Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
O ctober brought cooler weather, and Ashley still went out to chop wood. Their supply wasn’t as much as he preferred, but he didn’t complain about the rain that often delayed him. Lisa didn’t always go with him, but sometimes she would. The days did get long when it was just her in the cabin. Even sitting outside and roasting meat could get boring, though she was still working on new things to sew. These days, she focused on making things for the cabin and even that cap she’d planned to make for Ashley.
On one particular day, Lisa sat on the stump of a tree while Ashley chopped a large branch into wood. The day was a cloudy one, but her mood was light. At the moment, her gaze was on the gloves Ashley had made for her. She couldn’t believe how well they fit, nor could she believe the attention he had put into making them look pretty. In addition to the buttons he had put on them, he had chosen to sew a decorative design on them. She couldn’t recall having gloves so well-made at any other time in her life.
Her gaze went to the clamshell hanging on the necklace she wore. She probably should have tucked it under her cloak, but she liked to look at it while they were out. Whenever she looked at it, she recalled how much Ashley loved her, and it was nice to have a physical reminder of his love.
When she noticed that Ashley was done chopping some wood, she got up from the stump and went to put the logs onto the travois. The nice thing about the gloves—besides being pretty—was how well they protected her hands so that she didn’t get splinters when handling wood.
“I should have your boots done next month,” Ashley told her as she went over to him to grab two more logs. “I don’t know how you manage to walk around on those narrow heels.”
She shrugged. “I grew up wearing footwear with these types of heels. I really don’t mind them.”
“Well, I do. Especially out here with how uneven the ground is.”
“I pay attention to where I’m going when I walk.” But, in case he didn’t think she didn’t appreciate his concern, she added, “I am looking forward to the new boots. It will be nice to have more support.” She set the logs onto the travois and returned to him so she could gather the remaining two logs.
“It’s nice having you out here with me.”
She paused before heading to the travois and smiled. “I enjoy being out here with you, too.”
He smiled in return then she put the logs on the stack they had accumulated. Afterward, she went back to the tree stump and sat down, her gaze going back to her gloves and the necklace.
* * *
It was November when Corrine stopped by with her newborn. Lisa knew it was going to be difficult to see Corrine’s baby. The moment Lisa noticed Corrine, Myrtle, and Henry pulling up to the cabin in their wagon, she hid out of sight so they wouldn’t see her. Ashley was out chopping more wood. She would have joined him had that time of the month not started, requiring her to frequently change sanitary napkins.
The knock came at the cabin door, followed by, “It’s Henry, Corrine, and our mother,” from Henry.
Lisa stood in the corner of the cabin where they wouldn’t be able to see her if they looked through a window, but then she realized she would have to see the baby at some point. It was a small town. She couldn’t put this off forever. The longer she waited, the harder this was going to be.
She strengthened her resolve and opened the door. Sure enough, as soon as her eyes went to the baby, Lisa felt a stab of envy prick at her. She had to push it aside so that she didn’t slam the door in their faces. She couldn’t do that to them. They had been nothing but kind to her and Ashley.
Forcing a smile, she gestured for them to enter the cabin.
Though Corrine and Myrtle entered, Henry said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought I’d help Ashley. Where is he?”
Lisa pointed in the direction Ashley went to chop wood. With a nod, he told them he’d be back soon then left.
“I’ll bring in a chair,” Lisa told the two women. “You two have a seat. The rocking chair is close to the fire. I think that will be the best spot for the baby.”
“Thank you,” Corrine told her.
Glad neither woman had picked up on the way her voice had choked on the word ‘baby’, Lisa hurried to get one of the chairs by the outdoor firepit. When she returned with it, she saw that Corrine and Myrtle were sitting.
Lisa placed her chair near them. The cabin seemed crowded with the third chair, but she would take the chair back out when they left. “I’ll get some coffee. You two must be chilly.”
“Oh, it’s not that bad,” Myrtle assured her. “We had worse in Iowa.”
“And we were bundled up together under a blanket Forrest sent us in one of his packages,” Corrine added.
Lisa wondered if it was impolite to ask, but she couldn’t help but be curious as to why the preacher wasn’t with them. “Is Forrest working in town today?” She took the coffee pot off the stove and brought down two cups.
“No,” Corrine replied. “In fact, he’s been delayed in making it to Oregon. He won’t make it for another month.”
“It can’t be helped,” Myrtle inserted as Lisa poured coffee into their cups. “There was a fever going around the parish he was staying at, and he wanted to make sure he was there to help. He also didn’t want to risk getting anyone here sick. He just sent word that the fever is now gone, and people are on the mend.”
“Unfortunately, he has to preside over a couple of funerals,” Corrine added, her voice soft. “Not everyone made it. I feel sorry for the poor woman who lost her child. A part of me feels guilty that my child is alive and well while hers isn’t. No mother should experience the pain of losing her baby.”
Lisa set the coffee pot down, touched by Corrine’s words. She hadn’t told Corrine about Sara, nor did she plan to. The only person she shared that part of her past with was Ashley, just as he had only shared his past with her. But having gone through the pain of losing her own child and hearing Corrine express such a caring sentiment made Lisa appreciate Corrine’s friendship.
