“Seth! It’s good to see you!”
Seth absently shook Paul’s hand. He watched impatiently for Lupita to come out of her house.
“Adam’s sick,” Jake whispered. “Seth’s come to get Lupita.”
Paul understood what was needed. “Jake, you get some food.” At Jake’s look of bewilderment, he added, “Dump some beans on Lupita’s tortillas and get them ready to go. I’ll get two horses saddled.”
“Come with me.” Jake motioned to Seth. “You and the little gal make up?”
“Yes. I guess so. I don’t know. My head’s groggy. I can’t think. What’s keeping Lupita?” He seemed to remember Jake and put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m just worried now. I’ll come back when … when Adam’s well and I’ll visit with you then. I have missed you.”
“I understand. Here’s your burritos. They’re not like Lupita’s, but they’ll fill you up.” He wrapped them in a cloth and Seth stuffed them in the pocket of his vest.
Lupita was just leaving her house. She carried a large cloth bag. “I am ready.”
Paul handed over the reins of the horses, and Seth helped Lupita mount. It had been a long time since she’d ridden a horse and already the muscles and tendons on the inside of her thighs hurt from the unaccustomed stretching.
“You take care of our boys, you hear, Lupita? And then you bring all of ’em back with you,” Jake called after them. He turned to Paul. “It’s goin’ be a long time waitin’ here and not knowin’ what’s happenin’.” They turned back to their work, silent.
Lupita used all her strength to stay on the horse, but even so, they had to travel much more slowly than Seth had alone. Once Seth apologized for making her ride so hard. She dismissed his statement. “For Adam it is worth it.” She tried to wipe some of the haggard, drawn look from his face. “I have seen this tick before—it is not so bad as you think. There are many medicines I can use.” Seth’s trust in her made her swallow hard. She prayed that her words were true.
They changed horses at the homestead. Seth promised to return the extra horse, and he swore to himself that the poor farmer would have some new livestock as soon as he returned to his own ranch.
The moon of the second night was high when they reached the Three Crowns. Seth lifted Lupita from her horse, throwing the reins to Donaciano. The tired woman followed, stumbling, as he led her into the big house.
“They’re here!” Morgan’s voice was incredulous. She ran to meet them, throwing herself into Lupita’s arms with such exuberance that she nearly knocked the plump woman down. “I knew you’d come. Please save my baby, Lupita, please. He’s so little…”
Lupita pushed her firmly away and walked to Adam’s bed. The child was dry and hot and his little cheeks, once so healthy, were sunken, as were his eyes.
“How long has he been like this?”
“I don’t know. Nearly four days, I think. The time is all mixed up in my mind. What do we do first?”
Lupita was studying Morgan intently. “Heat water. I am going to make some tea.”
“Tea! We don’t need tea when my son is so sick.” She was screeching.
“Seth!” Lupita turned to the weary man, slumped by his son’s bedside. “I can care for Adam, but I cannot care for both of them at once.” She nodded her head toward Morgan, who watched Lupita with an unnatural light in her eyes. “Is there someone else who can help me?”
“Me. I’ll help.” Morgan stepped forward. “I’ll do whatever you say, Lupita.”
“You! Look at you. Another few minutes and I will have two patients.”
“May I help?” Roselle stood at the door in her dressing gown.
Lupita appraised her. “Yes. I will need someone.”
“I can’t leave my baby. He needs me.”
“He does not even know you are here. Seth, take your wife to the kitchen and feed her good. And you eat, too. Then wash her, put her in a clean nightgown, and then into bed. And you do the same for yourself.”
“No, I can’t…”
Lupita’s eyes were as hard as diamonds. “You do everything I say or I will leave.”
Morgan allowed Seth to lead her from the room.
Roselle watched them leave. “You wouldn’t really leave?”
“Of course not.” The answer was snapped back.
“I’ve tried to get her to eat, to sleep, but she wouldn’t.”
