Keegan's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas 2) (4 page)

But what about the wedding night? He’d planned on a fun time but now with Peg, he didn’t know how that would happen. Other married couples with kids seemed able to figure it out. He wanted the first time to be special. He wanted to show her the joys of being together. She’d called it a duty. Her husband must have been inept, or maybe she really didn’t like it. Damn he was making himself crazy with his thoughts. Things would work out.

He sighed in relief when they drove onto his property. He was proud of his achievements. It hadn’t always been easy, but he was making his dream come true.

Addy smiled at him and Peg waved. A lump formed in his throat. He just hoped he could keep them safe and happy. They were his responsibility now. He smiled and tipped his hat. It was another while before they reached the house. Already the day was half gone.

He rode up next to the stopped wagon and jumped down off Strike. He held his arms up for Peg and quickly handed her off to Shannon, who was already out of the wagon. Then he went back and swept Addy into his arms, and despite her protests, he carried her into the house.

“You claim you don’t have pretty words but your actions are very romantic, Keegan.” The joy on her face filled his heart.

“I—”

A shriek permeated the air.

“You’d best put me down. Peg needs me.”

Reluctantly he set her on her feet and watched her run outside. Shrugging his shoulders, he followed her.

“I was going to suggest taking her with us overnight but…” Shannon shook her head.

“It’s a kind thought, Shannon,” he reassured her.

“She does this,” Addy explained as she tried to quiet Peg.

Cinders laughed. “Do you want me to get Shane?”

Keegan laughed too, though he didn’t feel like laughing. “We’ll get her settled. I appreciate the thought.”

Shannon walked over and gave him a hug. “Congratulations and much happiness. She’s a keeper.”

He hugged her back. “If she’s anything like you, then she’s perfect.”

Red seeped into Shannon’s face as she stepped back. “Addy, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I’m not too far over yonder if you need anything or just a little woman talk. I know just how talkative a man is when he’s tired from being in the saddle all day. I also know how different life is here compared to back east.”

With her free hand, Addy reached out and grasped Shannon’s. “Thank you for everything. You and Cinders really made the day special.”

Nodding, Shannon patted a screaming Peg on the back and then turned. “Come on, Cinders, we’d better go check on Cookie. I’m sure he’s cursing up a storm.”

Cinders frowned. “Why’s that?”

“He was planning on making a cake to bring here tomorrow but there’s no eggs.”

“What happened to the eggs?” Cinders asked as he lifted her into the wagon.

“The stopped laying yesterday. Not really sure what the problem is.”

Cinders climbed up and took the reins. “She’s right. Cookie is probably cursing. Congratulations!” He turned the wagon around and drove off.

Keegan watched them then turned toward Addy. “She’s sleeping.”

“I know, I figured when she stopped crying she was asleep.”

He put his hand on the small of Addy’s back. “Let’s go put her down for a nap.”

Addy gave him another smile. If he could keep her smiling life would be great.

****

After they put Peg down on the bed, Addy stood and studied the fireplace. She suddenly didn’t know what to say to Keegan. He expected a wedding night. Peg would be a great help in putting that off. She supposed he expected her to cook food too. Stew looked easy enough to make. There was a big kettle and the pivotal crane to hold it over the fire. Water was heated the same way but what about the rest? There seemed to be plenty of food supplies. Maybe there was a cookbook? She shook her head. There didn’t seem to be a book in the place.

“It was a nice wedding.” Keegan’s voice washed over her, and chills went up her spine.

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled trying to seem carefree. “Yes, it was and you have very nice friends. People who really care about you.” She stepped away from the hearth and faced him.

“Are you all right?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You keep twisting your hands as though you have something on your mind.” Keegan stared at her.

“I’m sure all newly married women have things on their mind.” She wanted to confess her sins right then and there, but she had too much to lose. “Why don’t you go and do whatever you usually do, and I’ll take care of things around here.”

He stepped forward and kissed her cheek. “You know the judge never said I could kiss my bride. I’ll be wanting that kiss when I get back.”

His sexy grin turned her legs into jelly, and she placed her hand on the stone fireplace to steady herself. “I’ll be here.”

He nodded, walked to the door and glanced back. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He opened the door and left, closing the door behind him.

Her heart started to beat painfully against her chest as she wondered what to do about food. As a young girl, she had spent much of her time in the kitchen until her mother caught her and forbade her. She still snuck down there whenever she could.

Grabbing the heavy kettle, she put it on the table. Surely she could replicate the stew Keegan had made the day before. Finding a hunk of meat, and potatoes she started chopping them into smaller pieces and put them into the pot. Next, she hung the pot on the pot hook of the pivotal crane and moved it over the hot fire.

After checking on Peg, she went outside to the hand pump and washed her hands. Wetting a cloth she cleaned her face and neck. There was a lot of dirt that seemed to fly around in Texas. She found the place peaceful. A nice change for her, and she wanted to linger, but she didn’t dare with Peg alone in the house.

When she opened the door there was a faint odor of something burning. She quickly checked on Peg and then went to the fire. Drawing the pot toward her, she saw the potatoes and meat were charred. Charred, she almost laughed. Charred was putting it mildly. She grabbed a spoon and loosened the pieces of meat and potatoes from the bottom; the potatoes broke into bits and pieces. She needed to add water, she supposed. Picking up the bucket next to the fire she poured it into the pot, causing a great sizzling noise and a bit of smoke. Phew, that had been close.

After looking around, she found salt and pepper. She remembered the cook always saying something about everything needing salt and pepper. Pouring in some of each she smiled. Who said she wasn’t a cook? Her smile faded. What about breakfast?

