Amelia watched as the 10th Calvary returned from their latest mission. The all African regiment earned their fierce reputation in many battles with the Cheyenne. She looked anxiously until she saw Joshua leading the column. She smiled as she remembered the day Colonel Grierson picked him to be in the regiment.
From down the road, a very pregnant Mariah waddled to Amelia. “Do you see Caleb?” she asked, as she scanned the troopers.
From her vantage point on her front porch, Amelia found Mariah’s husband. “There he is, right beside Joshua.”
She smiled as Mariah walked as fast as she could to her husband. “Caleb, I’m so glad you’re home!” He opened his arms and hugged her, careful of her blossoming stomach.
A group of boys surrounded Joshua as he dismounted and walked across the road.
There was a tug on Amelia’s skirt. She looked down and found her eighteen-month-old daughter, Lucy, begging to be picked up.
“Look, Lucy, there’s Papa, do you see him?”
Lucy tittered in delight. She crinkled her blue eyes, just like her father’s. “Papa!” she demanded.
Eight-year-old Douglas, who allowed no one to call him Dougie any longer, ran up on the porch. “Uncle Josh says the Cheyenne are calling the troopers Buffalo Soldiers. Isn’t that something?”
“Yes, it is.”
Joshua came up on the porch and removed his hat. “Hello, Darlin” he leaned down and kissed Lucy on her round cheek.
“Dearest,” he whispered, as he kissed Amelia.
“Are you all right?” she asked as she cupped his unshaven jaw with her free hand.
He nodded. “We’re all tired, but nobody was wounded this time.” He looked down at his dirt-stained uniform. “I’ve got to report to the colonel, but then I’ll come home.”
She caressed him before she dropped her hand. “We’ll be waiting for you with a hot bath and a good meal.
“It’s good to be home, my love. Let’s hope the colonel doesn’t want to keep me too long.” He turned and walked down the front steps, the sounds of his spurs following him down the dusty street.
Amelia watched him go before she went into the house. Once inside, she looked around the room. There was a lot to do. “Douglas, watch your sister. I need to get to work.” She put her daughter on the floor.
Lucy ran on her chubby legs. “Papa, Papa, Papa,” she chanted.
In the kitchen, Amelia listened to her daughter and smiled. She took the hot bread from the oven and set it out to cool. She checked the big pot of stew on the stove and added another piece of wood to build up the fire. Thank goodness I already baked the cherry pie.
She stopped for a moment and stared at the meal she had prepared for her family. I remember when I couldn’t cook at all. Bless Mariah for being so patient with me.
After that, she dragged the bathtub in from the back porch and cleaned it. She filled up the large kettle with water to put on to heat when Joshua returned.
Lucy danced into the kitchen with Douglas behind her.
“Well my goodness you’re a fast little girl.” Her mama chucked her under the chin.
“She wears me out.” Douglas had a new mature tone in his voice.
Amelia hugged him. “I remember when you were that age. Talk about a handful!”
“Mama, do you think Uncle Josh would be upset if I called him Papa?”
“I think he’d love it. How did you grow up so fast?”
He shrugged and grinned up at her. “I hope he’ll tell us more about why the Cheyenne call the troopers Buffalo Soldiers.”
“I’m sure he will. Now, please run to the root cellar and bring back a jar of those peach preserves.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he hurried away, her obedient son, licking his lips in anticipation of his favorite treat.
Later that night when they had eaten the delicious dinner and Lucy was asleep, Amelia and Joshua shared the settee with Douglas on the floor beside them.
He looked up at his mother, a question in his eyes.
She nodded and smiled.
“Papa, why do you think the men are called Buffalo Soldiers?”
Joshua hesitated for a second, a brief glimpse of surprise in his eyes. Then he smiled.
“I don’t know for sure. Some say the Cheyenne call them that for their curly hair. Others say it’s because some of them have buffalo robes in their kit.” He leaned down to Douglas. “I like to think it’s because, like the buffalo the Cheyenne revere, our soldiers have a fighting spirit that never dies. They’re brave men who fought hard and long to gain a place in this world. The Indians respect that.” He reached down and tousled Douglas’ hair. “Respect from one’s enemy is a prize to covet. Remember that, Son.”
Douglas leaned against Joshua’s legs and signed in contentment.
Amelia thought of their past. We’ve come so far from the awful days during and after the war. I never thought we’d be together like this. But here we are.
“Did you get enough to eat?”
He smiled at her. “I couldn’t eat another bite. You’ve turned out to be a great cook.”
She moved closer to her husband and whispered, “You’re not so bad for a damn Yankee, either. I think I just might keep you.”
“As if I’d ever let my family go.” Joshua put his right arm around her as he ruffled his son’s curls with his left hand.
The light of the fire burned down in the cozy cabin. The aromas of the savory stew lingered. In her bed Lucy snuffled as she turned over. Outside the soldiers on watch shouted to each other to acknowledge their status. Night birds could be heard calling across the prairie.
Amelia sighed as she leaned closer to her husband. I wonder when I should tell him we’re going to have another baby. She smiled at her secret and closed her eyes.
They all leaned into each other, safe in their snug cabin, content to share the quiet joy of being together.