* * *
Tad’s heart thundered in his chest. What had Birdie been thinking to put herself and their baby in danger? He pushed Brodie harder.
“Slow down, Tad,” yelled Ethan from behind. “I told you she was all right. You’re going to ruin that beautiful animal of yours.”
Tad sat up straight and slowed the animal. Crazy with worry, he’d been leaning over Brodie’s neck to urge him to go faster. He gave the horse a friendly pat. “Sorry, fella. That woman’s gonna be the death of me. Guess that doesn’t mean you have to die also.”
Detective Ethan rode up along side. “She is fine, Tad. Don’t you think I’d tell you if it was otherwise?”
“Yeah, guess so, but why did they take her to the hospital?”
“Because, even though she wasn’t hurt, the Smiths felt she should be checked out just to make sure the baby is doing okay.”
Voice choked, he asked, “She’s not having any pain, is she?”
“No, Tad. I wouldn’t keep something like that from you. She fainted, was only out for a minute, but she didn’t fall and hit her head or anything like that.”
Tad nodded and they continued to town in silence. When they reached Fourth Street, Tad waved at Ethan and turned right. The detective would go pick up the surrey at the bank and bring it to the hospital. Surely they would let him take Birdie home.
Mrs. Smith was sitting at Birdie’s bedside when the nurse escorted him into the room. The older woman raised her fingers to her lips before he blurted out his wife’s name. She lay on her right side facing them. Lips slightly open as she breathed, her features were relaxed as she slept. Tad breathed a sigh of relief. Surely if she were in pain, her face would show it.
Mrs. Smith stood and beckoned him to follow her outside. She pulled the door closed to not disturb Birdie. “She and the baby are both fine, Mr. Lockhart. Dr. Floyd just left and confirmed they are both in no danger.”
“Did he say why she fainted?”
“He said probably the excitement, the tension. You know she saved all our lives.” The woman teared up. “One of the men had our girl, Lauren, around the neck and a gun at her head.”
She plopped one hand on a hip and pointed a finger at him with the other. “You mark my word, the men in this town will be singing a different tune about your wife from here on out. She killed two of the robbers and wounded the third. Plus, she saved the citizens’ money.” Face pinched, she shook her head. “Such a shame one of our bank’s customers was killed by the leader of their gang.”
Overcome with relief, Tad hugged the older woman. “Thank you for taking such good care of Birdie, Mrs. Smith. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“Call me Lucinda.” She blushed but her smile was radiant. “Think nothing of it. Why it was the least I could do. She is a brave woman and I’m sorry we misjudged her in the past. But, that won’t happen again.” Looks like Birdie had made a lifelong friend. No doubt she’d now have many more.
She took his arm and led him to the door. “You get on in there with your wife. I’ll leave you to help her get dressed.”
“Yes, ma’am. I expect Mr. Smith will want his supper soon too. Detective Ethan will be here in a minute with the surrey. I’m sure he’d be glad to take you home.”
“No need. I’ll telephone the bank from the lobby and Raymond will either come or send someone.” She patted his arm one more time, then turned and walked down the hall toward the stairs.
When he re-entered the room, Birdie was sitting on the side of the bed, stretching. Her face lit with joy and she stood and held her arms out to him. He enfolded her in his and with his face pressed against her hair, breathed deeply—lavender and Birdie. Her lips touched his neck sending a shiver through his frame. “Birdie, Birdie, how could you scare me so, put yourself and our baby at risk?”
“I know. It was foolish, but instinct took over.” She shrugged. “I didn’t think and I’m sorry. When that man’s arm circled Lauren’s neck, I couldn’t ignore her need…and then, the head honcho came in and shot that poor older man.” She pushed back and gazed up into his eyes. “Don’t you see? I had to do something.”
Heat suffused his face. He gripped her upper arms. “Why couldn’t you sit tight and let someone else take care of it?” He wanted to shake some sense into her, but when she gripped his forearms to steady herself, his temper cooled.
“Who, Tad? There wasn’t a soul in there with a gun but me.” Tears gathered in her eyes. It was evident she was sincere, but dammit… “Can you forgive me?”
“Honey, of course I can forgive you, but don’t expect me to forget.” His heart threated to choke him as he struggled to speak. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”
She laid her head on his chest. “I understand.”
