Secrets of the Heart (17 page)

Kathleen had sent personal birthday gifts to both John and Maria, trying to show them she cared about them. Both times Peter returned home with the rejected gifts.

Soon the leaves fell from the trees, the grass turned tawny, and cold weather returned to Chicago.

In early November, there were a few days in a row when Kathleen felt light-headed and seemed to run out of energy. She kept it to herself, not wanting to worry Peter.

Then came a Monday morning when she sent Peter off to work and started washing the breakfast dishes. The smell of bacon grease was suddenly repulsive, and Kathleen had to run to the “necessary,” where she lost her breakfast.

When she returned to the kitchen her head began to swim, and the room seemed to whirl around her. Perspiration coated her brow, and she used the wall to brace herself as she edged toward the bed-room.

Gingerly she eased onto the bed and closed her eyes to make the room stop swirling.

Suddenly a tiny smile crept across her pale face, and she patted her midsection.
Could it really be?

She rested for a few minutes, then went back to the kitchen. Four weeks ago she had suspected she might be pregnant. Now she decided it was indeed quite possible. However, she’d wait a few more days before saying anything to Peter.

Morning sickness prevailed for four more mornings, each time after Peter had already gone to work. By Friday morning, Kathleen was sure there was new life growing within her. It was time to share this heaven-sent news with her husband.

When Peter came home from work that evening, he was surprised to see candles on the dining room table and the lanterns in the dining room turned low. Looking a bit puzzled, he took his wife of seven months into his arms and said, “Hey, darling, what’s this? Supper in the dining room…and by candlelight?”

Kathleen giggled and kissed him. “Mm-hmm.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“Oh, it’s a very special one.”

Peter noticed a glow about his wife that he’d never seen before, and there was a hint of mischief in her beautiful Irish eyes. “All right, Mrs. Stallworth,” he said, laying his hands on her shoulders, “what’s this all about?”

“Darling, I was going to make you wait all through the meal and then tell you, but I can’t put it off any longer. We…we—”

“Well, come on. Out with it! We
what?”

“We’re going to have a baby!” she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms.

“What? A baby! Really?”

“Yes!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

“Me…a father! Wow!”

Kathleen giggled again. “I knew you’d be happy about it.”

“Happy! Sweetheart, I’m
ecstatic!
When?”

“If all goes as I’ve calculated, it’ll be in early June.”

Peter kissed her, then held her close and whispered words of love and endearment. This was the greatest moment since the day of his marriage.

The next day Peter drove to his parents’ home, sat them down, and told them about the baby. They had a hard time knowing how to act. They wanted Peter to know they were happy they would soon be grandparents, but they couldn’t forget who their grandchild’s mother was.

When Peter was gone, John said, “Honey…our only child. He’s the only one who can give us grandchildren. I don’t want that child growing up without knowing us.”

Maria shook her head slowly. “Yes, we might have to change our approach here. Let’s think on it some more.”

On June 9, 1873, Kathleen Stallworth gave birth to a beautiful baby girl they named Megan Kathleen and called “Meggie.” Peter was the typical proud father and wanted desperately for his parents to know her. When he informed them they had a new granddaughter, they asked him to bring her to the house.

Peter said the only way Meggie could come was if Kathleen came too. The Stallworths readily agreed, saying they had been discussing it. Kathleen could come to their home.

Peter was elated and rushed home to tell Kathleen. An hour later, the proud parents were on the doorstep of the Stallworth mansion. John and Maria were cool toward Kathleen, but they were instantly captured by little Meggie, who had a head of thick black hair and big blue eyes the same shade as Kathleen’s.

After that, Peter and Kathleen brought Meggie to the Stallworth mansion twice a week. With each visit it was obvious that John and Maria only tolerated Kathleen, but they adored Meggie and showered
her with gifts. The more the Stallworths saw of their grand-daughter the more they doted on her. Though it hurt Kathleen to be treated coldly by her in-laws, for Peter and Meggie’s sake, she endured it.

