The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,54

this town as the Widow Hollis. The only difference was that when the wedding was over, he would leave. Sophie would still be here, married to the town banker, and Letty would still be smiling and flirting and pretending that each man who rode her was the best lay she’d ever had.

It wasn’t much to look forward to. So when the whippoorwill called again, Letty didn’t break stride as she yelled.

“Stupid bird! Whatever you’re looking for sure as hell ain’t here.”

I Baptize Thee…

Gravestones littered the hillside above Isaac Jessup’s farm. It was a poor testament to the Jessup name that Minna Jessup gave birth and then gave up more babies than Isaac could name. It was for that reason that their last, and only surviving child, had never been named.

Before, they’d lovingly named each baby that had come from their union. But nine years ago when their next to the last child had died, Isaac had put his foot down, refusing to put a name on another baby he was certain he’d have to give up to the Lord. When the next baby was born, he stayed true to his word.

So delighted was Minna that her child was surviving, that she was indifferent to her husband’s decision. Even if she had deigned to disagree, in the times in which they were living, a husband’s word was as strong as God’s law.

To their joy, the child not only continued to survive, he thrived. Soon Minna was too busy chasing him about to prompt Isaac into rescinding his vow. The years passed and as they did, Baby Boy Jessup began to outgrow his name. But it wasn’t until a school teacher came to Crawler’s Mill that Isaac’s omission created a new set of problems for their little family.

It was the first day of school and Minna Jessup’s joy knew no bounds. Her child was going to get the education neither she, or Isaac had ever had. Her son would amount to something better than the dirt farmers they were, or she’d know the reason why. Even Isaac was perfectly willing to sacrifice his son’s help on the farm so that he could get an education.

Everyone was happy with the situation except Baby Boy. At the tender age of seven and one half years, he stood a head taller than most of the children his age, and yet regardless of his size, it was his name he couldn’t live down.

Poor Baby Boy. In the first week alone, he came home with a busted lip, a black eye, and had irreparably torn the only pair of good pants he owned. When Monday of the second week of school rolled around, Baby Boy bowed up like a pissed-off skunk and ran away from home. It was only after Isaac found him on their farm and hiding in the cave above the spring, that matters finally came to a head.

Minna was in hysterics as she ran about the prairie, calling out Baby Boy’s name. And every time she stopped to listen, hoping for an echo of his little voice answering her call, she got nothing for her trouble but the wind whistling down her back. Fear settled deep in her bones as she searched the vast prairie, refusing to glance upon the hillside where the small brown crosses stood, believing if she did it would jinx their luck of finding Baby Boy alive.

Just as she feared all would be lost, she heard shouting and turned toward the crosses on the hill. Isaac was running between them, waving his arms, and shouting something that she still couldn’t hear. But the longer she stood, the more convinced she became that Isaac had found Baby Boy. She gathered up her skirts and started toward him, praying with every step that she took.

Baby stood knee deep in the creek with grass roots stuck in his hair from hiding in the cave and cockle burrs caught in the frayed edges of his britches. His little hands were fisted, his face tear-streaked, and filled with dismay at having been found.

His mother was on the creek bank crying, begging him to come out. As badly as he wanted to hide underneath her apron, he’d taken a stand from which he couldn’t back down. His father stood nearby with a switch in his hand that would have felled an ox. In spite of his mother’s comforting presence, the size of that stick gave him great pause for thought.

He shuddered on a sob and swiped