by Danni Roan
Orville pulled the younger man along toward the barn with him a soft chuckle on his lips. “Show her you want to start out right,” Old Mr. Hampton said, bending and picking a hand full of blue bonnets that had sprouted along the barn. “Take her some flowers and ask what you can do to help her get comfortable. She don’t know you any better than you know her, so I’d expect a few bumps in the road, but don’t give up.”
Darwin nodded his determination, taking the flowers from Orville and turning toward his home.
“You might want to take her trunk as well,” Orville called after him with a sharp laugh.
Darwin turned shaking his head at his distraction and shoving the flowers into his shirt as he returned and lifted the heavy trunk once more.
“The way you start is the way you’ll go,” Orville called after him as he hurried home to his new bride.
***
Ruth took a turn around the little house trying to focus on the positives. It seemed weather tight, and had a good, if rustic floor. She had heard that out west some people lived with dirt floors or worse yet in sod shacks. She had made her choice and with the right encouragement and help, she was sure her new husband would be able to make something of the place. For now she would make the bed and start unpacking. Perhaps with a few modifications the place could be homey.
Walking toward her trunk Ruth opened it pulling out clean linens that she had tucked away long ago. She had never actually made a bed before, but how hard could it be?
In only a matter of moments the new bride had the tattered quilt and dirty linens off the thick feather mattress, as she tried not to think about sleeping in the big bed with a complete stranger, she busied herself with the task at hand. Perhaps Miss Olive was right, and she should have waited. What if this man wasn’t a good man? What if he mistreated her? With fierce determination she pushed the thoughts away. She had left her parents home to start a life of her own, and she wouldn’t let pessimism and doubt ruin it.
Until she got to know the man she had married she wouldn’t judge him, she decided, turning her attention back to the bed she was making. It was a nice bed, made of bent pine boughs polished to a high sheen. The whole structure made of sturdy wood seemed to have grown from a single tree and looked strong, stable, and inviting, with its branching head board, and low foot rail, making Ruth wonder if Darwin had made it himself.
Smiling at the thought she furled the sheets over the thickly stuffed mattress and began tucking it in. It was liberating to do something for herself and she began to hum even as the door swung open once more.
Chapter 7
Darwin grinned as he stepped through the door of his home, spying the well-rounded figure stooped over his bed. Was she changing the sheets? he wondered as her beautifully rounded bottom wiggle under her bustle. It was high time his sheets were changed anyway, and a heat filled him as he realized that tonight he would be sharing that bed with his bride.
“You’re back?” Ruth said spinning and offering him a nervous smile as he placed her trunk on the floor. The room suddenly felt crowded and cramped with three trunks and two people filling it, and Ruth felt her stomach quiver with nerves making her place her hands over her middle. How would they ever function in such a tiny space? Of course others lived in such small quarters surely she could learn.
“What are you doing?” Darwin asked noting his crumpled linen on the floor.
“I brought bedding,” Ruth said lamely as she waved toward her smaller trunk. Was the man annoyed at her for trying to make the bed? “I thought since the bed wasn’t made already,” she tried but stopped speaking as the man nodded.
An awkward silence hung in the air for several long moments before Ruth screwed up her courage once more. “I don’t see any sort of cooking utensils or even a table,” she said cringing at the man’s scowl. Was he a surly man? He didn’t look the type.
Darwin blinked at his new bride. Was she unhappy already? Did she need fancy things around her to be happy? Wasn’t what he had enough? “I never needed none,” he stated his brow beetling, “I eat at the Hampton House.”
Ruth felt her shoulders relax. “I should have realized,” she grinned a nervous giggle bubbling from within. “It only makes sense since you work for them. Will we continue to do that?” she asked wringing her hands. She wanted to admit that she didn’t actually know how to cook, but didn’t want to make the man doubt her already. “Perhaps we could have a chair or two at some point though.”
Darwin looked around the room seeing it with new eyes. He had needed little more than a shelter and a place to sleep, but women put store in fripperies and such. “I reckon we could do that. I’ll ask Bear what he has.”
“Bear!” Ruth gaped. Was the man mad, who asked anything of a bear.
“Bear Cassidy, he’s the one what built the bed,” Darwin nodded toward the half made bed. “He’s married to Peri,” he finished dropping his eyes.
“There’s a man named Bear in Needful?” Ruth eyes went wide; she couldn’t believe it and a warm laugh gushed from her lips.
“Yeah, that’ ain’t his real name,” Darwin said grinning. “He’s a good fella. I’m sure you’ll meet both of them soon.”
Ruth took a step toward Darwin uncertain about what she was supposed to do next. Should she continue making the bed or find a way to sit and get to know the man? There was nowhere to sit other than the bed or the single chair, and she shivered at the thought of even sitting on the bed with the handsome cowboy.
“Let me help,” Darwin said taking a step toward her intending to help make the bed. His Ma had made him do house chores as well as outdoor chores as a child, and he could manage a few things as long as he didn’t have to cook.
Ruth sucked in a breath as the handsome man stepped in front of her tipping his head to look down into her eyes. She suddenly hoped he would kiss her again, but instead he stood there gazing down at her, his gray eyes uncertain.
