The Widower's Bride: A Golden Valley Story (The Brides of Birch Creek Book 3)

by Laura D. Bastian

  He would make sure to beg her forgiveness tonight when he saw her. She would come to the room to sleep, he was sure of it. And in the quiet of the night, he’d tell her he was sorry and thank her again for what she was doing for his family.

  ***

  Grace looked out over the field as she took a drink and rested her leg for a moment. She hadn’t gotten as much planted as he had, but she was impressed with what she did have done. The hardest part was just the walking back and forth as she threw the seed and then the return pass where she raked over the seeds to cover them with soil.

  She checked in the sack to find out how much wheat was still there. Hopefully she wasn’t planting it too close together, but she’d done what he said he did to plant. There was one more full sack back home, but she’d have to get to it tomorrow.

  By the end of the week, maybe Jed would feel well enough he could ride the horse out to the field and show her how to do the water. Unless they were lucky enough to get rain.

  She had not experienced a rain storm out here yet, but the look of the clouds reminded her of what the rain back home in New York had been like. Grace looked at the sky and tried to judge from the position of the sun what time it might be. She’d left the house right after instructing Missy on what to do for lunch.

  Grace had kept her plans to herself, not wanting Missy to tell Jed where she’d gone off to, but just let Missy know she was going to do some chores and that the girl was in charge of her papa and the little ones.

  Missy had giggled at the idea of being in charge of her papa, but had gone back to playing with Lottie and Milo on the floor.

  Grace figured she had at least one more hour’s worth of work time before she’d need to head back to the house. The smoked venison in the cellar would be easy enough to throw in a pot with some potatoes and carrots for a quick stew. When Jed was better, he’d probably need to go hunting again.

  After another quick massage to her leg to warm it up for more work, Grace began spreading the wheat seed once more, enjoying the fact that the weight of the sack on her shoulder was getting less and less. She covered the seed over with the soil and as she finished the last row, a shadow fell across her.

  Grace looked up to see dark clouds had gathered. She hoped it meant rain, but at the same time wished she’d managed to do the last of the field as well. Tomorrow, if she could manage, she’d bring the last sack and plant the last portion of the field. Hopefully she had spread it equally enough there would be enough seed to fill the remainder of the field. She didn’t want Jed to be upset with her for doing it wrong.

  If he sent her away for ruining their chances of a good crop, she’d be devastated. She couldn’t go home to her brother. Maybe she could go on to California and find someone there who needed child care or she could even try to get hired on as a cook or wash-woman at some boarding house. Grace prayed she wasn’t doing it wrong. She wanted to stay here with Jed and his children. She wanted to feel useful.

  As she looked over what she’d accomplished before picking up the shovel and rake to return home, her heart swelled with pride. She never thought she’d do something of this magnitude. And knowing that her bad leg hadn’t prevented her from doing this and caring for Jed and his family back home helped her feel like maybe she would have a chance.

  ***

  Jed was beginning to worry. He’d asked Missy where Grace was, requesting she send her in to talk to him, but Missy said that Grace was out doing chores.

  He waited for a while, expecting to hear her come into the house after a bit, but there was nothing.

  “Missy,” Jed called. “Has Grace come back inside yet?”

  Missy came into his room and Lottie followed close behind.

  “No, Papa. She is still working.”

  “Can you go see if she needs any help?” Jed asked. “Bring Milo in to me first, before you go outside.”

  Lottie followed Missy out of his room, then the three children came back inside with Missy holding Milo under the arms and around the chest as he squirmed. Then when the boy saw Jed, he stopped squirming and toddled over to him. Jed lifted his son onto his lap and the boy snuggled close.

  “I go too,” Lottie said.

  Jed nodded and the two girls left his room, then he heard the door open and close. He waited for a while, preparing his apology for when Grace came inside, but a crack of thunder had him looking out his window. Rain was always welcome, he just wished he had his field all planted.

  Long minutes passed and Grace still hadn’t come into the house, and neither had his girls. Soon, the door opened and Jed heard Lottie’s voice holler. “It’s raining, Papa!”

  She came into the room with signs of raindrops on her shoulders and soon the door opened again.

  “Grace? Missy?” Jed called out.

  “It’s me, Papa. I can’t find Grace out there.”

  “Did you look in the shed with the cow and the horse?”

  “Yes, she’s not in there. And she’s not by the pigs either. I checked by the wash line and it’s empty.”

  “Did Grace tell you where she was going?” Jed asked.

  “To do chores,” Missy said. “Grace said I was in charge.”

  Jed tried to stand up, but Milo and Lottie were holding him tight with the fear of children in a thunderstorm He pulled Lottie away and placed Milo on the bed.

  “I need to go look for Grace.”

  “You can’t get out of bed, Papa,” Lottie said. “Grace said no.”

  Jed shook his head. “She said no, huh?”

  “Said you have to get better.”

  “I’m starting to get better,” Jed said as he sat up straight with his feet over the edge of the bed. “I can walk, I think I just need a little help. Can you go get me Momma’s broom?”

  “You can’t sweep,” Lottie said. “That makes you tired.”

