She was furious when he returned soaked.
“I did not ask you to do that.”
“You said you wanted berries.”
“I said I wished we had berries.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
He looked genuinely confused.
She laughed.
“This child is going to have an impossible father.”
The cowboy placed the berries on the table.
“Successful mission.”
“Idiot.”
Then came furniture.
He began building a cradle.
Secretly.
Poorly.
The frontier woman found him in the barn staring at four uneven legs.
“What is that?”
He stepped in front.
“Nothing.”
She looked around him.
“It appears to be dangerous furniture.”
“It isn't finished.”
“Good.”
He frowned.
“I can build fences.”
“Children don't sleep in fences.”
“The principle is similar.”
“It should not be.”
She took the measuring square.
Checked one corner.
Then another.
He looked offended.
“Have faith.”
“In God?”
“Yes.”
“Because you're building this cradle?”
He laughed.
Eventually the carpenter from the ranch helped.
The final cradle stood level.
The cowboy claimed full credit.
Nobody believed him.
Then came the first movement.
The frontier woman was sitting near the stove after supper when she froze.
The cowboy looked up from cleaning tack.
“What?”
She placed a hand on her belly.
He dropped the leather strap.
“What happened?”
She smiled.
“Come here.”
He crossed the room in three steps.
She took his hand.
Placed it low against her abdomen.
“Wait.”
He waited.
Nothing.
He looked at her.
Then—
A movement.
Small.
The cowboy jerked his hand away.
She burst out laughing.
“What was that?”
“Your child.”
“It kicked me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Personal judgment.”
He stared at her stomach.
Then slowly put his hand back.
Another movement.
His eyes filled immediately.
The frontier woman watched.
He whispered:
“Hello.”
She smiled.
“You realize it cannot answer.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“I need practice talking without being interrupted.”
She smacked his arm.
The baby moved again.
He laughed.
That became their evening ritual.
He spoke.
The child kicked.
The frontier woman accused the child of already preferring his voice.
He said that proved good taste.
She threatened to sleep in the other room.
He stopped.
Mostly.
The investigation against the cattle baron reached a hearing during the sixth month.
The frontier woman's physician advised against long travel.
So she did not attend.
The cowboy did.
Leaving her frightened him.
He prepared the cabin as though he would be gone for a year.
Food.
Water.
Firewood.
Two ranch hands within shouting distance.
The midwife notified.
A wagon ready.
The frontier woman watched him.
“You're going for one night.”