Fated Memories (10 page)

“
Ah’ll go gits sumpin’ ter quiets her. Ah bes right back.”

As she lay in the big four-poster bed Eathen had had hand crafted just for her, Charlotte’s thoughts flew back to the day she’d first laid eyes on her forty-two-year-old housekeeper. It had been while she and Eathen visited friends in Mississippi. Although the couples enjoyed closeness, she and Eathen did not share in their deep-rooted beliefs in a person’s right to own another human being. Some years back, in 1865, slavery had been abolished – to the dismay of millions of southerners whose very livelihood depended on the life blood of its Negroes. Already staggering under the heavy blow of losing to the North, the loss of free labor all but brought the South to its knees. Unable now to afford the services of the woman who had worked in their house and given them over nine years of her life, Hattie’s owners gave her notice she would no longer be needed. Taking pity on the woman, Eathen offered her a job as housekeeper on the Thornton ranch. He never once regretted his decision.

Returned to the present, Charlotte rocked the crying baby, trying to no avail to quiet her. With great relief, she looked up to see Hattie’s smiling face.

“
Han’s her ter me, Miz Charlotte. Ah gots jes whut dis chile be needen’. Dat’s…right.” She smiled down into the chubby little face. “You best hesh yo’ mouf wid all dat cah’ien on an teks whut ole Hattie has fer you.” She moved the home-made nipple against the tiny mouth. The baby quieted almost at once, taking the nipple into her puckered mouth.

“
Ah’ll says one thing fer sho. You’s gwing ter has yo’ han’s full wid dis’n. Mah ole mama ust ter say, W’en a chile’s born wid flamin’ ha’r, dem dat begat, best beware.”

***

In the days following the baby’s birth, Hattie proved to be a Godsend in the Thornton household. Bright and early every morning, she made sure both mother and daughter had their bath and Charlotte had a hot nourishing meal all ready for her. And, Hattie refused to leave the room until her charge had eaten every bite.

“
Hattie, I swear if you keep feedin’ me like this, by the time Eathen comes home, I’ll be so fat he’ll divorce me and find himself some skinny little gal he can still get his arms around.”

“
You doan need ter worry none bout Mist’ Eathen. W’en he lay eyes on dat lil red ha’rd baby you be holin’ in yo’ arms, he gwin ter be proud ter bustin’.”

“
I hope you’re right, Hattie. He expected a son,” Charlotte whispered, unable to meet the dark eyes staring down at her.

“
Sho, dat’s whut da thinks da wants til da gits a lil girl ter hangs on da eve’y word. Den da acts lak she be de best thing de good Lawd ever put breaf in.”

“
I just want her to grow up healthy and with good values. She can’t do that if her every whim is catered to.”

“
Dat’s whar you comes in, Miz Charlotte. As her ma, you gots ter make sho she knows whut bes ‘portant an whut ain’ ‘portant,” Hattie sniffed, squaring her large shoulders.

“
Eathen’s a powerful, rich man, Hattie, and this bein’ his only child, he’ll want to give her the world.”

“
You growed up not wantin’ fer nuthin’ an you sho turned out awright.” Hattie cocked her head to one side, staring at the woman who, to her way of thinking, worried herself for no good reason. “Ah thinks yo’s jes borrin’ trouble.”

“
Maybe,” Charlotte whispered, but for some reason, she didn’t think so.

At the sound of a buckboard drawing up out front, Hattie went to the window. The wide smile flitting across her broad face as she pulled back the curtain left no doubt in Charlotte’s mind about who had arrived.

“
I think your daddy’s home, little one.” She nuzzled the baby’s warm neck.

“
Yas’m, Miz Charlotte. Dat who it bes awright. He sho gwing be s’prised w’en he sees his lil baby’s awready here safe an soun’.”

“
Hurry, Hattie.” Charlotte sat up straighter in the bed, her shaking hands going quickly to her tousled long red hair. “Hand me my brush and a wet washcloth, so I can tidy myself before he gets here.”

As Charlotte groomed herself to greet her husband, Hattie chuckled. “Dis sho gwing be a big day in dis house. Mist’ Eathen done got hisseff a bran’ new lil baby’s ter holds in his big arms.” Laying the brush down on the night stand, Charlotte turned toward the door just as it opened.

