Baby Read online

  She wondered how this would affect her relationship with Wil. She was nuts about him and felt he must feel the same. But she feared his repulsion. The changes to her body made her a freak. It might be too much for him. She did not want to lose the part of him she did have. And what to do about the issue of Robert. She wondered why he had not shown himself. She made a few discreet inquires and discovered that a wife’s inheritance belonged to the husband, too. Her timidity prevented her from inquiring about the process of divorce. She knew for sure that would bring Robert down on her to claim the farm. He had admitted to murdering her mother. She knew he would not hesitate to do the same to her. She thought it would be best if she left things as they were.

  ###

  The spring moved into the summer, moved into winter, and moved into the spring again. They become the destination of choice for most of the town. Netty outgrew the new pie oven and was making plans with Wil for a huge new project; a bakery. It would be behind her old animal hospital, allowing them plenty of privacy at the cabin. And they would need it, because they had made the monumental decision to hire some full time help for the new bakery. Wil wanted to hire some field hands for his plan to expand their crops. Once these projects were completed, they both prayed their success might extend far enough to cover the extravagance of a truck. Other farmers found the money to make the envied purchase allowing their hard work to lighten with the new convenience. God knows what a boon a truck would make for the farm business.

  Wil and Netty’s relationship, surprisingly, did not progress as he hoped. He tried not to let disillusion pull him down, but her behavior did not seem normal to him. He knew her feelings for him ran deep. He often caught her studying him when she thought him unaware. He would see such a look of longing. When she caught him looking at her, she would blush and smile, making him feel hopeful. They knew one another very well now. Sometimes, he would start to say something and she would nod, finishing his sentence. They laughed together constantly, mostly over his silly grade school jokes. Her laughter, the best reward for a hard day of work. Although of late, he sometimes noticed her voice contained a note of strain.

  He loved his work on the farm. Seeing their progress and success delighted them both, making their lives very fulfilling. On the other hand, he knew Netty quietly fretted about her husband’s possible claim on the farm. She haltingly explained the relationship between her mama and Mr. Woods. Wil took the news in stride. Many women found themselves in similar straits, marrying the next man that would have them, so as to give the child a name. Bastard children carried a stigma that was hard to shake. Netty was very lucky Mr. Woods found a way to stay in her life. They might not know the reasons behind her mama’s decision, but Mr. Woods obviously loved her and provided for her. It was quite unfortunate he inadvertently chose a disreputable lawyer to represent him. Wil thought Netty might have a good case of fraud on her hands. When they had time, they planned to hire a lawyer in town to look into it for them.

  Baby was another story. His relationship with Baby mirrored that of a big brother. Baby went nuts over Maggie. Wil would saddle up Maggie early in the morning when he was turning out the Jerseys. Baby would be right on his heels when he left the cabin. He had to struggle to keep up with Wil, his funny little shuffle and wobble a handicap. He sure was an eager little guy, though. Wil would lift him up on the saddle with him and off they would go with the Jerseys, Baby clinging to the saddle horn with Wil’s arm looped across his fat little tummy. Wil gave up counting how many times he rolled over in the night to discover Baby, curled up under the covers with him. Baby made no further effort to talk to him, though. Netty said it was normal. Baby did not talk much.

  Wil decided to make a move today. They never took any time off to go into town unless it was to bring produce, make pie deliveries or pick up supplies. Wil heard that one of the churches planned to host a Saturday supper with square dancing after dinner. There was bound to be some locals that made sure the men had a good supply of moonshine behind the church. Wil planned on inviting Netty to the supper this morning. Netty poured Wil’s breakfast tea while he launched into his proposal.

  “Come on, Netty, it will be fun. We could sure use a break before spring planting starts.”

  ###

  Caught off guard by Wil’s invitation, Netty’s heart gave a trill of excitement. The thought of socializing just never occurred to her. Their affairs on the farm overwhelmed them so, keeping them busy. And she preferred to stick close to Baby, afraid to leave him alone. You could never tell when a stranger might stop by looking for some pies or a handout. She worried what might happen if they found no one home and decided to poke around. “I don’t know, Wil, can we really afford to take the time? I wanted to start moving the fieldstone up from the fields. We will soon be starting the foundation for the bakery.”

