Fill the wood box? That would take a cord of wood for her wood box. He knew because he’d built it on her rickety back porch so she’d have enough to carry her through a blizzard.
There wasn’t a blizzard in sight so she’d have to make do with a wheelbarrow full today. He split the logs into stove sized sticks and picked up a few handfuls of splinters for kindling. After dropping it all off in the wood box, he got back underway.
As he was rounding the house, he spied a yellow rose bush. The blooms were about as pretty as he’d ever seen. He could tell from her letters, Molly loved flowers. “Miz Tillie,” he yelled, “may I cut a few of your roses?”
Her muffled voice carried from within the house. “Help yourself, Luke.”
He selected twelve of the best, some just budding, some full-blown. Tillie’s front door screeched open, and the spry little lady came out. “Here, Luke, something to tie them together. I couldn’t find a ribbon.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He took the frayed short length of rope from her outstretched hand and bound the roses together. The make-shift tie looked surprisingly nice.
“They’re right pretty this year,” Miz Tillie said. “Perfect for a beautiful lady—and she’s really beautiful, Luke. Pretty don’t even come close.”
“You’ve met Molly…er…Miss Stewart?”
“No, but I saw her down at the depot. I wanted to welcome her to town, but Theodora Carter took over and I couldn’t get close. They loaded onto the Carter buggy and hightailed it to Mrs. Milton’s place.”
Luke groaned inwardly. This wasn’t what he needed.
“Theodora’s daughter, Mandy, came in off the train with Molly,” Miz Tillie continued.
Pent up tension seeped out of Luke as he considered that. The situation wasn’t as bad as he thought. Mandy would be able to explain about her mother to Molly. “Thank you again for the flowers, Miz Tillie.” He waved and climbed into the saddle.
Feckless had hardly worked up a canter before Luke stopped in front of Ella Milton’s house. With the roses in one hand, he ran his other down the horse’s side, taking a moment to gather his nerves.
His knock on the door was answered almost immediately by Mrs. Milton herself. She gave him a welcoming smile. “Come in, Luke.” Her gaze slid to the bouquet. “You didn’t have to bring me flowers.”
He cleared his throat. “I…uh—”
She laughed. “I was teasing. I know who they’re for. Oh, Minnie, would you fill a vase with water for Molly’s roses. We’ll set it in the parlor by the burgundy sofa.” She turned to Luke. “Go on in and make yourself comfortable. I’ll get Molly.”
It had been years since Luke had courted a lady, but all those memories and nerves came rushing back as he sat on the deep red sofa in the parlor, with the roses balanced on his knees. He didn’t have to wait long. Mrs. Milton returned, followed by the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
He shot to his feet. Now he knew what the poets meant by a magnolia complexion. Creamy with pink-tinged cheeks. Her full rosy lips spread in a heart-stopping smile. From under sweeping lashes, she gazed at him with dark, smoldering eyes.
“I’m so pleased to finally meet you, Luke.” Her voice, soft and sweet, almost done him in.
Bemused, he stupidly shoved the roses into her outstretched hand.
“Thank you, Luke…I mean…Mr. Ferrell.” She blushed, making her face even prettier. “I’ve been thinking of you by your first name for the longest time.”
She had? “That’s all right. I’ve been thinking of you as nothing but Molly.” And that was all the time.
Having ducked her head, she glanced up, favoring him with a lovely smile. “The flowers are so thoughtful and beautiful. No one has ever given me yellow roses, and they’re my favorite.” She stared at the flowers for several seconds, and when she looked up again, he could swear tears filmed her eyes.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m sure glad about that. I figured since you liked yellow houses, you’d like yellow roses.” What a stupid thing to say. He rushed on, breathlessly, “I’m sorry I wasn’t at the depot to meet the train, but I got delayed.”
“I understand, but don’t be sorry. It gave me a chance to freshen up a bit in the beautiful room Mrs. Milton gave me.”
“Please, have a seat.” The lady herself came into the room. “I don’t know what’s taking Minnie so long. Just give me those lovely roses, Molly, and I’ll put them in water,” Mrs. Milton said.
