Page 11 of Wild Sweet Wilderness (Missouri #1)

Simon had been gone for four days, and the thought of him was ever in Berry’s mind. She thought about his homestead a great deal, too, visualizing a tight, neat cabin and outbuildings, seeing herself there as mistress of it all, loved, cherished beyond all Simon’s other possessions. Sometimes in the evenings she would walk out toward the river and give herself up to the recollection of his hands gripping her arms, his mouth against hers, and the lean tautness of his body when he lifted her off her feet to kiss her. At other times she was disgusted with herself for lusting after the tall trader with the quiet, dark face and blue-black eyes.

Berry worked from sunup to sunset each day, enjoying Biedy’s cheerful companionship, Rachel’s bright, happy face, and the wonder of the baby who slept peacefully most of the time. The double cabin had been scrubbed from top to bottom, the clothes washed and put away, candles made, corn ground for bread and cakes. Fain supplied an abundance of fresh-killed foul for hearty meals, and Berry and Biedy scoured the woods to find salad greens, poke, and fresh green shoots from the wild grapevines to cook with the meat.

Israel had learned to catch the huge catfish that frolicked in the river, and Biedy had taught Berry how to bake them covered with red clay and buried beneath the coals of the outdoor fire.

“I ’spect Silas ’n’ the boys will be here tomorry or the next day to fetch me home,”

Biedy said one evening. She sat in Fain’s big chair, her feet barely reaching the floor, and cuddled Faith in her arms.

“It’s goin’ to be plumb miserable leavin’ this little lovey. Are ya sure you won’t come along home with me, Rachel? You’re welcome. You’re just as welcome as plum blossoms in the spring. You ’n’ Berry both. Why, my land! Two unhitched women in this wild place is rare as a green rooster! There’s men all over this territory what’ll be flockin’ about ya like bears after honey when they hear. Now, if’n my boys was a mite older, I’d steal ya away for ’em.”

Rachel moved on swift, merry feet to set the pewter mugs on the shelf.

“Thank you, Biedy. It’ll be a lucky girl that gets you for a mother-in-law.”

Rachel had bloomed since the baby was born. Her blue eyes were luminous, her red lips always faintly, lovingly smiling. Overnight she had turned into a beautiful, confident woman who took pride in her appearance. Her hair was shiny clean, pulled up in a pompadour with soft tendrils curling about her face. Her work apron was always turned so the clean side was out when the men came in at mealtime.

From her place beside the door where she was crushing corn into meal on the grinding stone, Berry watched her. Although not a word had been said, she was sure that Rachel had fallen in love with Fain. Berry watched, anxious for a sign that he had a romantic interest in her. Last night the two of them had walked to the edge of the house yard and stood quietly talking. Even Biedy noticed that Fain spent an uncommon amount of time near Rachel and Faith. One time when Fain bent over the baby and chucked her beneath the chin, Biedy winked at Berry, her eyes bright with mischievous delight.

Berry was so deep in thought that when the object of those thoughts came through the dogtrot and stopped at the door, she was startled. Fain stood with an arm along the door frame, his lips pursed, his eyes squinted in thought.

“It’s plumb queer how womenfolk can take a perfectly good cabin and smell it all up with soap and flowers and honeycakes.”

His voice boomed in the thick quiet of the room.

Rachel was suddenly busy straightening the candle holders, her back turned so the blush in her cheeks didn’t show.

“Go on wid ya, Fain. Ya ain’t never ate such good vittles in all your born days.”

Biedy was never at a loss for words. Rachel blessed her, then wanted to choke her for what she said next.

“If’n you had any gumption at all, you’d not let Rachel ’n’ Berry get one step off this here place. You ’n’ Simon been floatin’ ’round free long enough. It’s time ya took a wife, got ya some younguns while ya still can. Ya know what Silas says? He says them what don’t, sooner cain’t than them what does.”

Even Fain was at a loss for words.

“Now . . . Biedy. Ah . . . I made somethin’ for Faith.”

He stepped back, reached behind him, and came through the door holding his handy work in front of him.

“Oh . . .”

The gasp came from Rachel.

“Oh, Fain! A cradle!”

