by Stella Clark
At least she didn’t ask questions, he reminded himself. They arrived at the chapel and found their preacher practicing his sermon. He was a short man with a ruddy complexion and soft hair. Hurrying over, he waved his papers around. “Hello, hello! Mr. Jarrett, is it? My, my, it’s lovely to see you. And you, miss—”
“Good afternoon,” Owen cut through with a nod. He set her bag down and led them forward, meeting in the middle of the room. “We’d like to get married.”
Ruby understood the preacher’s bewildered expression, for she felt the same. But he recovered gracefully, glancing between them and nodding. “Ah. Oh. Well then. I do have the time. Come, come. Don’t you have a wedding party with you?”
Owen shook his head. “No.” He paused, glancing back at Ruby. Immediately, his lips tightened as he turned back to the preacher. “It’s just us. It was a bit … sudden. But we’d like to move quickly. We need to get back to the children.”
The preacher nodded before urging them forward. “Of course, of course. Come. Let’s see, all I need is … hm. You’ll need to talk to our justice of the peace, but I do believe he should be returning to his office any minute now. We’ll do a ceremony here and go there to get your marriage certificate signed, yes?”
It was agreed. Ruby and Owen faced each other as the preacher conducted the ceremony. She wasn’t certain what to expect, but it felt like more of a meeting than the expected cheerful occasion. The preacher offered some words, she agreed, then Owen agreed, and the preacher pronounced them wed. “And you may kiss your bride.”
Her stomach tightened. He had been polite enough, confident, and hadn’t deserted her. Surely those were good signs. Shyly, she glanced up, hoping she didn’t look too much a mess from the train. Ruby tried not to think about the fact that she had never been kissed before.
But her husband wouldn’t look at her. Instead, he leaned forward and brushed his lips across her cheek so lightly that she wasn’t certain it had happened. “We should go,” he added quietly, before straightening up.
Ruby’s mouth turned dry, and she tried not to think about it. She dropped her gaze and allowed her hands to drop from his. The marriage certificate was obtained, and soon they were on the wagon to her new home.
Chapter Four
They arrived at a large home with a porch in front of a barn. Ruby was amazed at the view. So this was Utah. Open plains, tall mountains, and no one else for miles. Such an idea had been unfathomable for as long as she could remember. But now she was here.
Even the air tasted different. There was something pleasantly fresh about it. Summer was beginning to end, but it felt like spring was just beginning. Ruby breathed the world in as she tried to memorize the view.
“The children will be inside.” Owen pointed to the house and directed them ahead. Clutching her skirts, she hastily followed. “They’ll be your responsibility while I’m out here. Supper should be on the table by sunset. I might be late, but I’ll expect a heaping of whatever you cook. The house should be tidy, and laundry shouldn’t be out overnight.” As they walked up to the back door, he listed a few chores then paused.
The look he gave her was sharp and evaluating. She squirmed a little, trying to digest what he was saying and everything around them. “I can—I’ll do them. I’ll be a good wife.”
“Mother,” he corrected her to her surprise. “I’ve had a wife, and I buried her. But them youngsters need someone to teach them and raise them and watch them. That’s all I’m expecting. And in return you can expect a roof, a warm home, and access to food, with money when you need it. You understand?”
She only flinched with the last of his words. Though he had hinted at these ideas in the ad and letters, Ruby hadn’t been certain what he had meant. But now, the way he spit out those words was more than enough of an explanation. He wanted a nanny and a cook. Not someone to warm his bed.
Inhaling deeply, she nodded. If he didn’t want to love her, then that meant she didn’t have to love him. Maybe that would make their lives easier. Ruby tried to meet his gaze, but his eyes were so intense that she couldn’t do it. “Yes, sir,” she said quietly. Her hands dropped to her sides, but the nerves in her stomach did not go away.
“Good.” He cleared his throat and opened the door. Just as she stepped inside, Owen whistled loudly. She jerked, ready to evade a swinging fist. But there wasn’t one. When she looked up, he pointed towards the hall. “Come here,” he called. “I won’t ask again. You two need to come and meet someone. This is Ruby. Ruby, this is Parker. He’s five. And Kate. She’s two. Greet her.”
Finally, she spotted the children peeking out of the dim hall. Immediately, she offered a smile. On the occasions she had needed to avoid her father, she had gone to Widow Artler’s to help tend her seven children. They were all so innocent and curious, and she had been glad not to be left alone at home. She just hoped they would like her. “Hello. It’s lovely to meet the two of you.”
They had such big eyes, bright blue, as they stared at her. As she tried to think of something to say, Owen cleared his throat and glanced towards the window. “There’s still work out there. You can get settled and supper started. Put your bag in the far-right room. I’ve cleaned it up for you. More ’n likely, I’ll be back late.”