“And I don’t imagine Mother, Maybelle, and Bethany will either. They’re all three fit to be tied. Wanted to come with me but I wouldn’t let them.” It was a good thing she couldn’t see his grin. He doubted the women in his family would let Birdie out of their sight until this baby arrived. Arrived, heck, probably until the baby was six months old. “Let’s get you dressed and home”
* * *
Tad chuckled as he watched the two horses pull the surrey out of the circular drive in front of the house and down the road towards town. It was Birdie’s first trip since the bank episode. For two weeks after the robbery attempt, town folks and country folks alike found an excuse to stop by and have a cup of coffee. Some brought baked goods, others tiny clothes for the baby. They had so much food, to keep it from wasting Mother sent much of it down to the bunkhouse. The men declared Birdie needed to prevent a holdup once a week. They’d never eaten so well.
Birdie and Bethany waved from the surrey. Bethany was driving. Since the bank robbery, the women had made a pact that Birdie wouldn’t leave the house without one of them. Today Bethany swore she needed fabric to make a new dress. No doubt next trip Mother and Sarah would need more fabric for the baby’s layette. Their love and concern for his wife warmed him inside. He was a lucky man.
His father had spent hours on the range and in the fields building this ranch up, making it prosperous, to leave to him. It was now his turn. He had one son already and if the coming child was also a boy, he wanted to have something to leave to him. He knew Birdie wanted a girl. That’d be fine with him too. When she married, he’d like to give the couple some land if they needed it.
Man, he was spending money, in his mind, he didn’t have. He better get busy and earn some more. Roscoe, the bull delivered by train the day Birdie arrived, had proven to be reliable when it came to performing his duties. And the offspring were healthy, strong animals. The ranch could earn a goodly sum by renting Roscoe out for breeding purposes. After he replaced the funds spent on Birdie’s Nest, he might branch out into breeding and raising horses.
He never dreamed he could be so content. For a man who hadn’t wanted to be leg-shackled, marriage suited him. There wasn’t a boring minute in his day, either. He’d never been happier—a wife he dearly loved, a son, another child on the way and a means to support them. What more could a man ask for? Nothing. Well, there was the matter of getting Birdie’s house built on time.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Bethany turned the Surrey onto River Road. There was no chance of Birdie getting bored on the trip as her sister-in-law talked the entire trip. “I don’t understand why you insist on coming out here, Birdie. It’s not likely anything else has been done. The women in this town have more sense than the men. It’s going to take a long time for the men of Waco to forget the detective episode, and they’re probably embarrassed it took a woman to stop those bank robbers.”
Birdie grinned at the young woman’s tirade. Sitting straight on the cushioned seat, Bethany shot her chin up a notch, and then reached over and patted Birdie’s leg. “I just don’t want you to be hurt anymore.”
“That’s sweet of you, but I’m okay.” Okay heck. Somehow she had to get this house built and she had just a year. Birdie sent up a little prayer.
Lord, please let the crew be working on my house.
They rounded a small curve and the site loomed in distance. Was that activity she saw? She leaned forward in the seat to better see. The site crawled with workers, more than had been on site before. She reached over and gripped Bethany’s leg. “Look, they’re working on my house.”
“Well, I’ll be. They sure are.” Bethany loosened Birdie’s grip on her thigh. “Ease up, you’re going to leave a bruise.”
Birdie jerked her hand back. “Sorry, I just can’t believe it. Look at all those people.” Her heart swelled and thumped wildly in her chest. She controlled her breathing in an attempt to slow it down. She didn’t want to get over excited and have another fainting spell. Wouldn’t her Ranger co-worker, Sergeant Ted Weaver, get a kick out of knowing she’d fainted under duress. No, he wouldn’t, either. There was more to the man than met the eye.
Bethany grinned at her. “I love seeing your face so lit up.”
Birdie didn’t realize the happiness showed on her face. Of course it did. How could she be so elated and it not?
Thank you, Lord!
Maybe there would be a chance to meet the deadline after all. For Aunt Patty’s sake, she hoped so.
She held onto to the arm of the bench-seat and pushed her feet against the floorboard to bounce as little as possible as they rolled over the ruts in the road. Bethany planned to get them as close to the site as she could.