  Jed chuckled. “I’m not going to sweep. I’m going to use it to help me walk.” He looked at his girls and Lottie eventually nodded then left the room and he heard the sound of the broom dragging on the floor behind her as she returned to him.

  As Jed steadied the broom handle with the bristles up in preparation of trying to walk, the door opened again and the girls ran out of the room.

  “Grace!” Missy called.

  “Papa’s gonna clean!” Lottie said.

  “No I’m not,” Jed yelled out to her. “I’m just trying to walk.”

  Missy yelled back to him. “You can’t walk. Grace said no.”

  Grace’s laugh lit up the room and Jed sat back down on the bed just as Grace entered the room, completely soaked through.

  “Where were you?” Jed asked.

  “Outside,” Grace said, looking at her clothes.

  “The girls couldn’t find you,” Jed accused.

  “They found me now,” Grace said, patting Missy’s back. “Thanks for keeping him from walking.” She looked at the broom. “Or cleaning.”

  Missy took the broom from his hands and left the room with Lottie right behind her.

  Grace moved over to the bed to get Milo, but her limp was even more pronounced.

  “Leave Milo,” Jed said. “You need to dry off and he’d just be in the way.”

  She met his eyes and nodded, then turned to leave the room. Jed studied her and could see she had dirt on the hem of her skirt. Much more than she would have gotten just doing things around the yard. Her boots were gone, since she’d probably removed them if she’d walked very far in the mud.

  “Come back when you’re dry. I need to talk to you.”

  Grace met his eyes for a moment as if not sure she wanted to, then nodded once and left the room. He waited for a few minutes, wondering if she would come back, but he soon heard the sound of her footsteps approaching the room. Her leg must really be hurting her, because she moved slowly and the expression on her face was one of pain.

  “Where were you?” Jed asked again, this time softly. He pointed to the chair beside the bed, hoping she’d take the of
fer to sit down

  Grace studied him for a bit. She walked over to the chair and sat down, giving a sigh of relief once she’d taken the weight off her leg. After a few more moments, she finally spoke. “I went to try to plant the wheat.”

  “What? Jed asked. “On your own? Are you crazy?”

  Grace leaned her head back against the chair’s back and sighed deeply. “Who else would have gone with me?”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  Grace looked at him. “Neither did you.”

  “Of course I did,” Jed said. “That’s my job as the man of the house. I have to take care of you all. That crop will provide us enough money we can buy sheep to get ahead even more.”

  “If it’s your job, then wouldn’t that make it my job now too?” Grace asked, studying him. “Isn’t that what marriage is about? Helping your spouse through sickness and health? Providing for the other? Making sure we all have a chance to survive and succeed?”

  Grace sat up straighter, almost leaning forward as she studied him. “I know this is an odd marriage, but oh well. I agreed to come help you with your children, and if they need the crops and the garden to survive, and you aren’t able to do it for a while, then that would be my job just as much as it is yours. And if you don’t want me to do it, then that’s fine. When you are well enough to run this place on your own, you can send me away.”

  “Send you away?” Jed asked, stunned at her words. “I would never send you away. I need you here, Grace.”

  “I know I’m needed to care for the children. And I’ll do that, but don’t you tell me I can’t help you when I want to help you. If I needed help someday, wouldn’t you assist me? Wouldn’t you step in and take over something I wasn’t able to do for a time?”

  “Of course I would,” Jed said.

  “Then why is me helping you with the wheat any different?” Grace asked, her voice rising. “I listened to everything you said. I planted it, then covered it over. I still have one more sack left, and less than a third of what you didn’t get planted left to go. I think it should make it all the way. If I did wrong, and the crop doesn’t grow, then you’ll have grounds there to get rid of me if you want.”

  “Grace,” Jed said. “Stop it.” He leaned forward and placed his hands on hers where they rested in her lap. “I am not going to send you away. We need you.”

  Grace looked up at him as if surprised he was holding her hands. He realized he hadn’t really done anything much to show her he cared and it was time he started to let her know she was important to them.

  “I need you here,” he repeated. “You are a wonderful mother to my children.” He knew he should have added that he needed her to be a companion and friend to him. But he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea. He wasn’t ready for that yet. Losing Lizzie was still too fresh to consider moving on.

  “Thank you,” Grace said. “I would miss them terribly if I had to leave. I have discovered I am happy here with your family.” She prepared to move away, but Jed held her hand, hoping she’d stay.

  “I’d like to help you with your leg, if you’ll let me,” he said after a moment.

  “Help?” Grace asked.

  “I can rub it good for you,” Jed said. “I think I might even have a better chance at working it at the right angle. Will you let me?”

  “You don’t have to do that. I can work out the aches later.”

  Jed squeezed her hand. “Weren’t you the one who just told me that sometimes spouses help each other out? I mean what kind of husband would I be if I didn’t help my wife? Besides, you took care of my leg. I think it’s only fair if I take care of yours.”

  Grace shook her head in exasperation. “You are using my own words against me.”

  “Of course I am,” Jed said, feeling her giving in just a little. “I know it pains you, and I really would like to help you. Please let me be useful.”

