Page 18 of The Rancher's Bride
Tessa smiled again and pressed the dress into Bethany’s hands. “You’re welcome, Bethany. Let me know when you’re ready for your bath. Ben should fill the tub by the fire. He’ll go to the barn so you can have privacy. If you don’t mind, I’ll just stay in my room until you’re done.”
“Where’s your lamb?”
“Marigold is in my room right now. Normally, she stays by the fire.”
Bethany offered a tentative smile. “Once I’m dressed, maybe she can come out and you can tell me how you came to keep her inside by the fire.”
“I’d like that. I’ll set out your breakfast, and then you can take a bath,” Tessa said before leaving the room, her voice carrying a tune as she went. Bethany stripped the bed as she listened to Tessa’s cheerful singing, before picking up the dress and examining it in her hands. It was a simple calico day dress, but it looked warm and functional.
The sound of the approaching rain drummed against the window, filling the room with a steady rhythm. She glanced outthe window, watching the rain pour down in torrents. They were trapped inside, at least for now, but somehow, she kept her fear at bay.
“Lord,” she prayed silently, “I don’t know what Your plan is, but help me trust in it.”
Bethany turned to the messy pile of clothes on the bed and sighed. Tessa had thoughtfully placed a fresh wrapper on top for her. She slipped into the soft fabric, tying the belt firmly around her waist. Running a hand through her tangled and mud caked hair, she then grabbed the dress and clean undergarments from the end of the bed before heading out of the room to start her day.
Chapter Six
“Would you like some tea?”
Tessa’s sweet voice pulled Bethany out of her musings as she stared at the fire. Smiling, she looked at the young girl. “I’d love some. Can I help you?” She pushed herself up from the wooden rocker and followed Tessa over to the stove.
The warm bath had soothed her, but the chill was creeping back in. Picking up the kettle to see how filled it was, she noted how the heat warmed her fingers, sending a pleasant thrill up her arm. Tessa must have noticed her shudder as she disappeared, only to return a moment later with a wool shawl.
“You sit down at the table and get warm,” Tessa insisted, placing the shawl around Bethany’s shoulders.
Bethany put the kettle back on the burner and moved to thetable. “I guess I’m still tuckered out.”
“I’m not surprised.” Tessa placed two cups on the table, along with two tins. Bethany picked them up to look at the labels. One tin had the label “Tessa - HERBS” in Doc Mueller’s bold script. The other was a small tin of black tea from the mercantile. She twirled the smaller tin in her fingers while Tessa continued. “Ben said you were really fighting. Your muscles must be sore.” She returned with a rough fiber sack tied with thick jute rope. She placed it on the table, along with a jar of honey and two spoons.
Picking up the coarse fabric bag, Bethany fingered the visible fibers sticking out of the tight weave before bringing it to her nose to see if she could identify the contents.
The musty scent of dirt, earth, and bark, along with a faint smell of mint, clung to the burlap. She could hear the contents crinkle inside, and as she worked the fabric with her fingers, small specks of dried leaves and seeds fell on the table. Bethany brushed them to the floor.
“I’ve had worse. I was once dragged behind a horse for a hundred yards until Tommy could stop it.” She lifted the bag to Tessa, who was watching her with a mix of fascination and horror. “What’s in here?”
“Dragged by a horse? How horrifying?”
“My foot got caught in a rope. It was my fault.” Bethany waved the sack at Tessa.
“Oh, that’s willow bark and mint.”
“You mix it with the tea?” Bethany asked, intrigued. “Grandma Moore made a tonic from willow bark. Nastiest stuff you’d ever taste.”
“The mint hides the bitterness.” Ben’s presence filled the room as he stepped inside, his voice echoing off the walls. He shook the rain from his clothes, creating a small puddle beneathhis boots.
“Sounds like a good recipe,” she mumbled, eyeing Benjamin as he moved towards the wood box to drop the pile of firewood in his arms. She placed the sack back on the table and watched as Tessa filled their cups with hot water from the kettle.
“That’s what Doc Mueller says. He’s teaching me how to use them.” There was a glint of pride in Tessa’s eyes as she spoke. She added a spoonful of herbs from one tin to her cup and then reached for the black tea. “Ben purchased this for when Marmee comes to visit. Would you like this or the willow bark?”
“Does Marmee come over here often?” Bethany asked.
“I think she’s been here about a dozen times since we’ve arrived.”
Ben hung up his wet clothes on the pegs by the front door and joined them at the table. “Tess, I don’t think Beth wants to hear about Marmee’s visits to our home.”
“Actually, I find it interesting she’s been here so many times. I’ll try the willow bark. Maybe I can convince Grandma Moore to add wild mint to the tonic.”
Tessa opened the burlap bag and measured out a spoonful into Bethany’s cup. “She’s trying to marry off Ben. Would you like some honey?”
