by Danni Roan
Stepping further into the room he noticed his wife’s trunks sitting exactly where he had put them.
Spinning he rushed outside and down the stair racing to the front of the Boarding House and charging inside.
Ruth sat at a table near a window the dying light reflecting off of her spectacles making her look sad.
Taking his hat from his head Darwin strode across the room and pulled out a chair as Ruth looked up at him a smile breaking across her lovely face. “I thought,” she stuttered. “I thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“I thought you’d left,” Darwin admitted.
“No, I got hungry,” Ruth grinned. It was awkward sitting there trying to discuss this.
“Ruth,”
“Darwin,”
They spoke in unison stopping and shaking their heads just as one of the Hampton women came to take Darwin’s order. “The usual Dar?” the girl asked.
“That’ll do fine,” Darwin replied not taking his eyes off Ruth’s.
“Ruth,” he said the second the server stepped away. “You need to understand that I want to take care of you.”
Ruth sat back shocked at the man’s words. She had been prepared to apologize for scaring him, but now she wasn’t sure.
Hesitantly he reached out and took her hand trying to make her understand.
Ruth met Darwin’s gray eyes, and she wanted to melt into him. She was sure, each time she looked into his eyes that he was a good man, and that in time, they would learn to get on well together, but at the same time, she couldn’t let him lock her away in that tiny hut for her own good.
“I understand that,” she finally said trying to smile through her doubts. “I even appreciate it,” she continued seeing some of the tension leave his face. “However, I won’t be locked away and not allowed to go about my own business. I’m not some foolish girl who is likely to end up in some scrape of my own making.” She paused squeezing his hand. “I need you to trust me.”
Chapter 12
Darwin looked into Ruth’s eyes seeing the light of determination in their hazel depths. He knew she was sincere, but what if something terrible happened to her? He couldn’t lose the only person who seemed to actually want to be with him.
“I still don’t like it,” he mumbled then looked down when she squeezed his hand.
“Darwin you need to give me a chance. I’ll come and tell you if I’m going somewhere, at least if you’re easy to find,” she grinned that cheery light filling her eyes once more.
“You promise?” He asked searching her face.
“I promise.” Ruth squeezed his hand willing him to believe her. They barely knew each other, but in her heart, she was certain that Darwin Rivers was who she was meant to be with. Sooner or later, she would need to tell him why she had stole away from her family home and come to Needful as a mail-order bride, but today was not that day. The burgeoning trust that was only beginning to grow was far too fragile for that revelation.
Their meals arrived and Ruth released Darwin’s hand leaving them both to feel the absence of that simple connection.
“So why were you so het up to go to the store anyhow?” Darwin asked as he dug into his food. “You brought three trunks full of things; surely you didn’t need anything else?”
Ruth laughed, the sound trickling over him like a warm rain. “You’ll see,” she grinned. “There are just some things a woman needs in her new home. Niceties and such.”
Darwin ran a hand along his dark beard but didn’t comment for several seconds. “If you need something you can tell me,” he looked up his gray eyes soft. “I’ve got some money saved and won’t have my wife going without if I can help it.”
“Thank you,” Ruth reached out laying her hand on his once more. It touched her that this man who seemed to have so little would care about what she wanted. “Now tell me what folks do for entertainment around here,” she asked looking around her and noting how several of the younger men in the dining hall were glaring at Darwin.
“Well, there isn’t much in the way of entertainment. Sometimes old Mr. Franco plays his fiddle.” Darwin began only to feel Ruth’s hand tense as he looked around.
“Why are all these men looking at you like that?” Ruth whispered leaning across the table until her loosely bound brown hair brushed his head.
Darwin raised a brow turning to meet the glares of the miners, ranch hands, and workers head on. “They’re just jealous that I married the prettiest girl in Needful,” Darwin barked his voice carrying across the room and making the others turn their attention back to their meals.
