Page 273 of Conveniently Wed
“Not that I know of. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t love cats every bit as much as we do.”
At Blossom and Donny’s look of pleasure, Stella thanked the older woman.
The children left as soon as they were dismissed. Stella decided she would let them go this time, but now that the chickens were back, she would teach her children to feed them and gather eggs.
Bruce downed another cup of coffee before he left the table. “Thank you for everything.” He donned his hat and stepped outside.
“Everything?” She wasn’t sure what he meant.
“Yup. Everything.” Whatever he meant, he sounded mighty pleased about it.
She went to the window to watch him cross the yard and go to the corrals. “He’s going to get the ox and start plowing today.” She hoped Aunt Mary would assume that Stella reported on his activities for her sake.
“He’s a good man, as I think you are learning.”
Without responding, Stella returned to the kitchen and the waiting dishes. A few minutes later, she noticed Aunt Mary’s head tilted back as the woman slept. She smiled. The older woman was good company for the most part, and the children enjoyed talking to her although Stella grew a little weary of her repeated two-weeks prediction. This morning, she was too tired to deflect those comments so sighed with relief to see her sleeping.
She finished the dishes and went out to the garden. The children played near the barn, and Bruce and Brute plowed. Bruce waved at her as she crossed the yard.
At the moment, her world was pleasant, and she hummed as she pulled a few weeds.
Over the next three days, they settled into a comfortable routine. Bruce plowed every day. Because he wanted to work late, she moved suppertime to a later hour. By the time the meal was over, the children went directly to bed, Stella cleaned the kitchen, and Bruce tended to the barn chores. And then they sat outside with their tea.
It became her favorite time of day when they talked about plans for the farm, their past, and how they had come to faith in Christ.
She knew Aunt Mary had taught Bruce truths from the Bible.
“She did more than teach,” he said, his voice round with fond memories. “She lived what she believed. She helped those in need. She spoke kindly of others. She prayed faithfully. She believes in the power of prayer.”
Stella sighed, a pretend resignation. “Do we stand a chance?”
Their gazes connected, and they both laughed. Her laughter fled at the darkness in his blue eyes. The air between them filled with the scent of wild flowers. There were no flowers nearby. Was this the aroma of?—?
She slammed the door shut on the idea.
It was Aunt Mary’s fault for constantly talking about them falling in love.
Saturday was different only in the fact that she bathed the children and helped Aunt Mary with a sponge bath.
“I’m going to have a bath,” she warned Bruce after supper, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks. But the only way she could get privacy was to warn him to stay away from the house.
“I’ll go to the river and have my own bath.”
She wanted to protest that he could heat water and bathe in the barn, but he was gone before she could drag the words from her uncooperative mouth.
Alone except for the sleeping children and Aunt Mary, Stella hung a sheet between the living area and the kitchen so she wouldn’t be nervous about someone stepping into the house. Then she lowered herself into the tub of warm water. Ahh. It felt good. If a little cramped. Perhaps bathing in the river had its advantages.
She washed her hair and then donned her nightgown and wrapper. She dumped the water out the back door. The kitchen tidy, she sat outside in the warm evening air to brush her hair and let it dry.
Bruce sauntered back to the house, wearing a clean shirt and pants and carrying the soiled ones. “Is tea made?”
“I didn’t know if?—”
He didn’t let her finish. “I can’t imagine ending the day without our tea and talk. You stay here and tend your hair. I’ll make the tea.”
She couldn’t imagine not sharing this special time of evening either, but she hadn’t wanted to presume to know his wishes. She smiled as she listened to him in the kitchen. Somehow, she had never imagined a man pampering her like this.
Her arm grew idle, the brush forgotten in her hand. She should go to her room. Not allow herself the pleasure of an evening that had nothing to do with the business agreement between them.