This was a good time in Corrine’s life. She had the joy of holding her child. Lisa decided she could be happy for her. At least one of them would know the joys of motherhood.
Lisa brought the cups over to the women. Then she cleared her throat as she settled into her chair. “What is your child’s name?”
“Jeanne,” Corrine said. “I always like that name.”
Lisa smiled. “It’s a fine name.” She took a sip of her coffee.
“She almost chose Roselyn,” Myrtle inserted with a chuckle. “Growing up, she had two imaginary friends. One was Jeanne, and the other Roselyn.” Her gaze went to her daughter. “Do you remember the tea parties you used to have with them?”
Corrine grimaced. “Mother, you’re embarrassing me.”
“You don’t need to be embarrassed by things like that,” Lisa assured her. “You were only a child. Now, if you were still doing that, then that would be embarrassing.”
“No, I don’t have tea with the imaginary twin sisters anymore,” Corrine replied. “I left all of that behind when I turned ten.” She paused then asked, “Would you like to hold Jeanne?”
Lisa lowered the cup she was holding. She hesitated to say yes. The last time she held a baby, that girl had been Sara. And Sara would be seven months old now. She took a look at Jeanne. The girl’s eyes were wide open. The world was brand new to her. Like Sara, she was curious about everything. The girl happened to look in Lisa’s direction, and Lisa’s heart softened toward her.
“I’d be happy to hold her.” Lisa set her cup down and accepted the girl into her arms.
She couldn’t help but smile at the baby. There was something incredibly sweet about babies. A woman couldn’t help but fall in love as soon as she saw them. She stroked the girl’s cheek and thought of the time when she had done the same with Sara. From time to time, she still held onto the hope she might conceive and have another child, but she also understood that nothing was guaranteed.
She released her breath. This was a good moment for Corrine. She wasn’t going to ruin it by crying.
Myrtle stood up. “Corrine, we didn’t bring in the pie and bread we brought with us.”
“Oh, that’s right!”
Corrine got up to join her mother, but Myrtle urged her to sit back down. “You’re still recovering from having Jeanne. I’ll bring them in.”
Corrine sat back down.
“You didn’t have to bring us anything,” Lisa said.
“I know we didn’t, but we wanted to.” After her mother left the cabin, Corrine added, “Thank you for keeping my secret. I don’t know what Forrest would do if he found out I wasn’t a widow when we married. He’s written some letters since he left.” She paused. “I didn’t realize he held so strictly to propriety when I married him.”
Surprised the conversation took such a drastic turn, Lisa asked, “Do you think you made a mistake in marrying him?”
Corrine clasped the cup in her lap. “I worry about it. I tell myself that I didn’t have a choice. We needed the money. We couldn’t keep asking people to help us. Everyone is struggling like we are to keep a roof over our heads and food on our plates. Forrest was the only one who offered marriage, and after everything I put my poor family through, I felt it best to choose what would help them the most.”
Lisa hesitated to respond. She could say that everything was going to be fine, but Corrine would see right through her lie. In the end, she ventured, “As a mother, you did the most prudent thing you could have done. Perhaps, in time, the preacher will surprise us all and be deserving of you.”
“So you’re not sure about him, either.”
Lisa bit her tongue. She probably should have kept her mouth shut.
“I know it’s wrong to envy a person, but I wish I had what you do with Ashley,” Corrine said after a long moment of silence passed between them. “You’re a very fortunate woman to be loved so well.”
It took Lisa a few seconds to overcome her shock. She hadn’t thought she had something worth envying. Especially not from a woman who had her child with her.
Her gaze went to the necklace Ashley had made her. This necklace, the gloves, and the boots were all a labor of love for him. They represented his deep and abiding feelings for her. Her life wasn’t perfect, but who could say their life was perfect? The most anyone could do was focus on the blessings they had, and her marriage to Ashley was a wonderful blessing.
After a moment, Lisa said, “I hope things will go better with you and Forrest than you think they will.”
As Lisa spoke the words, she realized she was no longer jealous of Corrine getting to keep her child. Corrine was a sweet person, and she was her friend. She ought to be able to have both the marriage she wanted and get to keep her child.
The door opened. Ashley carried the pie and bread into the cabin while Henry was telling Ashley about his job as a blacksmith. Myrtle followed behind and shut the door.
At once, Lisa could see that the cabin was too small for everyone. She gave Jeanne back to Corrine then got up from the chair so Myrtle could sit back down.
Ashley moved past her so he could set the bread and pie on the small table. “I saw we had company and thought I’d say hi,” Ashley explained to her and placed his hand on the small of her back. “I didn’t want to be rude to your friends.”
“They wanted to bring us something to eat and to introduce us to Jeanne.” Lisa motioned to the child who was drifting off to sleep.
“The poor thing has had too much excitement,” Myrtle mused.
“We’re your friends, too, Ashley,” Corrine spoke up. “We think very highly of you and Lisa.”
“We think highly of you as well,” Lisa replied.
Ashley patted her back in silent agreement, and her skin warmed in response at his tenderness. After that day in the workshop, she had explained how she’d only met these people on her way to Oregon, but in some ways, she felt closer to them than she had with most people she’d ever come across. She invited Henry to have a seat then gave coffee to Henry and Ashley. She then sat with Ashley on the bed so they all could talk.