Musing #67 - Chapter 7

Andrea Carter Prescott and the Return of the Outlaws

CHAPTER 7. Go HERE to start this story from the beginning. 

Throughout the day Andi slept soundly, her baby nestled between her and the wall so that no one who peeked into the cabin could see him. As soon as the baby awoke, with a sharp little bawl, Andi snapped awake and fed him. Lily came in every few hours to change his diaper.
          
         The outlaws fell for Andi’s story of feeling poorly, and all in all it wasn’t as dreadful as had been expected.
         
         The next morning, Andi forced her weary limbs to get out of bed. She couldn’t stay in the cabin for too long, or the outlaws would become suspicious. She fumbled into a skirt and blouse and braided her hair.
         
         “Here, Andi.” Lily held out a rolled-up wad of fabric. “Stuff this under your blouse. You must look pregnant at all times today, my friend.”
         
        Andi accepted the roll and tucked her blouse securely around it. She was too groggy to worry about it slipping. 
         

         Then, stooping, she brushed a quick kiss across her baby’s pink cheek. She had just fed him, and he was fast asleep, curled on the cot with a sheet pulled over top his body so that nothing could be seen of him but his tiny head, which was turned towards the wall and hidden behind a stack of clothes in need of mending.

          “I’ll return soon to check on you, baby boy,” Andi whispered.

          She had already made plans. Several times today I’ll say I need a break, then mend here in the cabin.

          Confident that today would go as well, if not better than, yesterday, Andi left the cabin and started on breakfast.

          Lily, bless her heart, had already stoked the fire and had a pot of water boiling. Andi stirred up a batch of hasty pudding and ladled it into bowls, which she and Lily served the men.

          Snagging a bowlful for herself, Andi sat cross-legged on the ground and gulped it down. The hot, thick mixture revived her considerably, and, with new energy, she began to collect and wash the dishes.

          “When do we leave, jefe?”

          Benita’s question made Andi snap to attention. She pretended to be interested in washing the dishes, but she kept her ears open for Mateo Vega’s reply.

          “We are still waiting for our last recruits to arrive,” Vega answered. “They should be here in the next day or two.” He grunted. “And for sure we won’t leave until our new servant has had her baby. I don’t want the added trouble of hauling around an expectant mother. She’ll only slow us down.” He scowled. “Not to mention stop us altogether when she has her baby on the trail.”

          Andi bit back a smile. Won’t you be surprised! By the time they figured out her secret, Riley would’ve come and gone!

          Andi dried the last dish and hurried off to feed the chickens. She attacked her chores with enthusiasm, but it wasn’t long before her meager strength was spent.

          A throbbing headache and the need to check on her baby urged her to go back to her cabin.

          It was a good thing, too. The baby—whom she called Jared Riley Prescott, as that had been the last name decided upon by her and Riley—was just beginning to squirm.

          Andi fed him and rocked him to sleep, then took up her mending.

          But her vision swam and her head rocketed with pain. Finally, Andi gave up. Pushing aside her supplies, she sprawled out on the cot beside Jared.

          Immediately, she fell asleep.

***

          “Andi? Andi, wake up.”

          Lily’s urgent voice brought Andi back from a deep sleep. Her friend had her by the shoulder, her eyes wide and scared.

          “What…what is it, Lily?”

          “You’re going to be in trouble, Andi.” Lily shook her head. “You’ve been sleeping all afternoon. It’s nearly suppertime.

          “This morning, I peeked on you and saw that were fast asleep. I tried to wake you up, but you only swatted at me, and I knew you were tuckered out. So, I did your chores for you and made lunch.

          “But Vega’s sneaky. He figured me out. He can tell that something is up.

          “Please, Andi, you need to get up and fix supper, and act normally, or…”

          Lily’s voice trailed off, but Andi caught the point. She struggled to sit up.

          “How’s Jared?” she asked.

          “Absolutely fine. I changed his diaper, and he’s been asleep ever since. You can feed him when you get back. For now, go.”

          Inwardly thanking God for that blessing, Andi ran from the cabin. Once again, Lily had built up a good fire, and beans and rice were already underway.

          Good ol’ Lily! Refreshed from her long nap, Andi finished the supper preparations and beat at the dinner bell.

          Vega liked all of his compadres to gather during mealtimes. In silent, fluent Spanish, they conversed together and Vega relayed his latest plans to them. Old logs provided seats for everyone but the servants, who ate near the fire.

                Now the bandits came flowing in, clamoring in their foreign tongue and demanding their food. Andi, with Lily’s help, served them all.

          Afterwards, the two women scooped out some beans and rice for themselves and sat down to eat.

          Despite the fact that she’d skipped the midday meal, Andi’s stomach felt tied in knots and she wasn’t the least bit hungry. The bright, hot sun made sweat pour down her neck and into the collar of her blouse. She felt dizzy.

          What’s the matter with me?

          Andi choked down a little coffee, but she couldn’t bring herself to take even a small bite of her meal.

          Lily, of course, noticed.

          “What’s wrong, Andi?” she asked, being mindful to keep her voice low. Only Andi could hear her over the outlaws’ chaos.

          “I just don’t feel well, I guess,” Andi muttered.

          “My friend…” Lily’s face was twisted in an expression of sincere sympathy and agony. “You really should tell. Your delivery was so hard and long, and you’re tired to the point that you’re almost too ill to do anything. Please, you’ll hurt yourself. Tell them.”

          “No, Lily. Never.”

          Lily’s jaw was set. “I do not want to hand Jared over anymore than you do, Andi, but neither do I want you to become sick because of all this stress and work.”

          “No, really, Lily. I’ll be fine.”

          Lily appeared to be about to say something more, but Vega broke in, “Andrea, we have finished. Clean the dishes and help Señora Rodendo straighten up her cabin before we retire for the night. Rapido.”

          “Yes, sir.”

          Andi struggled to her feet. Fighting back overwhelming dizziness, she slowly began gathering the plates and tin cups. In the back of her fuzzy mind, Andi overheard the conversation going on between Vega and Lily.

          “Please let me help Andrea,” Lily was begging.

          “Nothing doing. You get going to your own chores. Shoo!”
          Andi turned in time to see Lily heed Vega’s command. Then Andi wearily grabbed the last dish and carried it to the fire.

          A Mexican woman stood there, her jet-black hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her face reminded Andi of a storm cloud—angry and ominous. She was busy hanging a fresh pot of water over the fire.

          “Get to work,” she snapped at Andi, gesturing to the pot.

          Andi nodded and began. She hardly noticed when the woman sat down on a nearby log to supervise her as she worked. Andi was too tired and too focused on her work to know just how closely the woman was watching her every move. 

What do you think happens next? Feel free to leave your guesses in the comments below!

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