Four years passed. It was a warm afternoon in May 1877, in Virginia City, Nevada, when a very pregnant Loretta Harned sat holding a glass of lemonade and watched Hilda Jensen dust the furniture in the parlor.

Tom and Loretta now lived in a real house instead of a miner’s shack. It was small compared to some of the houses in town, but quite comfortable. The Comstock Lode was still producing silver, and though Toms wages had increased somewhat over the years, they still had only a small amount put aside for Tom to stake his own claim on a gold mine.

Loretta had suffered two miscarriages since giving birth to Caleb, losing both babies in the last stages of pregnancy. The first miscarriage had taken place nearly three years ago, and the second a little over a year and a half ago.

Hilda Jensen’s husband, a silver miner, had died five years previously in a mine accident. When Tom learned that Loretta was expecting another child, he hired Hilda to do the housecleaning. It was enough that Loretta insisted on cooking the meals, but Tom would not hear of her doing the washing or the housework. This new baby must live.

The old clock on the mantel began chiming almost as soon as Hilda touched it with the dust cloth. When it chimed the third time, Loretta worked her way out of the overstuffed chair, picked up the half-f glass of lemonade, and said, “Well, Hilda, its almost time for my boy to get home from school.”

Hilda smiled as she watched Loretta make her laborious way to the front porch. Then she picked up her broom and dustpan and moved from the parlor to the bedroom down a short hallway.

Loretta eased herself into an old rocking chair on the porch and sipped at the lemonade as she kept her eyes on the road. A few minutes later, she saw some children coming her way, and among them was her six-year-old son.

She set loving eyes on the boy who ran toward the porch. The afternoon sunshine gleamed on his golden hair. To Loretta it looked like a halo.

“Mommy!” he called, bounding up on the porch and into her arms.

Loretta squeezed him tight. “I love you, Caleb!” She kissed the top of his head and said, “You’re Mommy’s little angel boy!”

Caleb giggled as he looked into her eyes. “You’ve called me that before, Mommy Why do you say I’m your little angel boy?”

Loretta kissed him on the cheek this time and said, “It’s the sunshine on your hair. Some people say heaven’s angels have a light around their heads. The light is called a halo. That’s what your blond hair looks like when the sun shines on it.”

Caleb wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her cheek, saying, “I love you, Mommy. You’re the best mommy in all the world, an’ I love you with all my heart!”

They held on to each other, then Loretta said, “Mommy’s got to go to the kitchen and peel some onions, potatoes, and carrots for supper.”

As she stood up, Caleb looked at her swollen middle. “How long is it till my baby brother is gonna be born?”

Loretta winced as a sharp pain ran across her back. “Just about four weeks, honey. But Caleb…”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“I’ve told you many times that it could be a little sister. I know you want a little brother to play with, but you can play with a little sister, too.”

“But not cowboys an In’ians. Only boys play cowboys an In’ians.”

“But you would love the baby if it turned out to be a girl, wouldn’t you?”

“Uh-huh. Only I know it’s a boy.”

Loretta smiled to herself. “Are you going to stay outside or are you going in the house with me?”

“Could I help you fix supper?”

“I’m sure I can find something for you to do.”

“Okay. That’s what I’ll do.”

Caleb took his mother’s hand as if to help her through the door. Just as they stepped inside, Hilda said, “I’m all through for the day, Loretta. I’ll be going now. Hello, Caleb.”

“Hello, Mrs. Jensen,” the boy said politely.

“Thank you, Hilda. You sure do a wonderful job. Has your arthritis been bothering you today?”

“Quite a bit, honey,” said the gray-haired woman, rubbing her right arm and shoulder. “I sure hope you’ll be able to take over the household duties shortly after the baby is born. I’m not going to be able to do it much longer.”

“There’s no reason I can’t,” said Loretta. “Once the baby’s born, I’m sure I can handle it.”