“I have been caring for sick people and bringing babies into the world since I was just a girl, and I have learned that you do not ask tired mothers anything, you give orders. If they do not obey, you give them a reason why they must. Now, let us go to work. I need water to brew a tea.”
“He won’t drink anything.”
Lupita arched an eyebrow at her. She didn’t tolerate disobedience from her helpers, either.
Roselle left the room to get water.
Seth led Morgan to the big work table in the middle of the kitchen. He put bread and cheese, cold chicken, and milk in front of her.
“I can’t eat, Seth, really I can’t.”
“Lupita’s right. Neither of us is any use to Adam. We’d be in the way.”
Roselle entered to get the hot water. Morgan stood up to follow her out. Seth unceremoniously pushed her back into her chair. “Eat!”
Morgan began to eat, at first lightly and then with gusto. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. “I guess I was hungry,” she mumbled through a mouthful of bread and cheese. “He is going to be all right, isn’t he?”
Seth held her hand, squeezing the fingers. “Now that Lupita’s here, I think he will be. Finished?”
“Yes.” Her body felt so heavy, worse than when she’d carried Adam. She must rouse herself, because she had to go back to Adam. She’d been away too long. She started wearily toward the door, her eyes blurring.
Seth grabbed her skirt to stop her.
“Adam might call for me.” Her goal was the kitchen door—such an ordinary thing really, but now it seemed impossible.
Seth lifted her in his arms.
“I’m too heavy. You…”
“Heavy! You nit! You hardly weigh more than Adam. Now that I’m here, you are going to be taken care of. Right now I am going to put you to bed.”
She leaned her head against Seth’s shoulder. It felt good to depend on someone else for a change, and there was no one she’d rather trust than her Seth. She sighed. “Her Seth” once again.
He set her on her feet again in the bedroom. “Get out of that dress and tell me where you keep your nightgowns.”
“Third drawer.” Her hands were shaking as she fumbled with the buttons. Seth was in front of her and pushed her hands away as he unfastened the row of little buttons. She watched his face and knew that he, too, was very tired. She touched his hair. It seemed that the more tired he was, the more gray there was in his hair. Right now he looked like an old man.
She stepped out of her dress and Seth began to unlace her corset. She let out a sigh as it fell to the floor. She thought she’d probably never get used to that tight, stiff thing binding her waist and rib cage. Seth removed her chemise and she stood nude under his gaze.
“Why do you wear that thing? You have red marks all down your body where it cut into you.” His big hands rubbed at her sides, briskly.
She felt slightly uneasy under his touch. “My gown.”
“First, a wash.” He pulled her to the basin on the table and began washing her face and hands. She stood still, enjoying the way he scrubbed at her skin. He dried her and then slipped the clean, soft nightgown over her head. “I should be hanged for covering all this up.” His hand lightly caressed her breast. “If I tried to take advantage of you now, it’d be like making love to a wet dishcloth.” He smiled into Morgan’s drooping eyes. “I think I’ll wait. Let’s go, little one.”
Again he picked her up and carried her to the bed. She was practically asleep before he had tucked the covers about her. Seth started toward the door.
“Where are you goin
g?” she murmured.
“To my room. Lupita seemed to think I need some sleep, too.”
“Stay with me. I need you.”
An incredible joy surged through him. “Yes, mi querida, I’ll stay with you … for as long as you want.”
Morgan immediately turned back onto her stomach and went to sleep. Seth took his time washing himself, and then he removed his clothes and climbed into the bed beside his wife. “Damn nightgown!” he murmured as he pulled her close. Their bodies fitted together with an old familiarity. Seth’s breath became slow and even and he, too, slept.
Adam didn’t know who held him or who forced the bad-tasting tea down his throat, but he knew the voice of command. It hurt terribly, but no matter how much he complained, the cup was always there again. His body hurt and ached so much, yet someone kept lifting him, turning him, and putting hot cloths on him. He didn’t like this at all. He wanted to be outside. “Horse,” he whispered, but the word didn’t come to the surface.
