by Tia Dani
Luke glared at him then stared down wistfully at the infant in his arms. "I have the right to feel this way. I helped bring them into the world. I have more right to be their father than Getz. The creep hasn't come upstairs once to check on his wife."
"Getz is the creep?" Matthew sat upright.
"Of course."
"What's a creep?" Katherine glanced between the two younger men. She looked at Theo in confusion. "Babies do seem to make an impression on people, don't they? It makes them use the strangest words."
Theo smiled. He walked over to Luke and studied the baby. "He's a good-looking boy, despite the wrinkles and red face."
Distracted, she nodded. "All babies are good-looking." Katherine lifted the blanket on the infant she carried. She gently caressed the baby's head. "This one must take after his father. I've never seen such a head of hair on a baby before."
"Mine takes after his mother." Luke said. "See, he's got her eyes." He inched closer to Katherine and said shyly, "Do you suppose I could hold both of them?"
"Oh, for crying out loud, Luke." Matthew had enough. The man was making a complete fool of himself.
"Matthew, wouldn't you like to hold one?" Katherine said, walking over to the bed. "There's nothing so precious as a newborn." She bent over. "Look at him. He's beautiful."
Before he had a chance to object, Katherine positioned the baby so he was forced to take it. Awkwardly, he juggled the tiny bundle in his hands, surprised at how soft and cuddly the baby's body felt. Tiny black eyelashes brushed ruddy cheeks. Perfect lips stretched in a miniature yawn. Matthew felt a similar yawn working at the corner of his own mouth.
"Watch his head," Katherine said. "He doesn't have any muscles yet to hold it up. Cradle his head in your hand. That's it. You got it."
Matthew stared down at the child. The baby lay in his arms, not asleep. He looked up, unable to keep the concern from his voice. "Shouldn't he be crying or something? I thought all babies cried when they're born."
"He's exhausted" Katherine explained. "He's been through a very difficult birth." She straightened. "I'd best get back to help Libby and Sarah." She looked at the other two men. "Can the three of you handle watching the babies for a minute? I'll fetch them when Sarah's ready."
Luke nodded and answered immediately. "Sure. Glad to." He settled on the bed next to Matthew, and Katherine left the room.
Matthew frowned, not quite sure how long he could keep his baby content. He was beginning to understand a little of Luke's enthusiasm. Handling new calves and foals had been amazing, but having a human baby in your arms was something he'd never thought he'd experience. He looked down at both babies and studied them. "They're definitely wrinkled, aren't they?"
Theo, who been quietly listening to the conversation, laughed. "They'll change in time and look like the rest of us."
Luke turned to Matthew. "I hate to think what Sarah and her babies will have to go through when they return to Getz's soddy. It's wretched." He looked from one baby to the other. "I've seen their place, Matt. You haven't. Sarah keeps it as clean as a dirt house can be, but it's worse than anything you can imagine. All Getz cares about is making and selling beer. If anything gets done around there, it's because of Sarah."
Matthew started to say something but James burst into the room, interrupting him.
"Where's the babies?" Spying the bundles in Matthew and Luke's arms, he bounded onto the bed. "I want to see 'em."
Matthew cringed, not only from the noise, but also from the jarring his head was taking from James bouncing across the mattress. Surprisingly, the baby only jerked once and then quieted.
"Hold on there, sonny boy." Theo swept James up and deposited him on the floor. "Slow down. Walk around and look at each baby from the side of the bed."
Quietly, James tiptoed around the bed and stood beside Matthew. In an exaggerated whisper, he asked, "He sleepin'?"
"Yep." Matthew held out the baby, and James turned wide-eyed as he bent over to peer inside the blanket.
"Holy mackerel," he cried, using one of Libby's favorite sayings. "He's sure ugly, ain't he?" Suddenly, as if he had a thought, James straightened and looked at Matthew.
"How come you're holding him instead of Sarah? Is that where you got hit? Golly, were you bleeding last night? Does it hurt now? Where's Sarah?"
