The Widows of Braxton County (3 page)

Her attention moved to the windows. Dark floral drapes with heavy, braided tiebacks hung over the lace curtains Kate had already noticed. All in all, the whole atmosphere was dark and fussy, and Kate felt she’d stepped back in time.

Her eyes narrowed. This would never do. She appreciated history as much as the next person, but there was no way she could imagine herself curling up on that stiff couch to enjoy one of her favorite books. She’d want to keep the same Victorian feel to the room, but make it more comfortable. If the rest of the house looked the same, she had her work cut out for her—turning this museum piece of a house into a home.

An antique music box on one of the end tables caught her eye. She lifted the lid. “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” began to play, but she noticed some of the notes were skipped. Joe quickly joined her and, with a grimace, shut the box, silencing it.

“That’s been in the family for a long time,” he said, swiftly, “and some of the notes miss. We don’t handle it.”

“I’m sorry,” Kate said, embarrassed. “I didn’t mean any harm.”

He threw an arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I acted out of habit.” He chuckled. “If you knew the number of times Ma dusted the seat of my pants for doing the same thing, you’d understand my reaction.”

Kate smiled up at him.

“Well, what do you think?” Joe asked with his voice full of pride.

“The architecture is lovely,” she replied, gauging her words, “but—”

Suddenly, an elderly woman appeared in the doorway leading into the dining room and cut off Kate’s words.

“It’s about time you got here,” the woman said, her voice critical.

“I thought we agreed—” Joe began.

“We’ll talk about it later,” the old woman said, cutting him off as she looked directly at Kate.

Her gray hair was gathered tightly away from a face webbed with wrinkles. She wore an apron over her plain housedress and her support stockings were rolled just beneath its hem.

Kate took a step back as she looked into the woman’s narrow brown eyes—eyes that were sizing her up. Kate shifted uneasily. From the rigid lines around the woman’s mouth, it was apparent that she wasn’t impressed with what she saw.

Kate shot her husband a questioning look. He hadn’t mentioned a housekeeper, but it only made sense. A man as busy as Joe would need someone to look after his home.

The old woman’s gaze shifted from Kate to Joe. “I expected you an hour ago.”

Joe exhaled slowly and, taking Kate’s arm, pulled her toward the woman. “Sorry, we got a late start.” He dropped Kate’s arm and leaned in to give the woman a peck on the cheek.

The woman was definitely not his housekeeper.

“Kate,” he said, placing his arm around her waist, “I’d like you to meet my mother, Trudy Krause.”

Kate’s stomach sank. Oh my God, the woman who had been appraising her so closely was her new mother-in-law.

She plastered a smile on her face and took a step forward, holding out her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

Joe’s mother let her fingers brush Kate’s hand before crossing her arms over her apron. “Welcome.” She turned to Joe. “Come on. Dinner’s not getting any warmer while we stand in here flapping our jaws.” She pivoted on her heel and marched toward the back of the house.

Looking up at her husband, Kate raised her eyebrows in a silent question.

“Sorry,” he whispered, taking her arm and leading her through the dining room. “This wasn’t my idea.”

Kate paused in the doorway to the kitchen. It looked a little more modern than the parlor, but not much. Faded gray linoleum covered the floor. Glass-fronted white cabinets ringed the room over a pitted gray Formica countertop. Only the stove and refrigerator looked new, and Kate couldn’t help noticing that the kitchen lacked both a dishwasher and a microwave.

Mrs. Krause waved a skinny arm toward the table covered with a yellow vinyl tablecloth. Three place settings were laid out. “Sit down and let’s eat.”

The food she referred to had already been placed on the table. A bowl of mashed potatoes, a platter of fried chicken, and a tureen of what looked like congealed gravy. Two flies inched their way across the plastic, headed for the chicken.

Without warning, Trudy grabbed a fly swatter from the edge of the counter and, with one smack, killed both the flies.

Kate cringed as she watched Trudy fling them off the table with a practiced flip of her wrist.

