“I feel bad sharing it, all things considered.”
“Please!” Ella—or was it Emma—stood with her hand resting across her belly. Rebekah guessed her baby would come in another month or two.
“Yes, do tell.” Annie clapped her hands.
The short woman nibbled her fingernail and nodded. “All right. I will only because I can’t not tell you.” She grinned widely then took a deep breath. “I’m almost certain that Houston and I are going to have a baby.”
Rebekah jumped at the squeals that filled the room. The four women bounced around Cora-belle. Cora-lou. Cora-something, all chattering at once. After a long minute of everyone trying to talk over the other, the Mexican woman noticed her and whispered something. The women instantly quieted, and the soft swish of fabric echoed across the big room as they turned in unison.
Annie hurried toward her, a big smile on her face. “I’m sorry if we disturbed you, but Coralee just shared the most wonderful news.”
Coralee. That’s her name. She looked at the short, dark-haired woman. “Congratulations. That is happy news. Please, don’t allow my presence to put a damper on your excitement. I’m headed to the porch and was merely surprised to see so many ladies here.”
Annie took her by the arm. “I know you’ve already met most of us, but let me introduce you again. Everyone, this is Rebekah Evans.” She walked up to the dark-skinned woman, who was the tallest of the group. “This is Caro, and she is married to Chisholm.”
Caro’s coffee-colored eyes brightened. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Caro’s expression dimmed. “I was very sorry to hear about your sister.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at the kind woman.
Annie turned her away from Caro to face the other Hart woman she hadn’t yet met. The thin, green-eyed woman was only an inch shorter than Rebekah. “This is Jane. She’s married to Crockett.”
Jane smiled. “Happy to make your acquaintance.”
Rebekah nodded. “Me, too.”
“And you’ve met the other ladies, Emma and Coralee. Emma is the wife of Hays, who is one of the three blue-eyed bothers, and the youngest. Makes him easy to remember.”
“That, and his quick smile,” Emma said.
“And if you remember, Coralee is married to Houston.”
Coralee stepped forward, smiling. Her dark ringlets bounced as she moved. “It’s such a pleasure to see you again, even though the circumstances aren’t the best.”
Rebekah felt taken aback by their warm welcome after all the trouble her sister had caused. Even now their husbands were out searching for Jenny. “Thank you all for your kindness.”
The women gathered around, each trying to talk, asking her questions.
Coralee cleared her throat loudly. “Ladies, please. I have a favor to ask.” Her expression turned serious. “Houston and I don’t plan to inform the men about the baby just yet. He agreed that I could tell y’all since I simply couldn’t keep from it and had to tell someone. But we want to wait a little longer to announce our news to the men—possibly until Thanksgiving or Christmas.”
Rebekah stepped back as the women assured her they would keep her secret and talked turned back to the baby.
From her viewpoint just inside the parlor she noticed Perla come around the corner at the far end of the hall, carrying a tray.
Rebekah moved closer to the women. “Ladies, Perla is coming. Unless you want her to know, too, you might want to change the topic.”
Coralee grasped her hand. “Thank you for the warning, and no, not yet.”
Perla entered the room, and everyone quit talking. The older woman stopped and eyed them suspiciously but then smiled. “I brought you some tea and gingerbread.” Comments of appreciation flitted around the room, and the ladies each took a seat. Annie tugged Rebekah down on the settee next to her, thwarting her escape outside.
Once Perla had left and they all had tea, Emma squealed. “I’m so excited that our baby will have a cousin.”
Several of the women smiled. From what Austin had said, all of them were newlyweds. It wouldn’t surprise Rebekah if there were more announcements of babies before long. A part of her wished that she could be there when it happened.
Talk turned to the Christmas Eve Ball.
“It’s one of the highlights of the year,” Annie said, her hazel eyes bright with excitement.
Footsteps sounded on the porch, and the room grew quiet. The front door banged open, and Robbie ran down the hall. The gangly boy skidded to a halt, barely able to keep from falling. His arm hit his hat, sending it rolling toward the door. He turned into the parlor, his cinnamon hair flopping in his eyes. “Someone’s coming!”
The bell above the door of Travis’s office rang as Austin walked in. His brother strode in from the back and slowed his steps when he saw him. “Did you find them?”