"James." Joseph entered the bedroom, shaking his head. "I swear to God. Your mouth hasn't stopped since you got up this morning." He looked at Matthew and Luke and halted dead in his tracks. "Ain't you puttin' the cart before the horse, gentlemen? Thought marriage came before having babies."
Matthew groaned. If given half a chance, he knew Joseph would milk this situation for every drop he could get. And he'd make sure others heard about it. "Stuff it, Joseph."
Luke, not one to let Joseph have the last wisecrack, smiled. "We'd feed them, but Matt and I don't have teats big enough.
"For God sakes, Luke," Matthew snapped. "You shut up, too."
Joseph shuddered, pretending to be quelled by Matthew's ire. "You two, keep those babies to yourselves. It might be catching. I'll see to the chores."
Joseph's quip rang a warning bell. Matthew straightened. "Who's tending the stock at home?"
"Tim is. He left late last night."
"What about Getz's place?"
"Harold T. volunteered to swing by and take care of the animals for a few days. Don't worry, Matt, everything's covered..." He trailed off and looked toward the door.
Matthew followed his gaze.
Libby stood in the doorway. Her shoulders drooped tiredly. Her hair was combed neatly up in what she called a ponytail. The blood on her dark green dressed looked more like rust stains. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Never had she looked more beautiful.
"If this isn't the strangest congregation of males I've ever seen." She said slowly. "Every shape and size imaginable." She smiled at her father. "You hungry?"
Theo shrugged. "A little."
Joseph headed for the door. "There's plenty of food left over from last night. You want me to bring you some?"
"No, I'll be downstairs directly." Theo stepped beside Libby and kissed her cheek. "The babies are beautiful, honey. I'm proud of you."
She smiled and nodded. "Thanks."
Theo motioned toward the bed. "Can Matthew have something to eat?"
"Has he had any nausea?"
"No, only complaining of a headache, off and on."
"What about his eyes? Have they—"
Matthew cleared his throat irritably, stopping Libby. He hated it when people talked about him, as if he wasn't even in the room. "Why don't you ask me how I feel?"
She turned slowly, her green eyes taking in the two men and the bundles in their arms. "I plan to, as soon as these infants return to their mother. Luke," she said. "Can you come with me? Sarah's awake now and asking to see them."
"Can I see Sarah?" James shouted next to Matthew's ear, and he winced. "Softly, James, softly."
Luke laughed. "Come on, James, maybe you'd better come with us."
"Say now," Theo spoke up. "I haven't had a chance to hold a youngun. How about I take Matthew's bundle back to Sarah?
Libby smiled, obviously grateful for the help. "Sure, help yourself."
As if he were moving one of Katherine's fine china vases, Matthew handed the baby to Theo. He met Libby's emerald eyes and with a direct and penetrating stare. For the first time, he let himself see the true Libby. There was no scheming, money-hungry woman out to steal Katherine's wealth. He didn't know everything about her, but he did know this, she was compassionate and caring, dedicated to healing.
Once they were alone, he watched her walk around the room, straightening things not needing to be straightened. Matthew shifted on the bed. Was it the delivery upsetting her or something else?
"You look exhausted," he said quietly.
"I am exhausted. I've been up for over twenty-eight hours straight." She seemed to get over her nervousness and stepped closer. She reached for
his wrist and started to lift her other hand, turning it as if she wanted to look at the back of it. Suddenly, she winced then sighed. "Darn it, I keep forgetting, I don't have it."
"Have what?"
"My watch." She lifted his wrist again, held it between her fingers, and closed her eyes.
"Libby...uh...er, about last night."
"What about it?" She still had her eyes closed, and was nodding slowly.
"I don't seem to remember much."
She hesitated, then said quickly, "Don't talk. I'm counting."
"Counting what?"
"Your heartbeats."
He looked down at his hand. "In my wrist?" he asked incredulously.
"Dammit, Matthew." Libby let go of his wrist and glared at him. "You made me lose track."
