by Caryl McAdoo
“And!” She paused. “I saw you holding Mister Henry’s hand at the springs.”
“Oh, you did?”
“Yes, ma’am, and I’m so proud to see that you’ve finally come to your senses, Mama. He loves you, you know.”
Sue couldn’t believe what had just come out of her baby’s mouth. How could a nine-year-old know such a thing before she even knew it herself? “You really think so, do you? What in the world would make you assume that?” Those silly butterflies swarmed her tummy again.
Becky rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Mama, I do not assume it, I know it.”
“How? Did he tell you?”
“Well, not in so many words, but—”
“There, you see?”
Becky looked all around and puckered her lips over to the side as though trying to decide a hard problem. “Well, what I was going to say is, he may not have told me right out that he loves you, but remember, I know all what he bought with his honey money.” She glanced over and winked. “And he got you those mules. They were dreadful expensive, by the way.”
“But those mules are really his. He said he planned to sell them and get his money back.”
“And he got you something else, too.”
Sue leaned over against her daughter and tickled her ribs. “What else did he buy, Rebecca Ruth Baylor?” She tickled her more, enjoying Becky’s throes of giggles. She loved that her child lived so carefree. Sue had worked hard at that, keeping all the burdens at bay. “Come on, you silly willy! You know you want to tell me.”
“No, I don’t! I do not!” She bent at the waist and gasped for air. “Stop, stop. You’re killing me.”
Sue quit tickling her. “Now tell me true, Rebecca Ruth, what did Mister Henry buy for me with his honey money?”
Becky reached up with one hand and placed it on the center of her chest. “Do you really want to know? It’s supposed to be a secret.”
“Yes, I do, or I wouldn’t have asked.”
“I can’t tell you!” She bent over laughing.
“Rebecca Ruth, that is not nice to tease me.”
“I’m sorry, Mama.” She grinned. “All right then, I’ll tell you one thing, but I can’t tell you what kind or what it’s for.”
Sue reached over and squeezed Becky’s cheeks together so that she made a fishy-kiss face. “Stop talking in riddles. What is it?”
Her daughter looked to both sides, then behind her. “Fabric, Mama, but you can’t get me to say what kind or what it’s for. And that’s not all either.”
If Henry had bought her material, Becky had probably told him that she’d like it, and that’s why he’d bought it. He certainly had been more than generous.
Was it only yesterday? Time on the trace always seemed so much longer than it actually was. They had been on it barely over a week now, and it seemed like a month or more. Sue was so tired of travel and troubles and trying to figure Henry Buckmeyer out. Her daughter obviously knew him better than she did.
But he was so good for Becky. What a great father he’d make. He was good for all of them. Levi had matured so much just being around him. For that matter, Henry Buckmeyer was probably good for everyone he was around at any given point in time. She wished she could be more like that. But he wasn’t even saved.
What a wonderful Christian he would be! Why wouldn’t he give in? He had to be under conviction.
Could what Becky thought be true?
Sue wondered what else he’d bought—besides those mules and the material—which her little hard nut to crack refused to tell her about. And what could the fabric be for? Maybe he’d only chosen a bolt or two for the Aikins, and her daughter had misunderstood. “Now, listen to me, Rebecca Ruth.”
“Oh, this is going to be important.”
“Listen, I don’t want you to tell any secrets or break any promises; your word is powerful important. I always taught you that. But seriously, if you could let me know, I sure would like to find out what Henry got. I’d rather not be surprised.”
“I suppose I could give you a hint. Want one?”
Sue thought about it a minute. She couldn’t imagine what it might be, and she really wanted to know. She nodded. “Why, yes! Give me a good clue; then if I were to guess, it wouldn’t be like you telling me.”
“You. Are. Going to. Love it!”
“That’s my hint?” Sue shook her head and sighed, totally drowned out by her daughter’s cackling. This was going nowhere. “What kind of clue is that, anyway?”
Becky threw her head back, laughing and laughing harder. “The best kind you’re ever going to get out of me!”