“It ain’t very fancy, but the wood is smooth.”

He set the cradle on the table and stood back, a shy grin on his face.

“It’s the best white pine I could find on the place.”

“It’s beautiful!”

Rachel’s eyes were shining.

“Well, I do declare! It’s sightly, Fain. Plumb sightly! But then I oughtta’ve knowed ya could do it, ’n’ easylike, too. Silas said ya was a great hand with tools.”

Biedy shoved Faith into his arms.

“Here, hold the youngun while we fix up some paddin’.”

“There’s a feather pillow in the wagon, Rachel. I’ll get it.”

Berry quickly dusted the powdery cornmeal from her hands.

“You’ll need a wax cloth to cover,”

Biedy called.

“That youngun’s a fierce eater, sleeper, ’n’ wetter.”

Rachel’s eyes drank in the picture of Fain with her child in his arms. Their eyes met and she almost cried at the look on his face. It was a kind of desperate longing! Could it be for her? Her heart told her it was, but her mind said it couldn’t be. This man wasn’t like any man she had ever met before. And this was a new, wild, wonderful feeling she had for him—and scary, too.

The women made a big to-do about getting the cradle ready. Finally the padding was settled to Biedy’s satisfaction and a soft blanket was put in place. Fain had the honor of laying Faith in her new bed for the first time.

“It’s perfect!”

The smile on Rachel’s lips matched the shine in her eyes.

“It’s just the right height to keep off drafts, and so balanced I only need to give it a little nudge once in a while and it’ll keep rocking.”

“Wal, I’ll swan to goodness!”

Biedy exclaimed.

“It just keeps on a-rockin’. It’s big enough so she can sleep in it till she’s scrouged out by another youngun.”

Rachel’s cheeks flamed and Berry hurried to smooth things for her as she always did.

“If you can make something as fine as this, Fain, how come you’ve not made a settle chair or a gate-leg table?”

“What for?”

His eyes twinkled, knowing she was filling the embarrassing silence that followed Biedy’s remark.

“All I need is a stout chair ’n’ a table to eat ’n’ work on.”

“Humpt!”

Biedy snorted.

“I always thought ya was brainier ’n’ that! Womenfolk like a thin’ to brag on. Somethin’ not ever’body’s got.”

A rumble of laughter broke from Fain.

“Do you think you ’n’ Berry can take care of things for a while so me ’n’ Rachel can walk off down by the river?”

“Well, I reckon! I thought ya wasn’t goin’ to ask. Get a-goin’ ’n’ do your courtin’. Silas will be a-comin’ fer me. He’s a marryin’ preacher, ya know. Married up a couple jist last week what come up from Saint Charles ’cause the magistrate was a-lolly-gaggin’ around down to Saint Louie.”

Rachel looked neither left nor right as she made for the door. Her heart was pounding, her knees were suddenly weak, and she had never felt so warm before in her life. Biedy’s words were like blisters on her face. Why, the very idea, for her to think that Fain . . . He must be as embarrassed as she was. She’d never be able to look at him now, no matter how wonderful her heart told her he was.

The evening breeze was pleasant against Rachel’s hot face, but she was not of a mind to notice. Extremely conscious of the man who walked beside her, she went down the path beneath the towering walnut, cottonwood, and sycamore trees to the sandbar and its miniature forest of willow and poplar seedlings that had sprung up with the coming of spring. Fleets of goslings and ducklings cruised in the backwater and Rachel paused to look and to smile. A whippoorwill swooped overhead, trailing his melodious repeated cry. Evening sounds echoed the peace and contentment of the end of the day with a chorus from the crickets and bullfrogs along the riverbank.

“You’re goin’ to have to look at me sometime, ya know.”

Fain put his hand on her arm and pulled her to a halt beneath the overhang of a clay bank.

“Are ya lettin’ what Biedy said get your goat?”

He chuckled.

“Biedy’s got a runnin’ off at the mouth, but she means well.”

“I know she does, but sometimes . . . she comes out with such personal . . . things. . . .”

She couldn’t help but smile when she saw his grin.

“I didn’t need no nudgin’ from Biedy. All day I’ve been thinkin’ of ways to get ya off to myself.”

