Chapter 26When James returned, he wouldn’t hear of waiting until Bella was up for a trip to town. The next morning, he rode into Yanube City to fetch the doctor, a Swede named Helgren. The medic gave me a nod as his black buggy followed James’s horse through our yard on the way to Andre’s place. I fetched Patch and trailed along behind them.
James and I waited on the porch with the new father while Dr. Helgren examined mother and child. James had brought a flask, so we drank a belated toast to the arrival of the Tiller heir. I wasn’t much for liquor, but he had a military man’s thirst, and Andre, one befitting a veteran of the ranks. I watched in amusement as the two grew half pie-eyed.
The doctor joined us on the steps where we were taking turns making up toasts—some of them nonsensical
