Chapter 83

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—and declared Bella fit to bear other sons and little Joseph healthy. Somewhere along the way, the flask had turned into a bottle pulled from James’s saddlebags. Helgren was friendly enough to join in a celebratory round but prudently left after one drink. The matter of a fee was never raised, so James had likely paid for the professional visit before they left town.