Luke waited until Molly had relinquished the flowers and settled on the sofa before dropping beside her, keeping a respectful distance between them, but close enough to get a whiff of her perfume that reminded him of lilacs.
Mrs. Milton stood, smiling like she was mighty pleased. “Minnie will have dinner on the table in a few moments. What would you folks like to drink with your meal? Tea, coffee, or water?”
“Tea, if you please,” Molly said, “with a heaping spoonful of sugar.”
Stood to reason such a sweet lady would like sweet things. Luke tucked that bit of information to the back of his mind. “Could you make mine coffee—black?” He needed something strong to wake up his brain.
He heard Mrs. Milton’s skirts swish as she left them, then silence fell and both he and Molly scanned the well-appointed room. Looking everywhere except at each other.
Think of something to say, he admonished himself, but she broke the silence first. “Did my piano arrive?”
He found that dark chocolate gaze on him and turned sideways. “Yes, I got it set up at the house.”
“You had enough room for it, I hope. It’s so large, I worried about that.”
He caught the chuckle that rose in his throat in time. “There’s room.” Or there would be before they were married. “It’s a beautiful piano. I can understand why you wanted to bring it.”
“It’s the only thing I have left of my mother’s, and she loved it so. When may I see the house?”
He coughed into his fist. “I’d like you to wait until after the wedding. Truth is, Molly, there’s work still to finish on the house.”
He could tell she wasn’t pleased with that answer when her brows wrinkled, and it looked like she had trouble lifting those rosy lips into a smile. “Then maybe you can show me the town and some of the countryside.”
Now he frowned. When was he going to find the time to squire her around town? He was promised at the sawmill half days and that meant he had to work the fields at night while there was enough moonlight. He’d just have to find some time. “I’d enjoy that. Do you ride?”
“Oh, yes, I can ride a horse. I’ve been riding since I was a little girl. I even have a riding habit with a split skirt. I hope that isn’t taboo up here.”
He honestly didn’t know what was considered taboo in women’s dress. “I imagine if it was all right in Georgia, it’ll be all right here. But Mrs. Milton might have a sidesaddle.”
“Maybe I should use the sidesaddle, then. Riding astride is frowned upon by the city ladies, but us country women, after the war, had to cover greater distances any way we could.”
His fear that she was too fancy for the farming life went down several notches. But he didn’t want to steer clear of anything having to do with the war.
He told her about the mount he had in mind for her and felt his taunt muscles relax when she leaned toward him, an eager spark in those dark eyes. He delighted in her musical laughter as he described Feckless’s and Reckless’s antics.
Mrs. Milton returned, carrying a vase holding the yellow roses. Her cook, Minnie, tagged along behind, probably to get a good gander at the two of them together before announcing dinner.
Luke slid back against the sofa’s cushions. His and Molly’s time of intimacy was over for now. Mrs. Milton would be joining them. But there would be other times, busy or not, he’d make sure of it.
Chapter 9
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23
Molly couldn’t miss that Luke was nervous. Truth to tell, her own stomach was trying to tie itself in knots. The food looked delicious. Braised pork chops smothered in a rich gravy, fluffy white potatoes, stewed pole beans, summer squash and scallions. She simply couldn’t do any of it justice.
“Luke, dear, would you bless the food tonight?”
“I’d be pleased to ma’am.” He offered his left hand to Mrs. Milton, who sat at the end of the table, and Molly to his right. His touch warmed her all the way to her center.
“Gracious Father God, we thank you for this feast prepared with loving hands, and ask Your blessings on all our friends and neighbors present or missing. Thank You for bringing Molly into our midst…and…help us carry out Your will in our lives.”
What a sweet and heart-felt prayer. Molly sent her own thanksgiving heavenward for bringing her to this man.
When the last amen sounded, Minnie waved her hand. “Well, folks, dig in.”