Sue sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll just wait to find out then. It doesn’t matter to me anyway. He shouldn’t have spent all that money, much less bought anything for me.”
“Oh, Mama, don’t be like that. He’s powerful nice.”
Sue smiled at her daughter. What would she and Becky do if Henry didn’t want a ready-made family? “He is nice.” Thinking on the man and all his awesome qualities, she was rudely interrupted.
Her precious one stood up and faced her, hands on her hips. “And, Mother, please, please, puh-leeese, do not ever tell him about that vow of yours!”
* * *
HENRY HANDED THE REINS TO Levi. “Want a biscuit?”
“With some of your honey? And a big chunk of jerky?”
“Thought your aunt Sue didn’t want you eating my horse.”
“I don’t think she ever mentioned it. Anyway, I ate some when you passed it out to all the Caddo; that young buck who told me we overpaid gave me some.”
Henry jumped down. “Want your tater now?”
“No, thanks. I’ll save mine for supper.”
Henry waited until the second wagon drew abreast, then climbed up next to Rebecca. “Hey, little miss, you and Blue Dog about ready to walk a bit?”
She looked from him to her mother, then back to him. “No, sir. I like it just fine right here. Besides, Mama said you said we didn’t have to take walking turns today.”
Sue smiled at him. “You hold her, Henry, and I’ll see if I can count her ribs.”
Rebecca jumped to her feet. “Don’t you do it, Mister D—uh—Henry, sir. She’s been tickling me all afternoon, trying to get me to tell.”
“Rebecca Ruth, I have not.”
Henry raised his eyebrows. “Tell what?”
Rebecca climbed over Henry, then rode the wheel down. “Come on, Blue, I think they want us to skedaddle.” She looked up as the wagon went on past her. “Ain’t that right?”
Sue looked beyond him and started to say something, but Henry put his hand on her arm. “She give away any of my surprises?”
“I didn’t know she was such an avid little secret keeper. She did tell me that I’ll like what you got me.”
“Did she now?”
She smiled. “So, what did you get me?”
“Well, that all depends.”
Her expression held confusion. “On what? Haven’t you already got it?” An understanding came. “Oh, you were thinking about giving me those mules if I wanted them and not selling ’em after all. That’s it, isn’t it?”
He smiled. “No, wrong.”
“Then what could it depend on? I’m confused.”
He grinned playfully. “Well, that’s not like you.”
“What?”
“Being confused. You usually have a strong, solid opinion on about every topic. Hadn’t seen much confusion in you, Susannah Baylor.”
She sighed. He must think she was just horrible, a stubborn, headstrong, controlling witch. “I’ve been such a shrew.” She looked into his eyes. “Will you forgive me, Henry? Could you ever?”
“Mis’ess Baylor, I can’t say that you haven’t been trying at times, but you’re a product of the life you’ve lived. I don’t hold that against you, nothing to forgive.”
Product of the life she’d lived? What could he mean by that except past her prime years? Did he consider her an old-maid widow?
The sight of her little girl falling off the side horrified Sue. Becky landed on the ground with a thud. She didn’t move. Not a leg or arm. Nothing! And she wasn’t crying or making any noise either.
God, no!
Could she be dead?
Henry leapt down. Sue reined in the mules, set the brake, and followed him.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
AKNOT IN SUE’S THROAT threatened to choke her completely. She could barely breathe. Her legs wouldn’t cooperate and get her to her daughter fast enough. Rebecca lay perfectly still on the hard ground. Oh, Lord. How had she fallen? What had she been doing on the side of the wagon anyway? She’d surely broken some bones.
The lead wagon stopped, and Levi ran toward her, too, but Blue got there first. Henry beat Levi by a few steps and checked Becky over; head, chest, arms, and legs. “Where does it hurt, Rebecca?”
The dog licked her face like he could fix every problem with his slobber. The little girl finally gasped. Thank God! Sue could swallow again and caught her own breath.
