Serendipity (24 page)

“Ja.” There. That ought to put and end to this game.

Shaking his head and looking at the substantial collection, John ground out, “I don’t feel right about it.”

“See? Told you he was kind.” Maggie threaded her hand through Todd’s arm. “Man like him doesn’t need folks to give him their thanks or remind him of his Christian duty. He’s a gentleman through and through. You were right, Todd. We got ourselves grand neighbors.”

“Thanks.” John let out a deep breath.

“Don’t mention it.” Maggie let out a small sound of upset. “I was going to get you some viands. Tell you what – I’ll have them ready for you next time you’re over. Tomorrow night?”

She wasn’t aiming to get anything, after all. Todd let the tension drain from him.

Face creased with an enormous smile, John nodded. “Tomorrow. Sure. Thanks.”

Maggie grabbed a bar of soap Todd knew she didn’t need and headed toward the barn’s side door. Just as she exited, her words floated back to them, “Glad to have a fine Christian gentleman as a neighbor. Now I won’t have to worry when my dear friend Linette needs someone to see she gets home if the time gets away from us.”

John blustered for a moment, and then he threw back his head and belted out a laugh.

“You think it funny?” Todd gaped at him.

“Hilarious. That woman roped me into doing something, but you’re tied to her for life. She’ll have you in knots the whole time.”

Todd lifted the rope and shoved it at him. “Don’t be too sure. That rope could turn into a noose.”

The next hour, Todd saw to things in the barn and considered what he ought to do about his bride. She’d outsmarted him and John, but for reason. They’d insulted her friend, and Maggie had already proven her staunch trait of being loyal. When he drew close to the house, he noticed the women sitting outside.

“Ma and I are enjoying a little night air.” Maggie pressed a steaming cup of coffee into his hands. “Heaven’s dazzling us with stars, like thousands of angels a-winking at us.”

He gulped some coffee, then held the mug to Maggie’s lips. “Beautiful – you and the thought.”

Shyness replaced the spirited look in her eyes. She took a tiny sip. “Thankee.”

Did she thank him for the coffee, or for the compliment? Slugging down the last of the drink, he wondered if he’d ever decipher what went on in her mind. But she’d keep him entertained. The corner of his mouth kicked up. And starting tonight, he’d keep her warm. Which undoubtedly accounted for that shy aura that suddenly surrounded her. He set the coffee mug next to the house and glided his rough hand down her oh-so-soft hand and held it. Together, they’d raise crops and rear children, then leave behind them a legacy of land and love. This was his land, his wife, his future. As God said at the end of each of day of creation, Todd declared,
“Es ist gut.”

“It is good.” Her lips bowed upward in a smile – a wobbly one, but it counted. She cleared her throat and rasped, “What did you want to do?”

Raising his brows, Todd waited for her to direct the thought. Did she mean in the fields? Or how to spend the next half hour?

The second his brows rose, her eyes widened and she rushed out, “I mean, what did you have in mind?”

Todd lips twitched. She’d mistaken his reaction and dug herself straight into embarrassment.

“For the farm!” she blurted out before he could rescue her. Face aflame, she rubbed a shaking hand across her forehead and rushed, “I mean, what did you plan for us to do – ” Groaning, she tried to jerk free.

Holding tight, he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss on the back of it. Jitters. She had bridal jitters, and he had desires. Even the most innocent phrases could be construed differently. With Ma sitting right there, he couldn’t address the issue, so he acted as if everything she said held nothing other than the innocent, straightforward connotation. “First off, I’ll get the fields in order. The winter wheat – it’s heading up. This year is as dry as the last two, but my yield will be higher, praise God. The alfalfa – I hoped for it to grow better and restore the soil. Two neighbors will bring mares by this week so the stallions can stand stud. Next I must plant either sorghum or corn. Already, I should almost be done with that.”

“Sorghum,” Ma decided. “It tolerates drought best.” She yawned.

Todd carried her to her bed and left so Maggie could tuck her in.

Soon Maggie stepped back outside. “I’ve got a notion. You have the far field and the section yonder that’s ready for a crop. Sorghum’s both drought resistant and grows in marginal soil. Seeing as we’ll be working together, what if we plant both crops?”

A second field wouldn’t take that much water and could bring in more money. Her suggestion tempted him. He resisted. “No. The garden will take that plot. To plant both would mean breaking sod for the garden. You’re already too busy.”

Gesturing to the right, she said softly, “If the vegetables and flowers grew there, Ma could come out and feel like she’s part of things. I don’t know a soul who doesn’t perk up in the garden.”

“We can put a few rows there, I suppose.”

“While the horses are hitched, we may as well do it right.”
We.
She’d done the same thing about the debt – immediately jumped in and committed herself to sharing the burden.

“So.” He slid his arm around her waist and hoped she realized how much he appreciated her. If he could find the words, she’d probably think he was trying to talk her into bed. The sounds of the night filled the silence. Strands of hair fluttered across her cheek. Automatically, he reached over and used the back of his fingers to tuck them behind her ear.
“Weich.”
He couldn’t resist touching her cheek and smoothing back another wisp.

Her eyes widened.

“Du bist eine Schönheit.”

Her lips parted and laughter spilled out of her. “Soft? You are such a beauty?”

He didn’t think he’d actually spoken the thoughts aloud. She ought to be pleased, though. “Is it not good for you to know I feel this about you?”

She twisted away from him. “You said those exact things to Eve today.”

Twelve

Her voice shook – but was it mirth of fear? Or anger? If he’d said those very things to the mare today, Maggie might well be furious.

“Are you afraid of me?”

Her rapid breaths answered him.