“I’m afeared we’ve been a great bother,”

she said, disbelieving she had heard him correctly. She was stumbling for words, so surprised to find herself alone with him.

“Ya ain’t been no bother, lass. You’ve made me see how much pleasure it is to see a pretty woman ever’day.”

There was something in the tone of his voice that drew her eyes to his face. She almost forgot to breathe, lost in the beauty and depth of his eyes, which seemed to be reaching out to her.

“Do ya like it here, lass?”

“Here?”

“Here. On my land, in my house?”

Rachel took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves so she could answer. He moved closer to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

“It’s a lovely place,”

she whispered.

“It can be your home. Yours and Faith’s . . . if’n ya c’n take me with it.”

“Oh, Fain! You don’t have to feel responsible for us. You’ve already helped . . .”

“Responsible! Hell, lass, do ya think that’s why I’m a-askin’ ya to stay?”

His arms drew her to him and hers went around his waist. She hid her face in the clean cloth of his shirt.

“I don’t mind tellin’ ya I’ve been a-fightin’ it,”

he whispered in her hair.

“Then it hit me square that you and the babe could be movin’ on to Biedy’s or someplace else and the love I’ve got for you and the little button would be a-tearin’ me apart.”

Rachel felt a thrill catch hold of her and almost wrench her heart out of her breast.

“Are you . . . sure?”

His hand tilted her face toward him.

“I’ve never been so sure ’bout anythin’. I’ve got to kiss ya, lass. I’ve been a-wantin’ to for so long. . . .”

As she saw his face lowering to hers, she was instantly conscious of how badly she wanted his kiss. He set his lips on hers gently and she kissed him back. Desire spread out across her groin and down her thighs. She pressed her lips fiercely to his. His warmth suffused her and she pressed closer to the wonderful masculine strength of his body and inhaled his pleasing scent. The kiss deepened and was long; she could not bear to have it end. In it was the essence of love between them, the rich, warm, earthy mating of male and female.

He drew his lips from hers at last, and raised his head to look at her, and she smiled at him, then laughed joyously. The laughter rose within her and bubbled up in her throat in sheer delight. He had been struck with the same jolt that had struck her.

“Is this really happening?”

“If not, it’s the best dream I’ve ever had!”

He caught her hand and drew her toward a grassy spot. He sank down, his arms encircling her skirts. For an instant he buried his face in the bodice of her dress.

“Mmm, you smell so good.”

Then she was on his lap, swung back in his arms, looking up into his face.

“You’ll be mine, darlin’ girl,”

he said in hushed tones.

“My woman, in my house. I can come in and look at ya anytime I want.”

He hugged her to him, and they began to laugh. They laughed like two children sharing a secret.

“Fain,”

she whispered through his kisses. “Fain!”

She clung to him, eyes closed, forgetting—not caring—that he had not yet said he loved her, only that he had a love for her and Faith, conscious only of his warm strong nearness and the darkness that enclosed them. With her arms about his neck, they kissed, soft, loving kisses, while they laughed and whispered.

“Do you love me, lass?”

“Yes, I do, Fain. Yes, I do.”

“I love you, too.”

“Oh, Fain, I might swoon, I’m so happy.”

“Don’t do that, lass. I want to kiss you some more.”

“I can’t believe that you love me. Say it again.”

“I love you, love you. I never thought I’d love again, but I do.”

“I’m so glad it’s me.”

“I do love you, lass. Oh, so much. I’ll be good to ya, keep ya safe as I know how.”

Sometime later, Rachel pulled herself back from his arms to whisper, “Fain, you know Asa never married me. I never was with him . . . willingly. You know that Faith . . .”

“Faith’ll have a pa to love her.”

His fingers worked at the nape of her neck.

“I was there to help put life in her. She’s mine.”

Rachel’s heart turned over. She wanted to cry, she wanted to sing. All the years spent without security or love in her life made his words the most beautiful she had ever heard. Yet, more had to be said.

“Berry’s almost like my own. I can’t leave her till . . .”

she choked off the words.

“Ya didn’t think I’d turn her out, did ya, lass?”

He kissed her hard on the lips.