“Nowhere, I don’t think.” Becky pushed the hound away and then rose up. “Get back, Blue. I’m fine.” She smiled at Henry. “ ’Sides being hard to catch my breath, maybe I’m fine, and I’m not going to die.”
Sue raced to her side, proud to hear she wasn’t hurting anywhere. “What were you doing, young lady?”
Rebecca grabbed Henry’s hand and let him pull her up. “Levi wanted me to get us something.”
Sue dusted her dress. “You about scared us to death!” She looked to Henry, who tilted his head and mouthed no. “Well, at the least, you gave me heart palpitations. Why in the world were you climbing around on that wagon when it was moving? What were you after?” She glared at Levi. “She could have been killed!”
Henry touched Sue’s arm. “I guess it’s partly my fault. I told Levi we’d eat on the go and that he could have some honey with his dinner. She was probably trying to get everything ready for when I came back.”
Sue shook her finger at her nephew. “I can’t believe you’d do such a thing!” She grabbed Becky’s hand and turned the child to face her. “Are you sure you’re not hurt? That you’re all right?”
“Yes, Mama, I don’t think my bones are broke or nothing.”
“Or anything, Rebecca.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, if you’re sure, come on then. You’re riding with me. We’ve wasted enough daylight, and now the mules are going to have to work extra getting us rolling again.”
* * *
THE LITTLE GIRL LET HER mother pull her along, but she turned sideways and winked at Henry, then mouthed a thank-you, too.
He smiled after her, relieved more than he was ready to admit that his little miss hadn’t hurt herself bad. She sure picked a fine time to fall, right when his conversation with her mother was getting serious. He wanted to hear more of what Sue had to say. And tell her what his gift for her depended on; at the same time, though, he enjoyed keeping her guessing.
He faced Levi. “Get them going; I’ll be right there.” He grabbed the smaller honey jar and hurried to Sue’s wagon. “Here, keep this with you.” He took a napkin full of cold biscuits from her, and then hurried back to the lead wagon, grabbing his big jar, then joining the boy.
After he and Levi got good and sticky, Henry decided he needed to talk to the boy. “You’ve already mentioned about me being perfect for your aunt, but you’ve been the man of the house. I want to know what you think about me being Rebecca’s daddy and your uncle.”
“You kidding me? Sir, if I got to handpick from all the men in the world, you’d be my first choice. You serious, then? About asking her?”
“Been thinking on it. Think she’ll say yes?”
Levi laughed. “I’m sure of it. Wow. That’s top drawer. But wait; what about her vow? You don’t plan on going to get her daddy’s blessing, do you?”
“Of course. What’s the problem?”
“How? He lives in Tennessee.”
Henry went to licking the honey off his fingers. “Guess we’d all have to go.”
“What about our mules? And the wagons? Auntie prizes them highly. We can’t drive them all the way to Memphis. It’d take forever.” Levi sat back. “I want to get home, sir. Ground needs breaking, time to get some wheat and oats in. A dozen other things need doing. We’ve been gone so long already, and we never even planned to go at all.”
The boy had a point, but none of it mattered. Henry would go to war again if that’s what it took to make Sue his wife, and he hated war. “We’ll figure it all out.”
“Why don’t you just forget that old man? He’s probably dead now anyway.”
“I don’t think she could do that, so, neither can I.”
* * *
SUE WANTED TO FIND A peach switch and threaten Becky good, but her daughter had seen through that ruse years before, not that she needed much discipline. Both she and Levi had been wonderful, obedient children—most of the time. Sue couldn’t have been blessed any better and had no complaints. “What exactly were you trying to get?”
“I can’t tell.”
“Why not?”
“Levi made me promise.”
“That doesn’t count. If he’s telling you to do something that dangerous, then making you promise not to tell when you get hurt—no! That’s not going to work. Now what was it?”
“He didn’t tell me to, I went all on my own, but I promised not to tell.” She looked up and pouted. “I don’t want you to be mad at us or Mister Henry.”
“Mister Henry? What’s he got to do with it?”
