Place Of Her Own (11 page)

“Thank you, Grandma Mac. You’re helping me a lot.”

“You’re welcome, dear. Now, finish your eggs. Shelton will be here shortly.”

Shelton stretched. He’d been up all night with Kate. If the foal didn’t crown soon, he’d have to reach in and take it out.

“Shelton,” Katherine called from just inside the barn door.

“I’m in Kate’s stable.” In a flash, he recalled promising Grandma Mac he’d pick Katherine up and take her into town that morning. “Oh no. I forgot about our trip today. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Katherine leaned over the rail of Kate’s stable. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s been in labor all night.”

“How can I help?”

Shelton glanced at her vivid green Sunday morning church dress. “Not in those clothes.”

“I’ll go back into the house and change. Anything else you need while I’m there?”

“Hot water for me to wash with.”

A sudden deluge poured out of Kate. The mare stomped her hoof and her eyes grew wide. “It’s all right, girl.” Shelton patted the horse’s flank.

“I’ll be right back with that water.”

As Katherine fled for the barn door, the foal’s nose emerged. “You’re doing fine, Kate.” The front legs emerged. Shelton gently pulled the foal out.

“It’s a boy!” The colt had Kehoe’s black coat and Kate’s markings. He was a good blend of the two horses.

The mare shifted on wobbly legs. She stared at the foal for a moment, then continued to pace in the stall. “What’s the matter, girl?”

Her belly seemed too extended for having just given birth. Was there a problem with the placenta? Just then another nose crowned. “Twins!” Shelton smiled, then moved the newborn out of the way of Kate’s determined pacing.

By the time Katherine returned with the bucket of water, Shelton was rubbing Kate down with some clean rags.

“Twins,” she squealed. “Oh, Shelton, they’re beautiful.”

“They sure are. And Kate is a wonderful mother.”

Kate cleaned up the foals and nudged them to their feet. Shelton finished washing down the new mother and then sponged himself down.

Katherine watched in awe. “I can’t believe they both came out of her. It doesn’t seem possible.”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? The miracle of birth fascinates me every time I witness it. God certainly chose an interesting way to bring new life into the world.”

“Are they boys or girls?”

“One of each. A colt and a filly.”

Shelton watched Katherine stare at the twin foals. He wondered if she were thinking about their children one day.
Don’t push it
, he reminded himself. As easy as it was to tell Katherine he could be a patient man, he knew he’d have to fight impulse after impulse. Like right now. He wanted to come up beside her and wrap his arm around her. But he had to wait on Katherine. He would not spook her, no matter how much he wanted them to share every precious moment of life together.

He groaned inwardly. He was beginning to sound like a philosopher or poet. His father would have a few words about that, no doubt. No matter what he told himself or Katherine, he had to face the reality that their union would bring a harsh response from Hiram Greene.
Lord, please continue to change him, to soften him.

“What’s happening?” Urias asked from the doorway of the barn.

“Twins.” Katherine beamed.

Urias ran to Kate’s pen. “God’s blessing you, Shelton. You’ve just doubled your income.”

Shelton grinned. “I’m thinking of keeping the filly and selling the colt. On the other hand, the sale of both might be beneficial. I should pray on the matter.”

“Ah yes. The quick dollar or the long, slow profit. Hard choices. How’s Kehoe doing?” Urias glanced at the stallion’s pen.

“His neck is healing well.”

“Excellent.” Urias leaned against the barn wall. “Mac says that bear was back on the property last night. Got one of the sheep my nephew was raising. Unless Mac and I can find him today, we need you to stay close and protect the women and children tonight.”

“Be happy to.”

Urias slapped him on the back. “Keep up the good work.” He nodded at the newborns, then sauntered out of the barn.

Shelton yawned and stretched his weary muscles.

“If you’re going to be up guarding the houses tonight,” Katherine said, “you’d better get some rest.”

“I’d like to, but I have chores to do.”

“I’ll take care of them for you. What do you need done?”

He started to protest. But she wouldn’t hear of it. He succumbed to her willingness to help him and went to bed. The last thought in his mind was how Katherine’s face had glowed while witnessing the new life of the foals.

Katherine rushed around the barn, taking care of Shelton’s chores. She enjoyed watching the new mother with her young. She still couldn’t get over twins. She fought the desire to wake up Shelton to talk with him, but he needed his rest.

As she worked she prayed that Urias and Mac would find the bear today. This time of year bears ate anything they could get their paws on to build up for their hibernation period. The children would have to stay close to the house, and the twin foals would be a huge temptation. She was glad Shelton now had her old room in the house.

A renewed desire to be a mother one day surfaced with such intensity that she could no longer remain in the barn. She worked her way back toward Grandma Mac’s house as soon as she finished Shelton’s chores.

She didn’t really want to face Grandma Mac and her perceptive ways. Things Katherine had kept hidden for years came out in the presence of that woman, though Katherine wasn’t sure why. She considered going to the garden sanctuary, but fear of the bear kept her away.

Katherine stopped mid-stride.
Where can I go?
Again, an overwhelming desire for her own place took root.

Then she recalled Shelton’s comment about his hope that his property would be hers one day.
Is that really possible?
There was no denying the sense of security she felt in his arms—a calmness she’d never known. There was something about laying her head on his chest that was so … relaxing.

