A Baby For Christmas

Still looking into his eyes, she leaned closer to whisper in his ear, “That’s a vow I can make honestly.”

The smile fled from his eyes.

She almost wished she hadn’t reminded him of the dishonesty they’d engaged in...vowing before God to something they didn’t mean to do. But they both understood the step they had taken together.

He patted her hand as if he wanted her to forget that part of the day.

“I must be on my way.” Pastor Manly wished Louise and Nate all the best before Aunt Bea escorted him to the door.

As soon as she returned, Nate spoke loud enough for the others to hear. “I have things to attend to.”

“You’ll be back. You’ll want to stay with your new wife.” Aunt Bea turned pink as a summer rose. “Louise, show him your room.” Poor Aunt Bea could hardly choke the words out.

“What about Missy?” Louise found herself as choked as Aunt Bea. She had to think of a way to refuse.

It was the most uncomfortable moment in her life.

* * *

Nate had things to attend to, but he couldn’t seem to budge from his chair as Aunt Bea’s words blared through his head. She expected them to stay in the same room. Of course she would. They were now man and wife. In the sight of God.

Poor Louise had looked about to faint more than once throughout the long afternoon. Who cared about cake and what it meant? Why couldn’t they all just get on with their business?

But stay the night in the same room? That was taking this pretend marriage too far. “We’ll wait until the baby is born,” he announced.

Aunt Bea made a protesting noise.

He noticed Louise’s shoulders rise, as if she was trying to hide from her aunt and his ma who were about to unleash protests.

Nate’s knee had started to bob up and down and he pressed his free hand to it, his other still clutching Louise’s on the tabletop next to the uneaten piece of cake. Neither of them had touched it after the startling predictions of a long wedded life and a large family. He would release her hand, but he felt the tension in every finger and suspected she might bolt from the table. Perhaps from the house. He couldn’t allow that, not when he’d caught glimpses of Vic wandering past the yard. No doubt wondering what was going on that required Pastor Manly’s presence.

Or did he hold tight to Louise for fear his own legs would bolt for the door, knocking over chairs and perhaps breaking to pieces the flowered teacups made of such fine china that they were almost transparent? The little handles were surely designed to make a man feel as clumsy as an ox.

His ma spoke up, ending the echoing silence. “Are you coming home, Nate? You’re welcome to bring Louise.”

Louise’s hand spasmed beneath his. He had to force himself to remain calm and refrain from squeezing her fingers any tighter.

“Ma, we leave on the stagecoach tomorrow morning. I have to get things organized. If Aunt Bea will allow it, I’ll sleep on the sofa here so we can get going early.” It wasn’t that early and Louise didn’t need any help getting herself ready, but it would enable him to be close by, should Vic grow more troublesome.

“Of course,” Aunt Bea said.

“Then I must get at the preparations. Ma, would you like me to escort you home?”

“I’m ready.”

Aunt Bea gathered up the dishes Ma had brought and held them while Ma pulled on her woolen shawl and winter gloves.

Vic ducked out of sight around the end of the block as Nate stepped from the house. He would confront the man later.

Behind him, the key turned in the lock. Good. Louise hadn’t forgotten to take precautions.

At home he packed his few belongings. In truth, he had little preparation to do. In the morning, he’d take Missy and Louise with him to the depot. He’d ride his horse beside the stage when they left. But despite having made all the arrangements he could for now, he was in no hurry to return to Louise and their pretend marriage.

And he had one necessary thing to do. He left the house and crossed to Aunt Bea’s house, suspecting he’d find Vic lingering nearby.

The man must have seen him approach, for he ducked behind a building. Nate strode in that direction.

Vic pressed against the wall of a back shed, but at Nate’s approach he straightened, jammed his hand to his hips and gave Nate one of his dark scowls.

Nate paid the scowl no mind. He stopped a few feet from Vic. “Thought you’d like to know that Louise and I got married this afternoon.”

Vic’s expression didn’t change one iota. The man was an expert at hiding his feelings. “That baby ain’t yours.”

“That’s not what the law says.” He knew that the wife’s husband was the legal father to any of her children, even though Louise had been clear about this being Gordie’s baby, lest he get the idea he should care about the little one.

Vic’s scowl turned to a leer. “How about that sweet little Missy?”

Nate narrowed his eyes. Other than that, he would not give the man the satisfaction of seeing how his question riled him. “She’s now my sister-in-law.” It wasn’t accurate, but close enough. “And I will protect her, just as I will protect my wife and her child.”

Vic gave a mirthless laugh. “My, ain’t you all righteous and noble? But you ain’t got no claim to Missy. I been waiting a long time for her. Someday she’ll be mine.”

“When the sun falls from the sky and lands at your feet, maybe.” He widened his stance, leaned back on his heels and crossed his arms as if he was in complete control of the situation. He could only hope and pray he was. But would God listen to the prayers of a man who made vows invoking God’s name with no intention of fulfilling those vows?

“Be careful.” Nate’s voice was low, but he made sure every syllable carried a warning. “You bother them again and you won’t be facing two helpless women.” Not that they were entirely helpless, but what chance did they stand before a ruthless man like Vic?

Vic snorted. “You think I’m ascared of you?”

“I suggest you should be.” He stalked away without waiting for the man to answer. If Vic should threaten Louise or Missy in any way, Nate would make sure he regretted it to the depths of his heart.

It was dark before he went back to Aunt Bea’s house and knocked. The key turned and Louise pulled the door open.

“I wondered if you’d left without us.”

“Nope. What kind of groom would leave his bride on their wedding night?” He didn’t succeed in keeping the teasing from his voice.

“A pretend one.” She stepped back to let him enter, then locked the door behind him.

“If I didn’t mean to take you with me, why would I bother with a pretend marriage that involved vows made before God and man?” It still bothered him to swear falsely.

“It plagues my conscience, too, you know. But Vic threatened to sell my baby.” Her arms cradled her stomach, protecting the unborn one. “I don’t doubt he would.”

Nate took his time about hanging his hat and coat. Done, his insides somewhat calmed, he turned to Louise and rested his hands on her shoulders. At the trembling beneath his palms, he pulled her closer, till only an inch separated them. He bowed his head over her hair. “I will protect you and your baby. I will see you get safely to Eden Valley Ranch where you will be given shelter for as long as you need it.”

“That is so good to know.” She stepped back and went to the sitting room, waving her hand for him to follow.

He wished he knew if she meant it was good to know he would protect her or good to know she would be welcome at the ranch.

A pile of blankets rested on a chair, reminding them both that the future would be different from anything they’d known.