“Of course, I appreciate your generosity and willingness to help with such a crucial matter.”
“Well then...” Judge Beck stood. “I shall be on my way. I look forward to seeing you soon.”
As the greasy man left, Judas tapped a finger on his desk. While it was good to have the judge in his pocket, the man was becoming more and more of a nuisance. Perhaps he needed to bring up a new judge. Someone he could control a bit better. Who didn’t have his own agenda.
Yes. Judge Beck had worn out his usefulness.
The only problem now was how to get rid of him.
No matter. It wasn’t like he hadn’t gotten rid of plenty of other obstacles over the years. What was one more?
ELEVEN
The sun began its slow descent on the horizon. “I’m headed out to check on my girls!” Havyn called to Madysen.
“Need any help?” Her younger sister’s voice echoed from the kitchen, where she was working on preparations for dinner.
“No, but thank you. I won’t be long.” She wrapped her scarf around her neck and tugged on her gloves and boots. Pretty soon it would be much more difficult to bend over. She was already feeling quite a pull from the baby. Her skirts still fit, but for how much longer? The waists were feeling much too tight. And she couldn’t wear the sealskin pants anymore.
As she straightened up, she put a hand to her ever-growing belly and headed out the door. “All right, little one, you stay warm in there and grow big and strong. Let’s go talk to the chickens.”
A wonderful sensation crossed her abdomen. Like a little fluttering of wings moving from left to right.
She held her breath and waited for it to happen again. This time, it started on the right and moved to directly underher hand. Tears sprang to her eyes. “Do that again, sweet one!” She placed both hands on her abdomen, wanting to embrace her little one.
For several moments she stood there outside the house and relished the beauty of a life growing within her.
Her husband walked over from the milking shed. “Everything all right, my dear?”
“I felt the baby move! Come here, you’ve got to feel this.” She waved him over with frantic movements and then placed his hand on her stomach. “Go ahead, little one. Your daddy wants to feel you too.”
She stood still as John looked at her with adoration. This time, the movement was like tiny little bubbles being tossed around. “Did you feel that?”
He shook his head but kept staring at her. “But I love watching your face light up.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I can feel it on the inside, but maybe it is too light for you to feel with your hand yet. But just wait! Our baby is growing every day.”
John leaned down and captured her lips with his own. “I adore you, Havyn Roselli.”
“And I you.” Her cheeks grew warm. “Now, let me get back to the chickens. You distract me, my handsome husband.”
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “You distracted me first.” He laughed. “But I need to finish chores too. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Havyn walked out to the chicken yard and looked at the piles of snow. It would be some time before the men could get out here and shovel pathways. There were other priorities after the blizzard. Her poor girls. They hated being cooped up. But the snow was too deep. How was Whit faring in this?
She missed her sister. Not just her presence right now, butWhitney. The Whitney who started a slow disappearance after Mama died. Then after Sinclair––Havyn didn’t even want to think the man’s name––nothing was the same. Granted, Whit was in a lot of pain lately from the headaches, but there seemed to be so much more going on.
God ... help. My heart tells me something is wrong, but I don’t know how to fix it.
She brought a fresh bucket of water out to the first hen house and tapped on the door. “Good afternoon, my beauties. How is everyone doing today?”
Chatter erupted from inside the structure. Laughing, Havyn opened the door and went inside. Her girls all chattered at once and pranced around her feet for her attention.
By the time she made it to the third hen house, her arms were aching from hauling the water and feed. But at least she was almost done.
Opening the door, she wasn’t prepared for the onslaught. Out came Angry Bird, squawking and pecking and flapping her wings, followed by Buttercup and Sophie.
Before Havyn could get the door closed, the three hens had escaped the enclosed yard and scrambled through the gate to the larger yard, where they spent a good deal of the summer. “Get back here, you silly birds.” Havyn went after them.