“Lord, give me strength to overcome the evils that have befallen me. You know my pain and my shame. Please help me love Shelton the way You designed a man and woman to love each other.”

She took one uncertain step forward. Fear over the desire she had just confessed circled around like a vulture waiting for the kill. Katherine collapsed onto her knees and wept. Bondage still held her. “Father God, please,” she cried, “remove this fear.”

She cupped her hands to her face and repeated the prayer over and over. Exhausted, she waited in the stillness that surrounded her. A gentle peace slowly began to fill her. Katherine wiped her eyes and stood. The fresh earthen scent of rich soil and pine needles invigorated her. The world around her seemed suddenly bright. Was she finally free? She took a tentative step forward, then another. Her back straightened with a surge of confidence. Her strides sure, she marched up to Grandma Mac’s house.

She told the old woman the news of the twin foals and let her know that she would be going to Creelsboro that day. Grandma Mac questioned her, but Katherine found the inner strength to firmly yet politely tell her that she simply had business in town. An hour later she was on the road with the newest order for the mercantile.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Hastings,” Katherine greeted the shopkeeper as she entered the store. The wooden shelves and bins were full. Various tools hung on the right wall. Perishable items were close to the counter in the back part of the store. A basket of fresh eggs sat near the register with rows of glass jars filled with brightly colored candy sticks. “I’ve completed the next order.”

“Wonderful. I’m down to the last shirt. I’ll need a dozen more as soon as possible. And could I get a few blouses for the ladies?”

“Do you have the material?” Katherine no longer paid for the fabric. She and Mr. Hastings had bartered. In exchange for free fabric Mr. Hastings paid a reduced price for the finished products.

“There are some light yellow, pink, and white cotton bolts over there. Take whatever you need.”

“Thank you.” Katherine walked to the fabric area. A bolt of beautiful ivory satin stood against the wall.

Mr. Hastings came over with his sheers. “Do you believe they sent that? I can’t see me selling more than a yard or two for christening outfits. Brides don’t marry in fancy getups here like they do back East. My supplier didn’t even charge me for it. Would you like some?”

Katherine’s eyes sparkled. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all. In fact, why don’t I keep four yards and give you the rest? I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to sell even the four yards.”

“Thank you.” Katherine thought of all the things she could do with that fabric. She could use some to make beautiful pillows for Christmas gifts, adding a special touch with some embroidery.

Then an image floated into her mind. Herself in a wedding gown made of this very material. Katherine’s foot faltered.

Mr. Hastings reached out and caught her. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. My heel must have caught on the floorboard.” He released her.

“I’d like three yards each of the white, pink, and yellow cotton for the women’s blouses you spoke of. Also, twenty yards of red flannel for the men’s shirts. And as much of the ivory silk as you’d like to give me.”

“Very good. Take your time and browse through the store. I just received some new shipments. Took in some wares from the folks heading west, too. Most of those items won’t sell, but I feel sorry for those women who packed all their precious china, only to discover how impractical it is for the trip.”

Katherine glanced over the myriad assorted wares. The mercantile carried a wide variety of things, from heavy tools to dainty teacups.

“How about some spools of thread?”

“Yes, please.” Katherine eyed a set of china dishes with a pattern of a horse and a lady. She thought of Shelton. “How much for this set?”

“Fifteen dollars. But for you, I’ll call it even with the shirts you brought in today.” “Are you certain?”

“Absolutely.” He raised his right eyebrow. “For your dowry, perhaps?”

Katherine blushed.

Shelton woke up just in time for dinner. He couldn’t believe he’d slept the day away. He checked on Kate and the foals, ate dinner with the women and children, then prepared his rifle for his evening watch of the property. Once the family was secure for the night, he began his rounds, keeping watch over the pens close to the houses.

Katherine had seemed preoccupied at dinner. Apparently the shirts she’d been making had been selling so well that Mr. Hastings increased his order to include women’s blouses. The ladies went on and on about them all night. As far as he was concerned, one blouse was as good as another. He’d seen plenty of finery in Hazel Greene; it didn’t impress him much. He had never really fit in with “high society,” as his father liked to call it. There was something refreshingly honest about people who worked off the land. Clothing was functional. Back home, women had closets larger than some of the bedrooms here. He definitely liked this simpler life.

Shelton guffawed out loud at the irony.
Life is not simpler out here. Whoever coined that phrase should have his head examined.

There was one thing about life in Hazel Greene that he did prefer, however, and that was the use of coal for cooking and heating. It lasted longer than wood and didn’t require all that chopping.

He decided to sit in a central location between the three houses to listen for any trouble. He leaned against a large boulder that marked the borders of the three properties and waited.

The sky darkened quickly after the sun went down. A chilly wind licked the back of his neck. Shelton pulled up the lapels on his woolen coat.

Crack.
A twig snapped behind him. He reached for his rifle and turned.

“Shelton, where are you?” Katherine called softly. Shelton lowered the rifle. “Over here.” She slowly emerged from the darkness. “What are you doing out here?” “I wanted to talk with you.”

Shelton wagged his head. “Sometimes you do very foolish things.” He pointed to his rifle. “Don’t you realize how dangerous this is?”