Mr. Teague, face split in a happy grin, waited for them. He rushed over to help Birdie down while Bethany set the brake. “I’m so glad you stopped by today, Mrs. Lockhart.”
“I can’t believe it. There are more men here today than you had several months ago.”
“Yes, indeed. Two days after the attempted bank robbery, my foreman stopped in to say the crew would be on the job the following day. That afternoon men started showing up and saying they’d work for half pay for one week to show their appreciation.” He yanked his hat off and smoothed what little hair he had on his head before plopping it back on again. “A few even volunteered to work for free.”
Birdie feared she’d burst into tears. Those darn hormones. She covered her mouth with her hand to hold back the sobs. Bethany handed her a handkerchief as her arm slipped around Birdie’s waist. She dabbed at her eyes and finally squeaked out, “I don’t know what to say.”
“No need to say anything. The men can all see how you feel.”
Birdie glanced up to see every man on the site staring at her. She waved the handkerchief in the air and yelled, “Thank you!” They roared with laughter and waved their hats, and then went back to work.
Mr. Teague offered his arm. “You want to look around a bit?”
“You bet.”
An hour or so later, they piled back into the surrey and headed to town. Bethany pulled the surrey into line with the other carriages and horses lined up in front of Goldstein-Migel’s.
Inside, in the fabric department, a clerk rushed forward to help them. The young woman beamed. “Mrs. Lockhart, Miss Lockhart, how can I help you today?”
Bethany scanned the stacks of fabric. “I’d like to see a lightweight wool in red. Something festive but not too hot in case we have a warm Christmas.”
“I’ve just the thing for you. Come this way.” She led them to bolts lined up against the wall and pulled out a beautiful piece of fabric. She carried it to a table and spread it out so they could examine it closely. “It’s very finely woven, but feel, it’s light as air.”
Birdie ran her hand over the soft wool. She didn’t know much about material, but she could recognize its quality “This is lovely, Bethany and would be perfect with your coloring.”
Smiling, Bethany’s eyes lit with appreciation. “You really think so?”
“I know so. You should buy it, unless you see something you like better.”
“No, this is the one. Looking longer will just confuse me.” She and the sales clerk put their heads together to discuss how much she’d need.
Birdie wandered over to the infants’ department. She couldn’t think of a thing the baby needed as the neighbors, along with the women at the ranch, had made so many items. But, she enjoyed looking over the displays. A frilly pink bonnet caught her eye.
Oh yes, dear Tad, you and I are having a girl.
She carried it over to domestics and paid for it. They put it in a box so it would keep its shape and wrapped it in brown paper.
They left the store and approached the buggy. Once seated, Birdie turned to Bethany. “Would you mind if we stopped by Mr. Hellman’s gun shop? I want to see how Mattie is doing.”
Bethany’s face lit. “You think I could get that gun Tad promised me?”
“Well, we could at least look and see what would suit you.”
The bell above the door rang as they walked inside. Though the day was relatively warm outside, the shop was toasty and Birdie enjoyed the warmth.
“Hello, ladies. Birdie, it’s good to see you out and about.” He rounded the counter and took her arm. “Do you need to sit down?”
“No. I’m fine.” She arched a brow at him. “Are you mollycoddling Mattie and driving her nuts?”
He guffawed. “Probably. She’s always fussing at me to leave her alone.”
“Sounds like she’s doing well then.”
“She is, indeed.” His expression turned serious. “The doctor says she’s probably going to deliver in a couple of months.” He raked his hand over his face. “I have to admit I’m scared to death.”
“Now, Joseph, worrying about things you can do nothing about will only cause you both more stress.” He signed and nodded. “Do you have a pistol that would be suitable for Bethany? Not a pocket pistol. Something to learn and shoot targets with.”
“Sure, let’s look over here.” He moved behind the counter and lifted a couple of revolvers. “Either one of these would be good. Not as fine as your Colt but a good beginners gun.” He laid them on the counter and nodded to Bethany. “Pick them up and see which one feels right in your hand.”
Bethany spent several minutes testing the feel and grip. She handed one to Birdie. “This is the one I think I want. What do you think, Birdie?”
Birdie studied the pistol carefully even though she’d already compared the two revolvers and purchased one. Joseph was holding it for her until closer to Christmas. “It’s a good choice, Bethany.”