Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana (34 page)

Julia pursed her lips together. “I think I know what you mean. Because God’s love makes me beautiful, my home can be anywhere?”

“Yeah, but don’t you get the rest?” Shelby rolled her eyes. “The point is, the butterfly can land on whichever flower it
wants
to land on. It gets to choose.” She sat up tall. “Where do you want to be? I think maybe you want to stay here, with us. Don’t you, Miss Cavanaugh? Because if you want to stay, but you go back anyway, then you don’t get to be a butterfly anymore.”

Julia opened her mouth, unsure what to make of the young girl’s reasoning, but before she could respond, she heard a moan from the back of the wagon. Looking behind her, Julia saw Miriam laying flat on her back, grasping her belly and breathing hard.

“Miriam!” Julia yelped. “What are you doing?”

“Well.” Miriam let out a breath then sat up again as the struggle seemed to pass. “I think I’m having a baby.”

It was mostly curious cowboys and enlisted men who lined the long benches, waiting for the trial to begin. Isaac attempted to shift to get a better view, but he could only see the sides of the spectators’ heads.

He tilted his chin and looked farther back in the room, and he spied a row of folks he recognized—members of the Lodge Pole church. Isaac’s heart warmed with appreciation. He didn’t know if the judge would consider what the fellow believers, his friends, had to say, since none were witnesses of the crime. At least they’d come to support a sister who was seeking the things of God.

The bailiff stepped through the rows and grabbed ten men to be the jury. These men moved to the front corner of the room and sat in two rows of benches.

Sitting near the front, closest to the judge’s bench, was Mabelina. Jim sat beside her, and his large frame blocked most of her from Isaac’s view. Isaac again worked to free himself from the ropes. It did little good. He tried to shout, but the sound was no louder than a muffled whisper.

The bailiff swore the participants in and then sauntered to the center of the room. “Come to order! The honorable Judge Whalen B. Booker presiding.”

The judge walked from the corner where he’d been waiting and sat down in front of the shellacked bench. His glasses fell to the tip of his nose as his dark eyes gazed up above them.

Isaac longed to help Mabelina. Judge Booker couldn’t have expected a woman shooting a man with a roomful of witnesses to be a tough case. And thanks to Warren, who now stepped forward to testify, it wouldn’t be.

Dear Lord, if You can shut the mouths of lions, surely You can find a way to loosen these ropes.

The train still rumbled on the tracks as its water tank was refilled. And though Isaac couldn’t hear all the words, he could tell by the expressions on Warren’s face—anger and mock sadness—that he spewed lie-filled accusations. And when he was done, Buck and Joe took their turns standing before the judge, although Isaac knew they hadn’t even been present at the shooting.

Then the judge gave Mabelina a chance to talk. Isaac strained to listen.

“Judge, I did shoot our dear Elder Godfrey. He was a good man.” Isaac watched Mabelina’s eyes flit to the pew where the church members sat. “And I’m so sorry.” Her voice thickened. “I never should’ve pulled that gun out.” She turned to the cool, ruminating judge. “But it was an accident. I didn’t mean to kill him, Your Honor.” She shifted her gaze to the jury. “I swear, I didn’t.”

Mabelina took a moment to compose herself. “I loved a man and was jest tryin’ to get his attention. I never meant to hurt a fly, let alone a good, godly man like Elder Godfrey.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” The judge showed no emotion. He excused her with a wave of his hand. Then he scanned the room. “Are there any other witnesses for the defense?”

Hands went up all over the room. The judge’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he readjusted himself in his chair.

Isaac couldn’t help but feel a hint of pleasure.

Jim was the first out of his seat. He stood without being called on.

“We know Mabelina’s turned her life right ’round ta where she’s doing good now.” Jim peered directly at the judge. “And we want to speak on her behalf.”

The tall, sturdy-looking officer waved the witnesses down.

The judge scanned the depot. “Any of you folks there on the day of the crime?”

Jim stood and told everything that happened in his own way. Isaac was proud of him for telling the truth, but he was the only other witness present who’d actually seen the shooting happen. And Warren had himself plus two others who swore they saw her shoot Milo in cold blood.

Isaac assumed it was all over, when another witness stood up. It was one of the women. Her hat was pulled down, shielding most of her face. Isaac had seen her earlier, sitting with his parishioners. She stood and took the hat off. “I say something.”

Isaac squeezed his eyes tight and then looked again. It was Aponi.

Warren and his men jumped to their feet. “She can’t be a witness. She’s an Injun and a woman!”

Contrasting voices of protest and support blared through the small depot, and the judge pounded his gavel.

“Order! Calm yourselves down,” the judge demanded. His eyebrows furrowed as he gazed at Warren. “Now, you listen to me.” He spoke in a quiet yet firm tone. “The woman may speak.”

Aponi walked to the front. “I not have much to say. Only truth. I was there that day. I saw Mabelina take out gun. She shoot up toward ceiling. Not trying to kill my husband. I saw.” She faced the jury. “And I forgive her for the accident.” She gazed at Mabelina, nodded, and then walked to Mabelina’s side, sitting down and taking her hand.

After a brief silence, the room erupted again. Isaac heard one of the men sitting in the jury commenting, “I don’t care what some Injun says.”

“Me neither,” another said. “Everyone knows how fool-headed they are. Can’t believe a word they say.”

Isaac peeked at Mabelina. Her hands covered her face, and her shoulders shook. Tears rolled down Jim’s face, as well. Isaac knew Jim longed to hold her, sweep her away. He again tugged on the ropes with his thumb and forefinger. If only he could get inside that room.

