Prairie Hearts

by J. B. Marsden

  “We’ll miss them.”

  Carrie looked on Emma with surprise.

  Emma gave her a tight smile.

  “You coming around to Red Fox, then?”

  “A little,” Emma answered.

  Laura rode on home.

  “Let’s go for a walk, honey.” Carrie took Emma’s hand.

  “There’s so much…”

  Carrie gave Emma a winning smile and coaxed her away to the shade near the creek in the late afternoon. “The work will wait for an afternoon.”

  Emma returned Carrie’s smile with something of her old joy, and Carrie’s heart warmed.

  They walked hand in hand together near the creek where the trees shaded them and the cool, running water gave them respite from the day. A covey of quail scattered as they approached some bushes and fallen limbs, where the quail liked to nest.

  “This prairie hides all types of birds and critters. I’m coming to love the wide-open here, but when I first saw it, it like to scared me something awful,” Carrie admitted. “Too much sky.”

  “I confess, even after three years now, I still miss the forested hills of home. But I agree, I’m coming to love the beautiful sunsets and sunrises. The colors…and the beauty of the prairie flowers.”

  Carrie leaned in and kissed Emma, their first passionate embrace since that awful night. Carrie was loath to speak of it and Emma had not brought up their ordeal.

  Emma murmured into the kiss and grasped Carrie tighter. “Let’s go back to the cabin. I need you,” Emma whispered into Carrie’s ear.

  Before candle-lighting, they forgot all their worries to come together in tender caresses and murmured pleasure.

  When they lay afterward, Carrie asked, “How do ye fare?” She continued to run her fingers through Emma’s hair gently.

  “Oh, sweeting, I’ve needed your warm strength and our bliss.” Emma snuggled up to Carrie in their bed.

  “I…I didn’t reckon you were ready. But I needed you as well.”

  After some tender caresses, Emma spoke. “Will we ever erase that night from our –”

  “Don’t think on it, just for this day, honey. We’re safe here.” Carrie stretched as she heard Millie low in the paddock. She sighed and left the bed. “Duty calls us.”

  Emma moaned. “I will rise presently,” she said as Carrie left the cabin.

  The atmosphere at supper was lighter that night. They laughed together about Carrie’s breeches needing yet another patch.

  “I believe you catch all the brambles you can find. Give me those breeches after supper to mend. I may just make you another pair.”

  “Laura can—”

  “No. Now we reside under my roof—our roof. I’m the woman of the household. It’s my responsibility to take care of you.”

  “Is that so?” Carrie took her in her arms, smiling. “I like that you and I have our own household. We make a good team, do we not?”

  “Yes, sweeting, we do.” Emma stepped out of the hug. “Now, off with those.” She tugged at Carrie’s waist. “You need to bring more of your things here. I want you fully present in our cabin.”

  “Yes’m.”

  “Don’t be cheeky.” Emma laughed.

  Emma mended the breeches and Carrie honed knives and cleaned her gun. Candles were lit. When they finished their night chores in the cabin, Emma read more of The Odyssey.

  Carrie puffed on her pipe. “Will that feller ever get home? Them dang gods and goddesses sure had it in for him.”

  Emma smiled tenderly at Carrie. “He does get home. But he has more trouble because suitors have been after his wife in his long absence. Odysseus in Greek means ‘trouble.’”

  “Well you have the problem right there. Never name a child trouble.”

  “And never consort with gods.”

  They both giggled like children.

  Later, Emma and Carrie readied for bed. Carrie heart’s felt lighter than in some weeks. Mayhap she and Emma had come through the worst of the ordeal and could get on with their happy life on Emma’s farm. She prayed so. She prayed every night that this love was to be her life from now on.

  The next day after morning toils, Carrie left Emma putting up vegetables and more herbs and rode to Moss Creek. She found Josh and George hauling water and firewood.

  “Hey’up,” she called.

  “Auntie Carrie.” They both ran to her and took a basket of herbs from her as she dismounted Maisey. “We missed you.”

