I blinked. "Talk? About what?"
Maggie narrowed her eyes. "Abouteverything, Gideon."
Inga choked on her coffee. "Maggie?—"
"Oh,hush. Go."
She waved me toward the door. "Go feed the cows or mend a fence or… whatever it is you boys do. This is girl time."
I looked at Inga. She looked at me. Her eyes cried:Help!
Mine said:I love you, but you're on your own.
And the moment I stepped onto the porch, I swear the entire ranch could hear my mother start, "So. When exactly were you planning to tell me I was getting FOUR grandchildren at once?"
Montana — July 29, 1948, Thursday morning
I staredat Maggie with wide-open eyes. "I'm not…" I stammered… at least I didn't think I was pregnant. I hadn't given the ramifications of what Gideon and I were doing any thought yet. Stupid, I know. Irresponsible.
I wished Gideon were here right now, and at the same time, I was grateful he wasn't. I felt my face heat even more. "I don't think I am…"
Maggie shook her head. "No matter now. You two will be married in no time." Then her face took on a thoughtful expression, and she sat down across from me. She took both of my hands in hers. "Sweetheart, when did your mama die?"
I swallowed. "Four years ago. I was fourteen."
"Hmm, hmm," she nodded as if she was telling herself she was right about something. "Fourteen? I am so, so sorry, sweet child."
"Thank you." I felt tears well in my eyes. No matter how many years had passed, the loss of my mother still hurt.
"Now, did she ever have atalkwith you?"
Talk?
We had talked about a lot of things, Mama and I. How to stay alive, how to find food for Klaus. What to do about his cough. But somehow, I didn't think this was where Maggie's question was going. And then it hit me, and I think my face turned even redder, something that, before that second, I would have sworn wasn’t even possible.
"Uhm…"
"Look now here. Men want certain things…" Maggie began, and sweat broke out all over my body.Oh dear God. "Some women like it, some women don't." He searched my eyes. "Do you know what I mean?"
I nodded, my voice was barely a whisper, "I think so. Yes, ma'am."
"My son hasn't done anything you don't like, has he?" There was a glint in her eyes that told me if Gideon had, he would be in a world of hurt.
I bit my lower lip, praying the ground would open and swallow me whole. Even bombs would have been preferable right now. "No, no. Gideon is… the best man I've ever met."
"Good, I'm glad to hear so," Maggie nodded, but there was still some steel in her eyes that almost made me fear for Gideon.
"Now I'm assuming that whatever you two did in the barn wasn't the first time." She didn't pause, and I was thankful I didn't have to answer. "I'm also assuming you two haven't used any kind of protection." I felt like I was folding into myself. This time, Maggie's eyes were probing me, waiting for an answer.
"Protection…" I squeaked.
She nodded vigorously, "I know it's not openly discussed the way it should be for young folks like you. But you need to know that pregnancies don't have to be a surprise," she winked. She actually winked.Oh please, someone kill me now? At the same time, I felt a wave of love for Maggie, too. She didn't know me. At all. And she had taken me into her home with open arms. Her only condition had been separate rooms for Gideon and me, and we had… I had…
"I'm so sorry," I whispered, tears flowing down my face.
"Oh dear, no," Maggie's chair scraped back. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Don't cry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I just…" She folded me into her arms, and I held on to her in utter shame and embarrassment. "Hush now, sweet baby. Hush."
It took a minute or two, but I got myself back under control. She handed me a handkerchief, and I blew my nose loudly and very unladylike.
