Page 39 of Her Gentle Protector
“Yeah?”
Petunia reclined on the small settee, her legs stretched out in front of her, clad in soft buckskin pants and moccasins. Her raccoon fur hat lay discarded on the floor, its fur rumpled and matted from days of wear.
“You are gonna watch Olive and Abilene for me, right? I don’t think I should be too long.”
“I planned on it, since I can’t go hunting no more.”
“Honey, you can go hunting. Just not by the creek where you were hunting before.”
“They’re cutting the corn. That means the quail will hide in the bushes.”
“If you want to go out to the woods, you can do that as soon as I get back.”
Petunia flopped over on the cushions, and draped her arm over the side, dragging her finger along the floor in circles. “No. I liked learning from Rex. Even when Baxter was grumpy, he could teach me a thing or two.” She looked up from her invisible drawings, as if seeing Midge for the first time. “You look nice. Where are you going?”
“Baxter wants to show me something.”
Petunia smiled. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Do you know what it is?” Midge’s curiosity was piqued.
“I can’t say anything,” she said, turning over again.
Midge noticed another sock near the stove. “Have you seen Peter?” she asked, picking up the sock.
“I saw him in the barn earlier, but then he disappeared again.”
“I wish I knew what was going on with him.”
“I dunno. Boys are funny.” Petunia pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Have you ever been kissed?”
Midge thought about the kiss she shared with Baxter the previous night. A shiver of excitement ran through her as she remembered the sensation of his lips on hers. She smiled at Petunia, feeling giddy and blissful. “Yeah, I have,” she replied, still lost in her thoughts.
Petunia laughed. “I knew it! Who was it?”
“Baxter,” Midge said, the blush deepening.
Petunia let out a low whistle. “I knew he was gonna kiss you. How was it?”
Midge couldn’t help but grin. “It made my toes curl in my boots.”
“It was like a thousand thunderstorms were racing overhead,” Petunia sighed.
“Maybe Baxter is right to keep you away from that boy.”
“I’m almost as old as Ma when she got married.”
“And look at what happened. She had all these babies, and her body just gave out. One day, Pet, you’ll find someone who makes your heart sing.”
“I already did. I just gotta wait.” She rubbed her eye. “Waiting’s the hardest part. It’s like setting your snare and then watching it all day for that rabbit to come through. Nothing happens, but the moment you leave, bam!” She clapped her hands together, causing Midge to jump. “You catch the rabbit.”
“I’m going to go put these on Peter’s bed. Abilene and Olive are still asleep.” Walking to the room that Peter shared with Ira and Josiah, she found her two youngest brothers sitting on the floor with a wooden box between them.
“What do you have there?” she asked, throwing Peter’s socks on his bed.
Ira tossed the papers back in the box. “We found it under Peter’s bed.”
“You shouldn’t be looking at your brother’s things. How would you like it if someone went through your private things?”
