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It wasn’t possible.
It couldn’t be real.
It was some twisted nightmare that was made just to torture Wyatt Earp. But as he ran his hand across the newborn's cheek, he could feel the soft and smooth skin make contact with his fingertips. The man studied her intently, trying to expose anything that would confirm his doubts and kill the hope in his heart.
The girl he was holding was breathing, she was alive in every way possible.
Maybe if his wife were here to meet this wonderful child, it would’ve all been perfect. But Wyatt Earp knew that was asking too much of whoever had spared his daughter. Surely pastors and religious men would see this as further proof of god’s existence. That’s how Wyatt should’ve seen the birth of his child, yet something inside his chest couldn’t help but feel burdened by it.
This was no miracle. Wyatt had lost everything and now he was cursed with the responsibility of caring for a child.
He had to somehow get this burden off his chest. He had to run.
Run far and run fast, start anew.
Sadly for the grieving man, there was no escaping from his responsibility. He could barely find someone to nurse her. When he did find someone, Urilla would fuss and cry until she was back to the safety of Wyatt’s arms.
His daughter would cry so much and so loudly. People began to complain, saying she disturbed them when they slept, and boy did Wyatt agree. This girl was active and required so much patience, things he didn’t have with his broken heart. Wyatt found himself yelling at Urilla when she cried too loudly in the middle of the night. He didn’t mean it, he was just tired.
He had to deal with this for two whole weeks.
Wyatt snapped at his daughter one morning. He marched out the door to find her somewhere else to live. Just his luck, a woman had stumbled into Lamar. Rumors said that she came from Louisiana after her lover and children died in a fire. She looked up to the cloudy skies, unknowing of how her life would change. The tired father pushed Urilla onto her arms. His eyes pleading.
“Ma’am please I need you to look after this child- I am in no way fit to be a father and folks whisper about you being a widow. I know it ain’t right to ask you this after such a tragedy but I’m desperate to get her off my hands.”
The woman was shocked. Never in her life had she been given a baby from a man this desperate to get rid of them. But here she was, with a baby in her arms and her mind racing. Wyatt was going off on the payment when she interrupted him.
“I’ll take her for free.”
Her action was selfish; she knew that, but it could’ve easily been seen as selfless as well. She had just lost her family and was now taking in a baby without a single complaint. But while she did feel bad for the daughter, part of her saw that small child as her own. It would’ve been complicated either way.
Wyatt felt relieved to send his child away, the sleepless nights were creeping up on him. He handed her his daughter, and then walked away.
——————————————
Fernest looked at the tiny bundle in her hands. She was restless, almost wriggling out of her hands to be with her father who was no longer in front of them. It was then that Fernest made a vow to take care of Urilla, through it all, she would be there for this little angel.
“Rest dear, you’re safe. I’m here.”
She rode away, Urilla pressed close to her chest. Fernest lived in her wagon, making the best out of her situation. She knew the girl in her arms deserved more than just bare minimum, so she made a promise to herself to work harder and give her precious child a stable life.
She healed those who needed her most, using her knowledge and prayer. Urilla would accompany her sometimes, but most people assumed the worst. They would never believe that the girl in her arms was hers, but Fernest didn’t care. Urilla was hers even if not by blood. The scent of herbs became a comfort for young Urilla. She was barely a year old and yet her personality was already showing. Wild and free she would be.
Her face lit up every time Fernest was done taking care of someone. Their nights were full of lullabies, soft hums of wind, the sounds of animals in the distance, and crackling fire. They weren’t rich, just happy. Urilla could walk a little, talk a little, and hold things. She called Fernest mama one rainy day and made her mother cry absolute tears of joy.
“That’s right…that’s right cheri doudou…I’m your mama.”
Fernest kept crying with a big smile on her face. She was a mother once more.
But
She knew this life on the road was not what Urilla needed. Her girl couldn’t live like this. Sometimes they’d go hungry, and if it wasn’t hunger it was the hot weather and the cold. Urilla needed things she couldn’t get, maybe one day she could, but not now.
Fernest looked at Urilla with her tattered clothes and bruised knees. Yet when she went to look at her face; the only thing she saw was her bright smile. Those big round eyes looked like pools of starlight, watching the world as if it were the most beautiful thing in existence. It was. Urilla loved nature, loved the bright stars, loved every little crevasse of life. She trusted nature with her whole heart. Fernest couldn’t just rip everything she loved away…but if she didn’t…
This was never going to be an easy decision.
————————————-
Looking high and low, Fernest searched for the man who had given her Urilla. She asked everyone, followed rumors and guesses and last seen locations. For all she knew the man could’ve been gone.
Fernest looked and looked.
Until she saw him. She didn’t know where or how or when, all she knew was that he was there. Fernest grabbed his arm.
“…you cannot give up on her…”
Wyatt stared at the woman and child he hadn’t seen in a year. He was so sure they weren’t ever going to return…yet here they stood. He went to speak but was interrupted.
“This child is special! She needs to be nurtured and taken care of-…and while I can nurture her I cannot take care of her…not in these situations at least.”
Fernest grabbed his wrist and held it so he couldn’t run again.
“I should’ve taken her and ran but I didn’t! Because even if her father left her in the arms of a stranger I still believe he can be better! Am I making a mistake? Maybe I am but you know what, I trust you. Somehow, I trust you.”
She placed his daughter in his arms and said one last thing.
“Care for her. You will not regret it.”
Wyatt looked at his daughter. When he came back up to thank Fernest-she was gone.
This single moment changed both of their lives forever.