She cleared her throat and smiled at her mother-in-law. “Mrs. Krause, it was so nice of you to fix us lunch.”

“Dinner,” Trudy replied in a clipped voice as she placed the fly swatter on the counter and pulled a chair away from the table. “Only city folks have lunch.”

“Right,” Kate said with a nod and took her place across from Trudy, “dinner, or whatever you want to call it.” She gave a nervous laugh. “It was kind of you to come by and prepare it for us.”

Trudy snorted and flicked her attention toward Joe, who sat at the head of the table. “Come by? Didn’t he tell you? I live here.”

Chapter 3

Summer 2012, the Krause family farm, Braxton County, Iowa

K
ate, would you please calm down and let me explain?”

She slammed the dresser drawer in her new bedroom and whirled around to glare at her new husband. “Why didn’t you tell me that your mother would be living with us?” she asked, brushing away the angry tears.

“She’s not,” he replied, shifting his weight on the old double bed.

“Really?” She hugged herself tightly. “That’s not the way it looks right now.”

Joe hopped off the bed and came to her with swift strides. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he tried to pull her toward him, but she refused to budge. “It’s temporary.”

Kate took a step back.

“I know this isn’t what you expected,” he said quickly, “but if you’d let me explain.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m waiting.”

“She wasn’t supposed to be here. She was supposed to give me a chance—” He faltered and ran a hand through his hair. “I really thought the situation would be resolved before the wedding.”

“How?”

“Ma’s name has been on the waiting list at the retirement apartments since the day I decided to ask you to marry me. She was supposed to move last weekend, but there was a problem with the apartment.”

“What kind of a problem?”

“The last tenant destroyed the interior. Now the landlord has to replace all the flooring and repaint the walls.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. And it’s going to take a month or so to finish it.” He traced a cross over his heart. “I swear . . . once it’s done, she’s moving.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, not softening her rigid stance.

“I didn’t want it to be a reason to postpone the wedding.”

“So you decided to keep it a secret?”

“Okay, not the smartest decision on my part,” he acknowledged. “But I thought once you saw the house and you understood the problem, you’d be okay with this temporary arrangement. She’s my mother. I can’t kick her out of what’s been her home for forty years.”

“I get that, but you should’ve told me before the wedding. I don’t like being caught unaware.”

“I know and I’m sorry.” His lips twisted in a frown. “I never intended for you to be blindsided. Ma was supposed to stay at her friend’s until I had a chance to explain.”

Kate felt her anger ease at the dejected expression on his face.

“And I was afraid,” he continued in a low voice.

“Of what?”

“That even with the baby, you might decide not to marry me.”

“Because of your mother?”

“Yes.” He looked down at his feet. “Not many women would want to take on a man who’s lived with his mother all these years,” he answered in a soft voice. “I worried that you might be one of them.” Raising his eyes, he searched Kate’s face. “I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you and the baby.”

“You should’ve trusted me.”

Joe brushed a strand of hair away from her ear and leaned in close. “I know . . . this is a terrible way for us to start our new life together.” He placed a soft kiss on the crook of her neck. “After meeting your grandmother, I should’ve been honest with you—”

“What has my grandmother got to do with this?” she asked, jerking away.

Joe stepped back. “Nothing . . . it’s just . . . well . . . meeting her and all . . .” He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “I can tell your grandmother’s given you a hard time over the years, but my mother is nothing like her—”

Kate cut him off as she felt her anger spike. “And you think that I would do anything, even if it meant living with your mother, to get away from her?”

He shook his head. “No, that’s not what I meant at all, and don’t go putting words in my mouth.” His face flushed. “I meant it as a compliment. I can see now the sacrifices that you’ve made for her, and you wouldn’t have made them if family didn’t matter to you. I should’ve known you’d accept my mother.”

Kate stepped around him, walking to one of the long windows and looking out at the flat fields beyond the front of the house.

