Chapter Thirty
Maggie Corrigan
’Twas a few days later, at The Angel, when Miss June came to see us.
We answered the knock on our bedroom door, and there she was, standing with Trick, who was still dressed in men’s clothes. I wondered if Trick would ever go back to working at The Angel, and if Miss June would care if she didn’t.
Miss June’s eyes were shining with excitement, and she seemed to have some news.
“Can we come in, please?”
I nodded, grinning. “Of course. You own the place, don’t you?”
Miss June rolled her eyes. “That’s true enough. But I respect people’s privacy, unless I have reason to interfere.”
She gestured to Trick, who followed her into our small room and went to stand by the window. Trick looked—different. She looked…satisfied, and like she had something to say.
Oscar’s gaze shifted between them, then locked onto Trick. “You look like you wanna say somethin’.”
Trick turned to face him and actually blushed. I don’t know as I’d ever seen her blush before.
I turned to Miss June.
“What’s goin’ on?”
Miss June sat on the edge of our bed.
Oscar, who’d propped himself on one elbow as he leaned against the pillows, sat up.
“Well, it seems as though we may have a solution to our problem,” she said, glancing at Trick.
“Go on. Tell ’em,” Trick said.
“Well”—Miss June spread her hands on the coverlet—“it seems that Trick—I mean, Maggie Corrigan, because that’s her real name—has quite enjoyed the life she’s been living the past few weeks.”
“Maggie Corrigan!” Oscar said. “Why, that’s such a nice name, though I don’t know if I can imagine you as anyone but Trick. But I’ll try to call you Maggie from now on.”
Trick— Maggie —shrugged. “Don’t matter. I’ll answer to either of ’em. But I’m gonna need a regular name if I’m to live on the farm with Cal and the children.”
“Live on the—” I said, my gaze going from Maggie’s to Miss June’s and back again. “You’re gonna…you’re gonna help Cal raise those wee ones?”
Maggie laughed. “Oh, I reckon Cal will be doin’ most of the child raisin’. But I’m gonna live there with her, and we’re gonna make a go of the place.”
Oscar stared at Maggie like she was shooting stars out of the top of her head.
“Truly? Are you and Cal…?”
I knew what Oscar wanted to ask, but he was having trouble figuring out how to ask it.
Maggie laughed, but the blush on her cheeks deepened. “We ain’t lovers,” Maggie said. “Not yet, anyway. Only friends. But I reckon we’re the best of friends, and all’s we need is each other.”
My vision blurred, and I blinked the moisture away, then cleared my throat.
“Well, I think that’s a wonderful idea. I think you and Cal can be wonderful parents to those children, and if you’re workin’ together, I’m sure the two of you can make something of that place.”
“Thank you, Jimmy. We surely mean to.”
“Does Cal know what you’re proposin’?” Oscar asked.
“I told her about my idea a few days ago. She told me I was misguided, but if I wanted to help her and the children out, she’d be mighty thankful,” Trick said.
“I still need to convince her how much she’d be helpin’ me out.
I don’t wanna go back to my life at The Angel.
Not that t’was all that bad, but I feel like I can finally be the person I’ve always wanted to be if I go live with Cal and help her with the farm and the animals.
I’m smart, I’m strong and I can learn how to till a field.
I already know about animal husbandry. I simply never had a place to… husband any.” Trick grinned.
I turned to Miss June.
“You’ll miss her here, won’t you?” I said, wondering what she thought of the plan.
“Oh, I’ll have lots of men asking where she’s gone, I’m sure.
But I’ve got a lot of girls here who don’t have many options and would rather do this work than be scullery maids, so that won’t be a problem.
Maggie’s been a good draw, but she’s got this opportunity now, and Cal sure could use her. So, I’ve given her my blessing.”
“Thank you, Miss June. I surely do appreciate it.”
Oscar jumped off the bed and ran to Maggie, grabbing her into a fierce embrace that took all of us by surprise.
“What the hell?” Maggie said, laughing and hugging him back. “Jimmy, you oughta keep this boy on a leash.”
“Believe me, I’ve thought about it.”
“’Tis so poetic!” Oscar said. “Why, the two of you will be the most interestin’ couple in the county.”
Miss June shook her head. “I suppose tongues’ll wag at the fact Maggie wears men’s things, but I reckon that’s not so unusual.”
“Are you—?” Oscar said, letting Maggie go and stepping back, his forehead creased with thought. “Are you gonna live as a man, like Cal lives as a woman?”
Maggie shook her head. “No, I ain’t gonna do that.
I reckon I don’t look manly enough, and anyway, I don’t feel like a man.
But I don’t feel fully a woman, neither.
Don’t see why I can’t be somethin’ in between.
I reckon most folks won’t ask questions, as long as I’m polite and conduct my business fairly. ”
“You’ll have some men who won’t take you serious at first,” Miss June said. “But I have no doubt you’ll set them straight.”
“Yes, ma’am, I will.”
It seemed like the perfect solution.
“God, I can hear you thinkin’, Jimmy,” Oscar said.
“I’m sorry. I’m still processin’. But I think ’tis a good idea.”
Maggie inclined her chin and pulled up a chair, sitting astride it as she gazed at us.
“At first, Cal didn’t want me to give up my life at The Angel, but I managed to convince her ’twas what I wanted.
Anyway, those kids need a father figure, and I aim to give ’em one as best I can.
I aim to teach ’em all the things their pa would’ve taught them if he’d been a good man, and the things we’ve already started teachin’ ’em, like how to milk a cow and how to ride. ”
“Sure,” Oscar said. “I reckon you can be as good a Pa as any man—sure better’n the one they had.”
“Amen,” Miss June said.
“You gonna get them to call you ‘Papa Maggie’?” I asked. ’Twas a joke, but Maggie straightened up and nodded.
“I do like the sound of that. Why not?”
I grinned. Truth of it was that Cal and those children were goddamned lucky to have our Maggie on their side. She was a force to be reckoned with, and if anyone could keep them safe and thriving, ’twas her.
“All right,” I said. “Well then, I suppose this calls for a celebration.”
Miss June stood. “I’ve got some lovely bourbon in the cupboard, waiting for an opportunity like this,” she said.
“I’ll go get it, and we can have a nice little tot in here with you boys.
Then we’ll leave you be, so you can do some private celebrating,” Miss June said.
“I figure if you can stick around another week to help us get Cal and Maggie set up, I can let you boys go home.”