A soft giggle made the hostler turn back around staring at Ruth whose cheeks had grown rosy. “I can’t believe you said that out loud,” she grinned. “You know I’m not the prettiest girl in Needful. I’m plump and plain and not at all the type that men are drawn too.”
Darwin scowled studying the lovely young woman before him. Did she really believe that she was plain? “Why would you say that?” he queried shocked at her words. “I think you’re lovely.”
Ruth smoothed her napkin in her lap then looked up to meet Darwin’s gray gaze. She knew he was being kind and trying to smooth things over from earlier. She had been told her whole life she wasn’t marriageable material and that she would have to live at home and care for her parents as they grew old. “That’s very kind of you,” her words were soft but held little conviction.
Darwin shook his head wondering why Ruth thought she was plain. He thought she was beautiful in a cute and sassy way. Her hazel eyes sparkled with good will, and her soft brown locks glinted with hints of gold and auburn. Last night, she had fit into his arm perfectly, and he had been delighted that she had chosen him.
“When you’re finished, we’ll go home,” Darwin whispered. “I’d like to see what you thought was so important that you had to go to the store today.”
Ruth nodded her heart filling, once more, with hope.
“I have something special for the two of you,” Olive Hampton stepped up to the table placing a small chocolate cake on the table. “Not for now, but you take that on home and enjoy it on your own. Young newlyweds need something extra sweet in their lives,” she added with a wink.
“Thank you,” Ruth smiled thinking of the mugs and kettle she had purchased. She could make tea and enjoy the dessert in her own home with her husband. “It’s lovely,” she gushed, her eyes twinkling with delight. “Let’s take it home with us.”
Darwin looked between Ruth and Olive sure he was missing something, but not wanting to make a fuss. “Thank you,” he said standing as he slipped a fork into his pocket unseen. He had nothing at his place to eat with and would return the fork in the morning.
Chapter 13
Ruth lifted the plate holding the small cake in her hands and turned to go, her eyes falling on her traveling companions, the Farleys, sitting at a table with the preacher and his pretty blonde wife.
“Oh, the Farleys are here,” she grinned holding the cake in one hand and dragging Darwin toward their table with the other. “I traveled on the stage with them, and they are lovely. We should say hello.”
Darwin fell in step with his wife and smiled at the older couple who had been present at their brief wedding the day before.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” Ruth smiled gazing at the group, “but I wanted Mr. and Mrs. Farley to meet my husband properly.” She beamed up at Darwin proudly then addressed the table again. “This is Darwin, Darwin Rivers, my husband.”
Mr. Farley stood offering his hand and shaking Darwin’s heartily. “Pleasure to meet you,” the older man said.
“We met yesterday,” Ruth grinned at the preacher, her hazel eyes hidden behind a flash of lamp light that illuminated the restaurant. “He officiated at our wedding,” she added a warm bubble of laughter filling her chest.
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Beth said. “Welcome to Needful. I’m happy you and Darwin found each other.” She turned her emerald eyes on her husband and smil
ed remembering her own recent wedding.
“I didn’t think you knew who your groom was?” Mrs. Farely said looking between Ruth and Darwin. “Did Mrs. Hampton have Mr. Rivers all picked out for you?”
“No!” Ruth wriggled with delight. “I was able to pick him all by myself.” She squeezed Darwin’s hand and he couldn’t help but smile remembering the moment she walked into the Hampton House and declared he was the one she wanted. Perhaps he should have been insulted being treated like a prized horse or such, but Ruth’s words only served to warm his heart. She was a very positive woman, and he liked that. He also liked that someone, anyone, would choose him.
“Will you be in town for a while?” Ruth asked the Farleys. “I’d love to have some time to catch up one day.”
“We’ll be visiting for a spell,” Mr. Farley said a half smile tugging at his lips. “We’re enjoying Needful and some time to get to know Brandon.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Darwin said tugging gently at Ruth’s hand. “Enjoy your dinner, and I hope we’ll see you again soon.”