  Grace studied him for a moment, then nodded. “I have a liniment. I’ll go get it.”

  “Hold on,” Jed said. “That’s what children are for. To help out.” He grinned widely and called to Missy. When the girl came in, Jed said, “Grace has something she needs you to fetch for her.”

  Grace rolled her eyes at Jed, but turned and smiled at Missy. “It’s a little bottle on the counter over there.”

  Missy grabbed it and brought it over. “Anything else?”

  Jed reached for the bottle and shook his head. “Just close the door and keep track of Milo and Lottie for a few minutes. I’m going to help Grace make her leg feel better. Then you can help her make dinner in a little while.”

  Missy nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Jed held the liniment bottle up and unscrewed the lid. “How much? And I think if you moved to the head of the bed and placed your leg on my lap, that might work best.”

  Grace’s face blushed again. “I can do that myself, Jed.”

  “I know, Grace. But you shouldn’t have to. I’m going to help you, and you’re going to let me.”

  Grace closed her eyes then gave a defeated sigh. She moved to the top of the bed, leaning her back against the head board and gingerly placing her leg on his lap.

  He removed the stockings that were still a little damp from the rainstorm she’d walked through and marveled at her trust in him. He could tell the bone had been damaged just from the angle of her leg, and he knew that she had been through so much in her life because of this. Yet she still had the most patient and loving personality. He would do everything he could to be worthy of her.

  As he began to work the liniment in her calf muscles, she breathed a sigh of pleasure at the massage to her sore leg. She kept her eyes closed, and Jed allowed himself to study her lovely face as she relaxed while he worked his thumbs over the fleshy part of her calves. He listened for any hint of discomfort, but as he worked, she fell limp and was soon asleep.

  He had worked her too hard and she had never complained. Admiration bubbled up inside his center, and when it touched his heart, he was sure that admiration was only the beginning of his feelings for her.

  How had he been so lucky?

  There would be a lot of hard times ahead for both of them, but together, he was certain they could weather any storm.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Grace couldn’t believe the difference in how well Jed was doing. He’d been gaining strength daily and by the second day after the rainstorm, he was feeling well enough to insist he could go out and check on the field of wheat.

  Grace put her hands on her hips and stared him down.

  “Under no circumstances are you going to ride the horse or walk out there. I’m going with you. If you want to see it or teach me better or need something changed, I have to be there. So you’ll ride in the wagon with me.”

  “If you say so, Grace,” Jed had said with a smile. “You’ll just have to help hook up the wagon.”

  “I can do that,” Grace had replied. Then less than a half hour later, once he had finished showing her what to do, she smiled again at her accomplishments. They put the children in the wagon bed and brought the last sack of wheat. She would show him how thickly she’d spread the seed and make sure things were all right that way. Then he would decide if it was necessary to divert the water to the field or if there would be enough moisture from the rain storm to get it started.

  The clouds had come and gone over the last twenty four hours and it was possible it would rain again. She prayed it would and left it to the heavens above to answer it or not. She would do what she could do, and then trust God to do the rest.

  Once Jed was seated on the wagon bench and the children were secured in the back, Grace climbed up onto the wagon as well. She nodded to Jed but instead of him flicking the reins to get the horse to move, he passed them over to her.

  “I believe you should take us out to show us your handy work.”

  “Are you sure?” Grace asked. “I’ve never driven a wagon before.”

  “You never ran a farm or pla
nted a field either, but looks like you’ve done a mighty fine job of that.” Jed placed his hand on her knee and Grace’s body ignited in flame. “I trust you completely, Grace. Besides, you might as well learn how it’s done and show your girls how capable and strong of a mother they have.”

  Grace looked into his eyes, seeing the respect he had for her. She hadn’t expected anything like that when she’d agreed to marry him only a week ago. She couldn’t believe how blessed she was to have things turn out so well.

  Grace took the reins and after an encouraging nod from him, she flicked them gently and used the word she’d heard him say when he’d brought her home from Birch Creek on their wedding day.

  The horse moved easily, and Grace soon felt as if she would be just fine driving the horse. She followed the path that had been worn down by Jed and the wagon out to the field. She knew Jed was watching her closely as well as studying his field. When they reached the section where she had started planting, she pointed out what she had done and he nodded.

  “Looks good to me.”

  Grace continued moving the wagon forward until she reached the section where she’d run out of seed. She handed him the reins and turned to look at him.

  “Now you promise you’ll stay put and not try walking around out here yet?”

  Jed nodded. “As much as I hate to let you do it alone, I promise.”

  “Missy, can you pass out the rake to me?” Grace walked to the back of the wagon to get the sack of wheat. She hefted it out, and put some scoops of it inside the bag she’d made to hold the seed in a way that made it easier to reach in.

  The family watched her from the wagon and after she did three yards, she turned and looked at Jed. “This is how much seed I used.”

  Jed nodded. “Pretty much how I would have done it.”

  Grace took the rake she’d used as a walking aid and began covering the seeds. “Then I did this.”

  Jed smiled widely at her when she looked up. “Looks great. I don’t think I’d have done it any differently. Do you want the girls to get down and help you?”