absorbed this, and she saw the intense pleasure come over his face. Flora had been a little worried about this, because though she and Jeb had always agreed that they wanted children, it was different when it became a reality.
But now Jeb’s blue eyes positively sparked, and he hugged her, hard. “Just what I wanted! You couldn’t have given me anything better! Think I’ll be a good papa?”
“You’ll be a wonderful father, just like you’re a wonderful husband,” she answered, rising to seat herself back in her own armchair.
Jeb, radiating energy as always, started walking the floor. He couldn’t hide his excitement, nor did he want to. He wasn’t a man who hid things like that. “The dragoons have a good carpenter. I’ll have him make us up a cradle and a crib and … and … some little tiny chairs and a table …”
Flora laughed. “It might be awhile before we’ll be needing all that, Jeb.”
Then Ruby came down the ladder that led up to the attic, yawning.
Jeb said in his booming voice, “Ruby, guess what? Me and Miss Flora are going to have a baby around August.”
“Well, ain’t dat fine.” Ruby grinned. “You wants it to be a boy or a girl?”
“Either. Or both would be just fine with me.” He winked and laughed. “I don’t care as long as it’s healthy and strong. You ought to get married and have a bunch of babies, Ruby.”
“I ain’t studyin’ about any of that foolishness now. I’ll be busy helpin’ Miss Flora to take care of your baby, Mr. Jeb.”
“That’s real good, Ruby. Miss Flora and I need you. That reminds me. I have a present for you, Ruby,” Jeb said. “It’s a surprise.” He went back to his bag and pulled out another package and said, “I’ll bet you’ll like this one.”
Ruby opened the package, stared up at Jeb openmouthed, and said, “Dis is the finest bonnet I ever saw in my livin’ life, Mr. Jeb.” It was a black silk hat trimmed with dangling jet beads and an enormous bunch of cherries.
“I’ve got something for you, too, Ruby,” Flora said. She went to a small table with a drawer and pulled out a package. She handed it to Ruby.
She opened it with obvious anticipation. “It’s a ring! Ain’t it pretty? And it’s gold just like my tooth.”
Jeb slid an arm around Flora’s waist. “I hope you like your presents, Ruby.”
“Why, a woman would have to be crazy to not like dis bonnet and dis here ring. Jest wait till Miss Alma Strong sees me. I’ll put one in her eye, I will. Now you two set back and lemme get dis turkey going. We’re going to have the bestest meal you ever had, Mr. Jeb Stuart, and you, too, Miss Flora, to go with the bestest Christmas I ever had.”
“Me, too,” Jeb said to Flora. “The best I ever had.”
That winter passed happily for the Stuarts. As Jeb had said, there were no reports of troublesome Indians at all. They had indeed gone into winter quarters.
Flora, as tiny as she was, began very soon to show. By early spring she had already gained so much baby weight she had to be very careful about doing any energetic housework or even taking long walks. She encouraged Jeb, however, to get out and ride around and visit with his men as often as possible.
The Sword Page 5