“
Darlin’, I’m sorry I was so late gettin’ back, I…” he began then stopped as his deep set, dark blue eyes caught sight of the baby Charlotte held in her arms.

“
What…how…he’s already here?” he stammered, tossing his gray Stetson hat across the room and moving to where Charlotte lay smiling.

“
Yes, darlin’. Except, you have a daughter, not a son.”

“
May I hold her?” Eathen had already reached out for the tiny bundle. Without a word, Charlotte handed him their child, her eyes misting as she noted the gentle way in which he held her.

“
I’ll be damned if she ain’t the most beautiful thing I ever laid eyes on,” he declared, running a callused finger down the side of the baby’s face. “Her skin’s softer’n satin.”

“
Are you sorry she ain’t the son you wanted, Eathen?” Charlotte turned her face to the wall, unwilling to glimpse the disappointment she thought sure she would see if their eyes met.

Cradling his daughter against his big chest, he seated himself on the side of the bed. “She’s everything I could ever want.”

Charlotte turned back to stare at him. The happiness covering his face as he gazed at their child left no doubt in her mind that he told her the truth. “What are we gonna name her?” Charlotte laughed, giddy with the happiness filling her heart right at that moment. “We can’t very well name her Charles Eathen like we’d planned.”

“
Why don’t we name her after my mother?” He eased the baby back down on his lap, unable to take his eyes off her.

“
Jessica?” Charlotte’s brow creased in doubt. “She really don’t look like a Jessica to me.” She reached out; moving Eathen’s hand to a more supporting position beneath the baby’s wobbling neck. “Believe me, Eathen; this child already has a fiery temper. Your mother always seemed so timid.”

“
Then we won’t put quite so much responsibility on her. We’ll call her Jessie,” Eathen bent his dark head to place a light kiss on the baby’s round cheek. “Jessie Victoria Thornton.”

“
I like that.” Charlotte smiled, then nodded, as she turned the name over in her mind. “Little Jessie. A sweet name for a sweet little girl.” She looked across the room to where Hattie stood watching them. “What do you think, Hattie? Does she look like a Jessie to you?”

“
Yas’m, she tru’ly do,” Hattie replied in all seriousness. “Wid dat fiahy ha’r an dem bri’ht blue eyes, she gwing bes a lil heart breaker w’en she git ol’er.”

“
You break all the hearts you want, my angel,” Eathen rocked his daughter in his arms. “Just don’t ever break mine.”

Relaxing among the plump, feathered pillows, Charlotte watched her husband with their new daughter. The gentleness with which he held her and the low-pitched timbre of his deep voice as he talked to her brought a smile to Charlotte’s face. The big strapping man she loved with all her heart was already putty in the hands of a five pound, four ounce baby girl.

“
Miz Charlotte, Mist’ Eathen, Ah gots things ter do downstairs, sos Ah’ll be gwing on out now,” Hattie said, leaning against the bedroom door.

When she didn’t leave, Charlotte looked over at her.

“
Ah’s jes’ wonderin’ effin ah should be a-gittin’ a room ready fer Mist’ Eathen, or ef he’s a gwing be stayin’ wid’…” she broke off her words, shuffling from one foot to another.

“
Eathen?” Charlotte glanced at her handsome husband.

“
I’ll leave it up to you, Charlotte.” Eathen’s roguish eyes challenged her.

With a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her full mouth, she stared into the eyes of the man baiting her. “I think my husband will be just fine sleeping in our own bed, Hattie.”

“
Ah heerd dat!” Hattie chuckled, closing the door behind her.

Alone, the couple became shy with each other. After removing his gray suit jacket and loosening his tie, Eathen settled himself once more on the side of the bed to draw Charlotte into his arms. “I’ve missed you, woman,” he growled, pressing his full mouth against the soft skin of her neck.

“
I wanted you here with me so much, Eathen.” She leaned into his arms. “I was so frightened, and it hurt so bad.”

“
I know, baby. I shouldn’t have left, knowin’ you could give birth any day.” He pulled her body in closer. “Do you forgive me?”

“
Eathen,” she drew back, cradling his broad face in both her hands, “I love you with all my heart. I doubt if there’s anything you could ever do that I couldn’t forgive you for.”

