“And how did you do that?”
Dave had expected the conversation to get easier, so why did it seem to be getting more difficult? “I don’t know. I just did.” He shrugged. “As you get older, you naturally piece things together. But you have to be older to do that, and right now, you’re still too young.” He glanced at the pail of water by Isaac’s feet. “You should take that in to your ma before she starts looking for you.”
He sighed and picked up the bucket. “I didn’t think you were going to answer my questions.”
“I will when you’re older, and part of knowing what age is right depends on how mature you are. I won’t make you figure it out like my pa did.”
Isaac seemed to feel better after hearing the promise. Dave relaxed as he went into the house with the pail. That was close. Never mind Isaac being older. Dave needed to be older! But he would do it, and he would do it with each of his sons because he wanted them all to know there was more to a woman than making love to her. It would be a delicate balance, but it was one he would figure out. He just wasn’t ready to do that today. Plus, Isaac and Adam would benefit more from it when they were ready to court anyway.
The front door opened, and Mary stepped onto the porch. Dave shot her a worried look. Had Isaac told her they were discussing things of a personal nature? Sure, he hadn’t told Isaac anything, but did Isaac let her know that?
He was ready to say that he could explain everything when she pulled up a chair next to him and said, “I have good news.”
He relaxed. So, Isaac hadn’t gone in there and told her what they’d been talking about. That was a relief. “What’s the good news?”
“You know how you’ve been thinking that you didn’t accomplish anything while you were stuck in this chair all day for the past couple of months?”
“I wouldn’t say I didn’t accomplish anything. I frustrated you a couple of times because I was bored.”
She smiled at the teasing tone in his voice. “Granted, you were bored a lot because you couldn’t do the chores around here, but I didn’t mind it.”
“Mary, you’re a saint, but even you have to admit there were times when you were frustrated with me. Remember how much I annoyed you because I didn’t want to read a book?”
“Alright. I didn’t understand why you couldn’t find something worth reading out of all the books people had brought over, but it wasn’t like you were making me wait on you hand and foot. Some husbands would have done that. Sally told me about a few of them who did that to their wives, and some weren’t even injured. I consider myself very lucky to be married to you.”
“Good because I feel the same way. So, what’s the good news?”
“I’m going to have a baby.”
“Did you tell Isaac?”
Her eyebrows furrowed in surprise. “No. Not yet. Why would you ask that?”
“It’s not important. We’ll just wait for a few more days before telling the children.” By then, Isaac should have forgotten all about the differences between men and women, and Dave wouldn’t have to try to wiggle his way out of explaining how babies were made or why Mary could have a baby while he couldn’t. He scooted closer to her and kissed her. “It’s wonderful news, Mary.”
She beamed at him. “I thought you’d like to hear it. I didn’t realize it until after breakfast when I was checking the calendar. With everything that’s been going on, I barely have time to keep track of the days.”
“Hasn’t it been that way for you ever since Isaac was born?”
“It wasn’t so bad after he was born, but after Rachel came along, I have been forgetting to keep track of things.”
“From sunup to sundown, all of us keep you busy. It’s amazing you even have time for everything.”
“I love it, Dave. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” She kissed him. “We have a good life here together.”
“Yes, we do.”
“Don’t touch that!” Rachel yelled from inside the house.
This was followed by a loud thud. Then Adam started to cry.
“Great,” Isaac yelled over Adam’s shrill cries. “Now you made him cry.”
“Well,” Dave began as Mary got up, “most of the time, it’s good around here.”
Shooting him an amused smile, she hurried back into the house.
Poor Mary. He didn’t know how she managed to juggle everything. He’d much rather be outside. A lot of the times, the animals were easier to handle than a room full of children. But within seconds of returning to the house, she was able to calm everyone down.
He stood up and tested his leg. It was doing much better now.
Isaac ran out of the house. He saw Dave and shook his head. “It’s a mess in there. Ma said I could help by being outside.” His nose scrunched up. “How can I help by being out here?”
Dave chuckled. “I think Ma does best if she has less of us to keep track of. Want to help me clean stalls? I think I have a smaller rake somewhere. Afterwards, we can take the horses into the cornfields and see how things are going.”
Isaac’s eyes lit up. “You think I’m strong enough?”
“You are to help me out.”
“Where’s the smaller rake?”
“It’s close to that bird you rescued. Look in the left corner of the barn.”
Isaac bolted on ahead of him. Dave shook his head in amusement. Isaac still had a couple more years before Dave would send him to clean the stalls on his own, and by then, Isaac might not have