“Her home’s with us for as long as she wants.”

He chuckled and Rachel could feel it against her full breasts.

“It won’t be for long, I’m a-thinkin’. When Simon comes back and sees the calf eyes Fish makes at her, and after Biedy spreads the word upriver, she’ll have suitors aplenty.”

Rachel rested in the security of his arms. She had never felt so safe in her life as she felt here in the wilderness in this man’s arms. His fingers flicked gently over her body, touching her lightly through the thin cloth of her dress and tracing over the firm mounds of her breast. His caresses were gentle and loving, strangely devoid of passion. It was a delightful feeling for Rachel, who had known only the rough, cruel touch of a man’s hands.

Fain’s nose nuzzled her hair and she lifted her mouth and shaped it to his. Her lips clung, soft and sweet and hotly exciting. A husky growl came from his throat and he pulled away from her.

“It won’t always be like this, sweet lass,”

he whispered shakily.

“I’m a lusty man, but I’ll not hurt ya, or force ya. . . .”

“You’ll have to teach me loving,”

she murmured, and melted once more into his arms.

“I’ll not have ya till you’re healed and a-wantin’ me. I can wait, if’n I can touch ya, hold ya . . . know you’re mine.”

His voice was deep with feeling and she almost cried with the wonder of being loved and wanted.

The time sped by. The moon came up over the river, its light casting one shadow of the two lovers. Fain’s hands on her breasts had started the milk to flow. The wetness against his palms sent rivers of desire through him. He could feel his need rising. Painful as it was to leave her, he loosened his arms and lifted her off his lap.

“Whoa now, lass! We got ta stop this while we can. I’ll not be fit ta take ya back to the womenfolk,”

he teased.

Rachel giggled happily. All shyness between them was gone. In its place was an intimacy so precious that she could scarcely contain her bubbling spirit. Her life up to now had been one long time of despair, despite the love and kindness Berry so unselfishly gave her. Still she couldn’t believe this wonderful thing had happened to her, and she kept turning her head, trying to make out Fain’s features in the darkness. Fain was just as aware of the blending of their spirits as she was, for he held her close in his arms for a long moment, unwilling to let her move as much as a breath away from him.

“It’s grand, what’s happened to us,”

he said against her mouth.

“Yes!”

she could feel his life pounding against her breast and wondered if he could feel the thud of her heart against his.

“Sweet, sweet Rachel,”

he murmured and kissed her quickly. With his arm around her, he urged her up the path to the house.

“Berry’s heart is set on going to the land her pa signed on,”

Rachel said quietly.

“Simon said as much. She’ll get the notion out of her head and settle down here. It wouldn’t do at all for her to go off ’n’ try to set up a homestead with only the slave to help ’er. Linc’ll be back lookin’ for ’er, if’n she didn’t kill him. If’n she did, there’ll be the Indians and river scum a-lookin’ for a woman.”

“She’s got pride. I’m thinking she won’t want to stay for fear she’s puttin’ us out.”

“Don’t fret. We’ll make her see the right of it.”

The steadiness of his voice calmed Rachel’s fears. When he pulled her to a stop in the shadows at the corner of the house, her arms went up around his neck and she clung to him.

“Fain . . . I got to ask. . . . You’re sure that . . . later on you won’t mind about Faith?”

“I’m sure, lass.”

His eyes met hers and he spoke softly, but there was a firm sincerity in his voice.

“I reckon there’s more to bein’ a pa than startin’ the babe. I took her for mine when I helped ya birth her.”

Tears glittered in Rachel’s eyes and she smiled through them. The smile trembled at the corners of her mouth.

“Thank you.”

Fain found her trembling lips and kissed her. She responded and pressed body and lips to his. Her arms, tight around him, told him more than her simple word of thanks.

* * *

The cabin was dark, but outside, in the forest, the birds were beginning to proclaim daybreak. Berry woke and lay for a moment, listening, trying to understand why her mind refused to rest. And then suddenly it came back to her, that incredible news Rachel had whispered to her in the darkness after she had returned from walking out with Fain. She and Fain were in love! He wanted to marry her. He wanted Berry, Rachel, and Faith to live with him, here in this cabin. It would be their home.