Lupita forced several herb teas down Adam’s throat, each laced with powdered rose hips. She and Roselle wrapped his little feverish body again and again in hot, steamy towels. Toward dawn, the fever began to lessen, and Lupita collapsed on the little sofa. She hadn’t slept in nearly two days, and now that she knew there was nothing else she could do except wait, she fell asleep instantly. Roselle tiptoed from the room. No matter what happened now, there would be a need for food.
“Eat.” The word didn’t come out as loudly as he had planned. He tried again, but his mouth still didn’t work. He looked at the big woman asleep beside his bed. Who was she? He was wet all over his body and he was hungry and thirsty. Where was his mother? He’d go to her room. She’d get him something to eat.
He started to move but his body didn’t obey. It hurt, and his head hurt, too. “Mama.” he whispered, and the tears began to flow. He felt so awful and there was no one with him except this woman that he didn’t know.
Lupita opened her eyes to see Adam’s face screwed up and tears rolling down his cheeks. Her tears followed, because she knew the danger was over.
“Ah, little one. You will be safe now.” She immediately set about making the little boy comfortable. She changed his clothes and bed linens, talking to him soothingly all the while.
Adam decided he liked the woman. And he seemed to remember her voice from somewhere. But he was still hungry and he still wanted his mother. “Mama,” he whispered again.
“Yes, I’ll get your mama for you.”
Lupita tried two doors before she found Morgan’s room. She paused a moment to stare at the sight of Morgan and Seth curled together in the big bed. She was glad they were together again. There was no need to wake both of them. “Morgan.” Seth stirred and rolled away from his sleeping wife. Lupita touched her shoulder. “Morgan, Adam is calling you.”
“Adam?” she murmured sleepily, eyes still closed. Then suddenly they were wide open.
“The fever is broken. He will be well. I will go back now. You come when you can.”
Morgan jumped from the bed and ran to her wardrobe. She snatched a dressing gown and rapidly thrust her arms through the sleeves and tied it.
Adam whimpered slightly when he saw his mother. She held him close and he was comforted by her presence. He looked tired and he’d lost weight, but for the first time in a long while, his eyes were clear and focusing.
Seth came into the room, his eyes riveted on his son. He held the boy’s hand and ruffled his hair. “I’m glad you’re going to get well, son.” Morgan saw the tears in his eyes. No matter how much she ever doubted Seth’s love for her, his love for his little son was never in question.
Seth came to Morgan’s side and took her in his arms. “I have to see to the ranch now. After four days without supervision, it’s probably near bankruptcy. I’ll try to get back for dinner, but if I can’t, I’ll send word.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you.” He released her and left the room.
She stared after him for a second, but she couldn’t worry about Seth now. Adam was still very sick and he needed her.
Morgan spent the entire day with Adam. She spoonfed him, read to him, and drew pictures on his little slate. Lupita slept most of the day and Roselle stayed downstairs except to bring food.
“Mrs. Colter, why don’t you go for a ride?” said Roselle next afternoon. “Adam is asleep, and I’ll be here if he wakens. You need some fresh air.”
“I know, Roselle, I guess I should. But I’m afraid he’ll wake up and need me. I’ll get over the feeling, but I came so close to losing him that right now I’m almost afraid to close my eyes.”
Roselle agreed. Had her little girl lived, she would have felt the same way about leaving her.
When Lupita entered the room, Morgan ran to her and hugged her. “It seems I’m always saying thank you for all the things you do for me.”
“I did not save the boy for you … only maybe a little for you. If anything had happened to him, my Seth would not think so highly of me. I cannot have that.” She grinned at Morgan. “Also, remember, Adam is one of my children.”
Adam gave Lupita a tentative smile when he heard his name. The woman was becoming familiar to him very quickly.
Lupita caressed the hair by his temple. “Now you will grow as strong and as big as your daddy. I think I will go to the kitchen and see how this Roselle is feeding my children.”
“Her cooking is a lot different from yours.”