“What, what’s that?” Ruth said looking at the blue flowers poking out the top of his shirt.
“Huh?” Darwin said getting lost in her warm hazel eyes.
“That,” Ruth said pointing toward the flowers and wondering if he would let her touch him.
Darwin looked down to where one delicate finger pointed at his shirt and sighed. “Oh, I brought you flowers,” he said pulling the drooping blue bonnets from his shirt and shoving them into her hand.
“Thank you,” Ruth grinned. “I’ll put them in some water,” she added turning to look around the little house and realizing there was nothing to put them into.
“I’ll fetch a jar for you,” Darwin jumped rushing to the little bench by the fire place and pulling out a dirty mason jar. “Oh you need water,” he continued rushing out the door.
Ruth sighed. She had liked being so close to her handsome husband, and now he was gone again. Would they ever be able to find a way to get to know each other?
“Darwin, what are you doing back over here?” Orville asked as the man hurried toward the pump with a bucket. “I thought you were gonna get to know your new wife.”
“I’m gettin’ my wife some water,” Darwin replied nervously.
“Well you take the rest of the day off and see if you can make that girl comfortable, and we’ll see you at supper. Olive just came out and told me to make sure you aren’t late. She’s turning this event into a big deal.”
Darwin grinned. “I’m sure Ruth will be happy to hear it,” he said filling the bucket and hurrying back to the house. “I’ve got good news,” he called walking into the house once more. “Olive is doing up our wedding supper, and we’re to be there in two hours.”
“That is kind,” Ruth said a bright grin gracing her face as Darwin took the jar from her hand dipping it into the bucket then handing it, still dripping, back to Ruth.
Ruth held the jar hard then carefully placed the blue bonnets into it and placed them on the filthy bench watching for a second as the wet jar made a ring in the dust. “Thank you,” she
said nervously. She had finished smoothing the sheets on the bed and though there was no coverlet yet she would deal with that soon. “Now if you don’t mind could you help me arrange my trunks?”
***
Darwin stepped back looking at the interior of his home shocked at the transformation a woman’s presence had wrought.
Only moments ago Ruth had gathered some things from the largest trunk that they had shifted to one wall, setting it upright and opening it into a wardrobe and drawers. He had never seen such a thing and was still studying it while his new bride took some clothing and headed for the Hampton House to change. Darwin had offered to step outside while she changed out of her traveling clothes, but she had insisted she would need Olive’s help, which confused him, but he didn’t press.
Turning in a slow circle Darwin took in the surrounding changes. Together he and Ruth had finished making the bed, and he couldn’t help but warm at the thought of sharing it with her that night. He hadn’t said much as he had followed the cheery woman’s instructions. Setting the smallest trunk before the fire place and placing the now empty bench on one side. For some reason she had insisted that he take all the horse tack out of the house at once, and remembering Orville’s charge to be kind, he hadn’t fought it.
“It don’t look half bad in here,” Darwin mused. “Not half bad at all.” The hostler grinned, his heart filling with optimism. Having a wife was already changing his world, and he was sure from here on it was only going to get better.
Chapter 8
Ruth was exhausted as she traipsed home on the arm of Darwin Rivers. She had met so many people in a whirlwind of introductions and dining, it would take her weeks to sort them all out.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh night air, she remembered the pretty woman with the little boy who accompanied the town’s sheriff, a man by the name of Gaines, but then there was another man called Gaines as well, and she wasn’t sure what his standing in the town was.
“That was fun wasn’t it?” she asked as the darkness and quiet of the night surrounded them making her press closer to Darwin. She still wasn’t sure about this new town and the sound of galloping horses and shouting cowboys down the street made her nervous.
“Miss Olive did a right fine job with the supper,” Darwin agreed. “Though I suspect it was Rosa what cooked up all that good food.”
“Do you really know all those people?” Ruth asked. “I’ll never remember who everyone is.”
“You’ll come to know them in time,” the man spoke, his voice distracted. “We have some fine folks here in Needful.”
The sound of gunfire down the street made Ruth yelp and Darwin wrapped an arm around her pulling her tight. “Nothin’ to fear darlin’,” he drawled. “Just some rowdy cowboys cuttin’ up a bit. It happens all the time.”
Ruth relaxed. Needful was so very different than the bustling streets and orderly rows of houses back home. “Everything is just so different,” she sighed. “I didn’t know what to expect when I agreed to come to Texas.”
“Where are you from?” Darwin asked. It was shocking what he didn’t know about his bride and judging by her reaction to the cowboys blowing off steam in the street she certainly wasn’t from a cow town.
“Philadelphia.”
“Whew, that’s a far piece to come,” Darwin mused. “Did you work there? Are your folks alive? Why did you decide to become a mail-order bride?” The questions fell from his lips like racing water, and he clamped his jaw tight before he offended the woman, surprised at his own curiosity. It wasn’t common to ask too many questions in the west. A man, or woman, could remake themselves in this new frontier, and there were many who had done just that. Perhaps Darwin would be better off not knowing why a pert young woman, with a soft plump figure had decided to leave the big city.