"My, my." Matthew shook his head, welcoming her show of temper. At least it brought some color back to her cheeks. "Such language coming from a lady."
"Stuff it," she said, adopting his favorite saying. "I told you before I'm not like other ladies." She went to the dresser and picked up the strange-looking bottle. "How many aspirins have you had?"
"Two. I'm not through talking about last night."
"I am. Have you had any nausea?"
"No," he lied. There was no way, he was going to admit, for a moment, he'd felt like throwing up when Luke talked about all the blood.
"Any ringing in your ears?"
"No." He rolled his eyes.
"Any—"
"Dammit, Libby." he said, throwing back the covers. "Do I have to get out of this bed and come after you?"
She looked at him and redness swept up her neck. Matthew glanced down and groaned. He'd forgotten all about being naked. Growling, he pulled the covers over his lower body and cleared his throat. "Come over here."
"Matthew," she pleaded. "It isn't important."
"It is to me. I don't like not remembering a portion of my life. Come here."
"Oh, all right." She walked over to the bed. "What do you want to know?"
"I want..." He paused, noticing how her breast rose and fell with each breath. "I want," he said again, after swallowing the lump in his throat. "To know what happened last night."
"When?"
"When you were at the shed with Getz?"
"I wasn't with Getz," she replied with a sniff. "I followed him. I thought he was taking me to Sarah."
Matthew waved a hand, conceding her point. "You were following him, all right. What happened?"
"Nothing."
He caught her lie. She had frowned and was rubbing her upper arm as she said it. "He hurt you, didn't he?"
"Yes," she said. "He grabbed my arm a little too tight and squeezed. You stopped him. The man must have a glass jaw."
Glass jaw? This time Matthew let it go. She wouldn't distract him with another wordy argument. "As soon as I get out of this bed, I'm going to do more than hit him. I'm going to beat him into the ground."
"It isn't necessary. He won't hurt a woman ever again."
He laughed harshly. "Once a woman-beater, always a woman-beater."
"Not this time."
The certainty of her voice made Matthew pause. Theo had said something earlier about Libby treating Getz. "What did you do?"
"It's nothing." She started to play nervously with the top two buttons of her dress.
Matthew watched her, suddenly distracted. Something about those buttons reminded him of another time. Fire replaced his anger. The memory of unbuttoning those same buttons made his fingers tingle. Tiny beads of moisture broke out on his upper lip as he felt himself harden.
Libby seemed to notice his sudden silence. She bounded across the room and leaned over him. "You are feeling nauseated." She put her hand to his brow. "And, you're sweating."
Matthew pressed deeper into the pillow and pulled the covers up over his chest. She was too close. All he had to do was lift his head, and he could touch her breast with his mouth. "I...I...ah—"
She leaned closer still. "Be quiet. I want to check your pupils."
His arms grabbed her wrist, yanking her hand away from his face. "Don't touch me."
"My hand." She swayed once over him whimpering, "Please, please. Let it go."
"What's the matter?" Matthew sat up, pulling her toward him.
"Please, please let it go. You're hurting me. The baby, Sarah..."
To his horror, the minute he did as she requested, her hand dropped limply to her side, and she fainted into his arms.
Chapter Twenty-four
The rhythmic tapping of light rain on the roof normally helped Theo enjoy his book, but today it only irritated him. He stepped to the window and scanned the yard. Yesterday the wind had shifted to the northeast and they'd had nothing but cold rain and mist since.
Joseph stopped by, early yesterday morning, on his way back from town where he'd picked up supplies for his family and Katherine. James wanted to show the Basgal pond to Libby, and since her wrist was much better, she jumped at the chance to see the Basgal's original home place. A little rain didn't dampen their enthusiasm for a chance to escape the mundane work at home. They had left early yesterday and were planning to return sometime today.
The crisp September air already held a hint of frost. Chill penetrated the window pane, and Theo shivered. He stirred the embers in the fireplace then added another log on the fire. The wood caught, and he warmed his hands then settled into the rocker.