  “Netty, don’t worry about that. Baby and I are going to start working on that Sunday morning. I thought we would bring a load up after we turn out the Jerseys. We can get it done and still be finished in time for lunch.”

  “I’m sure Baby’s help will be overwhelming. But I don’t know how I can afford the time.” Looking at Wil’s crestfallen face, Netty paused. Wil never complained about anything. She knew her reluctance to his overtures portended a rift between them eventually. Her tail, fully mature, lay wrapped around her torso, hidden securely under her skirt. She hoped to delay a painful confrontation as long as possible. The thought of losing Wil because of her fear chilled her. Maybe if she said yes to the supper, Wil would be mollified for a while. Is it possible they might enjoy themselves?

  “Well, maybe some time off would be good for us. I think Baby can hold down the fort until we get back.” She smiled suddenly as Wil jumped up, grabbing her in a bear hug.

  “I know that you will be the prettiest girl there.”

  As the day wore on, Netty’s reservations returned, making her jumpy. Additional worries about the dance played on her mind. The fact that she never attended a dance before was the least of them. Netty’s unspoken insecurity revolved around the age difference between the two of them. She knew the young ladies of the town would use the dance as an opportunity to flirt and size up the single gentlemen. The supper presented the perfect atmosphere to look for strong, good-looking prospects, receptive to their mysterious signals, with the hope of spurring a courtship. Netty did not want Wil to develop a wandering eye because of her unwillingness to explore a more intimate relationship. He did not seem like the type, but she did not know much about that side of him. She did know he always planned to marry and raise as many children as possible. That thought alone frightened her.

  Having completed all of the day’s chores, Netty washed up in her bedroom, Wil in the kitchen. As she slipped on a petticoat (Never previously worn anywhere, where would she go?) she noticed a large slit down the back of it, down to her tail. The slit was to facilitate ease in getting in and out of the voluminous garment. A drawstring allowed her to cinch it at her waist, holding the petticoat up. She would have to hold her tail tightly around her torso to prevent it from slipping through the slit and unraveling down her legs.

  Slipping her best dress over her head, she looked at herself in her mirror. She looked just like she always did, except for the nervous flush. But she wanted to look special in some way for Wil, to mark the special occasion. Feeling she needed an edge to compete with the youth of the other single ladies, she removed her ponytail, letting her lush long hair fall down her shoulders. She noticed her hair had developed a golden sheen. When did that happen? Standing back, she discovered the appearance of a halo surrounding her. Well, she really did not want to draw other’s attention to herself but it was the only edge she had.

  Netty sat on her bed to say goodbye to Baby. Last night, they explained to him about their trip into town. If anyone knocked on the door, Baby was to crawl under the bed. They showed Baby how to lock the door from inside. They felt confident the little guy would be safe. The trickle of town folk that f
ound her farm had fallen off since she was bringing her produce into town more regularly. With a feeling of confidence, Netty slipped out of the bedroom to join Wil.

  ###

  Wil just finished dressing. His boots gleamed, his shirt fully starched and his trousers pressed. They did nothing to disguise his strong shoulders or his lean fit build. Turning, he watched Netty come from the bedroom. His heart ached with longing as she took his breath away. With her hair swinging down her back she looked stunning. Her face gleamed, flushed and expectant. There seemed to be a golden glow radiating from her, leaving him speechless.

  “Netty, you look beautiful,” he whispered, going to her side. Netty blushed, looking down at her feet. Wil offered his arm and together they walked out to the barn to collect the wagon and start their ride into town.

  The almost full moon lit their bumpy drive. Wil excitedly chattered all the way, Netty smiling and nodding but saying little. When they got to the church, they hitched the wagon and loosened the rigging on the horse who acted skittish around the automobiles parked nearby. Entering the church hall, they made their way to a table where a popular tavern owner sat with his family. Quickly making space for Wil and Netty, they found themselves heartily welcomed.