  “I missed you imps.” She ruffled their hair.

  Laura came out holding Permelia with Gerta in tow.

  Gerta ran toward her and Carrie drew her up in her arms. “Whoa, horse. You grew on me.” She huffed. “What you been eating?” She tickled her.

  The little girl giggled in her arms and squirmed to be let down.

  “Good to see you, sister. What brings you? James’s looking at the crops. Will you stay for dinner?”

  The children trooped with her into the cabin. “I reckon it’s time that I got my things.”

  “You young’uns go back to your work. Sammy, take Gerta out to play with you.”

  The children groaned but did as told.

  “You…you like her well enough to stay up at Locust Hill now?”

  Carrie shyly hung her head and nodded.

  Laura hugged her. “I am happy you found a helpmate, sister. But we’ll miss you something awful.”

  “I’ll still stop by and help out as I can. Mr. Winters farms Emma’s place pretty well, but I’ll be here for harvest for both him and James.”

  “James thinks the oats and wheat may be ready. That’s what he is looking over this morn.”

  “Mr. Winters’s and James’s corn will take a few weeks to ripen, I reckon. Mr. Winters planted only a few acres of oats, but a lot more wheat. Charles told me it was about ready for harvest. I’ll ask him to come on down when James says the word.”

  “James will send a message up to you.”

  Carrie put her meager clothes into a bag. “I may have to make two trips. I didn’t realize I had so much. I have a goodly amount of other things up at Emma’s, just not all my clothes and such.”

  “I made you another shirt.” Laura rustled in her sewing basket and handed her a cotton shirt.

  “Thank ye kindly, sister. You didn’t need to do this, but it will be well met. Emma mended some breeches.”

  “You and James and your breeches. Now Josh, too. All them patches.” Laura laughed lightly. “I reckon you need to get back up the trail. We should see you anon for the grain harvest.”

  The wheat and oat harvest at James’s did start the next week.

  Emma rode down to Moss Creek with Carrie to help the wives feed the farmers. Blanton and Mr. Winters also came, and they planned to harvest their farms next. Cool rain had held them off for two days, but today the sun shone brightly. The men took scythes to cut the wheat first.

  When others weren’t looking, Carrie pecked Emma on the cheek. “See you at dinner.” She turned and yelled. “Josh, George. Let’s go.”

  The boys appeared and they all headed toward the grain fields. Carrie smiled while the boys chattered all the way of their latest find of eggs from the pullets, of discovering some arrowheads near the creek, and climbing the bee tree for more honey.

  “Are you all ready to start school after harvest?”

  George kicked dirt, but Josh perked up. “Yes’m. Miss Dozier stopped by. I like her, she’s pretty.”

  “That she is. She used to teach back in Massachusetts where she hails from.”

  Josh stuttered. “Massa…Massatooset.”

  The men cut stalks of wheat all day while Carrie and the boys stacked them into sheaves. By the end of the first day, about half the field had been cut. The weather held for them to finish James’s field the next day.

  As they left the field, Carrie and James looked back at the sheaves standing across the field.

  “Glad to finish that field.”

  “We winnow next week?”


  “First Winters’s and then Forrester’s fields. Both wheat and oats. Should take the rest of the week, if the rain holds off.” He nodded toward the west. “Looks like wet weather ahead, though.”

  Carrie sighed. Rain would hold off the rest of their harvest and make for anxious days.

  James looked directly at Carrie. “Did you hear that Conner has been meted his punishment? He arrives home anon.”

  Carrie nodded. “Thank ye for letting me know.” In her tiredness, she didn’t think she could ponder Conner coming back.

  “I intend to take him in hand when he gets to home. Dixson lays the responsibility on me as head of the household.”

  “What will you do with him?”

  “Take his measure. He and I’ll have a hard chin-wag. I’ll warn him off you and Emma with strong words, and fists, if needs be. Mayhap he’s come around to his right mind in the two months shackled up yonder at the constable’s.”

