by Linda Ford
She prepared a meal, talking to Evan about Spot the dog as she did so. She hoped and prayed he would begin to see how a boy should act.
It was customary at the ranch to expect company after church. She always prepared enough to feed a crowd but things were different here. It wasn’t her house. Would Hugh invite people over? Or would it only be the four of them again?
The sound of people exiting the church brought her back to the window. Finally. She wished she could have been there, heard how Hugh explained about Evan and her, and listened to his deep voice. From the first time she’d heard him speak, his voice had rumbled into her very soul pointing out places she needed to turn over to God’s sovereignty. What would he have said today? Would his words have encouraged her? To do what?
She laughed as the entire Marshall family headed for the manse. Grandfather followed on their heels. She could tell that he scolded the others and wondered what he said.
Dawson led the pack exerting his position as the eldest and stopped at the front door, waiting for them to crowd around him. She delayed until he knocked before she opened the door.
“Hi, Dawson.” She greeted each of the others. The cold bit right through her. “You all best step inside before I freeze.”
They trooped in, crowding the walls of the little living room.
Sammy, who was Logan’s seven-year-old adopted son, and Mattie, who was Dawson’s six-year-old daughter, went to the kitchen doorway and stared at the little boy huddling in the corner.
Annie followed on their heels, intent on guarding Evan against the shock of her large, noisy family. “Evan, honey, these people belong to me. My brothers and their wives.” She introduced each of them. And then the children. As they were introduced the adults stood in the doorway and said hello then stepped back. The children might have stayed there, staring, but their parents drew them to their sides. Grandfather made his way to his armchair by the kitchen stove and sank into it.
She faced the rest of the family. “What can I do for you?” Did they expect her to feed them? “I’ll make dinner for you all next Sunday—” That might be too soon for Evan’s peace of mind. “Or soon.” Hopefully Hugh wouldn’t object but hadn’t he said she could invite anyone she wanted?
Her brothers all spoke at once and their wives tried to make themselves heard.
Dawson held up his hand to signal silence. “Seeing as Pa isn’t here, I will speak on behalf of the family. Annie, we all agree that this is a foolish decision. Change your mind and come on home.”
She looked from one to the other, saw their love and concern and knew it was genuine. “In four weeks’ time I expect you to all come to my wedding.”
Hugh stepped in just in time to catch her words and their gazes crashed together across the room. She wasn’t sure that she read his expression correctly but if she had to guess, she would say it held a great deal of promise and she drew support from the thought.
Dawson appealed to Grandfather. “Can’t you talk some sense into her?”
Grandfather shrugged. “I like it here. And Annie is doing a fine job as I’ve already said. I think little Evan likes her. Don’t you?” he asked the boy.
Evan watched the proceedings from the protection of the veil of his hair and shrank back at Grandfather’s question.
Then to Annie’s utter surprise he nodded his head.
She turned back to Hugh. “He nodded,” she whispered.
He came to her side where he could see his son. “He did? That’s wonderful. A real answer to prayer.” He stayed beside her, as if to support her against her family’s onslaught. “I can’t say how much I appreciate all that Annie has done to help me.”
His praise filled her to the brim. She dare not look at him and clasped her hands together to keep from hugging him. He had admitted he needed her. It was all she wanted.
“Would any of you like coffee before you head back to the ranch?” she asked.
Dawson shook his head. “We need to get home. I believe Kate has prepared dinner for us.” He spoke to Hugh. “I trust you will bring Annie out soon.”
She bristled. “Since when do I need someone to take me to the ranch? I’ve been going back and forth on my own for years.” She jammed her fists to her hips. “Suddenly I need someone to take me? Suddenly I can’t make my own decisions?”
Her brothers had the good sense to look a little uncomfortable. Sadie, Kate and Isabelle chuckled.
Sadie looked about. “Where is Jeannie?” The three-year-old was not in the room.
Annie turned to check the kitchen and saw the child. She held up a hand to signal quiet. Logan and Sadie tiptoed forward. Jeannie sat on the floor close to Evan, chatting up a storm. Evan watched her without speaking. Joy and sadness intermingled in Annie. It was good to see him allowing Jeannie to sit so close. It would be even better to hear Evan replying. However, Annie couldn’t be sure Evan was able to talk.
A few minutes later as her family left, Annie overheard Sadie. “Someday you fellows will have to admit Annie is all grown up.”
Dawson grunted. “She’ll always be my little sister.”
“I just don’t want to see her make a mistake and ruin her life,” Logan said.
His words tugged at Annie’s heart. She had no intention of ruining her life which was why she had chosen this direction. A marriage based on need would leave her heart whole and ensure security.
Silence filled the room with her family gone. Hugh still stood close to her, his presence threatening to overwhelm her. She inhaled the scent of wood and smoke, with a hint of some kind of spice that settled right into her bones. “How was church?”
He chuckled. “Let’s just say there were mixed responses to my announcements regarding this past week. Many came up to tell me how glad they were that I’d found Evan but I heard a few sniffs of disapproval when I said you were my housekeeper.” He sounded faintly apologetic. “I wasn’t sure how else to explain it.”
