Leaving the big bedroom, Aundy wandered into the third bedroom that had obviously belonged to Erik’s parents. A photo of a handsome couple sat on the dresser and their clothes still hung in the closet.
Wishing she knew more about Erik’s family, Aundy returned to the kitchen where additional evidence of her husband’s thoughtfulness and care was evident in the shiny new cook stove, a refrigerator, and the new silverware he purchased just for her. Out on the back porch she’d found a new washing machine that would be a huge help for doing laundry once Aundy could use both hands.
Rinsing out her teacup, Aundy wiped the already clean counter. Tired of sitting around the house, wondering what to do, she was ready to move forward as the owner of Erik’s farm. It had taken her a week to get used to the idea of owning it and the fact that Erik was truly gone.
Grief still weighed heavy on her heart. Although she didn’t know Erik intimately, she knew enough about him to realize she had lost a friend. Someone who would have cherished her, cared for her, and supported her even if love never filled either of their hearts.
It was no secret to her people were wondering what she planned to do with the farm. Returning to Chicago was out of the question. What she really wanted to do was stay and pick up where Erik left off. She might even succeed, because she was just stubborn enough to try and determined enough not to quit.
Aundy had no intention of selling and just as soon as she figured out what she was doing, she planned to send for Ilsa.
Between the two of them, Aundy knew they could make a go of things. At least after she got the cast off her arm and regained full use of both hands. Limited as she was, she could barely comb her hair and dress herself each day.
Nora asked her to stay with them until her arm healed, but Aundy felt like she’d already taken so much from the Nash family. Erik said they were good people and he’d been correct in that statement.
Aundy didn’t know what she would have done without Garrett and Nora’s support and guidance since she arrived in Pendleton. J.B. had been a comfort as well, although he was unable to do much more than offer encouragement and words of wisdom.
In the past few days, Aundy had read all the documents Erik’s attorney gave her multiple times. Erik had truly left her everything he owned.
Relieved the farm was doing well and there was money in the bank, Aundy knew if she lived frugally, even if she never made another penny in income, she’d survive.
Knowing how hard Erik worked to make his farm prosperous, though, Aundy wasn’t content to sit by and do nothing. She wanted to finish what Erik and his parents started, as a way of honoring him, of thanking him, for offering her hope and a future.
Hating the tears that stung her eyes at thoughts of Erik, Aundy hastily wiped them away when a knock sounded at the kitchen door. Pulling it open, Aundy smiled at Dent standing on the step, hat in his hand.
“Morning, Missy,” Dent said. He started calling her Missy somewhere between the first day they met and Erik’s funeral service. Since he was old enough to be her grandfather and had been nothing but kind, Aundy didn’t mind.
“Good morning, Dent. How are you today?”
“Fair to middlin’, but I can’t complain,” he said, stepping inside when Aundy motioned for him to come in.
“May I make you a cup of coffee?” Aundy asked, knowing Dent preferred it to the tea she liked to drink.
“No, thank you. I…um…” Dent said, waiting for Aundy to sit at the kitchen table before taking a seat. “The fellas are wondering what your plans are for the place.”
“Plans? For the farm?” Aundy asked, wanting to make sure she understood what Dent was asking.
“Yes, ma’am. They want to know if you’re gonna sell it or keep it. We’re all a little curious as to what exactly you’re gonna do. It’s almost calving time and Erik usually hired on more help as we headed into spring. We’re shorthanded without him as it is and we really need to hire some help if you’re of a mind to keep the farm going.”
Dent worked for Erik’s parents for years, then for Erik when his folks passed away. He could run the farm with his eyes closed, but there were some young bucks on the payroll who didn’t like the notion of a woman being in charge.
Getting to know Erik’s bride, Dent thought the girl had spirit and sense, a combination he greatly admired.
“I see,” Aundy said, taking a breath and looking Dent in the eye. No time like the present to put her thoughts into action. “I have no intention of selling the farm, Dent. My plans are to continue where Erik left off. Obviously, I have a wealth of information to learn, but I’m willing and able. At least I will be as soon as my arm heals. I was hoping you could teach me what I need to know about the livestock and crops and such.”
“That’s a lot to learn in a short time, Missy,” Dent said, looking at Aundy. He was glad she was staying, even if it was going to annoy some of the men in the area to have a woman running the place. “I’m happy to help you learn, but I’ve also got to be out there supervising the rest of the men. Maybe Garrett and J.B. could be of assistance with some of that learning. Between the three of us, we can teach you what you need to know.”
“Oh, well, I don’t want to be a bother to anyone,” Aundy said, thinking she’d already monopolized enough of Garrett’s time. Besides, she found it hard to concentrate when he was near. Her thoughts grew tangled in his silvery gaze, engaging smile, dark hair, and broad shoulders.
“It won’t be a bother,” Dent said, getting to his feet and walking to the door. “Come out to the barn after lunch and you can have a lesson in getting to know the horses.”