Ruth was quiet as they approached his small house enjoying the way his arm felt around her. Should she answer all of his questions? What would he think if she admitted she had all but run away from home like a spoiled child?
“I’ve never worked,” she finally replied as they stepped up onto the small front porch. “I lived at home with my mother and father until I decided it was time to set out on my own. I wanted to marry and had no prospects back home.”
Darwin stopped at the door turning to look down into her face. The light from the moon glinted off of her glasses and he stepped closer so he could see into her eyes. “Well I’m glad you decided to come along to Needful,” he smiled before leaning down and kissing her sweet lips. Even with his eyes closed he could recall how she had taken his breath way when he joined the party in the dining hall. She had changed into a shimmering dress of pale blue, trimmed in that fancy black lace he had seen somewhere.
Ruth leaned into the kiss enjoying the immediate connection it seemed to create between her and Darwin. Surely, if he kissed her like that, he truly was happy to have her as his wife. This adventure was getting better by the second and she couldn’t wait to find out what came next.
Chapter 9
Morning broke through the bare windows at the front of the little house, and Ruth woke to find the bed empty already. Sitting up she looked around at the little house but didn’t see Darwin anywhere.
He had said something about having to go to work early, but she hadn’t expected him to steal from their bed before the day had even sprung.
Snuggling back into her blankets Ruth sighed contentedly. The man’s kisses the night before had ignited something inside her she had never experienced, and when they’d tumbled into bed as a couple for the first time she did so with no reservation.
Today however, was a new day, and she needed to be about her wifely duties, whatever that meant. She couldn’t cook, as there was no stove and no cooking ware. Stepping out of bed and grabbing the pretty dress she had worn the night before, she put it away in the standing trunk and slipped into a simple day dress that she could button for herself. Should she go to the Hampton House and see if Darwin was still there? What was she to do about breakfast?
“I think I’d better remember to have a serious talk with Darwin today,” she chastised herself with a giggle. Being a wife was going to be fun.
“Olive?” Ruth asked a short time later as she stepped through the back door of the boarding house. “Is anyone here?” She made her way through the living quarters and into the main hall where Olive’s daughters-in-law were busy cleaning, serving, and organizing the dining hall.
“Good morning,” the redhead said hurrying toward Ruth. “You must be starved. Sit down and I’ll get you something. I’m sure you don’t remember, but I’m Shililaih, but you can call me Shi.”
“Thank you,” Ruth smiled in relief. “I was looking for Olive.”
“She’ll be down in a minute. She and Rosa are up stairs cleaning rooms. We only have the couple who arrived with you here right now, so it is a good time to get the rooms organized.”
Ruth nodded understanding even as her head buzzed with questions. She didn’t know what to do with her time. Back home there would have been the usual rounds of teas, socials, and meetings.
“Is there somewhere I can buy fabric?” she finally asked as Shi brought a plate of bacon, eggs, and what looked like white paste.
“You could go to the general store,” Shililaih said. “Mrs. Scripts keeps a good amount of fabric and sewing things.”
Ruth grinned, her heart lightened. She might not be very well prepared as a wife but she did know how to sew and some pretty curtains in her house would go a long way to making it homey. She would head to the store after breakfast and get started right away. Wouldn’t Darwin be pleased to see his house turned into an inviting home? The house might be well built and solid, but it lacked in everything other than a comfortable bed. She didn’t have much money stashed away, only a hundred dollars or so, but she would use a little to brighten up their love nest.
***
Darwin whistled as he mucked out the stalls, his heart happy with the delight of his l
ittle wife. She had proven she wanted to be with him last night and wasn’t shy about kisses, he grinned.
Maybe he could join her for lunch today and get to know her a little better. He was a simple man and didn’t want much, but having someone of his own after all these years alone felt good. Given time perhaps he would even find love with Ruth. He liked her cheerful nature, her warm kisses, and her willingness to meet him half way.
As lunch time approached Darwin hung up his pitch fork and headed for home, a smile playing about his lips. He would take the time to get to know his wife a little better today and his heart swelled with the notion. His wife, the words tumbled through his brain like a butterfly flitting from flower to flower. He had a wife. He wasn’t alone anymore.
“Ruth,” he called swinging the door wide and letting the spring time air into the house. “Ruth,” he called again looking around at the quiet room. Bewildered, he turned back the way he had come moving toward the Hampton House with a determined step. If she was going somewhere, she should have stopped at the livery and let him know.
He didn’t like the idea of his new wife traipsing around town on her own. Needful was growing, but there were still rowdy cowboys, drunken miners, and men with few scruples, meandering the streets.
“Olive,” he called stepping into the Hampton House a moment later. “Olive, you in here?”
Shi laughed walking toward Darwin with a grin. “You’re the second Rivers to go through that routine today,” she said. “Your new wife was in here for breakfast earlier looking for Olive as well.”
“Is she still here?” Darwin asked looking around the room as if he expected Ruth to pop out of a corner suddenly.
“She went to the general store,” Shi replied. “She hasn’t been gone all that long, would you like lunch?”
Darwin turned on his heel a pang of worry running through him like a bolt from the blue. “She shouldn’t be out on her own,” he growled storming from the dining hall and into the street.