Fearing her lack of appetite might insult Minnie, she slowly partook of all, while Mrs. Milton and Minnie kept up a banter with Mrs. Milton’s son, Josiah, about some town event that meant nothing to Molly at the moment.
She kept an eye on Luke out of the corner of her eye. He sure had a good appetite and as soon as he’d emptied his plate, Minnie was at his side refilling it like she was used to hungry men. Josiah, too, asked for seconds. But why not. These men worked in the fields all day. It would take a lot to keep them filled.
Molly suspected she’d have to bake a dozen biscuits at the time for her new husband. She couldn’t compete with Minnie’s cooking, but she could make a decent biscuit.
Lost in future plans and having nothing to contribute to the conversation, she picked at her food. Luke’s gaze finally landed on her. She dipped her head and studied the blue willow pattern in her dinner plate like it was the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen.
She shouldn’t be so bashful around Luke. In her mind’s eye, she’d played out dozens of teasing, flirtatious things to say to him. She’d never been nervous around men before. But this was the first one she’d ever intended to marry. To kiss. To live with. To care for.
“Have you two set a date for the wedding?” Mrs. Milton asked.
Molly’s head jerked up to meet Luke’s gaze over the rim of his coffee cup. They stared at each other for a little too long, and Mrs. Milton added, “There’s no hurry on my part, but several of the ladies would like to get started on wedding plans.”
Luke set his cup down. “I should have our house ready by the middle of July.”
“But that’s too late.” Minnie reared back in her chair. “We’ll have a lot of people in for the Fourth of July celebration, and they’ll want to attend the wedding.”
“Minnie, Luke may not have even known about our guests. Did you tell him, Molly?”
“Tell him?” She didn’t know about them either.
“Yes, dear. Remember I mentioned in my letter that my Southern brides and their families wanted to give you and Luke a big wedding and reception, and since it was so close to the Independence Day celebration, many of our friends would be in town. You’re my fifth bride from the South.”
Molly did recall the letter, but she’d thought of it as a it-would-be-nice thing, not a we’re-counting-on-it thing. “Eh, yes, I do, and I’m so honored that everyone wants to participate in our wedding. I was just taken aback for a moment. I hadn’t anticipated a big wedding. I don’t even have a…that is, I’ll have to fix my wedding gown.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Minnie offered Luke some more coffee, which he waved off. “The ladies’ sewing circle will be happy to sew a beautiful wedding gown.”
Molly sent a fleeting glance to Luke who looked like he’d lost his appetite. “Don’t you agree, Luke? I would like a church wedding.”
He smiled. “Then we’ll have a church wedding.” Inclining his head in Mrs. Milton’s direction, he added, “We’ll leave the wedding preparations in your capable hands, Miz Ella, just make it as close to the Fourth of July as possible and get Reverend Lawrence’s agreement.”
“Oh, he knows. He’s just waiting for a date to put on his calendar. And Grace is on the wedding committee.”
Molly looked a question to Luke. “Grace?” she whispered.
“Reverend Lawrence’s wife.”
“Dinner was delicious, Minnie, and I’ll bid you all good-evening. I have to see to the stock.” Josiah stood and helped his mother to her feet, signaling the end of the meal.
Luke did the same for Molly. “Thank you, ladies, for inviting me to dinner. It was the best I’ve eaten in some time.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.” Minnie was already up and gathering the dishes.
“Can I help you clean up?” Molly asked.
“Goodness no, child.” Minnie waved her off with a dishcloth. “You’re a guest. Just give us leave to make your wedding the best.”
Guest or not, every Southern woman offered to help her host, at least after the war when most of them had lost their kitchen help.
Mrs. Milton came up between Molly and Luke. “Now, you two don’t pay any attention to Minnie. Go into the parlor and discuss your wedding plans, and we’ll make the arrangements however you wish.”
Luke offered his arm and Molly took it readily. They did have much to discuss.
But when they’d settled on the burgundy-colored sofa, both seemed reluctant to start the conversation. Molly wasn’t surprised to find Luke quiet. His letters had been short. Sweet, but short. Some men, maybe all men, were like that. But what was wrong with her? Ever since she’d first decided to marry Luke, she’d been gathering up all the things she wanted to say to him. To ask him. Now her brain froze.