  What would Conner be when he came back? Carrie shivered.

  Emma and Carrie rode home.

  Carrie could barely keep her head up at supper.

  “Off to bed with you,” Emma said, as she cleared the table.

  Carrie didn’t argue, and undressed. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the corn husk mattress.

  The labor continued after the rain. James, Charles, and Blanton finished with scything grain on Emma’s place, then Forrester’s. After all the grain had been sheaved, they gathered it into their barns for winnowing and grinding later in the fall.

  The next day, they all trooped to Conner’s farm to harvest his small acreage. Part of his crop had been washed out, so it took them only part of a day to finish.

  The sun still high in the afternoon, Dixson drove a wagon into the yard, Conner on the bench next to him.

  They had gathered in the farm yard, drinking water.

  Dolly walked to the wagon as Conner leapt down. They all watched while she hugged him. He was pale, thinner, and subdued, like an animal that had been brought to heel.

  “Wife.” He came out of the hug. “What do we have here?”

  James stepped up to him. “Conner. Charles, Carrie, and my Josh just put up your sheaves for ye. We’ll be coming back to help with your corn when the time comes. Moose’s boy’s been helping your wife with chores.”

  Conner looked stunned. “What? Helping me? But why?”

  Dixson spoke. “Because they’re your neighbors and you’ve been away from your holding. They did their Christian duty.”

  “But I ain’t worth it.” Tears filled Conner’s eyes.

  The men looked away.

  Carrie met him. “Dolly didn’t ask us, if that’s what you think. We came of our own accord.”

  “You came, too?”

  “Aye, I did.”

  “I…I wouldn’t ’a thought—”

  “They been right helpful, all of ’em,” Dolly said.

  Conner looked out onto his bare grain field, then at the sheaves stacked in his rude barn.

  James said, “Looks like your house could use some fixing.”

  “Mr. Stratton…” Conner turned to James. “How can I repay you for what you done already?”

  Carrie, surprised at Conner’s docile response to their presence, felt herself tense for the Conner she knew to erupt in recriminations, but none came.

  “No payment. We all help one another out here. When corn’s ripe, you come on down with Carrie. Then we’ll come up and bring in your harvest.”

  Conner wept openly now.

  The men shuffled.

  James said, “Well, thank ye kindly for the water, Mrs. Conner.” He cleared his throat. “And Conner, I’ll be here to see you on the morrow.”

  Conner nodded. “I’ll look for ye.”

  They all mounted their horses and trotted down the trace, talking about the change in Conner.

  “I wonder what happened while he was in chains to make him so different?” Carrie asked James.

  He shrugged. “I don’t hope to understand it, but I was mighty glad to see it. My talk with him will tell the tale, I reckon.”

  “I am flummoxed, but very happy he seems to be under control of himself.”

  Emma waited until Carrie finished with the grain harvest to tell her the news.

  “You pushed your breakfast away again.” Carrie looked at her with a frown. She scraped her bowl of porridge, spooned it into her mouth, and pushed the bowl away.

  Emma’s stomach roiled. She’d not been able to eat breakfast the past week.

  “Just a little stomach upset,” Emma lied. She couldn’t hide her condition any longer.

  She came to Carrie sheepishly after supper. “We need to talk, my love.”

  Carrie looked at her with questioning eyes.

  To the table where Carrie honed knives, Emma brought the jug of the corn liquor she used for anesthetic.

  While she poured two cups, surprise showed on Carrie’s face. “What troubles you?”

  “Please, drink.”

  They both sipped from the liquor that sent a fire down her throat to her stomach. “Mr. Conner’s attack still affects us.”

  Carrie shook her head. “No. James brings Conner to us on the morrow, but he won’t bother us again. James said—”

  Emma interrupted her. “Not that, sweeting. I…need to tell you.” She did not know whether to laugh or cry.

  Carrie put down the cup and looked directly at Emma. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

  “I’m carrying a child.” She looked to Carrie for a response.

