The trapper and a gang.

CH42: The widow

I am now five months pregnant. All goes well, except that I can not go hunting any more. Arthur goes hunting alone, sometimes I worry, but his health does not deteriorate much. Sometimes I forget that he has tuberculosis, and I think he too.

Exceptionally, today I went to the city to sell some skins. It's not too tiring for me and the baby. On my way back, I decided to take a shortcut through the forest.And at some point, it seems to me that I hear someone crying. I stop my horse, and listen around me. I still hear crying, are those of a woman. It's not very far from here. I decide to get off my horse and walk towards the crying.

As I approached, I saw a woman on her knees in front of what appears to be a grave.

I approach her and ask her:

- Are you alright, ma'am?

She turns to me and stands up.

- Who are you? She asked.

- It's okay, I just heard you cry, so I came to see if everything was fine ....

She sighs and looks at the grave again.

- Well, it makes no difference now... if an outlaw or wild animal doesn't get me starvation will. She respond.

She leans toward the grave and puts a flower back in place.

- We came out here from the city in search of a different life. Something... true, something... real. She said and gets up sadly.

-All this squandering and indulgence we want to strip it away to find something authentic. What a pair of fools...

She starts crying, I approach her and put a hand on her shoulder.

- Come with me, don't stay alone. I don't live very far from here. Let me help you.

She looks at me for a moment, then she looks at my belly.

- You are expecting a child .... my husband and I wanted a child ...She said sadly.

- Listen, life is sometimes cruel, and sometimes it is beautiful. But I know one thing: When one thing is ripped off, another grown up again. Maybe not the same as before, but in a way, it's beautiful.

She looks at me for a moment, she agrees to come with me. We ride on my horse towards my house. About ten minutes later we arrive. I notice that Arthur cuts wood, he sees me approaching, I kiss his cheek and turn to the woman.

- Arthur, let me introduce you ... uh ... what's your name? I said.

- My name is Charlotte...

She looks at our house, our garden ... she seems envied us ...

- By the way, earlier you said that you have nothing to eat, that if it is not wild animals or an outlaw who would kill you, it would be starvation. You really have nothing to eat? I ask.

- No... nothing... But if you need any poisonous berries, though... I'm a natural at finding those. She said.

I think for a moment, then I ask her:

- You know how to use a rifle?

- Why? She asked me.

- Well ... you will not last long if you do not know how to hunt ...I said.

I turn to Arthur and ask him:

- Arthur, could you help her? I would like, but my physical condition starts to stop me.

- Of course. Come on. I'll show you. He said, nodding his head.

Arthur and Charlotte leave in the forest, meanwhile I'm going to prepare the meal.Poor woman, life is sometimes really cruel. Somehow I know how she feels. When Arthur announced that he had tuberculosis, I felt like I was broken into pieces ... it was a horrible day.I do not know how long Arthur can live with such a disease, but I'm sure he still has a few years. I am sure he will be there when the baby is born, and he will be alive to see our child grow up.

I don't want to imagine the future ... You never know what the future holds.

A moment later, Arthur returns without Charlotte. He enters the house and I turn to him.

- Where is Charlotte? I asked him.

- I brought her home. We caught a rabbit, she said she had a rifle and she will learn to use it. I think everything will be fine for her now.

- We should visit her one day, I'm sure it will please her.

Arthur nods in agreement. He sits down and I put the plates at the table, and sit down in front of him. We talk and laugh. Then I do not say anything anymore. I drop my spoon and quickly put my hand on my belly. Arthur notices my reaction and worries.

- It's okay? He asks.

I look at him with a smile and answer:

- Come quick! Put your hand on my belly!

He hurries around the table and puts a hand on my belly. He looks at me smiling and puts his head on my belly to listen. The baby moves, I feel his little kicks, I run a hand in Arthur's hair. He raises his head towards me and caresses my cheek.I will never forget this moment.

Arthur gets up and kiss my cheek and I put a hand on his cheek and kisses his forehead. We finish eating, I'm tired, but I would like to take a bath, I go to the bathroom, undress and enter the bath.The door opened, I smiled at Arthur. He undresses and join me in the bathtub. I approach him and turn, he gently massages my back and shoulders.

Then I stick against him, and we remain like this a moment. I take his right hand and intertwine my fingers in his. He puts his left hand on my belly and caress it gently. We can not wait for our child to be here ...

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Sorry if this chapter took a long time to arrive. I had a lot of work this week and I was very tired.

As usual, do not hesitate to leave a comment, it always makes me happy. If you have any ideas for this story let me know!

I wish you a good day or a good night!