Marriage suited Moses. It grounded and enriched him. Mattie provided something he hadn’t had since leaving Kentucky – a home. Until now, he’d bunked where he could, usually with his brothers or the other hands, but in a short time, she had transformed the humble cabin into their home. Her tender attentions and nourishing food helped speed his convalescence despite a small setback after Hammerschmidt’s visit. By the time young Rob celebrated his third birthday on January 27th, Moses could once again sit in a chair for a good part of each day. By the end of the first week in February, he could walk a few steps if he went slow and didn’t push it. On the Sunday before he turned 24, Moses was able to shuffle from one cabin to the other.
Although Rachel was great with child, she invited him and Mattie to join them for Sunday dinner. Since Moses’ birthday was the next day, the meal was also a celebration. Ezekiel joined them in time to sit down to ham slices, fried potatoes with onion, biscuits, and a dried apple pie. Zeke turned up just as they sat down to table, back that very morning from Laredo.
“Come eat a bite,” Boone told him. “What’s the news from town?”
“Nothing much,” he said. “But I brought a letter from Ma.”
Although the news would be old, that brightened Moses’ day. A letter from home was usually a grand occasion, and he thought they all liked the contact. As was their custom, Boone read the letter first, and then he’d read it aloud. He opened it, but in no more than a few lines, his pleasant expression turned grim.
“What is it, Boone?” Rachel asked, her belly so large she couldn’t sit close to the table.
He sighed before he answered. “Sad news. Jacob’s wife Sally Ann died.”
Moses’ mood darkened. He liked Sally Ann. She’d never been anything but kind to him, and now, having a wife of his own, he could better understand how hard the loss would hit his brother. “What happened?”
Boone’s forehead creased with concern. “She had a stillborn child in late November, Ma writes, then had the childbed fever and died of it.”
Rachel gasped but said nothing, just glanced down at her protruding stomach. Mattie reached over and took her hand.
Moses hurt for Jacob but also for Boone. With Rachel so near her time, Boone was already worried, and this would just give him something more to be concerned about. Thinking about what Mattie had said, that she expected Rachel would deliver sooner than anticipated, he said nothing because it would only increase Boone’s anxiety.
“What about the three little gals?” Ezekiel asked. “Faith, Hope and Charity.”
“Gone to live with their ma’s folks,” Boone said. “Let me just read the letter to all of you.”
When he’d finished, they sat in silence for a few moments.
“She knew,” Moses said with surprise. “Ma knew somehow when I was so bad sick.”
“And she prayed,” Boone said. “I imagine it helped, and then Mattie came. I’ll have to write her back right soon and let her know you’re well.”
Moses nodded. “I’ll write her a few lines, too. Maybe write a letter to Jacob, too.”
“What do you reckon he’ll do?” Zeke asked. “Stay there with Ma?”
“I doubt it. If he’s like me at all, he’ll run from his trouble,” Boone said. “He might come here, or he might head for California or Oregon or some other place. He won’t stay at the homeplace long.”
“If he comes here, he’s a fair hand with horses, and we could use him,” Ezekiel said.
“We could. Liam wouldn’t object, but since we own shares of the place, it wouldn’t be a problem at all.”
“Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Rachel said. “And let’s not forget it’s Moses’ birthday tomorrow. You got sorrowful news, but let’s not forget the happy.”
The food was delicious and after the meal, his brothers presented him with a new canteen to replace his old one that leaked. The new style one boasted a canvas strap and a woolen cover around the canteen designed to keep the water cooler. It would prove handy as he made his rounds and did work on the ranch or out on the trail.
“Thank you,” he told them.
After the meal, Mattie stayed to help Rachel wash dishes and clean up. Boone excused himself to smoke outside. Moses followed, and so did Ezekiel.