  Carrie paled, then stood and paced to the door and back.

  Emma watched Carrie, her lips pursed. She groaned loudly as Carrie embraced her. “Oh, my sweet.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “You know for certain?”

  “Aye,” Emma murmured.

  Carrie gripped her arms harder. “Lord ’a mercy.” They rocked together. Suddenly Carrie pulled Emma away and peered into her eyes. “How do ye fare? Your stomach…”

  “I fare well enough. Just some queasiness in the morn, but no vomiting, thank heavens. I’m fine.”

  Emma stroked Carrie’s cheek and brushed away her own tears.

  They sat huddled in an embrace some moments.

  Finally, Emma asked, “What should we do?”

  “What is there to do? I reckon we tell my family. Tell the other women friends, Mrs. Wallace, Elizabeth, Susannah.”

  Emma let out a wail, murmuring, “They’ll blame me for this mess. Say it was my fault. That I lured Conner—”

  “Oh, honey, no.” Carrie ran her fingers through Emma’s hair.

  They spent some time in each other’s arms.

  “I reckon we’ll mother this babe. I’m not sure I have mothering in my soul.”

  “You’re a wonderful auntie to the Stratton brood. I see your love for them. You strike me as being a good parent.”

  “If you say, but I have my doubts about that responsibility.”

  Emma’s eyes went wide. “Do you not want to be with me?” Tears flowed again and her voice quivered.

  Carrie stroked her hair tenderly. “No, no. I’m just saying I’m a little flummoxed is all. I would never… I am here with you, honey. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “But do you feel trapped? Like you have no choice but to be here with me?”

  “Honey. Don’t fret now. Mules couldn’t drag me away from you. I love you so much. No matter what, I want to be here with you. You and I will be our own family.” Carrie smiled. “I like the sound of that.”

  Emma wiped her tears. Shakily, she said, “Family? Even without a man of the household? But how?”

  “I’m as certain as the harvest. I’m as certain as the rain that falls and the sun that comes up, and the rooster that wakes us every morn.” Carrie held her at arm’s length. “I’m hurt that you would question my steadfastness, my love. You know in your heart that I’m yours, honey. Yours through and through. Through sickness and health, for richer and poorer.
Just like Susannah and Dixson pledged back in May under the sky. My steadiness won’t budge. I promise you my heart and soul, my strength. Everything I have is yours. You can count on me.”

  “How can I ask this of you?”

  “You aren’t asking nothing of me. I give you this pledge as freely as the owls that hoot.”

  “You are my rock, sweet Carrie. My heart and soul. We’ll be a team through this.”

  “I’ll be at your side the whole way.” Carrie kissed her sweetly. “You’ll not be alone, I promise.”

  With no answer to that, Emma merely let the tears flow. “I love you so much.” When her tears abated, Emma said, “But I have some misgivings about this babe.”

  “’Course, honey.”

  “How will we explain a child? Two women alone? Every time, I’ll have to recall…Oh, Carrie.”

  “Honey.”

  “How can we raise a child with all we do? How can tend to others who need us? The women in childbirth? The fevers? I can’t wrap my mind around all the problems.”

  “Don’t fret tonight, honey. Let it go. We’ll see. Something will come to us.”

  They went to bed, holding each other close. Emma’s mind swarmed with thoughts. At least Carrie knew now. They would be in this together.

  The next morning after chores, they ate breakfast when James led the way for Conner and Dolly up to the door.

  Carrie glanced at Emma.

  Emma trembled and grabbed Carrie, her heart in the throat. “James is here.”

  “Let me go to ’em, honey.”

  Emma clutched at the door while James, the Conners, and Carrie stood in the yard.

  Conner, Dolly at his side, finally spoke. “Miss Fletcher.” He looked to the door. “Miss Reynolds.” He gulped and cleared his throat.

  James looked on, his arms folded.

  Carrie didn’t move. To Emma, this man had nothing good to say. She wished they’d just go on their way. She did not return their greeting.