Dropping his eyes, he pulled her face against his chest, struggling to rise above the guilty feelings threatening to overpower him. Telling himself the loose women with whom he had spent his nights while in Miles City or Helena had nothing to do with his life here.

“
I know it’s hard our bein’ apart, but it won’t be for much longer,” she murmured, breaking into his thoughts.

“
Some things are worth makin’ a few sacrifices for, darlin’. We have a beautiful, healthy little daughter. Maybe by this time next year we’ll be able to give her a strong healthy brother.” Eathen held her at arms-length, smiling into her upturned face. When his wife’s gaze did not meet his, the smile left his face to be replaced with one of worry. “What is it, darlin’? Did somethin’ go wrong with the birth?”

Pushing away from him, Charlotte turned onto her side. Trying to think how to tell him she wouldn’t be giving him anymore children. For a moment, Eathen stared at her stiff back, trying to understand what had gone wrong between them. Then, unable to stand not knowing, he pulled her back to him.

“
I asked you a question, Charlotte. Did somethin’ go wrong with the birth?”

“
Yes. The baby was turned wrong. But that’s not why I don’t want to have any more children. I’ve made up my mind I’ll never go through that much pain again. I can’t,” she cried.

“
Is that all?” Eathen laughed, relieved as he peered into her damp, red-rimmed eyes. “Honey, you just gave birth. It’s gonna take time to forget the pain. I’m sure in a few months everythin’s gonna be all right.”

“
No, Eathen, it won’t.” Her voice rose to add strength to her decision. “I’ve made up my mind. It ain’t open for discussion.”

“
Do you mind tellin’ me how you intend to keep from gettin’ pregnant again?” His voice took on a steely edge.

“
I haven’t thought that far yet.”

“
No, Charlotte, I guess you haven’t!” He pushed himself off the bed to stand staring down at her. The guilt he had been feeling earlier dissolved.

“
I intend to speak to Doc Nebinger about how to keep myself safe,” she said, not looking at him.

“
Don’t bother. If you don’t want me to touch you anymore, it won’t be a problem. There are plenty of females willin’ to share my bed.”

With real fear in her swollen eyes, she turned, unable to believe he could have said such terrible words to her. Then her pride took over and she screamed at him. “If that’s all you care about, Eathen Thornton, then go back to your Miles City whores. See if I care!”

“
Thanks for your permission, Charlotte. Now every time I get laid elsewhere, I won’t have to feel so goddamn guilty!” Eathen snatched up his hat and suit coat before slamming out of the room.

In shock, Charlotte remained lying in the bed alone, the truth of his words making her tremble. For years she had wondered if Eathen had cheated on her while he was gone from her side. Now she knew, but the knowing didn’t make it any easier to accept.

The slight creaking of the bedroom door drew her attention, and she looked up to see Hattie watching her.

“
Yes, Hattie, what is it?”

“
Ah guess Mist’ Eathen done changed his mine bout sleepin’ in hyrah wid you an’ Miss Jessie. He jes’ tole me ter git a room ready fer him.” She eyed Charlotte.

“
Things have changed, Hattie.” Charlotte busied her shaking hands with a stray wisp of hair falling into her face. “We thought he’d be more comfortable in another room.”

After closing the door with a firm click, Hattie walked over to seat her large bulk on the side of the bed. “You tole him you ain’ plannin’ on havin’ any mo’ youngin’s, din’ you, Miz Charlotte?”

Unable to lie, she nodded.

“
Why’d you go an do dat? You doan even know effin dat’s whut you really wants right now. Could be, you’s jes’ sufferin’ from all de changes takin’ place inside yo’ body.” Hattie rubbed a large hand up and down Charlotte’s arm. “Womens awways mizable affer da gives birth.”

“
It ain’t important now, Hattie. He’s been sleepin’ with other women. I can’t overlook that.” She threw back one side of the heavy covers, pulling at the bulky gown that had bunched itself around her waist. Finally she gave up, lifting her hips to allow Hattie to pull the gown down for her. As she flipped the coverlets back across the bed, she declared, “I always wondered if he cheated. Now I know.”

“
W’en a woman specs her man a bein’ wid other womens, da awready knows in da’s heart it be de truth. Ah sho twouln’t lets it breaks up mah fam’ly though, effin Ah’s you.”