Then the enormity of the situation suddenly hit her. She would soon be wedded to this man who was still a stranger. Wedded. Husband and wife. Living together. Till death.
He kept yawning, which meant he was tired. Or bored.
Sure, he was bored. She was sitting here like a bump on a log. Mama used to say it was up to the lady to interest the gentleman. What did he enjoy doing, other than farming?
She found inspiration from the bookshelf. He did like to read—adventure, if she remembered correctly. Darting to the tall bookshelf, she searched for the book she’d noticed earlier. “Have you read Jules Verne?”
“Yes, I’ve read Journey to the Center of the Earth. It’s rather fantastic. Don’t tell me you’ve read it.”
She returned to the sofa with book in hand. “No, but this is Mr. Verne’s latest tome, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.”
Luke twisted to face her, his knee brushing her dress. “Molly, I don’t want you to think I was trying to put our wedding off. Truth is, tomorrow wouldn’t be too soon for me.”
The book fell into her lap. “It wouldn’t?”
He reached out his hand and touched her cheek. “I’m more than ready. I’ve been thinking of nothing else since I got your first letter, and when I first saw you…well, it kind of knocked the breath out of me, and I couldn’t believe a beautiful woman like you would marry me.”
His words knocked the breath right out of her, too. She just stared, hoping he’d kiss her and afraid if he did, she might faint.
His hand went to his mouth as he stifled another yawn, and she regained her senses. “That’s very sweet of you to say, Luke, but I suppose we must give Mrs. Milton and her brides a big wedding.”
“If that’s your wish. Would you mind reading to me? I love listening to your voice. It has a soft, musical cadence as lovely as any song. Do you sing?”
Heat rose in her cheeks at the unexpected compliment. “Thank you. I sing a little as I play the piano, but I’d love to read for you. Shall I start with Mr. Verne?”
“Please.” He stretched his long legs out and rested his head against the chair’s cushion.
Molly smiled. She’d often read for Daddy before retiring for the night and took special care to add expression to the words. As she
came to the end of the chapter, she’d become interested in the story. “I wonder how far twenty thousand leagues is.”
When Luke didn’t answer, she asked, “Do you know, Luke?” Marking her place, she swiveled her gaze his way.
Luke was asleep. He was tired. Sympathy welled within her. She knew how hard farmers worked at this time of year.
She started to wake him, then stilled her hand. He’d be embarrassed to be caught asleep. She slipped off the sofa, taking care not to disturb him, and strode to the bookshelf. Holding the book in front of her, she let it fall to the wooden floor with a crash.
As she’d hoped, the noise woke Luke and he was immediately at her side. She gave him a sly glance. “I’m so clumsy.”
He plucked the book from the floor and she took it. “Luke, if you don’t mind, I am rather fatigued tonight.” She slid the book back in its place. “Can we continue the search for Captain Nemo another time?”
“Certainly, Molly. I should be getting along anyway. Chores are waiting.”
She laid her hand on his arm. “Do you have much to do?”
“I have the stock to take care of, and if there’s enough moonlight tonight, I’d like to get in a little harrowing.”
Goodness. The poor man needed to go straight to bed. After they were married, she’d help him with the stock, and if he’d show her what to do, she’d help with the harrowing too. Whatever that was.
She handed him his hat at the door. “Will I see you at church tomorrow?”
His face lit up. “Tomorrow is Sunday, isn’t it? Yes, I’ll be there.” He stood worrying his hat for several moments. “I can show you the town and countryside tomorrow afternoon.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Good-night, Molly.” He took her hand and lifted it like he might kiss it, then leaned in and brushed her cheek with a fleeting kiss instead.
Surprised, her chin dropped, and the door closed behind him before she could shut her mouth. She touched her cheek and sent up a prayer for good weather tomorrow.
Molly's New Song (Brides 0f Pelican Rapids Book 5) Page 5