“Good night,” Ruth agreed squeezing his hand as they turned and walked toward the back door. She was going home with her husband, and no matter how humble her abode, she had done something that she wanted. Ruth Warthan-Rivers was free and her heart soared, fluttering softly at the thought of one day being truly loved.
***
Ruth released Darwin’s hand still balancing the little cake in her other one as she hurried onto the front porch and pushed open the door to her little home. Hustling across the floor in the dark room, she found her way to the trunk that now sat before the fireplace and carefully placed the cake on its top. With deft fingers she searched for the matches by the little oil lamp and struck one filling the house with a flash of light as she lit the lamp.
Darwin followed Ruth into the house, blinking as she struck a match and lit the oil lamp. As his eyes adjusted to the soft glow he took in Ruth’s face, even lovelier in the gentle flicker of the flame.
“What do you think?” Ruth asked wringing her hands as she turned in a slow circle. “Think? About what?” Darwin’s brows drew together in confusion.
“About what I’ve done,” Ruth said unclasping her hands and lifting the oil lamp by its base.
Darwin looked toward her again and noticed the yellow and white cover that fluttered softly over the trunk. Two tin plates, bowls, and mugs placed at each end of the trunk made the trunk a true table.
Darwin scratched his ear wondering what to say. “It looks nice,” he finally managed. The jar of blue bonnets sat to one side and a tea pot he had never seen before took up space on the stone hearth. “But why?”
Ruth’s shoulders sagged at Darwin’s words. She had worked so hard to set everything up and make the place look homey, but he didn’t like it. “It’s for us,” she said. “You see, we can use this trunk as a table or a place to sit during the evening.” She had placed the rough chair on one end of the trunk and the bench along the side by the fire place. “I can make us a cup of tea if you’d get a fire started for me, and we can have our cake.” Ruth’s eyes sparkled with hope as she sat the lamp back on the trunk and twisted her fingers together nervously again.
Darwin tipped his head to one side stripping his hat from his head of inky hair with one hand. “It looks nice,” his voice was tentative but he smiled seeing the charm of it. “Of course I eat at the Hampton house, mostly.”
Ruth jumped at the words, but the breath she had been holding whooshed out of her as she smiled. “Well tonight we’re going to eat our lovely cake and visit,” she insisted. “Could you please lay a small fire for me, and I’ll put the kettle on?” she hoped she wouldn’t make a mess of things. She knew how to make tea, but had never started a fire or even boiled a kettle. “I.” She bit her lip then looked up at him. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to make coffee.”
Darwin studied his little wife realizing she was nervous. She hadn’t been nervous on their wedding night, but the thought of making a pot of tea for her husband had her wringing her hands. “I’ll fetch some wood,” his words filled the room as he spun on his heel and back out the door. A fire at this time of the year would make the house uncomfortable, but there had already been enough conflict today. He would let Ruth have her way this time, so that later he could insist she not wander the town on her own.
Ruth breathed a sigh of relief as Darwin stepped out the door. She should tell him that she didn’t know how to cook, but she didn’t want to let him down. Surely one of the reasons he had wanted a wife was to have someone who could prepare his meals, keep house, and make life easier as a whole.
Filling the small kettle with water from the bucket she had hung on a hook by the fire place Ruth considered her problem. At the moment she and Darwin were eating at the Hampton House. The food was simple but delicious, and she certainly didn’t mind the opportunity to get to know her neighbors better. As she hung the kettle on a rough metal hook just inside the fireplace, a smile crept across her face and a plan formed in her head. Darwin would be busy at the stable every day. She knew he worked hard and was needed to keep things running smoothly. Perhaps Olive would agree to teach her to cook if she helped out around the boarding house. What better place to learn how to run a household than right there at the Hampton House.
Humming softly, Ruth found her feet tapping to her own little tune as Darwin walked back in with a few spindly looking pieces of wood, as a brisk breeze followed him through the front door making the lamp dance erratically.
