Page 343 of Conveniently Wed
“Please, may I study a little while longer?” Nik picked up a copy ofGulliver’s Travelsby Jonathan Swift.
“Yes, you may.” Aundy smiled indulgently as Nik lost himself in the adventure. She had no idea he would be so excited for the opportunity to further his education. It was like pouring water into a bottomless pitcher. He never seemed to tire of learning. She wondered, with the right opportunities, what career Nik would choose. A mind as sharp as his shouldn’t be wasted sitting in a pasture watching sheep. “Why don’t you read aloud and I’ll enjoy the story, too.”
Nik grinned at her and returned to the beginning of the chapter he read. She listened to Nik’s voice and mixed up a batch of molasses cookies. The rich, spicy dough filled the kitchen witha delicious scent. Aundy made a cup of tea and sat at the table, enjoying the story while the cookies baked.
After removing the cookies from the oven, Aundy let them cool slightly before putting three on a plate. She poured a tall glass of milk, setting the snack by Nik. Although still thin, he seemed to be filling out a little with plenty of good food. She ruffled his hair as she stood by his chair. He grinned at her again then continued the story, stopping only to take a bite of cookie or a drink of milk.
They were both lost in the adventure when Aundy heard a loud thump on the front porch. She and Nik hurried to the door, opening it to find a small bundle of wool blazing with flame.
Aundy bit back a scream and glared at a rider clad all in black on a dark horse. In the shadows of late evening, she couldn’t distinguish any features.
“Git rid a them stinking sheep, woman, or ya’ll be sorry,” the man’s voice yelled before he thundered down her lane.
Nik kicked the burning ball of wool off the porch into the grass and Aundy ran to the kitchen to get a pitcher of water. Nik tried stomping the flames, but the kerosene-soaked wool was nearly impossible to extinguish. In the damp grass, it wouldn’t spread, so he watched it smolder, pulling the collar of his shirt over his nose to try to filter the stench of the burning fiber.
“Aundy? What is this? Would someone hurt you or our sheep?” Nik stood beside her when she returned with the water. She grasped his hand in hers, hoping it would comfort them both.
“I don’t know, Nik,” she said, distressed by the threat. She turned to go back inside the house when Dent and Bill ran into the yard.
“Thought we heard something.” Dent tried to catch his breath as he took in Aundy and Nik’s frightened faces and the scorched smell of wool. “What happened?”
“Some man threw that wool on fire at the door then yelled at Aundy to get rid of the sheep or she’d be sorry. They won’t really hurt her or the sheep, will they?” Nik looked at Dent for reassurance.
“Of course not, Nik. We won’t let anything happen.” Dent stepped onto the porch and patted the boy on the back. “Why don’t you gather your things and call it a night.”
“Yes, sir.” Nik cast one more glance at Aundy before he went into the house.
“Who do you think it was, Missy?” Dent waited to see if Aundy would fall apart. She had a strong backbone and not much rattled her, but most women would have been in hysterics by now.
“I don’t know, Dent. He was dressed all in black, his horse was dark in coloring and with it being almost dark out, I just couldn’t tell. I didn’t recognize his voice either. It was higher-pitched than Marvin Tooley’s, because he made a similar threat the other day.”
“He did?” Dent wondered why Aundy hadn’t imparted that information sooner. He heard some of the neighbors grumbling about Aundy bringing sheep into the area, but most of them would get over it and forget they were there in a few weeks. Honestly, he thought Aundy had a good idea with the sheep. So far, they’d been easy to care for, especially with Nik’s constant watch over them. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry anyone. Besides, I don’t think he’d actually do anything.”
“You never know with him, Missy. He’s a little unpredictable.” Dent recalled any number of odd things that had happened over the years since Marvin lost his family and changed into a different man. He thought they should at least give Marvin’s threat some consideration. “If he comes around again, you let one of us know right away.”
“Giving orders now, are you?” A smile tugged up the corners of Aundy’s mouth. She and Dent both knew he was essentially in charge. At least until she learned what she needed to know to successfully manage the farm. Even then, Dent would still be the one giving orders and laying down the law to the men.
“Durn right I am,” Dent said, still unsettled by what had happened. If someone truly had it out for Aundy and the sheep, he worried about what they would do next.
13
Aundy gave Dent a look that let him know she wanted to talk as the hands made their way out the door after breakfast the next morning. He poured himself another cup of coffee, sat back down at the table, and waited.
When they were the only two left in the kitchen, Aundy sank onto a chair with a cup of tea. “I have a favor to ask.”
“I’m in trouble now,” Dent teased, smiling at her as he sipped the hot liquid in his cup. “What do you need, Missy?”
“Can you spare someone to watch the sheep for a few hours today or at least check on them? I want to take Nik into town with me. He absolutely needs some new clothes and I honestly wouldn’t mind the company.” Aundy knew her request would leave Dent shorthanded while she and Nik were gone. Lem and Hank fit right in with the other hands and they all worked well together, but none of them particularly liked working with the sheep.
“I’ll have Lem keep an eye on the sheep, but are you sure it’s a good idea to go to town. What if…”
“Don’t start that.” Aundy silenced him when she held up her hand. “I won’t allow anyone to scare me into getting rid of thesheep. The men around here need to realize a little burning wool isn’t going to change my mind on the matter.”
Dent hid his grin behind his coffee cup. He had an idea if someone backed Aundy into a corner, she’d come out swinging and probably win.
“Okay, then. Want me to tell Nik he’s about to go on an adventure?” Dent got to his feet and placed his cup in the sink.