“Hmph! That is why the child was so sick. He needs more chili. I’ll see what I can make for supper.”
“Chili! That sounds marvelous. How about a green chili stew with potatoes and meat? The three of us could eat here, together.”
Lupita smiled at her. “Yes. The three of us together. That is nice.”
In a short time, the two of them were happily eating quantities of green chili stew and freshly made tortillas. Morgan fed Adam a beef broth flavored with green chili. He ate all of it, and drank some milk. Once he smiled at them, the first time Morgan had seen his dimples in a long time. There was a milk mustache on his upper lip, and he said, “Eat.”
The women had laughed together. “Now I know for sure that he’s going to be all right,” Morgan declared.
“Food has to be interesting, or it is not good to eat. He would not eat before because the food had no taste.”
Adam put out a hand toward his mother’s tortilla and she broke off a piece for him.
Martin came into the room. “Mr. Colter said to tell his wife”—his eyes twinkled—“that the ranch is falling apart. He’ll be very late tonight, since he needs to put it together again.”
Morgan laughed. “Thank you, Martin. Who brought the message?”
“A young hand called Tim.”
“Well, take him to the kitchen and give him some green chili stew and tortillas. There’s enough, Lupita?”
“What you think—I cook only a little bit for the three of us?”
“And Martin, you and Roselle help yourselves.”
“We already have. The smells from Lupita’s cooking were irresistible.”
“Oh, Lupita,” she laughed when Martin was gone, “I spent an entire year training with a French cooking master, and none of my food ever gets the raves your food does.”
Morgan turned back to Adam. She felt slightly guilty because she hadn’t really thought about Seth all day. She was too concerned with Adam, always aware of how close she’d come to losing him. She put her hands on the small of her back and stretched.
“It is time for you to go to bed.”
“I’ll sleep in here, in case he wakes in the middle of the night and needs anything.”
“No. You will go to your own room and sleep. I will stay in here. If he needs you, I will call you.”
Morgan knew when she was attempting a losing battle. She was asleep as soon as she snuggled under the covers.
It was late when Seth got back to the house and he stopped outside Morgan’s door, his hand on the
knob. He smiled in anticipation because he knew they could not possibly sleep together in the same bed for the second night in a row without making love.
He looked down at himself. He was dirty and tired. And in the morning, Morgan would be running into Adam’s room. No, it would have to wait. When he made love to his wife for the first time in years, he wanted time to caress her and touch every part of the body he’d once known so well. With a sigh, he turned to his own room.
Morgan awoke early. She still wasn’t used to Adam not banging on her bedroom door. She threw on a dressing gown and went to her son’s room. Immediately she knew something was wrong. The room was a mess. There were towels on the floor, a tea kettle beside the bed. Both Adam and Lupita were asleep. She sat down heavily in a chair. It came back to her with renewed force that she had come very close to losing her son. Last night, while she slept, she had almost lost him again. If Lupita hadn’t been with him…
Morgan turned and saw Lupita’s eyes open. “What happened?” Her voice reflected her despair.
“Nothing happened. He was restless so I made him tea.”
“What about the towels?”
“I had them ready in case the fever returned, but it did not.”
“He had a relapse, didn’t he?”
“Morgan, no! I was just being cautious, but he needed no more treatments.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“You weren’t needed. Nothing happened. I—”
Seth entered the room and looked in puzzlement from one woman to the other. “Is something wrong?”
“Adam was ill again last night,” said Morgan. “He isn’t over it at all. He’s still very sick.”
Lupita threw her hands into the air, mumbled something under her breath in Spanish, and then turned to Seth. “Adam is all right. Last night he was restless and I was afraid it was the sickness again, but it was not. Your son is getting well quickly and there is no more danger.”
Morgan looked skeptical. “I’m just worried, that’s all.”
“Well, I believe Lupita.” He kissed the woman’s forehead. “Let’s all go downstairs and eat breakfast. Carol is here and she can stay with Adam.”