Mac arrived home in late afternoon and went upstairs to wash for supper. Jenny followed him. “Happy birthday, husband,” she said.
He turned to kiss her. “Thank you, wife.”
“What kept you away all day?”
“Business. First with Daniel Abercrombie—I needed to inspect a parcel of his land. Then I ran into his father.”
“Samuel?” She sighed. “And I suppose he chucked a problem in your direction.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Mac poured water into the bowl on the washstand, then splashed some on his face and lathered his cheeks with soap. “He has another land dispute with Zeke Pershing.”
“Poor Zeke.” Jenny shook her head. “Will you get dragged into their argument?”
Mac shrugged. “I talked to Zeke—that was my last stop before returning to town. Zeke seems reasonable, so I hope Abercrombie will accept his proposal.”
Jenny settled herself in a chair while Mac took out his razor strop and sharpened his blade. “I visited Hannah today as well,” she said. “I’m surprised we didn’t run into each other on the road.”
“Were you alone?” Mac asked, grimacing at himself in the mirror. More and more gray at his temples each week. He supposed that was to be expected—he was forty-three today.
“It was a women’s meeting,” Jenny said. “No need for Maria or the little ones to be there.”
“There are deserters around.” Maybe he shouldn’t worry, but he did.
“I can take care of myself, Mac.” Jenny sounded offended by his concern.
He changed the subject so as not rile her further. “How are the children behaving?”
Jenny sighed. “The boys were unruly again. Mostly Caleb and Nathan, but Cal dragged William into it.”
“Will is old enough to know better,” Mac said.
“Cal knows exactly how to needle his older brother.” Jenny sounded tired. He glanced at her in the mirror—she’d leaned her head back on the chair and closed her eyes.
“I’ve told Will he should go to Harvard this autumn. I’ve a mind to take him to Boston myself.”
“Oh.”
Surprised at Jenny’s short response, Mac turned to face her. “What is it? You’ve always said I should visit my parents. They’re not getting any younger.”
“I’m with child again.”
Mac’s razor dropped into the bowl. “Are you feeling all right?”
“The usual queasiness. I’ll be fine.”
In two steps Mac crossed the room and dropped to his knees beside her, gently cupping her face in his hand. “You look pale. Are you eating well?”
She smiled and touched the hand on her cheek. “I’m fine, Mac. Just like always. We’ll be welcoming this child in October. Around my birthday, I think.”
“A little more than six months still.” Mac thought for a moment, frowning. “I could take Will to Boston in mid-summer. Leave him with my parents and be back before the baby comes. If the ships sail as they ought.”
She frowned. “Do you think that’s wise? Leaving William with your parents? Given everything—”
“He’d be fine,” Mac said. “He’d soon move into rooms at the college. I’ll look into sailing schedules later this week.”
Jenny stayed seated after Mac headed downstairs for a whiskey before supper. The children shouted in the hallway as they raced after their father, but she wasn’t ready to face the clamor yet. Mac had given her a new worry—what would happen when his parents met William? What questions would they have about the boy?
William had been born while Jenny and Mac traveled to Oregon. Would Mac’s parents question when and how he’d met Jenny? When they’d married?
Mac and Jenny had mostly buried the truth. Only a few friends in Oregon knew what had happened, and they’d never explained the full story to their families back home. Would it all come out now?
And what would the impact be on William?
Jenny sighed, put a smile on her face, and went to celebrate her husband’s birthday with their family.
Chapter 10: Another Letter
Will stayed close to home for the rest of the week after his father’s birthday. Now that he’d stopped attending the academy, he’d hoped to spend more time with Jonah. But Pa told the family to stay in town unless he accompanied them to the country. “Deserters are flocking to Oregon,” he’d said. “Most of them probably only want work and shelter. But some are up to no good. So, keep away from strangers.”
The younger children’s eyes grew round—Eliza and Lottie bursting into tears. “Don’t scare them, Mac,” Mama said. Then she looked around the table. “But, children, obey your father. Stay close to home or school.”
Will had complied all week. Still, working with Jonah would be a better use of his time than sitting around the house. Will was a good shot, and Shanty had a lot of speed in him. They could out-run or out-shoot any ex-soldier riding an Army nag.
He might have disobeyed Pa, but he didn’t want to worry Mama. He dutifully ran errands for her. Friday afternoon, she sent him to the Post Office. He collected their newspapers, but the only other mail was a letter for Pa from California.
On a whim, Will asked for mail addressed to Daniel or Esther Abercrombie. Maybe there would be an excuse to ride out to Jonah’s.