“That’s fine.” Housekeeper? Was that all she was? How else would she explain her present situation? Wife in waiting? Prospective wife on trial? She shrugged. All that mattered was what happened in what was left of four weeks. “Dinner is ready.”
“Smells good. I’ll change and be right back.”
She wanted to tell him to keep wearing the black suit. It looked good on him. But of course he wanted to keep it in pristine condition. She hurried to the kitchen and set the table. As she prepared to serve the hot pot, he returned wearing an off-white collarless shirt in a fabric that looked so soft she wished she could touch it.
Realizing she stared at the poor man, she waved him toward the table. “The meal is on.” She’d previously filled a bowl for Evan so it could cool.
Grandfather eased himself out of his soft chair and hobbled to the table.
She watched him anxiously. When he was seated, she glanced at Hugh. She let him see her concern, found strength in the way he held her gaze so steadily.
After he’d asked the blessing and the food had been served, she turned to Grandfather. “Tell me what Hugh said.”
“You want the whole sermon?” Grandfather said with a huge dose of disbelief.
“Mostly I want to know what he said about Evan and me.”
Grandfather shrugged. “Didn’t say a whole lot.”
She leaned closer. “He said something. I want to know what.”
“So ask him.”
She turned to Hugh though she would have liked to hear how Grandfather viewed Hugh’s remarks. “I’m asking.”
He flashed a quick smile. “I just gave the facts. That I had located Evan. That he hadn’t been treated well and lived in fear. I said I hoped to find an older woman who would settle for a businesslike marriage but in the meantime, you and your grandfather were living here and you were taking care of Evan.”
“Thanks.” She wondered if he caught the edge of sarcasm in that one word then gave her attention to her meal. He certainly never left any room for possibilities in those few words
.
He spoke again. “Oh by the way, your friend Miss Morrison asked after you. I said she was welcome to visit you anytime. I understood she would come by today.”
Her mood improved greatly at the news of Carly’s visit.
Grandfather groaned. “You two get together and there is always some kind of mischief.”
“I beg to differ. We just like to have a little fun.”
“Uh-huh. Well, let me tell you.” He spoke to Hugh. “There was the time Annie and Carly—”
“Grandfather, please.” There had been a few foolish episodes. She didn’t want Hugh to know of them. “We’ve both grown up since those early days.” She couldn’t look at Hugh. Didn’t want to see his expression. One, she felt certain, that would be full of disapproval. Why did Grandfather want to tell about those things and not all the caring, helpful things she’d done for the family? She jumped up. She had the perfect way to make him remember the good and forget the not-so-good. “I made that cinnamon coffee cake you like so much.”
Grandfather perked right up. “You’re a girl after my own heart. You’d do any man proud.”
That was more like it. She served generous slices for everyone and only when she put the dessert in front of Hugh did she finally allow herself to meet his gaze.
He watched her with a measuring study.
She gave him look for look but felt like she encountered a brick wall. He’d shut himself off to her. Her insides curled into themselves. Had the progress of the last four days been lost because of a teasing comment by her grandfather?
She sat and bent over her own dessert, suddenly unable to think of anything to say.
A knock came to the back door. She was about to answer it but this was Hugh’s house and she sat back and waited for him to do so. He rose and opened the door.
“Is Annie here?”
Annie jumped up. “Carly. Am I ever glad to see you.” She hugged her friend. “Have you eaten? Would you like to join us for dessert?”
Carly sniffed. “Cinnamon cake?”
“Good guess.”
Carly laughed. “Your famous coffee cake if I’m not mistaken.”
So overjoyed to see her friend that she couldn’t stop grinning or hold back the happy laughter, Annie drew Carly toward the table.
Hugh brought in another chair from the living room and put it beside Grandfather.
Carly thanked him then turned to Grandfather. “Hello, Mr. Marshall.” She winked at Annie.
Annie recognized the teasing tone and waited for the reaction.
“Hello to you, Miss Morrison.”
“Miss Morrison, is it? I thought we knew each other better than that.”
“I’ll use your name when you stop calling me Mr. Marshall.”
Carly laughed and gave the older man a sideways hug. “You know you’re my favorite grandfather even if I have to borrow you from Annie. Sometimes I don’t think she deserves you.”
Annie laughed. She liked Carly’s teasing. It took away the sting of Hugh saying he wished he could find someone else. “Grandfather knows he’s well off to have me for his granddaughter.”
Carly just shrugged. “I don’t mind sharing with you.”
Both Hugh and Grandfather chuckled.
Annie tried to think if Hugh laughed at anything she said and couldn’t remember at the moment.
“And who is this handsome young fellow in the corner?” Carly asked.
“My son, Evan,” Hugh said, obviously pleased by her comment.
It wasn’t as if Annie hadn’t showered affection on the boy. She sighed. And why was she being so critical? Just because of a careless remark from Hugh?
They finished their dessert. Grandfather moved to his chair.
Hugh leaned back, suddenly relaxed. “Is there any more coffee?”
“I’ll make some.” She did so and served him a cupful. Grandfather refused one.