Ruth hurried to close the door then rushed back to the fire place to watch Darwin’s every move. She would learn to start a fire. She wasn’t a simpleton, and she would learn.
“It feels like a storm’s blowing in,” Darwin said as he broke the wood between strong hands, making Ruth shiver with delight at his strength.
“Why are you breaking the logs?” she asked peering over Darwin’s shoulder where he had knelt before the small fire place.
Darwin chuckled, casting a glance back at Ruth. “These little limbs are all we need for boiling a kettle,” he grinned. “I only need a small fire for that.” He turned back to the tiny pile of wood pieces his head clunking against the iron pot making him jump.
“Oh dear,” Ruth said as he turned to look at the pot she had hung there only moments ago.
Darwin carefully took the pot down sloshing water on the wood from the overly full pot as his head drooped. “Take this,” he said his voice flat. “Pour a little out as well, or it will never boil,” he continued as he rose to his feet and headed back out the door for more dry wood.
Ruth bit her lip as a nervous giggle threatened. On one hand, she was excited about the whole process of starting a fire, but on the other hand, she felt like a complete ninny. What kind of woman didn’t know how to boil a kettle? “The kind who had it all done for her,” she whispered straightening her spine with determination as Darwin stepped back into the house the first rain drops spattering the dry earth behind him.
***
Ruth sat across from Darwin sipping black tea and eating chocolate cake. The house was cozy as a steady rain drummed on the rooftop outside.
“How is it?” Ruth asked wishing she had thought to purchase sugar at the general store. Outside the wind picked up again and rain pelted against the windows.
Darwin hurried to the windows pushing them closed as the rain pelted the sills. Ruth watched as he paused running his hands along the hem of the curtains she had sewn earlier and strung up with a heavy string she had found in a corner of the house.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Ruth bit her lip again. She wanted him to be happy about the changes to the house and the fact that now no one could see inside their home.
“They look nice,” Darwin turned as a crash of thunder rolled across the sky making Ruth jump. Was she afraid of storms? He grinned hurrying back to the table and picking up his bitter tea. He hated tea, but if she wanted him to drink it, he wouldn’t fuss, besides the
cake that Olive had given them was sweet enough to counter the bitter taste of the tea.
Another clap of thunder rolled across the sky as the storm grew closer and this time Ruth yelped. She really was a ninny, and she was starting to see why her parents had felt she was too weak to marry. Looking up she saw Darwin take his last bite of cake and gulp down his tea.
“It’s been a long day,” he stretched as a yawn made his jaw pop. “Are you ready to go to bed?”
Ruth blushed but nodded. She had made the bed that morning and had to admit that she was tired and ready for sleep. It had been a long day with too much drama in it and she very much wanted to seek the comfort of her bed and hopefully her husband’s arms, she thought as another clap of thunder rattled the windows in the house.
Collecting the empty cups, plates and utensils, she placed them in the bucket of water to soak then turned around to cover the remainder of the cake with a piece of oiled cloth.
“You might want to take this one back to the dining hall,” Darwin grinned sheepishly at her as he pulled a fork from his pocket. “I didn’t know you’d gotten things earlier,” he grinned.
Ruth giggled the sound mingling with the pounding of the rain outside before turning into a real laugh, as she pointed at the fork in Darwin’s hand.
Darwin smiled, some of the tension from the day easing out of him as he too began to laugh. His little Ruth was sure a cheerful thing, even if she didn’t always know what was best for her. Impulsively, the hostler stood reaching out and pulling Ruth into his arms. She shivered against him, and he wondered just how much storms disturbed her. Wrapping one arm around her, he leaned over blowing out the lamp as he led her toward their welcoming bed.
***
Ruth lay awake, the blankets clutched to her chin as the storm raged outside. Rain pounded on the roof like a giant drumming its fingers on her little home. A clap of thunder crashed directly above, and Ruth jumped pulling the blankets over her head.