Zeke had never taken up the habit, but for the first time since his illness, Moses borrowed fixings from Boone and smoked. Boone said little until he’d finished two cigarettes, then he said,
“It’s sad news from home, and my heart hurts for Jacob,” he said. “But it worries me too. The same could happen to Rachel. I’ve worried myself near sick about her giving birth. I won’t rest easy until the baby is here and she’s all right. If anything happened to her or one of the children, I doubt I could bear it.”
Moses figured Boone could. He was tougher than that, but he’d suffer, and Moses would do anything to keep that from happening. “I don’t figure you’ll have to, Boone,” he said. “She’ll do fine.”
“I hope so. I guess I’d better start a letter back to Ma so she can rest her mind about you,” Boone told Moses. “Not that she’ll get it till March at the earliest.”
“I’ll write Jacob, too.”
“You can if you want but I’m thinking he’ll be gone before a letter could get to Kentucky,” Boone said. “Starting tomorrow, Liam wants me to ride the perimeter of the ranch with him, the old boundaries and the new with what we’ve filed a claim on. He plans to survey it. I hope the weather holds, and I ain’t fond that we’ll be gone for several days, maybe most of the week. If it were closer to Rachel’s time, I’d flat say no but that’s not for a month or more. You’ll look after her, the both of you, while I’m gone?”
“You know we will,” Ezekiel said. “Moses’ll be right here, and I’ll look in every day.”
“I know I can count on you both,” Boone said. “Once we’ve done that, Liam said he’ll file and get a deed with all our names on it, so it’s worth doing.”
The next morning, he saddled up Sprat and left with Liam. Mattie presented Moses with several pairs of socks she’d knitted him, but first, they idled in bed.
“If you’re well enough to walk over to Boone’s,” Mattie said with a mischievous grin. “You’re healthy enough to make me your wife in every way. Love me, Moses.”
Three weeks married, he didn’t need any further encouragement. If he’d had his way, they would have been joined that first night, although he knew well that he hadn’t been physically able. He likely would have fainted during the act and suffered a setback worse than he’d had after confronting Hammerschmidt.
Now, on the day he turned twenty-four, Moses kissed her slow and lingering, his mouth cherishing hers. He set fire to her lips with his, and when a sweet heat roared through his body, he thought it consumed her, too. He used care, his motions tender as he caressed her, taking his time. When they came together, there was a moment when her virginity slowed things, then they came together, man and wife, in a way as old as time. Now their love was complete, he thought, and he hoped a child might come from their union soon. He knew the risks of pregnancy and childbirth, but he still longed for children with his beautiful, wonderful wife.
He made his way over to see Rachel. She greeted him with a smile, but he could see she was tired. He played with the children for a long time, then swept the floor for her. That taxed his strength a little, but he didn’t mind. Moses came each morning and afternoon for a little bit. Mattie visited, too, offering her help with chores and the children.
On Wednesday morning, the third day after Boone left, Moses came over to find a frazzled Rachel trying to soothe Rob, who cried and held his belly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Is he sick?”
“He’s got the bellyache,” she said. “He got into the raisins and ate a bunch, so it’s hurting his stomach. It’ll pass, but he’ll fuss till it does.”
“Will it help if I rock him a spell?”
She sent him a smile. “I imagine it would, Moses. Thank you. I’m feeling a bit funny myself.”
He took the boy in his arms and carried him to the rocker. “I hope you’re not taking sick, Rachel. Boone’d have my hide if you do while he’s gone.”
“It’ll pass, I’m sure. It’s just being in the family way.”
Moses rocked the boy and sang to him the old song about the Irish rover, then others. After the first few, Rob stopped crying and holding his stomach. Mima stood beside the rocking chair, adding her voice to his. “I think he’s falling asleep,” she told Moses. “He’s fine. He ought not to have eaten those raisins, and I told him so.”
“He should’ve listened.”
She nodded. “Then Mama’s belly was griping her too, but she ain’t ate no raisins at all.”
Alarm rocketed through him. “What do you mean, Mima?”