“As soon as the dishes are done, I have a project,” she told Carly.
Carly pretended to pout. “Do I have to help with dishes?”
“Of course not. You can sit and watch me do them.”
Carly laughed hard and Annie joined her. Both of them knew neither of them would ever sit and watch the other work.
Carly spoke for both when she said, “I would as soon walk barefoot outside on a day like this as sit by and not help you when you need it.”
Annie wondered if Carly’s words should serve as a warning. It was comforting as well as frightening to think how she would need Carly in four weeks if Hugh chose a different woman.
He wouldn’t, she vowed. He’d see he couldn’t do better. And she would certainly keep her heart tightly wrapped up so if he did, she would not leave a portion of it behind.
Evan watched them with wide-eyed wonder. He ducked his head as soon as he realized Annie looked at him. She shifted her attention to Hugh. Why did he look so attentive? As if seeking for reasons to find fault.
She smiled gently. Silently promising he would not find any cause to disapprove. She knew many saw her and Carly as wild simply because Carly often wore trousers and rode as hard as any man. Little did they know how hard she worked to keep the Morrison ranch going. As to the riding, well, Annie knew how much fun it was to race a horse at a full gallop and feel the wind in her ears, tugging her hair into a mane to match the horse’s. No one thought it risky or unseeming when her brothers did the same thing.
She and Carly had washed the dishes while she mused about her life. “Hugh, will you watch Evan while Carly and I do something?”
“He’s my son. Of course I’ll watch him.” He looked at Evan. “Maybe I’ll read to him.”
Annie stared at the look that crossed Evan’s face. As if Hugh’s suggestion was unwelcome. “Have you read to him before?”
“Read to him last night.”
“What did you read?”
He looked away, as if greatly interested in the view out the window. She knew he only meant to avoid looking at her.
He cleared his throat. “I might have read him my sermon.”
She stared openmouthed.
Carly whooped then covered her mouth, trying to stifle her amusement.
Annie shook her head. Had she heard wrong? “You read him your sermon?”
He nodded, his gaze still on the window.
Amusement rushed unbridled from her and she chuckled. She looked at Carly and they both laughed, not even trying to hide the fact.
Hugh finally brought his gaze to her, his look full of self-mockery.
She sobered instantly as their gazes collided. Felt something grab her heart in a grip as firm and secure as—she remembered being very young and having a hard time staying upright on an icy path. Her pa had taken her hand and held her so she wouldn’t fall. That’s how her heart felt. She knew she would have to analyze this thought further. Safe and secure—wasn’t that what she wanted in the marriage she hoped to gain? Safe and secure without the risk of her heart being involved. And yet, even without falling in love, it was her heart that responded.
“It was a very nice sermon,” Carly said, her voice round with laughter.
He looked sheepish, his gaze never leaving Annie’s. “But not for a four-year-old?”
Carly pretended to look thoughtful. “I’m just guessing here but I’m thinking many of the concepts would have been over his head.”
He grinned. “Not to mention that even at thirty minutes, it’s a long time for a child to concentrate.”
Annie told herself to look away from his smiling eyes, the deep grooves in his cheeks, the brown eyes so dark she could lose herself in them.
Carly nudged her. “Didn’t you say you had something for us to do?”
“Of course. Come to my room.” She led the way.
“Something to do besides stare at the man,” Carly said half under her breath as soon as they were out of earshot of the kitchen.
“I wasn’t staring!”
“And my name isn’t Carly Morrison.”
Carly had a good look around her bedroom. Picked up the picture of Annie’s parents. “It looks to me like you’ve moved right in.”
“I intend to stay and I’m getting just a little tired of telling everyone that. Hugh advertised for a woman to marry him and provide a mother for Evan and here I am.”
“I’m guessing you aren’t what he had in mind.”
Her friend’s assessment stung. “Why do you say that?”
Carly shrugged and pretended to look disinterested. “It would seem to me that a man who wants a marriage that doesn’t involve love would do better to find some old maid who is willing to settle for anything. That isn’t you.” She gave Annie a direct look. “You need to stop running from love.”
Annie shook her head. “I’m not running from anything.”
Carly flopped on the bed. “So you say but Annie, I see the way you two look at each other. If you don’t want to fall in love with the man, I suggest you pack your bags and return to the ranch this very afternoon.”
“I am not going to fall in love.” She ground out each word.
Carly shrugged. “I promise not to say I told you so.” She sprang to her feet. “Now what is this project?”
Annie gladly changed the subject. “I want to make a dog.”
Carly hooted. “I don’t think you have that ability.”
“A stuffed dog.” She told about Spot and how she hoped Evan would learn some lessons from the stories she made up about a pretend dog. “I have some fabric here. I don’t know why I even packed it except it was in my drawer at the ranch.” It was white flannel and would do quite nicely. The girls cut and fashioned a dog with a brown spot over one of its black button eyes and stuffed it with some rags Annie had found in one of the kitchen cupboards.
They laughed a lot as they worked, making the dog do silly things.
“You really care about Evan, don’t you?”