Did she? Did she accept his mother? She gave a soft snort. After the lukewarm greeting she’d received, she wasn’t sure that Joe’s mother was ready to accept
her
. Bowing her head, she rubbed her forehead. She’d spent most of her life placating her grandmother. Would she have to do the same for Joe’s mother? If she were honest with herself, Joe was right. She
had
wanted to get away from her grandmother. She wanted her own life. A life that included a husband, a home, and children.

She turned and let her gaze travel the bedroom. She took in the old striped wallpaper, the bed with its carved walnut headboard and chenille bedspread, the washstand that still held an antique pitcher and bowl. Generations of Krauses had been born in this house, and it would be a good place to raise a family. Every marriage had a few bumps . . . maybe not this soon into it . . . but she could either let Joe’s lack of honesty spoil her dream or be a good wife and accept his motives.

Her attention settled on her husband, still standing by the dresser while he waited for her to say something. No longer flushed, he looked uncertain, and Kate felt her future hanging in the balance. She made her choice.

Crossing her arms, she studied him. “Your mother
is
taking the apartment as soon as it’s finished?”

Joe’s face brightened. “Yes. I can’t guarantee when that will happen—”

“But it will happen, right?” she asked, cutting him off.

He took a step toward her. “Right. And if you’ll just give me time, I promise it will all work out in the end.”

Kate felt the tension ease out of her body and she leaned back against the edge of the window. “I’m sorry if I was acting like a child. I just thought it would be you and—”

He quickly moved to where she stood by the window and took her in his arms. “I know, baby, I know,” he murmured softly in her ear. “I’m sorry, too. I was wrong. I should’ve explained about Ma, but if you’ll be patient, I promise, I’ll make it up to you.”

She rested her forehead against his chin. “I do love you, and I want our marriage to be a good one.”

He stepped back and held her at arm’s length. “It will, baby.”

Kate lowered her gaze. “The way I acted—” She hesitated. “I don’t think I made a very good impression on your mother.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he replied, lifting her chin. “Ma can be kind of prickly at times, but once she sees what a sweet and gentle woman you are, she’ll love you as much as I do.” He caressed the side of her face, letting his finger trail down her cheek, stopping at the sensitive spot below her ear. “What do you say we get you settled in, Mrs. Krause? Then”—his eyes strayed to the double bed—“I’ll welcome you properly to your new home.”

Ignoring the fluttering heat growing inside of her, Kate leaned away from his touch. “But your mother. She’s right downstairs.” Kate eyed the open old-fashioned heating grate in the floor. “She might hear—”

“Didn’t I tell you? . . .” He winked and started to edge toward the bed, pulling her with him. “She’s hard of hearing.”

Kate lay in bed, content to listen to her husband’s even breathing. Stretching her arms over her head, she smiled up at the ceiling. Everything was going to work out. They’d safely navigated the first crisis in their marriage. She curled on her side and stroked her wedding band.

The rest of the day had been perfect. Trudy had made herself scarce while Joe had given Kate a tour of the farm. She’d seen hogs, chickens, cattle, and a few stray barn cats. Joe hadn’t seemed fond of the latter and had dismissed her idea of catching one and taming it. She grinned. Well, she’d see about that. She’d never been allowed pets as a child and she’d always wanted a kitten. Surely, he wouldn’t mind just one?

On the way to the sprawling machine shed, they’d passed by a massive pristine vegetable garden, the rows straight as soldiers marching in formation. She’d eyed the garden with speculation. Maybe he wouldn’t mind if she added a few rows of her favorite herbs.

Joe had pointed out green beans, peppers, tomatoes, and her mouth had watered at the thought of a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich made with her own sun-ripened tomatoes. He informed her that they’d also have homegrown sweet corn, and praised its quality over what had been available to her in the city grocery stores.

He’d shown her an office that any CEO would be proud to call his own. It was located in an enclosed corner of a machine shed used for housing tractors and farm equipment so large that they made the snowmobiles and four-wheelers sitting next to them look like Tinkertoys.

