Chapter 6

It’s been three months since that first ‘lesson’ with Hawkeye. I am in love with him and I believe he is with me, but there is some reluctance on his part. We never talk about a future together. I have spent the night with him on several occasions, but he avoids talking about anything permanent. One Sunday morning he was making me breakfast after I helped him feed the horses. I felt sick and rushed into the bathroom to throw-up. When I exited he was grinning.

“Those enchiladas we ate for supper didn’t agree with you!”

I said he might be right, but I thought differently. The next morning after my therapy class I stopped at a drug store and bought a pregnancy test. At my house the little blue plus appeared!

I knew Hawkeye had some clients that afternoon so I waited until he was done for the day. I called him and told him I was coming over with supper. I stopped by the Colonel’s and bought a bucket of chicken. I knew he would be hungry and now I am eating for two!

He met me at the door with a big kiss then announced he was starved. We did not finish all that chicken but we made a big dent in the bucket. As I was putting it away for later, Hawkeye asked if I was staying the night. I told him to sit down, we needed to talk.

I did not say a word as I took his hand in my right hand. The therapy was working. My strength was coming back and I can now drive a car. Hawkeye looked nervous as I reached into my purse and took out the test strip.

“You’re going to be a daddy!”

His mouth fell open. “How? I thought you were on the pill?”

“I am or was until I found out this morning. I called my doctor and she scheduled an appointment for Wednesday. She told me to stop taking the birth control pills. What do you think we should do?”

“You know I love you. But Cora, I own a horse stable. I will not be able to give you the life you are accustomed to. Your father would never accept the idea that his daughter is married to a...”

“Don’t worry about money. I am totally disabled, which means I get a good pension every month. My father is dating a court reporter that does not like me. We argue over everything. I’m sure that my moving out would make things a lot easier for them both. But I need to know something. Are you over your first wife? Or will she...”

I never finished my question. He jumped up and pulled me to my feet.

“I love you Cora. I have for a long time. I just thought that we were from two different worlds and could not...” I did not let him finish. I kissed him again.

It was a private wedding in our small church. My father gave me away and my grandfather served as Hawkeye’s best man.

Author’s note—This was another of my stories that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I bet it made you want to hug a horse! I used the names of Cooper’s characters, sorry, I watch too much late night television.

I enjoyed the movie as an adult as much as I enjoyed the book I read as a kid. Daniel Day-Lewis would have won the Oscar that year if it had not been for his countryman playing the part of a deranged cannibalistic doctor.