Katherine came into the kitchen with a baby in each arm. "Sarah's sleeping. I thought I'd bring the little ones out here where it is warmer." She glanced down at the infants. "Sarah needs to think of some names. We can't go on forever, calling them the little ones."
Theo nodded. He stood and held Katherine's arm as she sank into the second rocker. "Sarah's recovering all right, isn't she?"
"Yes, thank goodness." Katherine adjusted the babies and started to rock. "I'm so grateful Luke convinced Getz to allow Sarah some recovery time here instead of that horrible hole in the ground." She shivered. "This rain bothers me."
Theo pulled up a chair. "Why? It's good for the fields."
"I know. We need it too. But it's been going on for days, now. The ground has to be saturated. I'm worried about Sarah leaving tomorrow. The roads further south of us might be too muddy for travel, especially with two newborns. The wagon could get stuck and then how would they manage?"
"If my daughter has anything to do with it, Sarah won't be leaving tomorrow or any time soon. Before Libby left yesterday she said if he arrived before they returned, I was to make sure Sarah stayed put. Libby knows this weather. She knows how susceptible new mothers and younguns can be to pneumonia."
"But will Getz listen to us? Matthew isn't here, blast his hide, and neither is Luke."
"I'm sure, between the two of us, we can convince him to let his wife stay one more week. Worse comes to worse, we could always invite her husband to stay for a while since it's much more comfortable here."
"Matthew could convince Claude Getz." Katherine rocked faster. "I don't understand why he took off so fast. Major Anderson could have waited another day or two before speaking with him."
Theo shrugged. He had his suspicions about Matthew's sudden departure, but he wasn't about to voice them. "Matthew's got a lot on his mind these days."
"He's acting like a fool, if you ask me," Katherine's right foot took on a rhythmic pattern to her rocking. "Everyone around knows what his problem is, why doesn't he?"
"You mean Libby?"
"Of course. Why won't he accept it?"
Theo knew he might never get the chance again to talk to Katherine without being overheard. Her last question provided a perfect way to start. "Because, Katherine, he won't let go of Elizabeth."
Katherine stopped rocking immediately. "I know," she whispered. She shifted the babies and kissed the sleeping bundles then started rocking again. This time much slower. "He'll never let her go."
"There's something very powerful about his love for your daughter."
<
br /> "You talked to him, didn't you?" She looked at him in surprise. "He never talks about her with anyone. Even I have trouble getting him to say much."
"What was Elizabeth like?"
She seemed taken aback by his question. "She was the most precious of children. Always in love with life. And bright...she could learn anything you'd care to teach her. I suppose John and I spoiled her, she was our only child, but she was a good girl, well-behaved around adults and got along with other children. Especially Matthew. She idolized him."
"Who did she look like, you or your husband?"
"Look like?" Katherine hesitated. "I suppose John the most. She had his skin color and turned-up nose. John always said she was a spitting image of his mother. I never saw it, of course. Elizabeth was only four years old when I saw a miniature of his dead mother."
"Interesting." Theo leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "Do you still have the miniature?"
She appeared puzzled by his interest. "Yes...I have it in a locket. I use the chain for a bookmark in the Meyers' family Bible. Let me think. I packed it away after the prairie fire. I couldn't stand looking at it and remembering what happened."
"May I see it?"
Her frown deepened
"Trust me, Katherine, there are reasons for my questions."
"I'll get the book." She held out one baby. "Here, you'll have to hold them. I need to go under my bed."
Theo took each baby from her arms. He was beginning to like holding babies. "Libby stores things under her bed too."
Katherine smiled. "It must be something all women do."
"I don't know. Helen always buried it in her underwear drawer."
Katherine coughed then laughed. "You're the most direct man I've ever met. In some ways, you remind me of James."
Theo smiled and said cryptically, "They say familiar traits run in families in the strangest way."
She looked at him strangely for a moment then headed for the bedroom.
Theo chuckled and smiled at the sleeping children in his arms and said, "If I'm right, fellas, a whole lot of people are going to be forced to do some heavy rethinking."