Berry was wildly happy for Rachel, although a small part of her felt a loss so acute that it was painful. She rolled over on her back and stretched her arms out wide on either side of her, as if to push away the guilt about the naggling shaft of jealousy that pierced her heart. She hadn’t dreamed that Rachel would meet a man and fall in love in such a short space of time. Rachel had assured Berry that Fain wanted her to stay with them, but of course that was impossible. Rachel was entitled to a home place of her own. She needn’t feel responsible for her; she was a grown woman now. She and Israel and the other Negro, if she could hire him, would go on and build a homestead out in the wilderness.

Biedy was delighted with the wedding plans.

“Glory! Fain’s got more gumption than I gave him credit for,”

she exclaimed gleefully as she prepared the morning mush.

“Now, if’n we can do us a mite of arm twistin’, we jist might get Simon to do some askin’, ’n’ Berry’d be all settled too.”

“Biedy! No! Don’t you dare say . . . anything to him!”

The words popped out of Berry’s mouth and astonishment froze the lines of her scarlet-red face.

“I’m not a-marryin’ to find me a home place! Especially Simon Witcher!”

She grabbed up the water bucket and fled the cabin. Rachel’s troubled eyes followed her.

“Wait up, Miss Berry.”

Fish came around the corner of the house and she almost plowed into him.

“I’ll fetch the water.”

“There’s no need. I can do it.”

“Do you mind if I walk along?”

He fell in step without waiting for her answer.

“Fain says he and Miss Rachel are going to be married.”

Berry nodded without speaking.

“He’s going to build a room onto the cabin. Plans to start right away, he said. It shouldn’t take over a couple of days with the Cornicks and Simon lending a hand.”

They came to the narrow path leading to the spring. Fish took the bucket from her hand and stepped aside so she could precede him down the path.

“You won’t have to be moving on, now. I’m glad, Miss Berry.”

“Fain is marrying Rachel, not the whole family,”

she said tightly.

“Of course I’ll be going on to my land.”

“But Fain said . . . he wants you to stay.”

“It’s kind of him, but I’ll make out fine.”

“I was hoping you’d stay.”

She turned and looked into pleading eyes on a level with her own. He looked young, boyish, scarcely able to look after himself in this harsh land.

“You can’t homestead alone, Miss Berry!”

“You don’t know that. I don’t even know that until I try,”

she said crossly.

“I’m going to have a try at it, Fish. Don’t you understand that I can’t expect Rachel and Fain to take care of me for the rest of my life. Besides that, I want to amount to something, have things, and I can’t do that living off someone else. And—ohhh . . . !”

Her voice broke off in mid-sentence. They had reached the pool that formed beneath the spring and a man was bathing there. His naked back and buttocks were turned toward her. His wet, black hair glistened in the morning sun. Berry turned quickly and started back down the path. Simon! Simon had come back!

“I’ll bring the water, miss,”

Fish called after her.

Berry scarcely heard him for the pounding of her heart.

She couldn’t seem to move her feet fast enough to get away.

Her only thought was to escape back to the house and the safety of Rachel and Biedy’s presence.

Simon’s wilderness-trained ears had heard the voices coming down the path toward the pool before he had glimpsed the slender body and dark hair.

He turned quickly, presenting his back to her, knowing it was impossible to leave the pool.

All his senses were focused on the woman who had been constantly in his mind.

What is she thinking, he thought, when she looks at me with eyes the color of young willow leaves in the spring? Suddenly he felt a sickness in his stomach.

A sickness he had felt once before.

He’d stepped into quicksand and was sinking.

He’d thought surely he would die.

Only Fain’s quick thinking and strong arms had saved him.

He was scared like that now.

This woman could take his heart and more of his soul than a man was prepared to give.

What had gone wrong with his life? He’d thought he’d planned it well.

He’d take a woman when the time was right, when he was ready to settle down, when he’d seen all the country he wanted to see.

He hadn’t planned on meeting a woman who would become his joy, the all-consuming factor in his life.

His thoughts were an unwielding jumble in his mind.

The last five days had been long and full of tempestuous thoughts.