They’d walked by an old cabin, which was the first home Jacob had built on the homestead. She longed to explore it, but Joe dismissed the idea. It was preserved as part of the Krause heritage, but never used. The only residents now were mice and a few pigeons.

On their way back to the house, Kate had spotted two trees in the backyard growing close enough together that she could hang a hammock between them. An image of lazy summer days spent lounging in the shade flitted across her mind as they crossed under the trees’ spreading branches—and that image held two towheaded children with Joe’s green eyes nestled close to her as she read to them from Dr. Seuss.

Her hand strayed to her lower belly. Kate’s stomach fluttered with excitement, but it quickly dampened. Trudy had to be settled in town before the baby came. As it was, the one-bathroom house was going to be crowded enough for three adults without throwing a baby into the mix.

But that didn’t mean she couldn’t start planning her baby’s nursery now. Her gaze traveled to the door and the hallway beyond. The back bedroom would be perfect. She’d love to get out of bed and go look over that room now.

Joe stirred in his sleep and rolled away from her. Why not, she thought with a quick glance at his back. All day he’d stressed that this was her home, and if Trudy’s hearing was as poor as Joe claimed, she wouldn’t disturb anyone.

Kate slid to the side of the bed and eased her feet onto the floor. Quickly, she stood and crept to the foot of the bed to grab her robe just in case Trudy did catch her wandering the house. It wouldn’t do for Joe’s mother to get a glimpse of her in the semi-sheer nightgown purchased for the honeymoon that never happened.

She shoved her arms into the sleeves and tiptoed from the room. The hallway was pitch-black.

This is silly, she thought with a shake of her head and turned to go back to bed, but stopped.

A soft sigh came from the back bedroom at the end of the hallway. She cocked her head and listened. The noise sounded like a whisper. Was Trudy upstairs carrying on some kind of conversation with long-gone Krauses? Joe hadn’t mentioned anything about his mother’s health, but more than once she’d caught her grandmother muttering to shadows in the middle of the night. Maybe Trudy had the same habit?

Whispers again reached her ears. With one hand against the wall to guide her, Kate glided across the hallway, mindful of the creaking boards. When she reached the back bedroom, she turned the knob carefully and slowly swung the door open.

Nothing. The only shapes Kate could make out in the darkness were the numerous boxes that she’d noticed earlier in the day. Closing the door with a faint click, she began to retrace her steps back to her bedroom. She’d reached the door when suddenly the stairs to her right creaked.

Trudy had been upstairs. Disconcerted at the idea of her mother-in-law lurking outside their door while they slept, Kate slipped into the bedroom and headed for the dresser. A penlight was in her top drawer. Using it, she could make her way downstairs and discover what Trudy was doing.

She rummaged around in the darkness until her fingers finally found it. Creeping back out of the room, she flicked it on when she’d reached the hallway and headed down the stairs. As she reached the bottom, she heard rustling coming from the kitchen. If Trudy were awake, maybe this would be a good time for some woman-to-woman bonding. Maybe she could alleviate Trudy’s disapproval.

Kate wended her way through the crowded parlor and through the dining room. When she passed the door to Trudy’s bedroom, she noticed that it was closed and that the kitchen was dark.

She paused in the kitchen doorway as she shone the tiny light around the room. It was as empty of life as the back bedroom had been. If Trudy had been wandering around, she was safely in bed now.

Half turning, Kate caught a shadow out of the corner of her eye. She whirled around and hit it with her light. She clutched her chest and exhaled.

The back door—it stood partially open and was responsible for the shadow. With a shake of her head, Kate walked over to it. She knew rural areas didn’t have the same crime rate as the cities—
but, honestly, not locking the doors at night!
She’d never sleep easy knowing that anyone could walk into their house at any time. She’d talk to Joe about it in the morning.

Her hand reached for the door, but another noise caught her attention. Something moved beyond the trees. Stepping out onto the small back porch, she crossed to the railing. She leaned against it and moved her light in a slow arc across the backyard.