Mary could feel Liza cleaning her up and took note of Bethy leaving with a bloodied towel. She heard Dark Henry’s voice raise in alarm and heard Bethy’s bark of laughter. Mary called out to her husband, afraid he would try to take the afterbirth away from Bethy, thinking it was his child.
Henry hesitantly poked his head in the door, his eyes searching out his Mary. Seeing her, his smile trembled on his face as he walked to her. As though the air had been let out of him, Henry fell to the floor, beside the bed. He put a trembling hand to the bundle Mary held in her arms. Mary looked at her husband with love shining in her honey brown eyes, she smiled and told him that he had a new daughter.
“We’ve a daughter, husband.” She smiled gently, seeing the tears shimmering in Henry’s eyes. Henry laid his head on the bed beside his wife and began to weep, his large hand cradling the infant. Liza and Patina stood to leave, tears shimmering in their eyes. Such a big man, making a fuss over a tiny baby girl, who would have thought? The women gathered up the soiled rags and left the family to their privacy.
Liza shut the door quietly behind her. She sent one of the older boys up to the house, to let the mistress and master know they had a new baby, a baby girl. It was quiet, most folks had gone to find their beds. Liza rolled her head and felt the stiffness in her shoulders ease. As births went, this had been an easy birth. She smiled and thought once more of Ida.
It was some time before Henry could pull himself together. Mary held the baby in one arm and petted Henry’s hand with her free hand. He wiped his face on his sleeve and grinned sheepishly at her.
“I sure was powerful scared Mary. I thought you was dyin’.” Henry said softly, fear still tingeing his deep voice. “It sho sounded like you was hurtin’ bad, are you alright?” he asked, looking her up and down.
“I’m just fine, you alright? Sounded like you swooned and hit the ground.” Mary said, a teasing light in her eyes. “Naw, I didn’t swoon, but your hollerin’ sho brought me to my knees. You scared the livin’ hell from me. I’m sorry it hurt you so bad.” He said, shaking his head. His large hand cupped the roundness of her cheek. Mary smiled gently at her tender-hearted husband, her hand covering his.
“You want to hold your daughter?”
“It’s all right, it won’t hurt her?” He asked nervously.
“No, she’s fine, Henry. Just go slow and support her head.”
Gingerly, Henry took the swaddled form, afraid his great hands might crush it. He pulled the blanket away from the baby’s face, looking down for the first time at his new daughter. He looked up at Mary with wonder in his eyes. She looked like a miniature him. She was dark, but not quite as dark as Henry. He smiled and his chest puffed out as he brought the tiny girl to him. He kissed her fragile head and inhaled the sweet baby scent.
“She sho is pretty, just like her mamma. What you gonna name her?” Henry asked, his eyes caressing his daughter’s tiny face.
“I was thinkin’ about naming her after my mamma, Ida.” Mary said shyly. Dark Henry smiled down at his daughter, “That’s a fine name, Mary. A mighty fine name. Ida was unimpressed and merely yawned at her father and began sucking her tight little fist. Mary took her daughter and put the newborn to her breast, while Henry sat in total captivation, as he watched his wife feed their daughter. He had seen other mothers, but it touched him to his heart to watch his beautiful wife. He smiled broadly at the baby when a loud burp erupted, “She takes after me.” He laughed. Mary laughed and yawned. Henry crawled into bed with his wife and daughter and they settled in a warm pocket to sleep.
SEVEN
Henry had fashioned a cradle for the baby, but for now, he wanted to hold his daughter and look at her. He marveled at her tiny fingers and toes. Ida almost fit into the palm of his large hand. Mary had fed the child earlier and had put a new swaddling on. Henry had burped his daughter and had held and rocked her. Mary had fallen back to sleep. He shook his head at the wonder of his daughter. So tiny and so perfect. He thought his heart would burst with pride and joy. Wrapping Ida back up so she wouldn’t get cold, Henry gently placed the slumbering child in the cradle. He settled down once again and pulled his wife to him. She was sound asleep and he could feel her soft breath on his shoulder.
Henry’s eyes filled with tears; he was grateful that he would never have to see his children sold. It hit him once again, the generosity of Anderson’s wedding gift. Wiping the tears away, he sent up a prayer to his mother-in-law, vowing he would take extra good care of his wife and daughter. Don’t you worry none, I’ll keep them safe, he thought. His body eased and soon the small cabin was filled with their soft snores.
Liza lay with