He took her hands in his. “There’s no need. I’m your husband, and I feel much tenderness toward you.” He jostled her hands. “I assure you, I have never said that to a horse.”

A tremulous smile formed on her lips, but she wouldn’t look him in the eyes. His bride’s voice shook as much as her hands. “I suppose tenderness is . . .”

“A sweet beginning. Just as we will cultivate our land, we’ll take care of our love. Soil and seed and water – you and me and the Living Water – the essentials are together already.”

“You think like a farmer.” She looked off to the side. “But you could be full of beans.”

The earth beneath his boots grated as he shifted to a wider stance. “You would not have married me if you did not trust me.” Slowly, he pulled her closer and wrapped her arms about his waist before he wound his arms about her and cradled her close.

She swallowed. “Uncle Bo told me a husband needs his wife.”

Todd brushed his lips against her temple.
What she and I want
is opposite. It is a wife’s duty to submit.
Submit? The word hit him. Intimacy should be giving and sharing – not demanding or taking. A man was the head of the home, but his wife – she was the heart. There had to be a balance – a harmony between them he’d never considered before.
Ma and Dad always seemed to be of one mind. I
don’t even know my wife’s mind.

Maggie shivered, and a wave of protectiveness washed over him. How could desire and tenderness be at odds when they belonged together?
Perhaps it is my wants and her needs. A husband must be
willing to make sacrifices for his wife.

Sensible, practical Magpie. If he gave her a few minutes, she’d come around. Todd continued to nestle her, stroking his hand up and down her back in a steady, reassuring way. She’d plunged right in from the first moments to care for Ma and never stopped working since – other than when they shared a sled. The way she’d fumbled the conversation earlier left her unsettled. Giving her a chance to calm down ought to allow her to regain her poise and start feeling the stirrings of desire, too.

Clasping her hands together behind Todd’s back, Maggie stayed as pliant as a marble pillar. She shivered again. That, and hearing her audible swallow tilted the balance.

“Margaret.” He set her a scant few inches away and lifted her chin. Her lashes lowered so she didn’t look him in the eyes. “To have you fear me, there would be no sweetness. Tonight. I will give you tonight to rest in my arms and in my tenderness. Tomorrow, you will trust me – then we will know one another and it will be good.”

“Thankee!” The word lilted out of her, and she gave him a quick hug before dashing inside.

Scowling, Todd watched her flit away. He’d done the right thing, but did she have to act like she’d just been given a reprieve from a death sentence?

Todd’s comb rested against her hairbrush on the washstand. Earlier Maggie had set down her brush to leave a tiny space between, but he’d finished combing his hair and now the pieces touched. Like them in bed. Both nights, she carefully inched away when he climbed in next to her. He’d swallow up the space in seconds – but he’d kept his word. The first night, he lay on his side, facing away from her. His warmth radiated to her and felt wondrous, but he’d kept his hands to himself. Last night, Todd wound his arms about her. Back in the holler, he’d earned her trust – but this was a deeper, unique kind of trust. Throughout the night, he’d cradled her as though she was his one and only treasure. Doing so gave her a glimpse of what the future could hold . . . and planted hope.

She’d made him a grand breakfast to show her appreciation for his sensitivity. As much as he ate, he’d liked it plenty.

And wait until this afternoon, when I give him some of this!
She took a pan from the oven box she pilfered from her trade goods. Fragrant steam wafted from the loaf pan. “Whilst I tend to a few matters, Ma, you can borrow my hairbrush. I’ll put up your hair after it’s nice and smooth.”

“It will take me too long.”

Placing the hairbrush in Ma’s lap, Maggie took a firm tone. “I’m willing to do all you need, but I won’t have you feign helplessness. A family pulls together, each member doing their utmost. Half of your body might not obey your wishes, but that doesn’t excuse you from doing all you can. Todd’s counting on me to be out in the fields with him. I aim to be there, too, so I’m relying on you to pitch in as best you can. Valmer Farm needs to make up for lost time.” A quick tug took the ribbon off the tail of Ma’s nighttime plait.

Cheap and filling, beans were a good choice for supper. What, with one trade started, she wouldn’t be surprised to have a caller or two. If no one joined them, she’d have leftovers. With beans set to soak for supper and a batch of soda bread started, Maggie finally turned back to Ma. “Tomorrow I’ll mix up biscuits for you to roll out and cut with a cup. Aye, and put them in a pan. Todd will nigh unto burst his buttons when he sees what you’ve done.”

Ma didn’t respond, but she did rake her right fingers through her hair to unravel the plait. A halfhearted effort at brushing her hair ensued.

“We can ask Dr. Bestman-Van der Vort – ”

“That woman – she was ashamed to take her husband’s name. What woman clings to her past like that? Such a poor example. The Bible says the man is the head of the home.”

“From the way she looks at her husband and speaks to and of him, I’m sure she’s proud to be his wife.” Did Ma always look for the dark side of things and judge? Steering the conversation, Maggie declared, “Todd’s a fine man. A godly man. I count myself blessed and I’m sure you do, too, that he’s the head of our home.”

“It is good you feel that way.” Todd’s voice boomed from outside the window.

Maggie squealed and jumped.

He beckoned. “Come. We’ve much to do.”

Hastily braiding Ma’s hair, Maggie called out, “I’ll be in the barn in a few minutes.” A half-dozen pins slipped into place, and Ma’s hair assumed its normal style. “I’ll sit you by the table today. With a glass of water, the bell, and the Bible I’ve set out, you can fill your heart and summon me if you have need.” She put a threaded needle in Ma’s hand and propped the hoop-enclosed canvas in place.