A Changing Light by Edith Maxwell (pdf ebook reader .txt) 📗

me a visit tomorrow,” Kevin said. “We’ll go over any unsolved bits, shall we?”

“I shall.” I smiled at my partner in crime, so to speak. “Although it seems things are pretty well solved.”

“I expect so,” he acknowledged. “Thank you, Miss Rose, for your . . . well, for everything.”

I waved goodbye as he climbed into the front of the wagon. Turning to Bertie, I said, “I think it might be prudent for me to ride sidesaddle for once.”

Epilogue

David nestled atop the bed’s quilt next to Hattie and me on this early Seventh Month afternoon. Our baby daughter, only five hours old, slept cradled in my arm. Her dark hair was finer than silk and as soft as a breeze. David stroked her cheek.

“Welcome to the world, Harriet Orpha Dodge,” he murmured.

“Isn’t she perfect?” We’d named her for my late sister, and for my late mentor. I looked forward to sharing stories about both women with Hattie as she grew. They’d been two of the most important people in my life.

“She’s as perfect as her mother,” David murmured. “You were a champion, Rosie.”

I smiled at him. Annie had left only an hour earlier after cleaning up and making sure the baby and I were well and settled. Hattie had had a good first suckling, too.

“I was lucky. My body did what it was built to do.” My pains had started in the wee hours of the morning, as so many do, but, unlike with many first-time mothers, it wasn’t a prolonged labor. Orpha’s deathbed prediction had blessedly come to pass. Hattie had entered the world at eleven fifteen this morning, with her father at my side. “Thee didn’t mind I wanted thee with me?”

“I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I know it makes me odd among those of my sex. But you and I, Rose, we made this little girl together. I wanted to be with you when we greeted her. It’s not like I’ve never seen a baby be born.”

“No, it isn’t.” I laughed softly. “Husband, dear, I remark that thy headaches seem to have vanished. I am glad.”

“Yes, they have. I think I was worrying too much. About you, about the pregnancy. And, to be honest, about you being in danger. I didn’t want to keep you from your need to see justice done, but I was concerned.”

“Rightfully so.”

Faith popped her head in. “Can I bring tea, water, anything?” She had come to relieve Annie and to meet her new niece.

“Thank thee, Faith. I am fine.”

David kissed the top of Hattie’s head and then the top of mine. “I’ll let you girls have a visit. I need to get supper on.”

Faith watched him go, then took his place next to me. “Thee found a treasure in that one.” She stroked Hattie’s tiny, perfect hand.

“And I know it.”

“Hello, dear tiny cousin,” she said to Hattie, then gazed at me. “Rose, I have news for thee.”

I gazed back, suddenly suspecting what she had to say. I waited for her to share it.

“Zeb and I are going to have a baby, too.” She brought both hands to her mouth, her eyes sparkling above them.

“Oh, Faith. I am so very happy for thee.” My eyes brimmed and overflowed even as I smiled.

“Why does thee cry, Rose?”

I laughed, sniffing. “Emotions after childbirth go on a crazy trolley ride. I’ve seen it in the mothers I care for. Now I’m experiencing it. There’s nothing to worry about.” I took off my glasses and swiped at my eyes. “I daresay thee is due, let’s see, about Christmastime, or in First Month?”

She nodded. “Thee will be my midwife, won’t thee?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll need to have this little bug along, but Annie will assist, and we can get Betsy to watch Hattie between feedings.”

“Nothing would make Betsy happier. She’s been beside herself, as thee well knows, waiting for Hattie’s arrival. Next year she’ll have two little ones to care for—one a cousin and one a niece or nephew.”

The doorbell rang downstairs, followed by murmured male voices. Two sets of feet tromped up. David, clad in an apron, stepped in looking worried.

“What is it, my dear?” I asked.

“Kevin is here. He didn’t know you’d given birth, and he’ll go right away if you say.”

I surveyed myself. I wore a clean nightdress, with the quilt pulled up to my lap. I wasn’t in pain, and the baby was sleeping. “Faith, please hand me that light shawl.” I thanked her and wrapped it loosely around my shoulders. “I’d love to see him, and he can give Hattie one of his Irish blessings.”

Kevin stepped around the corner of the doorway, hat in hand, cheeks flushed. “Here and you’ve given birth only today, Miss Rose. May I offer my heartiest congratulations?”

“Please, and thank thee. Come closer and see our girl. I’m decent enough.”

He crept forward and peered at Hattie, but kept his hands clasped behind his back. “Well, by the saints she’s a sweet one, and as pretty as they come.” He straightened and spoke a string of words in Irish. “It’s what we say for new babbies. ‘May strong arms hold you, caring hearts tend you, and may love await you at every step.’”

“That is lovely.” I tilted my head. “Now Kevin, since thee didn’t know we had a new baby to bless, might I ask why thee stopped by?”

The detective rubbed his hair, as he had a habit of doing when things weren’t going well. “It’s this way. You probably haven’t heard, but a man has been found dead near the Salisbury Point rail stop, and another man’s gone missing. It looks like homicide, and the details of the case are confounding me something fierce.”

“And thee wants my help.”

“Rather desperately,” he said.

I didn’t look directly at David across the room. “I wish thee the best of luck with it. But I’m going to take a break from investigations.”

“I was afraid you’d say so,” Kevin admitted. “And naturally I wouldn’t want you out traipsing around. But what