“I’ll help her, too,” put in Caleb. “I’ll take care of my little brother so Mommy can do the housework an’ the washin’ an’ stuff.”

Hilda glanced at Loretta, who shook her head and looked at the ceiling.

“I know you’ll be a great help to your mother, Caleb,” Hilda said, patting the top of his head.

“I sure will! I’m gonna teach my brother how to play cowboys an’ In’ians, too!”

Hilda did a quick calculation and realized that Loretta was now better than a month past the time in her pregnancy when she’d lost the other two babies. “I’m glad you’re doing so well, honey,” she said. “Looks like you’ll go full term on this one.”

“I’m very encouraged,” Loretta said, smiling. “Everything’s going to be all right this time.”

Tom Harned arrived home at suppertime and was greeted with a big hug by Caleb, and a hug and kiss by his wife.

During supper the Harneds talked about the new baby and Hilda’s worsening arthritis. Loretta assured him she could handle the housework once the baby was born.

When the meal was over, Tom helped Loretta do the dishes and clean up the kitchen. He was just drying the last dish when there was a knock at the front door.

“I’ll get it, honey,” he said.

A man and woman in their midthirties stood on the front porch. “Mr. Harned?” the man said. “Yes.”

“My name is Bruce Humbert, sir, and this is my wife, Laurie. I have just become pastor of the church here in town. Laurie and I are visiting everyone in Virginia City to get to know them.”

Tom reached out and shook hands with both of them. “Please, come in,” he said. “My good friend Hank Mitchell and his wife, Donna, are members of the church. Hank told me a new pastor was coming.”

As Tom closed the door behind the Humberts, the preacher said, “The Mitchells told us about you and your family. They were especially wanting us to visit you.”

Loretta came into the parlor with Caleb, and Tom introduced them to the Humberts.

The preacher smiled and ruffled the boys hair. “I like the name
Caleb.
Its a Bible name.”

“We named him after one of Loretta’s uncles,” Tom said.

Everyone sat down, and Laurie turned to Loretta. “When’s your baby due, Mrs. Harned?”

“In just about four weeks.”

“I’d be very happy to help you in any way I can when the baby comes.”

Loretta smiled. “I just might take you up on it.”

“Please do. I really mean it.”

Tom looked at Humbert appraisingly and said, “Loretta and I know that Virginia City has been tough on preachers. From what Hank and Donna have told us, the last two got so discouraged they just gave up and left town. Do you think you can take the rough treatment the miners will put on you, Pastor Humbert?”

Humbert grinned. “I’m willing to try. I’ll preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and do everything I can to get the people of this town saved. Death comes to all, and eternity’s beyond that. I want to keep as many people from going to hell, and take as many with me to heaven, as I can.”

Neither Tom nor Loretta commented.

Humbert went on. “Hank and Donna told us they’ve talked to both of you about salvation.”

“Yes, they have,” said Tom, “but we don’t look at it like the Mitchells do.”

“How’s that?”

“Well, Hank and Donna say we have no chance to go to heaven when we die unless we repent of our sin and open our hearts to Jesus Christ.”

“And how do you look at it?” Humbert asked.

“Loretta and I believe that we’ll go to heaven when we die because we’re good, honest people, and we live moral lives.”

“Are you sinners?”

“Well…yes. We don’t always do everything right.”

“What about your sins? Is God going to let you into heaven with your sins on your record?”

“Well…I…uh…”

The preacher pulled a small Bible from the inside pocket of his suit coat and said, “Mind if I read to you what God says about it?”

Tom glanced at Loretta, then turned back to the preacher. “No, go ahead.”

Humbert read several Scripture passages describing mankind’s sinful condition. Then he said, “Mr. and Mrs. Harned, the apostle Paul
tells us in the book of Romans that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes it. And in 1 Corinthians Paul gives us God’s definition of the gospel, when he writes that ‘Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.’