“She’s been having pains in her belly all morning,” the little girl said. “I don’t think it’s a bellyache, not like Rob had, but every once in a while, she’ll groan and put her hand on her belly.”
It sounded a lot like labor pains to him, but he was no expert. Moses watched his sister-in-law as she worked around the cabin. It wasn’t long now that he paid attention that he saw her pause, grimace, and grab her belly. After a few moments, it seemed to ease because she straightened up and went back to the task at hand.
“Mima,” he said in a quiet voice. “Could you go fetch your Aunt Mattie?”
She skipped from the room, and when the door closed behind her, Moses said, “Rachel, tell me true – are you having pains?”
He knew the moment she hesitated that she was. Boone should be here but wasn’t. Mattie came in with the child and glanced at Moses, then at Rachel. When Rachel bent and moaned, Mattie rushed to her side.
“When did your water break?” she asked.
“Last night, I think,” Rachel replied. “I got up to make water, but there was a big gush. My belly’s been paining me on and off, but since Rob had a bellyache too, I thought maybe it wasn’t the baby.”
“Unless you ate a lot of raisins, too, I think it’s the child,” Mattie said. Mima must have explained. “Let’s get you into the bedroom, then I’ll fetch Ezekiel.”
“I’ll go,” Moses said.
His wife shot him a look. “You won’t. You’ve not been farther than across the dog trot. It won’t help anything if you get down sick. You’ll mind the babies and help Rachel if she needs anything, and I’ll go. Is that boy asleep? Let me lay him down.”
Mattie moved the trundle bed into the main room and put Rob on it, then she wrapped her shawl close and left. Ezekiel, flat running, beat her back and burst into the cabin.
“She’s having the kid?”
“Looks like,” Moses said.
Within the hour, it became evident Rachel was in labor. Her pains came hard and fast. Mattie managed to slide a clean sheet beneath her on the bed. She emerged from the bedroom and glanced from one brother to another.
“One of you is going to mind the children,” she said. “The other one will catch this baby when it comes.”
Moses felt weak, and his stomach flipped. “I reckoned you’d bring the baby.”
“I’ve helped at many births, but I’ve never caught the baby. Boone’s done it, so has Liam but they’re not here. There’s no midwife, so it’s got to be one of you.”
The brothers debated it for several minutes. Ezekiel suggested they settle it by playing odds and evens, but Moses rejected it. Finally, Zeke settled it by taking both kids over to Moses’ cabin.
An hour later, the labor intensified, and Mattie told him the baby would come soon. Moses scrubbed his hands with lye soap and rolled up his sleeves. Terror made him more than a little shaky, and he wished Boone was there. Since he wasn’t, though, Moses determined to do the best he could and not let Rachel die. What happened to Jacob’s wife floated through his mind.
When the baby came, it happened fast. Rachel groaned the most she had all day, then Mattie had her spread her knees wide. Moses saw the top of the child’s head and tensed. He got into position and waited. When the baby emerged, he caught it despite the fact the tiny body was covered with a waxy substance and a little blood. He’d always heard you had to slap a baby on the bottom or tap its feet so it would cry, but that wasn’t true in this case.
He saw right off it was a boy, and then the baby yowled. His cry was both loud and powerful. Mattie handed him a blanket and said, “Keep him warm. I have to help Rachel pass the afterbirth, then I’ll clean him up. Rachel, you have a fine boy. I’d guess he weighs ten pounds or so.”
Rachel’s face lit with joy. “No wonder he’s had me worn down,” she said. “Boone’s been looking out for a boy, though he said he didn’t care.”
Moses looked down at the tiny face, bawling, and smiled. “He favors Boone a good bit, I’d say. What are you callin’ him?”
“Benjamin Moses,” Rachel told him. “Boone chose it, and I like it.”
Once young Benjamin had been washed and then wrapped again in a clean blanket, Mattie handed him to his mama to nurse. She directed Moses to help her remove the stained sheets, and he winced at the sight of blood.