He had forced himself to stay away from Fain’s homestead, forced himself to work on his own until he was so weary each evening that he slept as if drugged.

Last night he had gotten out of bed at midnight and sat on the door stone looking out over the moonlit river.

The loneliness of his life had seemed to press down on him.

At first light he had pulled his canoe up onto the riverbank below Fain’s place.

His eyes had searched the landscape, a habit of almost a lifetime, before he had walked up the slope to the house.

Simon had finished bathing and was dressing when Fain walked down to the pool.

“Mornin’. Fish said I had a critter in my pond.”

“Mornin’.”

Simon put his hat on his wet head and picked up his rifle.

“News travels fast. This place is getting plumb crowded.”

“You’ll have to watch yourself ’bout jumpin’ bareassed in my pond now that there’ll be womenfolk on the homestead.”

Fain’s grin widened.

“Permanent?”

Simon jerked his head around to ask the question.

“I’m takin’ a wife.”

Fain narrowed his eyes as he watched his friend’s face.

“A wife?”

Simon echoed.

“Rachel. I asked her last night. Silas can tie the knot when he comes for Biedy. It’s just as bindin’ as if that drunken magistrate from Saint Charles did it.”

“Isn’t this kinda sudden?”

“I reckon it is. But I been a-thinkin’ ’bout it for a time, but didn’t reckon I had a chance. She’s a woman that’s not had it easy, Simon. I reckon to change that.”

“I’m right pleased for you, Fain. I reckon she’ll make you a good wife.”

Fain looked pleased with the world.

“I plan to add on a room. Ya got any plans for the next few days?”

“None that can’t be put off.”

Simon smiled back at his friend.

“I plan on using that muscle of yours one of these days.”

He stuck out his hand.

Fain bellowed with laughter, grabbed Simon’s hand, and tried to jerk him off his feet. Simon was prepared and braced himself. It was a friendly tug of war the two men played every time they had a chance and ended when Fain gave in and dropped his hand.

“Not every man gets two women to do for him when he takes a wife.”

Simon bent and retrieved his rifle.

The smile left Fain’s face.

“Rachel’s worried some about the girl. She’s got it in her head to homestead.”

“Hasn’t she got over that notion? That’s the most hairbrained thing I ever heard of! Good Lord, Fain! What’s she thinkin’ she’s gonna do for a cabin? She can’t live in that wagon come winter. And . . . every no-good in the territory would be a-beatin’ a path to her door . . . and the Osage’d love to get their hands on a young white woman even if she does have black hair. Them green eyes of hers would be enough. She don’t have the brains of a flea if she thinks she’d last a month out there. She’s not going! That’s final! I’ll see to it.”

Fain clapped him on the shoulder.

“You do that, Simon. You just go right ahead and do that.”

He grinned at the sight of the stiff back stalking ahead of him up the path toward the house.

Simon’s eyes met Berry’s the instant he walked into the eating room. They stared at each other for a moment that was so still it seemed as if time had stopped moving. He looked at her searchingly and nodded in greeting, but he didn’t speak.

Fain came in behind him. “Morning!”

His voice boomed happily and his twinkling eyes honed in on Rachel’s face. Her slightly flushed cheeks made her blue eyes seem all the brighter.

“Mornin’,”

she murmured.

Fain went to her, put his arms around her, and kissed her on the lips. He was announcing to all that this was his woman. “Mornin’,”

he whispered just to her. The intimate greeting was so sweet it made her blush.

“Well, Fain! If’n ya ain’t the beatin’est man. I do declare!”

Biedy turned the meat in the spider skillet.

“I swan to goodness if’n you ain’t got that girl to blushin’ somethin’ awful. Now, if’n it was me ya was a-kissin’, I’d just stand there bare-faced ’n’ let ya.”

She cackled with laughter that turned to shrieks when Fain came toward her.

“Ya behave yourself, Fain. I was a-funnin’! Mind me, now. I got this hot grease and I’m liable ta spill it. Word might get back to Silas. . . . Fain! Simon, make him behave.”

She dodged a peck on the cheek.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Biedy. He’s bigger than I am.”

