Watching you and my daughter, seeing how you've survived things other women couldn't--" She licked her lips. "That steel in your backbones came from your bringin' up, from me. I've taught you to stand up and fight back. I've raised you proud. Lately, I've been staring into my looking glass, wondering where the old Rachel has got off to."
"Oh, Aunt Rachel, you've only done what you felt you had to for me and Amy."
Rachel nodded. "Yes. But there comes a time when a body must draw the line." She sighed and rolled her eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at her mouth. "If it's a draw between a baby and Henry, I'll kick his ornery butt all the way to the fancy house in Jacksboro and tell him to stay there this time."
Appalled and uncertain how to react, Loretta said, "Fancy house?"
"You don't think he goes there to get tobacco and coffee and the for us, do you?" Rachel touched Loretta's shoulder. "Don't look so woebegone. He leaves me alone for nigh on a month after. I consider it a blessing."
Loretta threw back her head and gave a weak laugh. "Uncle Henry visiting a fancy house? Oh, Aunt Rachel, I bet those ladies double their rates when they see the likes of him coming!"
"No doubt," Rachel said grimly. "A lover, Henry ain't. I've wasted a lot of years kowtowing to him. I don't plan to waste any more. I can make it without a man. Just you watch me." She pushed to her feet and extended Loretta a helping hand. "Come on, little mother. I'll fix you some remedy for that rolling tummy."
"Oh, Aunt Rachel, do you think it's for sure?"
"Sure enough that we'd best start cutting out nightshirts. I got flannel tucked away in my barrel. That'll make up nice."
Loretta smiled, and taking a deep breath, she passed a hand over her brow. "I am powerful pleased, Aunt Rachel!"
"Just keep thinkin' that way until I get Henry told."
"Do we have to tell him right now?"
"Honey, if you go to upchucking of a morning before you can reach the privacy, he's gonna know anyway. May as well light his fuse when we're expecting the explosion.
"Oh, Aunt Rachel, you've only done what you felt you had to for me and Amy."
Rachel nodded. "Yes. But there comes a time when a body must draw the line." She sighed and rolled her eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at her mouth. "If it's a draw between a baby and Henry, I'll kick his ornery butt all the way to the fancy house in Jacksboro and tell him to stay there this time."
Appalled and uncertain how to react, Loretta said, "Fancy house?"
"You don't think he goes there to get tobacco and coffee and the for us, do you?" Rachel touched Loretta's shoulder. "Don't look so woebegone. He leaves me alone for nigh on a month after. I consider it a blessing."
Loretta threw back her head and gave a weak laugh. "Uncle Henry visiting a fancy house? Oh, Aunt Rachel, I bet those ladies double their rates when they see the likes of him coming!"
"No doubt," Rachel said grimly. "A lover, Henry ain't. I've wasted a lot of years kowtowing to him. I don't plan to waste any more. I can make it without a man. Just you watch me." She pushed to her feet and extended Loretta a helping hand. "Come on, little mother. I'll fix you some remedy for that rolling tummy."
"Oh, Aunt Rachel, do you think it's for sure?"
"Sure enough that we'd best start cutting out nightshirts. I got flannel tucked away in my barrel. That'll make up nice."
Loretta smiled, and taking a deep breath, she passed a hand over her brow. "I am powerful pleased, Aunt Rachel!"
"Just keep thinkin' that way until I get Henry told."
"Do we have to tell him right now?"
"Honey, if you go to upchucking of a morning before you can reach the privacy, he's gonna know anyway. May as well light his fuse when we're expecting the explosion.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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