Husband By Arrangement

Her back was to him as she pulled plates from the shelf on the far wall. “Papa always lit the fires at home.” She turned to look at him over her shoulder. “He said it was man’s work.”

“He did, did he?” Scott was glad she had moments where she relaxed enough to tease him. She had often teased her father when Scott had occasion to be in their home. He’d enjoyed watching their easy relationship, even though she’d never made any effort to build a friendship with him.

“Said he’d never let Momma light a fire. Didn’t want her to get the soot on her clothes.”

“Is that so?” He chuckled and pulled a match from the cast-iron holder on the wall by the fireplace. “Well, your mother didn’t live out on a homestead. Town ladies have a different kind of life.”

She put the plates on the table. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that you’ve got a lot to learn about homesteading, and I think we need to start with the basics. You’re good with a stove, but during the winter the fireplace will need to be kept lit while we’re home. You’ll be here during the day while I’m in town taking care of my work as sheriff.”

“You could light the fire in the morning before you go.” She stood on the far side of the table.

“And what if some night I’m kept in town on business? You could wake in the morning to find the fire out. Can’t have you and the little one freezing in the cabin while I’m all cozy in my office with a fire in the stove.”

“You mean to leave me here alone with a new baby and stay out overnight?” When had their light banter turned to fear in her?

He took a step toward her. “No, Rena. I was only teasing you with the possibility that I might be caught away overnight. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

She rubbed her hands up and down her arms as if she was cold. “I’m not frightened.”

“Rena, I truly am sorry that the thought of being here alone isn’t the same as the safety you felt in town in your pa’s house.” Scott looked at her. “Life on a homestead isn’t like living in town. You’re going to need to learn to tend the fire. I’ll teach you to shoot, so you can protect yourself and the little one.” He didn’t mean to do it, but his eyes dropped to her midsection. “I’ll pray you never need to shoot anyone or anything. But it is important for you to know how.”

She shuddered, and he came to stand in front of her. “Don’t worry. You’re a brave person.” Before he thought about what he was doing, he pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest. “You’ll conquer the skills you need in no time.”

Rena relaxed against him for a moment, and then bolted out of his embrace. “I’m not going to worry.” She must have been dredged up the resolve in her eyes from the depths of her soul. It hadn’t been there when he’d reached out to comfort her. She plucked the match from his hand and went to the fireplace. In no time at all the flames began to lick up the kindling. She tossed the match into the fire and spun around. “Don’t think that my life in town kept me from basic skills. I may have been a bit pampered as the mayor’s daughter, but I’m an independent woman who can take care of herself, too.” She lifted her cute nose up in the air just a fraction and grinned. She was trying to make him laugh and not focus on the fear she had shown.

He made a sweeping gesture and bowed in her direction. “I will remember your ability the next time I’m tempted to help you.”

Her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly at his poor choice of words. He hoped she didn’t think he regretted helping her—or that he wouldn’t want to help her in the future.

“Good.” She crossed to the table. “Let’s eat before these burned beans get cold.”

Scott followed her lead and kept the conversation on easy matters for the rest of the evening. Only when he plumped up his pillow and settled into bed did he allow himself to think about her reaction.

Their lighthearted banter had been pleasant. He’d even enjoyed it. More than he’d thought he might. But in an instant Rena had become vulnerable. Her usual flighty and fun personality had been swallowed up in her pregnancy and abandonment.

Eugene Rodgers had stolen a lot from Rena last fall. Scott knew he couldn’t restore her to the happy and carefree young lady she’d been before, but he was beginning to hope he could at least alleviate some of her pain.

Chapter Five (#u0789b8b7-a1fc-5ec8-af7e-31e46775ef59)

A warm glow on the horizon promised a beautiful sunrise when Rena looked through her bedroom window the next morning. She turned to the mirror in its new location in the corner of the room. Her sturdy skirt and blouse were just right for gathering eggs and feeding chickens. She tied her hair in a length of ribbon and went into the front room.

Scott stood at the stove and poured a cup of coffee. “Would you like a cup?”

She nodded. “How are you awake before me?”

A crowing sounded in the yard. “That rooster has been waking me up every day since Ann brought him home. He seems to hate me.”

She accepted the coffee he offered. “Thank you. I have a feeling that rooster doesn’t have anything to do with it. You probably woke him.”

“Not the rooster.” Scott handed her a plate loaded with eggs and toast. “I woke the chickens. I’m an early riser. It’s the only way I can get all my work done.” He joined her at the table.

Rena waited while he blessed their food and then added honey to her toast. “I’m ready for you to teach me the things I can do to help with the workload.”

“You can milk the cow again.” His dark navy shirt made the blue in his eyes stand out. The scruff on his chin was darker than usual. He probably hadn’t had time to shave since the wedding.

The wedding. Had it only been two days earlier? How were they holding casual conversations about chores and animals when they were newly married? There was something very sad about the realization that she’d never know the joy of the first days of a marriage of true love. She must not think about his blue eyes and love. “We need to name the cow.”

He picked up his coffee. “The cow’s name is Bertie.”

“Bertie?” She nodded. “It suits her.”

“Henderson told me she belonged to a family who left last week to head back East. Life here was too much for the wife. They sold their cattle to Jack Jefferson and let their milk cow and horses go for a low price to the livery. Told Henderson to sell them and use the money to pay for their feed.”

“How sad to give up their hope of a new life and have to parcel it out to others on their way out of town.” She pondered her new life. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was committed to it.

Lord, give me strength. I’m sure there are hard times ahead that I haven’t considered. Help me not to fail you or my child again.

“It is, but they had somewhere to go. Somewhere they wanted to be.” He stared out the window as he spoke. “That counts for something.” With those words, he scraped his chair backward and picked up his empty plate.

“Put that in the basin, and I’ll wash up after the morning chores.” Rena scooped the last bit of eggs onto her fork.

“Come to the barn when you finish. We’ll start there.”

The morning was full of new things. First she learned what feed was for which animals and how often they ate. Then Scott showed her how to move the horses and cow into the corral for the day. They hauled water from the well to the troughs in the corral, the pig pen and the hen house. The cool morning warmed as the sun climbed in the winter sky.

“I know I insisted that you teach me how to care for all the animals, in case I ever have to do the morning chores alone, but—” Rena wiped her forehead with her sleeve “—what would you say to sharing some of the water we’re hauling for the animals with the homesteaders?”

He laughed. “There’s a dipper hanging on the well.”

She drank deeply and sank onto a bench near the corral fence. Scott drank two dippers of the cool water and sat beside her. He lifted his hat and wiped his face with a kerchief.

“That makes for a busy morning.” The amount of work they’d done surprised her. Every day the same list of chores needed to be done. Rain or shine.

“You get used to it.” He leaned against the fence post behind him.

“How did you manage on your own?”