“She ain’t bleeding bad, is she?” he asked.
“Not much. This is normal, Moses,” his wife said.
His knees threatened to buckle, so he headed for the rocking chair. Mattie brought the baby to him. “Rachel will sleep now,” she said. “Rock the baby, Uncle Moses.”
He did, singing softly, his heart brimming full.
On Friday, Boone returned. Moses had been minding the children, but when he heard his brother’s voice, he went out on the dog trot to wait. When Boone mounted the steps, Moses put out a hand to halt him.
“Rachel’s got someone for you to meet,” he told his brother. “I reckon you’ll want to go and say howdy.”
Boone frowned. “Who’s here? This close to her time, she don’t need to be entertaining much of anyone.”
Moses watched as the possibility dawned, and Boone’s face changed. “Moses, what are you sayin’?”
“I was telling you that you’d best make tracks in there and meet your son,” he replied. “He’s got all his fingers and toes, weighed ten pounds when he was born two days ago. He’s doin’ just fine, and so is Rachel.”
Boone paled. “The baby came whilst I was gone?”
“He did.”
“Glory,” Boone said. “I think I might need to sit a minute first. I didn’t think it would be until next month, and here he is. She’s well, though, my wife?”
“Yeah, Boone. Mattie’s with her now, and your other children are at my cabin with Zeke.”
Mima popped through the door. “Daddy! I heard you talking! We got a new baby.”
Boone opened his arms to hug the girl. “That’s what I hear.”
Rob came out, followed by Ezekiel. “Daddy’s back!”
“I sure am,” Boone said. He gathered his children to him. “I think I’d best go meet your new brother. Come with me, Moses. He’s named for you.”
“That’s what I heard, and I’m honored.”
Zeke rounded the kids back into the other cabin, so Moses trailed Boone into his home. Mattie was stirring something over the fire and smiled. “Rachel’s got the baby. She’s been looking out for you.”
Although Moses held back so that his brother could have a private moment when he met his son, there was little privacy in the small cabin. He saw Boone approach the bed where his wife rested against pillows and kneel. Although he couldn’t hear what Boone said, he knew his emotion was high. Then Boone kissed Rachel and lifted his son into his arms.
Once Rachel had gone to sleep for a nap, Boone brought the baby out into the main room.
“I think the little fellow looks like you, Moses.”
Moses laughed. “I said he favors you.”
“Well, there is plenty of a resemblance,” Boone said. “I reckon then he looks like us both.”
When Boone wrote to their mother, he had plenty of news.
Dear Ma,
All is well here, including Moses and my new son, Benjamin Moses Wilson, born two days after Moses’ birthday. We were sorrowed to hear about Sally Ann. Tell Jacob my heart breaks for him with this loss.
You asked about Moses, so I will tell you true. Moses was taken bad with pneumonia right before Christmas, and I feared we would lose him. But the lady who is now his wife came from San Antonio, and she doctored him with an onion poultice. She brought him through Ma, and he is recovering well. In fact, he delivered my son because I was out on the range.
That’s more news, and it is good. The three of us are now partners in the ranch with Liam Rafferty. Right now, it’s still the Double B – short for Bonnie Blue like the late Confederate flag, but that may change. We are men of property now. Moses wed in January to Mattie, and she is a good wife to him. Soon as he has a chance, he and Mattie will have a picture made, and I will send it to you.
If you make it to Texas, we will always have a place for you to visit or to stay. I miss you, Ma, and send all my love. My brothers send the same, and our families, too.
Your loving son, Boone Benjamin Wilson
PS You might be pleased to know that my new son favors me or Moses or both. He says the child looks like me, I say he looks like Moses. Either way, he is a handsome little fellow.
The next time Ezekiel headed up to Laredo, he took the letter along and put it in the mail.
In time, it would reach Kentucky where Boone hoped it would ease his mother’s heart and her worries, that she would find a measure of joy within the lines.