The judge calmed the room down and turned to the jury. “It is your responsibility to seek justice, no matter who the witness may be. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” the men answered, nearly in unison.

“Well, I believe that’s all the witnesses we have.” He glanced around, searching for more hands, then returned his attention to the jury. “Take time to deliberate.”

A tall man who sat at the foremost chair stood. “Give us a minute, please, Yer Honor.”

Isaac’s heart sank. Would Mabelina go to the gallows because he was stuck in this wagon? He struggled one more time with the knot. Twisting his head behind him, he noticed the end of the rope poking out at an awkward angle. His heart leapt. He knew that knot. It was how a cowhand tied an unbroken horse so it couldn’t squirm itself loose, but the owner could easily untangle it.

Isaac remembered Lefty’s apologetic look.
Why didn’t I think of it earlier?

He twisted his hand and gripped the loose bit of rope, freeing himself.
Thank you, Lefty
. A minute later he’d untied his feet, ripped the gag from his mouth, and lunged out of the wagon, sprinting around the building toward the depot’s entrance.

Without hesitating, Julia climbed over the wagon seat into the back beside Miriam. She felt the hem of her new skirt catch and tear, but in didn’t matter. She knelt beside her friend, and her heart pounded.

Elizabeth pulled back the reins, slowing the stallion.

Julia settled Miriam’s head on her lap, smoothing back her wavy brown hair. “Dear Heavenly Father,” she prayed out loud, “please help Miriam deliver this baby safely.”

“What should I do?” Elizabeth turned in the seat. The color had drained from her face. Here eyes were wide. “Go back to the ranch? We’re almost at Big Sandy. What do you want me to do?”

“This baby won’t wait till we get back home.” Miriam winced as another contraction hit. “I think I can last till we get to Big Sandy. Maybe Margaret from the hotel will still be in town. I know she’s delivered babies before. Everyone else is probably already at the lake for the picnic.”

“Yes, all right. Hee-ya.” Elizabeth flicked the reins, and the horses lunged forward. The wagon resumed its journey over the rocky, pitted road.

Rolling to her side, Miriam hugged her belly.

Julia stroked Miriam’s moist forehead with the bit of fabric that had torn from her skirt.
So brave.
Yet bravery would not ensure a safe delivery. They needed to find someplace better, cleaner. A hawk flew overhead, circling the wagon, causing shivers to race up Julia’s spine. “A wagon’s no place to have a baby.”

“Have you ever helped with birthin’, Julia?” Miriam panted, her eyes pleading up at her as she lay in the back of the wagon.

Julia clenched her teeth uneasily. “Um—well, yes, actually.”

“You have?” Shelby twitched her head toward Julia, who threw her a warning glance.

“I
did
help a new mother deliver her little ones.”

Shelby leaned over from her seat in the front and moved her mouth close to Julia’s ear. “Are you talkin’ about when Sammy the dog had pups?” she whispered.

Julia lowered her voice. “I’m just trying to keep her from fretting. I’m sure we’ll make it to Big Sandy in time. Now shh.” Julia’s heart kicked against her chest.
Dear Lord, please let us make it there in time.

“Oh! Here comes another one.” Miriam moaned.

As Julia stroked Miriam’s hair, she spied Christopher’s head bobbing toward them. Reaching the wagon, he hoisted himself up on the side and jerked his floppy blond hair from his forehead. “What y’all doin’ back here?” When he saw his ma’s face strained and her hands holding her middle, his normally puckish face drooped.

“Ma?” He climbed inside and held her hand as it jostled from the wagon’s motion. “You ain’t birthin’ that baby right here, are ya?”

The contraction passed, and Miriam drew in a breath. “No, dear. We’re going to town, and Margaret will help.” Miriam gazed at her son, obviously disturbed by his worry. “Why don’t you head on back to the coulee and fetch some water?”

He hesitated, his forehead knitted with concern.

She patted his hand. “Go on now.”

He again hurdled out of the moving wagon then grabbed a canteen hanging from the side.

“I’ll go with you.” Shelby vaulted out after him, and the two ran toward the coulee a quarter mile back.

Julia reached into her satchel, pulled out a handkerchief, and continued mopping Miriam’s forehead.

“That looks like the one Isaac let you borrow.” Miriam took in deep, long breaths, which seemed to help her through the episodes.

“Yes, well, I guess I won’t be borrowing any more of anything from him.”

“You still could.” Despite her state, Miriam eyes held that now-familiar hint.

“Miriam Lafuze, you’re relentless. Aren’t you the one who told me to trust God?”

Miriam let out a laugh, which turned into a moan as another contraction started up. Julia held her hand, praying with Miriam as she breathed through the pain.

Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead. “That was a hard one—oh no.”

Another contraction started only moments after the last one ended.

“I know,” Miriam panted, “but I’m still hopin’.”

Julia let the laboring woman clamp down on her hand. Her groan was more high pitched and louder than the others had been.

Once the intense moment eased up, Julia swiveled her shoulders toward Elizabeth, who still urged the horses toward Big Sandy.

“The contractions are coming every three minutes or so. Are we almost there?”

Elizabeth launched a quick glance toward Julia. “Yeah, about five more minutes. See the water tower over yonder. Do you think she can make it?”

“I don’t know. They’re growing more intense.” The side of Julia’s foot tapped fast like a woodpecker against the wagon’s running board. “Have you helped her deliver in the past?”

“No, not really,” Elizabeth responded, her voice heavy with concern. “I helped our midwife, Aponi, but she was the one who really did everything. I wish I’d insisted she teach me.”