“Rachel . . . you goin’ to let your man go ’round kissin’ women? If’n ya do, they’ll be lined up from here to the river.”

“Then I won’t lack for company, will I?”

There was light, happy laughter in Rachel’s voice. She stepped over to the fireplace oven and pulled out a pan of bread. Fain roared with laughter and patted her affectionately on the shoulder.

Simon shuffled his feet, his dark eyes watching the horseplay.

“I’m right pleased that you and Fain will be wed. He don’t amount to much, but maybe you can make something out of him.”

Rachel glanced at him and was surprised to see his usually somber face creased with smiles.

“I’ll surely try.”

Berry had never seen Rachel act so young and carefree. Her eyes followed her light steps from the hearth to the table, and she vowed silently that she would do nothing, say nothing, about not making her home here until after the wedding. But, law! It would be hard to leave here without Rachel. It had been just the two of them for so long.

The morning was spent making huckleberry pies and cleaning and picking the pinfeathers from a giant tom turkey Simon had brought to the kitchen an hour after breakfast. As they worked the women made plans for the wedding that would be held when Silas came to take Biedy home. They decided to decorate the room with honeysuckle and plum blossoms, and Rachel’s good dress would have to be washed and ironed. Biedy wished she could get word to Silas to bring their eldest son, Isaac, and his fiddle. There was a fair chance, she said, that he would do it knowing a birthing was always a cause for a celebration.

Rachel and Fain spent considerable time outside the cabin marking off where the new room would be built. They decided that the kitchen side of the cabin would be more suitable because the stone fireplace could also be used to heat the room. Impatient to start, Fain bellowed to Simon, Fish, and the two Negroes. They shouldered their axes and went into the dense woods to fell trees.

The emptiness that had lain heavy as a stone on Berry’s heart since she had first learned that Rachel would be staying here with Fain gradually lifted. It was wonderful to see Rachel happy and to know her dearest friend was loved and would be taken care of by a good man.

Biedy talked nonstop.

“Land sakes! But it’s goin’ to be a grand day for a weddin’. We’ll have to pick us a fine mess of dandelion greens. Pshaw! If’n I’d-a knowed, I’d-a brought mincemeat for a cake. I do love a weddin’, or a buryin’, or a cabin raisin’. It’s them times when standoffish folks ain’t so standoffish.”

She paused for a breath.

“Lordy, what I wouldn’t give for that crock o’ honey I got in the cellar. We could make us up some honeycakes.”

“Sounds like we’ll have food aplenty,”

Rachel said when she got the chance.

“There’s them folk camped down by the runoff. Course, I’d just as soon they come off without that crazy ol’ woman what don’t know straight up about birthin’. It’d be plumb enjoyable ta have us a big bunch here for the weddin’.”

Berry’s eyes met Rachel’s across the room. They exchanged smiles. The smiling, gentle Rachel in no way resembled the pale, frightened woman who for years had lived with the terrible acceptance of a woman used and scorned.

“I got to slip off and see ’bout that baby what’s almost mine. My, my, my, she’s a little darlin’. Not at all colicky.”

Biedy skipped out the door as light on her feet as a young girl.

Berry went to Rachel and put her arms around her.

“I couldn’t be happier for you. You deserve this and much, much more.”

Tears spurted in Rachel’s eyes and she sucked her lips between her teeth to still her trembling.

“I was afraid you’d be disappointed . . . that I was goin’ to stay here. He’s so good and gentle, Berry. He wants a home place with a woman in it to cook and clean . . . and have his . . . babes. He . . .”

Berry shook her gently.

“You don’t have to tell me what he wants. Do you love him?”

“I don’t know love, except for you . . . and now Faith.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“It’s all new to me. I’ve lived for so long in . . . despair. I feel safe with him. I know he’ll not hurt me.”

“It’s enough,”

Berry said gently.

“I liked him right away. And after he helped with the birthin’, I knew he was a good man.”

Rachel wiped her eyes on the end of her apron.

“I’m glad you like him. It’s all turned out so much better than I ever dreamed it would. Sometimes I think I’m dreaming and this isn’t happening at all.”

“It was just meant to be, Rachel. It was just meant to be that you’d find him. I’m so glad you did.”