Grace followed her to one of the two doors on the far wall. They stepped into the room on the right, the woman motioning to the big double bed. “That should be a good place to lay her. This is my sister and Jericho’s room, but they’ve both gone to help Sampson. You can have the place to yourself. I’m Naomi, by the way. I’ll bring warm water. Would you like a big pot to bathe her in? Sometimes it helps to dunk instead of trying to wipe all those rolls and creases.”
A bit of weight eased from Grace’s shoulders, and she offered a smile that came much easier. “That would be wonderful.”
Naomi smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Do you need clothes for her? Clean diapers? I remember how quickly a babe goes through those things. And it’s nearly impossible to do laundry on the trail.”
This woman must have a child or two of her own. She certainly possessed the comforting, gentle manner of a mother. How long before Grace developed that trait? Did you have to actually give birth to a child to have that mother’s demeanor?
She pushed the worries away and shook her head. “I have what I need in my pack.” Which was still strapped on the saddle. She wrinkled her nose. “Would someone be able to bring it in? Or…I can go get it.”
Naomi turned to the door. “The men already brought that. I’ll be right back.”
She left the door open, but it wasn’t hard to block out the activity in the other room. Grace glanced around this chamber. The oldest brother’s room. The master and mistress of the house. It felt like she shouldn’t be in here. She certainly shouldn’t touch anything.
She had to get Ruby cleaned up though. She’d do it quickly, then move out by the fire to feed the babe. For now, she’d best not lay her on the bed until she could remove this damp gown.
A moment later, the red-haired woman stepped in with a stack of cloths and Grace’s satchel. “The water is heating, both for you and the babe. We thought a bath might be a good way to get you warm too. Miles and Eric are bringing the tub in now.”
A bath.Oh, how she longed to be clean and warm again. The idea of soaking in hot water seemed almost too good to be true after so many days.
"Thank you," she managed, emotion thickening her voice. "That's very kind."
The woman's smile deepened, her eyes filled with understanding. "I'm Patsy, Jonah’s intended. We're so glad to have you here, Grace. Sampson is…well, he's special to all of us. Anyone important to him is important to us too."
Tears pricked at Grace's eyes, and she blinked to hold them back. The easy acceptance, the warm welcome—they touched a place deep inside her, soothing hurts she hadn't even realized she carried.
Naomi stepped in behind Patsy. “We’re actually going to move you to the room over, if you don’t mind sharing it with Clara. The men are taking the tub and water in there.”
She moved farther into the room, and her eyes warmed even more. “Would you trust me to bathe your sweet one? I have a daughter of my own who was once this tiny, though it’s hard to believe it now. She’s two years old and so big.”
Grace swallowed the worry that niggled in her chest. If Naomi had birthed her own child, surely she would be far more capable than Grace.
Naomi seemed to understand her hesitation. “We’ll be right there near you in case Ruby needs her mama. I’d like to give you a chance to tend to yourself, though.” The crinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened. “And honestly, I’m longing to hold that sweet wee one. My Mary Ellen has grown so.”
Grace eased out a breath as she nodded. “Thank you.”
Within a few minutes, they’d moved to the next chamber over that contained two single beds. A large tub filled the empty space at the far end, and several men carried buckets of water in every few minutes. Grace had handed Ruby off to Naomi, and Jess and another dark-haired woman named Angela were assisting her as they unwrapped the babe from her dirty trappings.
“There’s a sweet girl.” Naomi cooed as she hovered above the bed. She held Ruby’s head in one hand, the babe’s body along her arm, as she unwound the wet diaper from around those tiny hips. The move looked so familiar, so practiced, and a bit of tension eased out of Grace. She’d already pulled Ruby’s things out of their satchel and laid them on the bed beside Naomi. They should have everything they needed.
Including plenty of helping hands. Angela looked to be in the family way, as Jess was, so both of them surely had the same mothering instincts as Naomi.
One of the men entered the room with a large steaming pot, and Patsy followed him. He poured the contents into the tub, then stepped back. “I think that’ll do it.”
Before she could offer a “thank you,” he left the room, closing the door behind him. Patsy tugged a folding partition from against the wall and placed it between the bed and washtub. “There.” She turned back to smile at Grace. “Anything else I can bring you? There’s soap and a towel there.” She nodded to the items on a bureau nearby. “Do you need a clean gown? Anything?” She motioned toward the other women. “Between us, I’m sure we could find one to fit.”
Grace managed a smile, swallowing a lump of emotion. “This is more than enough. Thank you.” She wanted desperately to tuck herself behind that screen and sink into the warm water. Alone.
Was it wrong that she craved a break from her daughter, from all the voices and chaos?
Probably.
Patsy’s knowing gaze told Grace she understood. Her smile communicated a complete lack of judgment. “Take your time. We’ll have a warm meal ready for you when you’re finished.”
Though the women hadn’t left, Grace slipped behind the partition and shed her dirty clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor. Then she stepped into the tub, sinking down into the deliciously hot water with a sigh.
Bliss. Utter, pure bliss. The heat seeped into her weary muscles, unknotting the tension and washing away the aches. She laid back, resting her head against the curved edge, and closed her eyes.
For long minutes, she simply soaked, letting her mind drift.