  Wil rose from the table to deliver their contribution, Netty’s fabulous pies, of course. Returning, he noticed various men glancing at Netty then nodding in his direction. Most in town knew of Netty’s husband, as some of his sisters still ruled the social scene. But these county folks were farmers and shopkeepers with their families. He felt assured he would not have any trouble, being from out of town. The thing everyone in these parts respected most; hard work. Everyone greatly admired Netty’s hard work, even envied her for all she accomplished. Unfortunately, Wil did not count on the speculation about his relationship with her. Some might consider it improper if they knew he slept in the house, instead of the barn. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Netty grief after he pressured her to come to the dance. He certainly did not want to create a scandal that would hurt their business. Noticing more glances and whispers, he began to think of the supper and dance as a mistake.

  Hurrying back to the table with two plates of food, he sat across the table from Netty and joined the boisterous conversation. As the evening wore on, the laughter at the table got louder. Wil noticed the men casually slipping out the back door to return with mugs brimming with what he could only guess contained spirits. From time to time, the shopkeepers that often purchased Netty’s wares stopped by with their wives to pay respect to her. Wil noticed the wives exhibited a stiffness in their greetings. Maybe it was his imagination. Perhaps they were just jealous of Netty prettiness. She sure stood out in this crowd.

  ###

  Netty herself flushed with pleasure, having a great time. She laughed more than she could remember. Some of the business owners she targeted unsuccessfully, (loyalty to their current suppliers) asked her to stop by next week. She responded, happily introducing them to Wil, setting up a date and time. Her dinner was delicious, but glancing at Wil, she saw he barely touched his plate. Puzzled, she smilingly reached for his hand across the table. She got a big sweet smile in return. At a sideways glance from their host, he hurriedly withdrew his arm. What was going on, she wondered? Has someone said something about me to Wil?

  Netty’s attention shifted over to the men clearing space for the dance floor. The fiddle players entered and were in the corner tuning up. Oh, such fun. It would be the first time they held each other and danced. Netty observed young ladies tossing flirtatious glances at the men gathered near the back door. She wanted to go to the outhouse before the dancing started. She cursed herself for not considering her needs carefully enough when she agreed to come. She needed a fair amount of time to safely secure her tail before she came back into the hall. Motioning to Wil, she asked him to accompany her to the door. Happy to be needed, he assisted Netty through the crush of laughing townspeople until they got to the door. Agreeing that he would wait with the men enjoying their spirits, Netty made her way to the outhouse.

  ###

  Waiting for Netty, Wil noticed the other men grinning at him. He felt uneasy but chose to ignore it. He thought it best that when Netty returned, they take their leave.

  “So buddy, you getting any of that?” asked one grinning fool, clearly deep in his cups. The other men laughed as Wil turned his eyes on them. “She sure is a looker and those older ones really know what they are doing. We hear you might be doing some hiring out your way. That include any benefits?” The crowd thought the comment hilarious as they broke up laughing, holding their sides, trying unsuccessfully not to spill their precious spirits.

  Wil balled his fists, ready for a fight, when he heard a scream down the path to the outhouse. Running as fast as he could, he saw Netty on the ground with some drunk assaulting her. He also noticed, unbelievably, that Baby had followed them to the dance, as he could clearly see his tail in the melee. Yanking the drunk off of Netty, he punched him in the face knocking him out cold. Wil scooped a sobbing Netty up into his arms, looking around wildly for Baby. He needed to get Netty to the wagon. He didn’t want any of the other drunks deciding to investigate. He would then come back for Baby. He knew the urgency of secrecy. No one could discover their little creature. God knows what hell could break out.

  Wil hurriedly deposited Netty in the wagon. Her face streaked with tears, she cried hysterically.

  “Shush, Netty, I’m here. Nothing is going to hurt you now.” Wil held her in his arms, kissing and stroking her beautiful hair. As he slowly rocked her, she calmed down, her sobbing abating. “Netty, I have to go back to find Baby. He’s out back. He must have followed us from the farm.” Grabbing a blanket from the back of the wagon, he climbed down to search for Baby. Netty started screaming “No, Wil, you can’t leave me!” Gosh, she is terrified, Wil thought.