She also needed to make more diapers. She’d been throwing them away during their travels. She gathered up the dirty ones she had in a bag and headed outside with the bucket. She tossed the diapers in the bucket and filled the bucket with water. She was off to a good start. Maybe a good soak would clean them. She put the bucket outside the front door and went back in. Soap was what she needed. She finally found some, but it didn’t smell at all pretty. After stirring the stew she went back outside, leaving the door open in case Peg needed her.

Soaking the clothes didn’t seem to help much. She took each diaper out and poured out the water. It was a vile, foul smell. Next, she tried scrubbing the diapers with the soap and pumped more water over them. Her nails chipped, and she didn’t like the red color of her hands. The cloths were far from the clean she was used to, but she wrung them out and draped them over a few rocks and bushes nearby. If diapers were so hard, how was she going to get their clothes clean?

As she wiped her brow with her dress sleeve weariness seeped through her. Slowly she walked to the front steps and sat down. Her dress was ruined. She did have another one, not as fancy but still much nicer than what the other women wore. Perhaps if she took off some of the lace and hemmed it so it didn’t drag on the ground, she could save the one she wore. Her talent for needlework was well known but she’d never actually sewn before. Beautiful pillows and tapestries were one thing but fixing a dress? She’d have to give it a try.

Keegan would probably be home soon. Smiling proudly she couldn’t wait for him to eat her stew and notice how she had washed the diapers. Tomorrow she’d see what else needed to be done. She stood as she heard Peg stir. Putting her hands on her lower back she stretched backwards. She’d get used to the physical labor.

****

“Almost home, Strike.” Keegan would never have imagined the anticipation he felt at seeing his new family. His days had always been long and lonely. Now he had a reason to go home, and a wide grin stretched across his face. Married, who would have thought? He urged Strike on and laughed when he saw all the diapers drying in the sun. Now that was a sight he hadn’t expected to see.

He rode to the corral, leaned down to open the gate and rode Strike in. “You know what, Strike? I think this marriage thing is going to be good for us.” He dismounted and took all the tack off the horse. “I’ll be back to brush you in a bit.” He closed the gate behind him and started to whistle while he walked to the house. His nose wrinkled. He thought he’d built the outhouse far enough away from the house to avoid such odors.

He continued up the steps and opened the door. Addy sat on the floor with pieces of cloth around her. “Making a dress?”

Her eyes turned moist as she shook her head. “I was going to try to alter my only other dress, and I put the scissors on the table. I never gave Peg a thought. I thought she was napping. I had the door open so I could hear her, but I
didn’t
hear her.”

“She cut up your dress?” His lips twitched. “We’ll figure something out. Did Peg get hurt?”

“No. Look at her she’s quite happy with herself.”

“She’s just proud of herself is all. What in tarnation? That isn’t my shirt is it?”

Addy nodded miserably. “Both of your shirts.”

He stared at the pieces of his shirts then stared at Peg. She immediately let out a wail and hid behind Addy’s skirt. Sighing, he shook his head. “There ain’t nothin’ you can do about it now. I’m starved.”

Addy nodded and quickly gathered all the pieces of his shirts and her dress and put them in a basket. “I’ll have dinner on the table as fast as I can. Why don’t you have a seat?”

The chair scraped against the planked floor as he pulled it from beneath the table. “We don’t play with scissors right, Peg?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“Yes, what?” he asked not sure if she agreed not to play with the scissors.

“No.” She smiled. “Yes and no.” She giggled.

“Addy, she does know not to play with scissors right?”

She stopped in mid-ladle. “I hope so. The best thing is to keep them where she can’t get at them.” She finished ladling the stew into the bowl and set it in front of him. “Oh, you need a fork.” She quickly retrieved one and handed it to him.

There were charred bits of meat and mashed up potatoes in a watery soup. Not what he was used to, but he’d be more than happy to try it. The warmth of her stare warned him to keep his expression blank. He stabbed a piece of meat with his fork and put it in his mouth. It was tough to chew, but he’d had plenty of tough meat before. His eyes watered from the pepper and his taste buds protested at the salt. He grabbed his cup of water and drank deeply. Still, she stared.

“I appreciate you made dinner. Sit, join me. I bet you’re hungry.” Shoot, Peg was probably hungry too. He waited until she sat with her bowl in front of her. “Try it before you give it to Peg, I think it might be too hot.”

Smiling, she nodded. She popped a piece of meat into her mouth, and her eyes grew wide as she grabbed for her cup of water. Gulping it down, tears ran down her face. “This is awful!”

“I’ve had better.”

She met her gaze and panic flashed in her eyes. “I’m used to cooking on a stove. I’m sure once I get used to cooking over the fire, the meals will be better.”

“Hungry,” Peg said, reaching for her mother.

“Oh dear what shall I feed her?”

He stood up and grabbed the kettle of food and the bucket of warm water. Carefully he ladled the meat and potatoes into the warm water, trying to not add more of the soup than necessary. “This will probably wash some of the salt and pepper off.” He took their filled bowls, picked out the food, ladled some of the hot water into the bowls, and rinsed them out. Then he served up two bowls of meat and broken potatoes. “Let’s give this a try.”

Taking a bite he smiled. It was edible. “You might just want to give Peg some of the potatoes unless she has sharp teeth.”

He tried not to laugh as Addy turned a deep shade of red. She quickly nodded and glanced away. Peg opened her mouth like a little bird, waiting for Addy to drop food in.

Finally, Addy turned toward him. “Thank you for rescuing dinner.”

“Like you said once you get used to the fire instead of the stove it’ll all work out.” It wasn’t true. There was no way she knew how to cook. Why not just admit it?

“Yes, I’m sure it won’t take long at all.”

A groan got trapped in his throat. He hoped it wouldn’t take long, but he had the feeling he’d be eating some bad meals for a while. “I’ll dump the kettle and get some water heating.”