Becky raised her eyebrows.
“Fine, I promise not to be mad at anyone. This is much too wonderful a day to be upset about anything, so tell me now, and tell me true. What were you after when you fell off?”
“Levi gave me a bite of the jerky he’d been sneaking from Mister Henry’s tucker. It’s so good, Mama, and I was hungry. I wanted some more, but he said you didn’t want us eating horse, and it’d get Mister Henry in trouble if you found out.” Her eyes filled with tears. “So, why’s it a wonderful day anyway?”
“Oh, nothing, sweetheart.” Sue hugged Becky.
“He asked you to marry him, didn’t he?”
“Why would Mister Henry do such a thing? He lives a quiet life; free to go where he wants when he wants. He wouldn’t want to settle down with a ready-made family.”
“But he loves me, I know he does. And I’m sure he loves you, too.”
“How could anyone not love you? You are wonderful and so lovable. But I don’t want your heart to be hurt if he doesn’t stay with us, Becky.” Even more so now since she hoped herself the man might want to take her for his wife, stay forever. Becky’s wouldn’t be the only heart broken. And Sue wasn’t free to say yes even if he asked.
Like her baby could read her thoughts, she laid her head against Sue’s arm. “But if he did, what about your daddy? And your stupid vow?”
“Rebecca Ruth! You should not call my promise to the Lord stupid. That’s rude. After your daddy passed, you weren’t born yet, and I was so alone. Drawing close to God . . . Well, He got me through those hardest times.” It choked her to think she might never be alone again.
Sue sighed and straightened her back, swallowing to regain her composure. “I don’t know what he’d say about the vow. If he really loved us—” She burst into sobs.
“Mama! Why are you crying? I’m sorry I called your promise stupid. I really am.”
Sue wiped her eyes and face. “Oh, sweetest heart, I just don’t want you to be hurt. I love you more than life. Promise me you won’t. I don’t see how he could love me.”
“Oh, Mama, you’re easy to love, too, just like me. And I love you better than life, too.” Becky took the reins. “I’ll hold these if you want to cry all those tears out. And I do promise you I won’t be hurt. I’m so ha
ppy! But not like crying happy, more like singing happy!”
So her beautiful and wise daughter sang at the top of her lungs. “I am happy, oh so happy! The Lord has made me happy! I am happy, yes, I’m happy! I’m happy deep in my soul!” Sue didn’t know if Henry could hear her, but she hoped he could. While Becky made melody in her heart and thanked God for a daddy, Sue buried her hands in her face and cried.
What was she going to do? She could not, would not go against God; she feared the consequences too much. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. She sobbed. But what could she say to Henry if he did ask? How would she ever make him understand? There was nothing, no thing she could do—except pray, of course.
And she did.
After she could see straight again, she took the reins back. Becky didn’t say anything for a while, but curiosity must have finally gotten the better of her. “So then, if we’ve got to go to Tennessee, how are we going to get there? Won’t that take a whole year? Think we have to ride these wagons all the way? Couldn’t we just go home together and you and Mister Henry can get married at Sulphur Fork? That’s where all our friends are.”
“No, silly. Tennessee isn’t that far. And I’m sorry, but as much as I might want to do just that, I promised I would not marry again without my father’s blessing.”
Sue cleared her throat. “When I was young, I ran off with your daddy against my daddy’s wishes, then before you were even born, he was dead. It’s all my fault you grew up without a daddy, and I killed Levi’s, too. I’ll not be disobedient to God again. You know honoring and obeying your parents is one of the Ten Commandments, but I ignored it. I made a bad choice and paid the consequences of my actions, but so did you and Levi.
“Remember that, Becky; you can learn from your mother’s mistakes.”
“But, it was an accident. You didn’t make it rain; you didn’t make that stupid ox slip. You didn’t kill my daddy, or Levi’s either. You would never do such a thing. God knows that.”
“Yes, the rain came and the ox slipped, but it all happened because I disobeyed my father. I know it sure as we’re sitting here.”