“Okay. I will,” Aundy said, smiling at the foreman who was quickly becoming a friend. Dent was hardworking and loyal, and right now that was more than she dared hope to have.
“Use that telephone thing and call Mrs. Nash. She’ll let you know if Garrett has time to help with your lessons or not. And tell her you need to learn to shoot while you’re at it. There’s plenty of varmints, both two and four-legged, you need to learn to take out if they pose any danger.”
Aundy looked at him with wide blue eyes as he tipped his head, slapped on his hat and hurried out the door.
She’d never even held a gun in her hand before, but she supposed if she wanted to become a true Westerner, she’d have to put aside her fears and embrace her new lifestyle.
Sitting down at the desk in the front room, Aundy wrote a long letter to her sister, describing what had transpired in the last week and asking Ilsa to come to Pendleton as soon as possible. Knowing spring balls and parties would keep demand for her aunt’s creations high, she assumed Ilsa probably wouldn’t be able to get away anytime in the near future.
Finishing the letter, Aundy picked up a book on animal husbandry she began reading days ago. The information in the book made her take stock of how much she really needed to learn. Absorbing a chapter at a time, she was feeling a little more confident in her abilities to be a help on the farm.
Making herself a simple lunch of bread and jam with a slice of cheese, Aundy tried to eat slowly, taking time to savor another cup of tea.
Washing her plate and cup, she wiped the table, glanced at the clock and started out the door when the phone jangled on the wall.
The sound still startled her even though she should be used to it by now. It seemed at least one person called every day, whether it was Nora, the doctor, or Pastor Whitting.
“Hello,” Aundy said, speaking into the phone on the kitchen wall.
“Aundy, dear, how are you today?” Nora asked in her usual cheery voice.
“I’m fine, Nora. How are things at the ranch?”
“Wonderful. Our first two calves dropped last night. You should come over and see them,” Nora said, realizing Aundy probably wouldn’t know what she meant. “That means two of our cows had their babies.”
“Thank you for clarifying,” Aundy said, the smile on her face evident in her voice. “I didn’t think you’d really drop t
he 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 said, 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. “Now, 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 said, noticing Dent walking toward the house through the kitchen window. “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 said, hanging up the phone and opening the kitchen door before Dent had a chance to knock.
“Ready for your lesson, Missy?” Dent asked, tipping his hat as Aundy walked out the door and down the back porch steps.
“Yes, sir,” Aundy said, hoping he wouldn’t notice how afraid she was of the big animals. Following the foreman in the barn, Aundy listened as he discussed different types of horses and what purpose each served. Eric had the draft horses, Hans and Henry, that ran away with the wagon, as well as another big team Dent called Nut and Bolt.
“Nut is a little on the wild side, so be sure you give him plenty of room,” Dent said, watching as Aundy stepped further away from the horse when he snorted her direction. Pointing out several of the stock horses in the pasture behind the barn, Dent explained Erik kept the horses for his men to ride. Asking questions about the different breeds and coloring, Dent was impressed with her ability to quickly absorb the information he was sharing.
Standing 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 said, scratching 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 said, holding a cautious hand out to the horse. Deciding she liked the new female in the barn, Bell turned liquid eyes to Aundy and offered a soft whicker.
“I think she likes you,” Dent said, motioning for Aundy to continue. “Go on and pet her, she won’t bite you.” He refrained from mentioning that she not only bit but refused to let any of the men ride her.
Aundy rubbed Bell on her nose and patted her neck. The horse moved forward in her stall and leaned her head against Aundy 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 too well to any of the fellers. Guess she just missed having a woman around.”
“As soon as I’m able, we’ll have to rectify that situation,” Aundy said, scratching Bell’s neck before she and Dent moved through the rest of the barn.
By the time Dent returned her to the house, Aundy discovered she owned milk cows, several pigs, and a hen house full of chickens.
“Thank you for that introduction to the livestock, Dent. I very much appreciate it,” Aundy said as they walked across the barnyard toward the house. “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. Not at all. If you’re sure you want to gather the eggs, just go in there of a morning, toss out their feed then snatch the eggs before the chickens are any the wiser. Watch out for that little rooster. If he gives you any trouble, let me know. He’s got a pretty big attitude for such a little chicken.”
Aundy laughed, which made Dent smile, and she nodded her head. “I’ll keep my eye on him. I’ll be going over to the Nash’s for dinner, so don’t worry if you don’t see me around for an hour or two.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Dent said, tipping his hat and walking back to the barn. He’d wait until after supper tonight to let the guys know Aundy was keeping the farm and staying. He figured a few of the hands wouldn’t like that news, but they better get used to it. If he read her intentions correctly, Aundy would be right in the thick of things once her arm healed, if not before.