  “Netty, Baby is back there unprotected. I have to find him.” Suddenly he felt pressure in his head accompanied by flashes of a golden aura.

  The whisper came softly, “Brother, you can go. I am fine. Come home with Sister.”

  Overcome by the shock of Baby talking to him, he quickly got back into the wagon and hurried home. He kept his eye on Netty who huddled on the floor of the wagon hiccupping quietly between her sobs. Pulling up to the barn, he hurriedly removed the harness from the horse and bedded her down. He hoped that would give Netty some extra time to compose herself, for she still seemed agitated. Returning to the wagon, he called to Netty. When she did not answer, he scooped her up and carried her to the stoop, expecting to find the door unlocked. But he could not get in. Rattling the door, he could feel the latch was still in place. How the devil are we going to get in now, he thought? Baby must have climbed out a window to follow them. Well, he could just as easily go through a window to get in the cabin. Leaning Netty against the wall, he turned to step off the stoop when he heard the rattle of the latch. Turning back to the door he saw it open. And there stood Baby in all his golden glory.

  Wil stood dumfounded. How could Baby have gotten back before they did? He had to walk. And his goofy little wobble would take him days. Wait a minute! He never could have followed them to the church without help to begin with. He would not have made it there on time.

  Wil led Netty into the cabin, placing her on his bed near the fireplace. He quickly put on the tea kettle, taking comfort in its whistle as it came to a boil. Setting out two cups he quickly carried them over to Netty to cool. He saw that Baby sat next to her, softly stroking her tear stained face with his long fingers. Netty held tightly to Baby and buried her face in his fur.

  “Netty, are we going to talk about this?”

  “What is there to say, Wil?” Her voice sounded shaky. “You rescued me from a drunk and now we are home safe.”

  “No, Netty, you know that is not what I mean. I’m sorry about the drunk. I guess we have been a little insulated here on the farm and forgot how judgmental other people can be about propriety.”


  “Wil, I am sorry if my unusual marriage status caused you some embarrassment.” Glancing at Netty, he felt the stiffness in her tone.

  “Netty, you know that is not what I mean! How could I see Baby with you at the church and yet get back here before we did?” Netty sat silently looking down at her lap. Wil suddenly sat on the bed grabbing her shoulders.

  “Look at me, Netty. Look me in the eye. Now answer me. Can Baby fly?” He watched as she raised her head and looked into his eyes. Silent tears traveled slowly down her face.

  “I love you, Wil, did you know that?” She said it so slowly, so sadly that it gave Wil a chilling premonition. Now familiar pressure and a golden aura whispered to him.

  “Brother, I cannot fly. Sister cannot fly.”

  “I know Netty can’t fly, Baby, why would you mention that?” Wil asked the question, confused and distracted. No one spoke.

  “God damn it, Netty, I need some answers here. What is going on? Are you hiding something from me? Why? You know I love you. Don’t you trust me? I am going out of my mind trying to figure you out, but I don’t think I can take much more.” Wil dropped his hands and started pacing the floor. Baby had moved to the bedroom when Wil started getting heated.

  Slowly, Netty rose from Wil’s bed. Her eyes were closed.

  “Wil, could you come here, please? I would just like one kiss right now, please.” Wil stepped hesitantly to Netty. He held her close and kissed her slowly. Netty felt all of his love and strength in that kiss. Her quiet bittersweet tears continued to fall.

  “Netty, baby, please tell me what is happening.”

  ###

  Netty stepped back. She looked silently at Wil’s beautiful clear dear face, trying to memorize every feature, dreading the outcome of the next critical moments. She closed her own eyes again and slowly unbuttoned her top. Slipping off her skirt, she took a painful breath. With a sob of anguish, she slipped off her petticoat. Standing in front of Wil with her head bowed in shame, her tail moved, circling around her waist protectively, reflecting its brilliance off the flame of the fire.