“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“When a child won’t listen, sometimes it takes a spanking to get their attention. When a woman won’t or can’t listen, it may help. I’m not saying women should be treated like children, and I don’t think it’s right to enforce your will on another human being, but if it gets Callie Mae’s attention and allows her to hear and feel how serious you are about her, she may come ‘round to your way of thinking. You are serious about her?”
“I think so, Ma. At least, I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. One minute I want to kiss the breath out of her and the next I want to paddle her butt.”
“I guess that’s as good a place to start as any,” Emma said nodding. “I’m glad, son,” she continued, patting his hand. “I like Callie Mae, always have. She’s got spunk.”
“Spunk that may get her hurt, and not just a simple sore bottom,” he sighed.
“I know, son, but it will all work out. You’ll see. I can feel it in my bones. Isn’t it a beautiful day?’ she asked looking at the cloudless sky. “Now, if we can just get Matthew settled, I may live long enough to see some of my grandchildren.
“Melissa and Cole sure skedaddled as soon as the service was over. I wonder why. She didn’t even stop to speak with anyone, just nodded at Callie Mae’s girls and went straight to their wagon,” Emma mused as they rode along.
“I was over there early this morning,” Morgan said. “Everything was fine as far as I could tell.”
“Yes, I heard you ride out.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I had an errand to take care of and I wanted to get an early start.”
“You didn’t wake me,” Emma laughed. “I was just being a lay-a-bed this morning. Matthew woke me stumbling up the stairs in the middle of the night.”
“Was he drunk?”
“Likely so. It seems to be becoming a habit. I know he works hard keeping the place running, and he’s entitled to raise a ruckus now and again, but I do wish he’d settle down a mite,” Emma sighed.
“He’s still young,” Morgan offered. “I’m sure…”
“Nonsense, he’s obstinate and pigheaded. I swear he’s having too much fun being single to take marriage seriously. Sometimes I think he does it just to spite me.”
“He sounds interested in the widow who runs the café. Maybe she’ll be the one.”
“Humph, maybe. Laurie has a hard row to hoe and that’s for certain. He could do a lot worse. Or maybe one of the girls Callie Mae brought in will suit his fancy if Laurie won’t have him. I’ll have to see after I’ve got to know them. I’ve even thought about sending back East for one of those mail order brides.”
Morgan couldn’t have been more surprised. Emma Whittaker had a lot more determination than he’d given her credit for. Looking at the stubborn angle of her chin, he was glad she wasn’t bride hunting for him. He imagined if she set her mind to it, she could have a young man standing before the altar quicker than she could whip up a batch of those buttermilk biscuits he loved so much.
“Ma, I think you should, um…let nature take its course.”
“Oh, I will. I’m just going to give it a little nudge,” she said smiling. “I’m not getting any younger, son. I imagine Lilly will have a child sooner or later, once she and Mead marry, but I don’t see her as being in any big hurry, and I doubt the child will be any less prissy than Lilly, especially if it’s a girl. I need to know that what your pa and I built here will be handed down and that it will be well taken care of before I pass on. That means grand babies and lots of them. Speaking of which, when are you gonna make your intentions known with Callie Mae? Now there’s a sturdy young woman, perfect hips for childbearing. I’m sure she’ll give you fine sons and some little girls too.”
“Now, Ma…”
“Now Ma nothing,” she replied. “I used to think all your pa had to do was hang his trousers on the bed post and we’d be expecting a child. We raised four and buried three and that was a heartache. I want to see young’uns’ running around the yard, cousins growing strong and tight-knit the way a family ought to be. Turning to each other in time of sorrow and joy. When your pa and I came out here, we had nothing but each other. Over the years we made friends, good friends, and we were blessed to have good neighbors. It made us realize how important family is. At night we’d lie in bed and talk about the future when we’d have all our children settled round us, raising families of their own. We spent a lot of time dreaming about our family gathering for Christmas, christening, and birthdays. There’s plenty of land for all of you and you can do what you want with it. It’s good, fertile farm land, or you can raise stock if that’s more to your liking. Just because your pa died, that doesn’t mean my dreams died with him. And you better hurry up; Lord knows how much longer I have on this earth.”
“Ma, you’re healthy as a horse,” Morgan teased.
“Don’t be fresh,” she said sharply, giving him a jab with her elbow. “Gracious, in all my born days I never thought I’d have to be picking brides for my sons. I hope I don’t have to go in the bedroom with you all and supervise that,” she snorted.
“I’m pretty sure that won’t be necessary,” he said, blushing to the roots of his hair. Damn, he thought. The sweet little lady sitting beside him was strangely reminiscent of a high-powered CEO in his time that was determined to get her way.
“If I do decide to marry Callie Mae, and I’m not saying that I have, I’ll do it with the intention of running my home as the head of my family,” Morgan assured her with a touch more confidence than he felt.
“If she’ll have you,” Emma said crisply. “If I was you, Morgan, I think I’d put more effort into courting her than spanking her.”
“Unfortunately, Ma, the two seem to be going hand in hand. I won’t marry another…I mean, I can’t marry a woman who doesn’t respect me. There’s no point if we are not compatible. We’d just make each other miserable.”
“I agree with what you say, son, in principle. Callie Mae is independent and stubborn, sometimes to the point of foolishness and you’ll have to take a firm role in your marriage. She’s also sweet, kind, and generous, and she has been in love with you for years.”
“Why did I never think of courting her before?” he asked.
