Page 87 of The Enchanted Land

Morgan wrote to Theron often, and he was delighted with the news of the baby. Theron and Jeannette were well. He had not hired another assistant. His clients still asked about her. As always, Theron begged her to return.

His letters always made Morgan a little sad. Although she was surrounded by people she loved and who loved her, there were times when she was lonely.

By August, 1851, Adam was six months old. He was a happy child and liked everyone. Frank came to visit and Adam was immediately taken with him. Frank carried him about on his horse and Adam laughed happily. Sometimes Morgan accused Jake and Paul of making fools of themselves over the little boy.

In September, Morgan turned twenty-one. Lupita planned a party. Morgan wore a deep blue satin gown that Theron had bought her. When she tried it on, she was surprised to find it loose.

“You have lost too much weight. You do not eat enough. I have watched you and you are pining for something—or someone.”

Morgan shook her head as the larger woman pinned the waist of her dress. “That’s silly, Lupita. I’m perfectly happy. I have everything I need right here.”

“Except a man.”

“I have Adam.”

“Yes,señora.”

“Lupita, don’t use that trick. I am happy and I mean it, and stop playing the docile servant.”

“Whatever theseñorawants.”

“Lupita!” But she was gone. Morgan smiled to herself. She’s wrong, she thought, I’ve just lost weight because I try to keep Adam from crawling into the stove. Anyone would lose weight running after Adam. She kissed her sleeping son, his blond hair curling about his face. He moved and made a few sucking motions with his mouth. A deep dimple appeared briefly in his cheek. Just like Seth, she thought. Just like Seth. She tried to brush the idea from her mind and went outside to greet her guests.

Many of the people there that night were strangers, and Morgan was glad when the party was over. When she had removed her satin gown and slipped into her plain cotton nightgown, she gazed at the bed and began to cry.

“What’s wrong with me?” she asked. “I have everything, but I want more.” Her voice woke Adam, and she was glad to go and comfort him. It was a long time before she went to sleep.

The snows began early that year and the winter dragged on and on. Adam seemed to grow some each day, and she and Lupita were busy sewing clothes for him. Jake and Paul whittled wooden horses and cows for him, gradually creating an entire wooden ranch, complete with house, barn, fences, wagons, and men. Lupita filled the little toy house with furniture and food. She even made a replica of Adam. Adam rewarded everyone with squeals of laughter and a sometimes rather sticky hug.

Morgan’s memories of Seth increased day by day and she began to be very restless. She wanted to go away from the ranch for a while. She worried about Seth’s return.

In February, Adam was one year old. Lupita and Morgan baked an enormous cake, and Frank and Louisa brought their six children to share in the celebration. Adam was shy around the other children for a few minutes, but quickly recovered. Frank tossed Adam into the air. “Goin’ to be as big as your pa, ain’t you?”

Jake grinned. “Looks more like him every day. Doesn’t seem to have his pa’s stubborn streak though, or at least not yet.”

Lupita watched as Morgan’s face whitened at the mention of Seth. Lupita knew the memories tormented her and she felt the pain her little mistress felt.

Soon after Adam’s birthday, Morgan wrote to her father’s lawyer in Albuquerque. She stated briefly that she had fulfilled the terms of the will and would like to know about her inheritance. She hoped she and Adam could go away together, possibly even to Europe.

She waited expectantly for weeks for an answer to her letter, but none came. She thought she might write again, but Lupita told her to wait a bit longer. The mails in New Mexico were very slow.

Now when Morgan went for her morning ride, Adam went with her. Often they took a basket of food to make a picnic.

Neither of them saw the pair of eyes that watched them every day. As the sun was going down and Jake, Paul, and Adam walked around the house, none of them sensed their quiet observer. Once the horse Adam played near was stung by a wasp, and the horse reared. Only Adam saw the strong brown arms that pulled the unsteady toddler from beneath the iron-clad hooves.

It had been nearly two months since Morgan wrote the letter. She sat under a tree some distance from the ranch house, a place where she often brought Adam to play and picnic. The stream that watered the ranch flowed here, and the grass was green and the shade cool. Their horse, grazing nearby, whinnied, but for the moment Morgan was lost in thought. She decided to send another letter to the lawyer. Why hadn’t he replied?

“Eat.” Adam smiled at his mother as she lifted him from the horse.

“No, not eat. I’m mama, remember, Adam?”

“Ma ma ma.”

“Yes, that’s right. Look Adam, a butterfly.” She pointed, but Adam continued to stare at his mother. He tried to form words, but none would come. His eyes lifted from Morgan’s to an area just behind her head. He laughed at what he saw there.

Morgan laughed with him. His dimpled smiles were infectious. Still smiling, she turned to look at what he saw. Her hand flew to her mouth in alarm. Quickly she stood up and held Adam behind her. He struggled to see around her skirts.

An Indian sat majestically on a black-and-white pony. He was slim, his hair straight and black, falling just to his earlobes. It glistened in the morning sunlight. He was naked from the waist up. There was a rawhide strip around his neck which held a little leather pouch, decorated by black and red beads.

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