Hastening into the house, Aundy decided she smelled like the barnyard and wanted to take a bath before going to the Nash’s. Filling the tub, she took a quick bath and washed her hair, finding it a challenge to accomplish with only one arm.
Getting out of the tub, she 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 when she only had 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 seemed to always 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. Leaving her bedroom, she grabbed her coat from a peg by the kitchen door and hurried to the front room.
Opening the door, she was surprised to see Garrett standing on the front porch, holding his hat in his hand.
“Mrs. Erickson,” Garrett said, smiling broadly as he took in Aundy’s fresh scent and glowing cheeks. Although he knew it was highly improper to think it, he wanted to pull the combs out of her still damp hair and bury his hands in the waving golden mass.
For a fleeting moment, he was glad the cast on her arm kept her from putting up all that glorious hair. Trying to regain his focus, he looked into her face and felt himself drawn into the depths of her sky-blue eyes.
Diverting his attention from her face and hair seemed the best course of action, so he looked down, admiring the fancy stitching on the hem of Aundy’s skirt.
Surprised by the beautiful clothes she wore, he wouldn’t have expected someone who worked in a factory and traveled out west as a mail-order bride to be so well dressed. His mother mentioned something about Aundy’s sister being a talented seamstress. Maybe she’d added the elaborate embellishments to the woman’s wardrobe. “Ma said you were coming for dinner and asked me to fetch you.”
“I’m fairly certain you have better things to do than escort me, Mr. Nash,” Aundy said, realizing Garrett spent a lot of time helping her since Erik’s accident. She knew he had his own ranch to run.
Garrett’s silvery gaze met her blue eyes with a playful grin. “I reckon I might, but when Ma barks an order, we all jump to carry it out.”
He refused to admit he would have volunteered for the job if his mother had asked someone else to get Aundy.
For reasons he didn’t want to examine, he looked forward to time spent with the plucky widow. Garrett could spend all day listening to her lyrical voice and never grow tired of the sound, although she wasn’t one given to idle chatter.
“So it would seem,” Aundy said, as her neighbor’s light-hearted comment made her lips turn up in a smile.
“You ready to go?” Garrett asked, taking Aundy’s coat from her hand and helping her slip it on.
“I believe so,” Aundy said, stepping outside while Garrett pulled the front door closed behind her. Not seeing a wagon or buggy outside, just Garrett’s saddle horse, she looked around, wondering how he planned to take her to the ranch.
“Before you get too excited,” Garrett said, trying not to grin at Aundy’s confused look, “I thought I’d show you how to hitch a horse to the buggy and take it to the ranch then I’ll bring you home after dinner and reclaim Jester.”
“Okay,” Aundy said, following Garrett as he took Jester’s reins and led the animal toward the barn.
Aundy watched, taking mental notes as Garrett described each step in the process of hitching the horse. The animal stood
quietly during the entire process.
“Erik’s horses are well trained. You always need to be watchful of any animal, but Erik’s won’t intentionally cause you harm. Even ol’ Nut will behave as long as Bolt is close by.”
“Okay,” Aundy said, standing so close to Garrett, she could smell his unique, manly scent. Combined with the warmth radiating from him and the way he kept looking at her with those silvery eyes, she found it impossible to pay attention to his detailed instruction. Taking a sudden step back, she would have tripped over a feed bucket if Garrett hadn’t grabbed her good arm and pulled her forward against his chest.
Overwhelmed with strange emotions and sensations, Aundy kept her gaze down when Garrett dropped his hand and stepped away.
“Thank you,” she said, embarrassed. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s quite alright,” Garrett said, trying to gather his thoughts. They’d scattered every direction the moment he touched Aundy. He felt sparks work their way from his fingers all the way up his arm. “Shall we head over to Nash’s Folly?”
“Nash’s Folly?” Aundy asked as Garrett assisted her onto the buggy seat.
“That’s the official name of the ranch,” Garrett said as he directed the horse out of the barnyard and down the lane toward the road. “You mean Ma hasn’t told you that story?”
“No, she hasn’t,” Aundy said, her curiosity piqued by Garrett’s statement. “Why don’t you tell me?”
“When Ma and Pops arrived in Pendleton, they came out here and saw this land and Ma was humming the hymn My Jesus, I love Thee. Do you know it?”
When Aundy shook her head, Garrett began singing the hymn in a deep baritone that made Aundy blink in surprise as his rich voice filled the afternoon air with perfect pitched notes.
My Jesus, I love Thee
I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign…
“She and Pops thought God’s grace led them here to Pendleton and they were going to make the best of it. They declared they were ‘resigning their follies’ and starting a new life. Pops decided to call the ranch Nash’s Folly so none of us would forget their promise. We’re still human and make mistakes, but that story helps keep us on the straight and narrow,” Garrett said, turning to look at Aundy with a devilish grin. “That, and the threat of Ma taking a switch to us.”
Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats - Book 1) Page 6
