Page 304 of Conveniently Wed
“Wonderful. Our first two calves dropped last night. You should come over and see them.” Nora quickly realized Aundyprobably wouldn’t know what she meant. “That means two of our cows had their babies.”
“Thank you for clarifying.” The smile on her face was evident in her voice. “I didn’t think you’d really drop the calves.”
Nora giggled and chatted a few minutes, then invited Aundy to come for supper.
“I’ve more than worn out my welcome with you all.” Aundy was reluctant to impose further on the Nash family. “You’ve done so much for me already.”
“Oh, that’s a bunch of flapdoodle,” Nora said, exasperated by the girl’s independent nature. “I’m going to have someone bring you over for supper and you can spend the evening before we take you back home. You know you’re welcome to spend the night.”
“No, Nora. I just couldn’t.” Aundy glanced out the kitchen window and noticed Dent walking toward the house. “Thank you for the invitation, though.”
“You just be ready about four this afternoon and I’ll send one of the boys to get you. Bye, honey.”
“Bye.” Aundy hung up the phone and opened the kitchen door before Dent had a chance to knock.
“Ready for your lesson, Missy?” Dent touched the brim of his hat as she walked outside and down the back porch steps.
“Yes, sir.” Aundy hoped he wouldn’t notice how afraid she was of the big animals. As she followed the foreman to the barn, she listened as he discussed the different types of horses used on the farm and the purpose each served. He showed her the draft horses, Hans and Henry, that ran away with the wagon, as well as another big team he called Nut and Bolt.
“Nut is a little on the wild side, so be sure you give him plenty of room,” Dent cautioned, watching as Aundy stepped further away from the horse when he snorted her direction. He pointed out several of the stock horses in the pasture behindthe barn. Dent explained Erik kept the horses for his men to ride. When she asked questions about the different breeds and coloring, Dent was impressed with her ability to understand the information he shared.
When they stood at the stall of a pretty mare, Dent dug a piece of dried apple from his pocket and held it out to the horse. She took it from his hand and looked at him with big, sad eyes.
“This is Bell. She belonged to Erik’s mother. Although she’s getting on in years, Bell is a good, solid mustang who’ll take you where you need to go.” Dent scratched the horse on her neck and behind her ears. “When you get that cast off your arm, I’ll teach you how to ride her.”
“I will do my best to look forward to that experience.” Aundy held a cautious hand out to the horse. Bell turned liquid eyes to Aundy and offered a soft whicker.
“I think she likes you.” Dent motioned for Aundy to touch the horse. “Go on and pet her, she won’t bite you.” He refrained from mentioning that she not only bit but also refused to let any of the men ride her, preferring females.
Aundy rubbed Bell on her nose and patted her neck. The horse moved forward in her stall and leaned her head against her before releasing a sigh.
“Well, I’ll be. It looks like she decided you’re friends,” Dent said, breaking into a broad grin. “She hasn’t taken to any of the fellas. Guess she just missed having a woman around.”
“As soon as I’m able, we’ll have to rectify that situation.” Aundy scratched Bell’s neck before she and Dent moved through the rest of the barn.
By the time Dent finished giving her a grand tour of the barnyard, Aundy discovered she owned milk cows, several pigs, and a coop full of chickens.
“Thank you for that introduction to the livestock, Dent. I very much appreciate it,” Aundy said as they walked toward thehouse. “I think I could gather the eggs from now on. I feel like I’ve been such a burden since I arrived instead of a help.”
“You haven’t been a burden to anyone, Missy. If you’re sure you want to gather the eggs, just go in there each morning, toss out their feed, then snatch the eggs before the chickens are any the wiser. Watch out for the rooster. If he gives you any trouble, let me know. He’s got a big attitude for such a little chicken.”
Aundy laughed, making Dent smile. “I’ll keep my eye on him. I’m going over to the Nash’s for dinner, so don’t worry if you don’t see me around for an hour or two this evening.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Dent tipped his hat and returned to the barn.
Aundy hurried up the back porch steps and inside the house, deciding she smelled like the barn. Quickly filling the bathtub, she took a bath and washed her hair, finding it a challenge to accomplish with only one arm.
When she finished, she climbed out of the tub, towel-dried her hair and shook it with her good hand, trying to get out most of the water before working her way into her clothes. Everything took twice as long with only one usable arm.
Unable to put up her hair, she had become adept at pulling it back in combs and letting it hang loose. It always seemed to be in her way, but she didn’t know what else to do. Incapable of braiding it one handed or pinning it up, she managed the best she could. She was adjusting the second comb in her hair when she heard a knock on the front door. She rushed from her bedroom, grabbed her coat from a peg by the kitchen door, and hastened to the front room.
Surprise filled her features as she opened the door and stared at Garrett, standing on the porch with his hat in his hand.
“Mrs. Erickson.” He smiled, flashing white teeth against his tan face, as he took in Aundy’s fresh scent and glowing cheeks. Despite being highly improper to think it, he wanted to pull the combs out of her hair and bury his hands in the waving goldenmass. Although he shouldn’t have been, he was glad the cast on her arm kept her from putting up all that glorious hair.
He gazed at her and felt drawn into the depths of her sky-blue eyes.
Desperate to divert his attention away from her face and hair, he looked down and admired the fancy stitching on her skirt.
