Chapter Two
“I can’t believe it,” Hank's sister Lisa exclaimed, rocking Ashley close to her body. “To leave her beautiful little boy behind and go off with some drifter.” His sister coo’d at the baby and kissed his round cheek. Her tear-filled eyes met his and she shook her head. “I never liked her, you know?”
“Yes, I know,” Hank replied placing his hat on the table and pacing to look out the oversized kitchen window. “Where is Paul?” he asked, referring to her husband.
With Ashley on her hip, Lisa shifted about the kitchen placing cups onto evenly spaced hooks under a shelf, while the baby reached for them. “He’s gone to town. As a matter of fact, when you get there, if you run into him, please tell him not to linger too late. His parents are coming for supper and I don’t want to be stuck alone with both of them.” She wrinkled her face and laughed when Ashley managed to get a hold of the cup she held.
A sharp pang sliced into his chest. Hank nodded. Why had Marjorie not been more like Lisa who doted on her brood with love and patience?
Just then his youngest niece toddled into the room and let out a cry of joy at seeing the babe in her mother’s arms. “My baby!” She shouted and held out her chubby arms. Hank watched with a smile as Lisa lowered and pretended to allow the little girl to hold Ashley.
“Give me that blanket.” Lisa pointed to a thick quilt folded over a chair. After he passed it, she spread the home-sewn squares on the floor and placed the baby, and the cup, on the soft surface. "Come sit with the baby," she told his niece, who scrambled to do so.
Lisa came to Hank and wrapped her arms around his waist in a fierce hug. “I love you, Hank, it pains me to see you hurt so.”
He placed his chin on the top of her head. “I’m gonna be fine Sis. I appreciate you looking after my boy until I find someone to come to the house and care for him. Hopefully luck will be on my side and I’ll find someone today.”
“You take your time, Hank, I can handle one more. If anything, he keeps Lizzie entertained.” They looked over at the sound of Lizzie’s giggle. The baby laid kicking and gurgling at her swinging a wooden toy over him. “See, she’s going to be a natural.”
“So are you sister, you’re a great mother to your children. Paul is a lucky man.”
Hank went to the blanket and kneeled over his son. The baby wiggled when he picked him up and kissed him, brilliant blue eyes met his and Hank marveled at the trust in them, the unspoiled innocence in his son. “I love you, boy.”
Lisa neared and placed a hand on Hank's shoulder. “He is such a precious baby. Never stop telling him you love him. You, me, Ma and Pa, between all of us we’ll love him so much, he’ll never miss that…” She cut off when Lizzie lifted her arms at her uncle, once again reclaiming Ashley.
“I’ll be late returning tonight, can I come for him in the morning?”
Before Lisa could reply, the older children, an eight-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl, burst into the room smelling of sunshine and dirt. They ignored him rushing to the blanket to play with Ashley. Lisa smiled up at him. “Anytime tomorrow is fine.”
Strangely, Hank felt more assured of his son's safety upon leaving his sister’s house than he’d any other time with Marjorie.
The ride to town was not unpleasant, the day warmed enough that he was comfortable sitting on the wagon bench without need for a blanket around his body. His sister had given him names of two families to call on. Both had single daughters who’d help care for Ashley. But he would only go to them as a final recourse. He preferred to find an older woman, the last thing he needed was an entanglement of any kind with a young woman right now. No, it was best to find an elderly lady to care for Ashley until the boy could ride out with him and be self-sufficient.
Upon arriving in Alder’s Gulch, almost two hours later, Hank made his way down the wooden walk, to the mercantile. It was still early in the day and few people were out. Those that were about were preoccupied with work. He noticed two men speaking in hushed tones as they carried a large crate into a building, while another ambled towards to the barbershop and unlocked the door.
Arthur Banks, the owner of the mercantile, looked up when the bell over the door jingled and raised his hand in greeting. Arthur's wife, Carolyn, who assisted a lady customer with fabric, stopped what she did and turned to him smiling in welcome. “Hello, Hank how are you? How is that beautiful baby of yours?” She patted her swollen stomach. “He’ll have a playmate in a couple months.”
The news of Marjorie's leaving must have not reached town yet as neither of the Banks appeared uncomfortable at his presence. The fact that Mrs. Banks did not ask about her was normal. Marjorie was not well liked by the townswomen, they never attended any social functions or church, nor did Hank and she ever entertain.
"I'm well, thank you. Ashley is a healthy, happy baby," Hank replied from the counter and began recounting items from his list while Arthur pulled said items from the shelves.
“I’ve got some molasses if you want, don’t know if your wife bakes, but it will be good for plenty of delicious sweets either way,” Arthur told him, climbing the ladder to retrieve a container. “I’m making sure to keep some for myself.”
“I suppose I’ll take some,” Hank replied considering he could make some flapjacks and sweeten them with the molasses. “I’ll have to ask your wife for cooking ideas, since Marjorie is gone. She was never my wife you know.” It was best to speak plainly. In his opinion, it left less fodder for gossip. “She left two days ago, so it’s just me and Ashley now.”
“Oh goodness.” Carolyn dropped the fabric in her hands and rushed to his side. She placed her hands on his forearms, her alarmed eyes searching his face. “What kind of a woman abandons a baby? My goodness, Hank, he’s too young to be left without his mother.” Carolyn took a long pull of breath as tears spilled and she wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand. Hank couldn’t help but frown at her overly emotional response.
“Pregnant women are sometimes exceedingly sensitive,” the other woman flanked his opposite side and leaned into him explaining while motioning to the pregnant woman with her hand.
Carolyn huffed at the woman. “It’s so sad, of course I’m affected. For goodness sakes, Beth-Ann, this is a very dreadful turn of events in Hank’s life.” She then wept openly and Arthur came around the counter. He pulled his weeping wife against him and soothed her.
“Who’s going to take care of the child?” The woman next to him asked ignoring the couple, her hand tight on his wrist.
He studied the older woman and noticed her greying hair was pulled back into a bun so tight, he wondered if her head ached at the end of the day. They’d crossed paths before; she was the town's lawyer’s wife. “Well, I’m looking to find someone to help care for Ashley until he's a bit older. Do you happen do know of an older woman who’s available?”
“Let me see,” she pondered, her finger tapping her pointy chin. “Older you say?” Hank nodded. She looked to Carolyn Banks, who now sat in a chair and sipped from a cup. “Isn’t Betty Dawson alone now Carolyn? Do you think she’d be interested in looking after a baby?”
Switching instantly from despondency to alert, Carolyn shoved the cup back into Arthur's hands and shot to her feet. “There’s only one way to find out. Let's go ask her.” The women began to talk in rapid succession moving toward the door.