CHAPTER 17
Christmas moved closer. The corral was done. Harp gave the men their pay and a week off. Mexican people really celebrated the holiday. Half the oats sowed and harrowed in and another quarter of the land plowed. Hiram, the farmer, drove over and approved it. He told Harp to have them plow the other field to plant corn in March before he left for Kansas. He agreed to do it.
“Brother. You’re going on your honeymoon, and while you are gone I am going to break your record on working cattle,” Long said.
“You have two new chutes,” said Harp.
“That will make it easier to break it.”
Amused by Long’s challenge, Harp threw in, “Just so you keep an eye out for Comanche. They may try you again.”
With Hoot in charge of the ranch, and a few hands to back him, they rode for Camp Verde and the big party planned. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve two boys arrived with the buckskins and shiny buckboard. They went to the door of the house and one stepped forward and asked for Kathy O’Malley.
“I’ m Katy.”
“That must be who he meant.” The boy almost stammered. “Your horses and carriage await you.”
She ran to the door and then held her hands over her heart, staring at the team. “You say those are mine?”
“You are Mrs. Harper O’Malley?”
“I am, I am. No one ever bought me anything that fine. Oh, wait until I get my hands on him, I’ll kill him.”
The boy said, “Oh, ma’am, don’t do that. This is one helluva gift and only a millionaire could afford them.”
She was running, dress in hand, for the yard gate. “That is why I am going to kill him. I am not worth that much money.”
Harp jumped up from hiding behind the gate and hugged her. “Let me be the judge of that.”
So she couldn’t talk him down, he kissed the fire out of her.
After they were done she jumped into the buckboard and drove the team around, hardly able to keep from crying. Neither ate a thing for supper and she cried herself to sleep. When she woke, Harp flat out asked her if marrying him was that bad they shouldn’t get married.
Shaking her head, she explained, “You don’t understand. I am pregnant and I am happy now we have conceived.
He hugged and rocked her. “I am sorry for what you went through till you found me, but all that is over now. When will it be here?”
“When you are in Kansas, next summer. Your mother said I will stay with them and have him there and so I will be safe, while worrying about you being safe.”
“You sure it will be a him?”
“Trust me I know what I am doing.”
Trust her or not, he knew that no one knew the sex of a baby before it arrived.