He avoided her gaze as he left. The man spoke roughly, but the small pauses made her wonder. Perhaps he wasn’t cruel. Swallowing, she realized she’d been assigned her chores. There was little else to do but figure out how to do them.
“One step at a time,” she reminded herself. “That’s how everything gets done.” Ruby took a deep breath and went over to the shy children. Licking her lips, she knelt down. “Hello. Your father brought me here to take care of you. It means we can have fun and play together. Would you like that?” They didn’t budge. She tried again. “Parker, is that a wooden horse you’re holding? Does it have a name?”
Slowly, he shook his head. “Papa says we don’t name things like animals. Because they die.”
That was unexpected. It was a serious answer for such a small child. She opened her mouth, but hesitated. “They do,” she nodded gently. “But darling, that’s not a real horse. He can stay as long as you like.”
Kate turned to look at her brother thoughtfully and then to Ruby. “Stay?”
She nodded. “The horse is staying. And I’m staying.” She took a deep breath and stood. “So let us begin. I’m going to put my things away, and then I think that we’ll start on supper. Are you two hungry?” They nodded after a moment.
Picking up her bag, Ruby went down the hall to the room Owen had mentioned and found a small but tidy space available. There was a bed and a chest and a nightstand, with a window above the bed. She looked it over carefully, noting the bed was a small one, made only for one person. Two would not fit.
Which meant he would not be joining her. He had made that very clear now. The man—her husband—really didn’t want a wife. Her stomach clenched, but she didn’t know how to comprehend the idea. After all, she had agreed to come out here as a wife. Yet the entire trip here, she had worried the situation would be worse than in her home in New York. Owen didn’t look like a violent or angry man. The children were untouched, so he was not abusive. So surely here would be better. But the idea that she had married a man and would never even kiss him made her wonder.
“I can think on that later.” She shook her head. She didn’t know what it was like to love a man anyways, so perhaps she didn’t need a husband. There were already children in a warm, safe home for her to spend her time with anyways.
Putting the bag down, she returned to the parlor.
The children hadn’t budged. Had they been home alone all day? Was that safe? What had they done? She tried to pull them into conversation as she started inspecting the kitchen. But they said little, preferring to observe her. It was unnerving, but her heart went out to them. Of course they would be shy. Ruby wondered what Owen had told them about her and tried to think of some ideas that might he
lp them warm up to her.
“It’s time to prepare supper,” she reminded them. “Is there anything you two think I should cook?”
They glanced at each other and then shrugged. “Porridge?” the young boy offered.
She hadn’t expected that. “Is that what you want?”
“It’s all we ever have,” he mumbled. “And apples for lunch. And oatmeal.”
“Oatmeal,” Kate echoed.
At least they were talking to her. Ruby offered a smile and decided to scout out the kitchen. There was a whole home to explore. A little more looking around helped her find some potatoes that she cooked for them. As everything cooked, she let the children show her around the house. They were quiet for the most part, but they answered her questions.
The food was eaten enthusiastically, and she wondered how much porridge they had been eating lately. There were so many questions about everything. While they sat by the windows afterwards, Ruby tidied up and, not knowing what else to do, helped them get to bed. Soon they were fast asleep, allowing her time to herself to clean the kitchen, study the house more, and finally retire for the evening.
Owen had said not to expect her. She’d left a covered pot for him near the fireplace, hoping he might spot it before bed.
As she sat down in her new bedroom, Ruby sighed. She was tired. The traveling had taken out all of her energy, as had figuring out the house. Only then did she realize it was her wedding night.
Why had he brought home a wife if he didn’t want one? Perhaps he should have just hired some help. Yet Ruby was thankful he had not yelled or hit her. She could live with anything else. Glancing out her window, she marveled at how different it was from home. Before she went to bed, she prayed for something good to happen.
Chapter Five
He needed to hire help. This was too much for one man to handle. Acres of land to harvest and cattle to move, all on his own. What could he do? All the folks in town already had enough on their hands. Owen had to just be grateful he wasn’t worrying about the children any longer.
Once the horse was put away, he headed up to the house. As he opened the door, an unfamiliar sound reached him. He stood there for a minute, confused. Wiping his sweaty brow with his forearm, Owen wandered inside to seek out what was going on.
It was laughter. In the hallway, he saw Ruby hike up her skirts and dart around a chair towards the kitchen. He moved forward to find his two kids running from her. But they weren’t exactly screaming. They were laughing, giggling as they held hands and ran under the table.
“Oh you!” Ruby threw back her head in laughter. “I can’t reach either of you! Goodness, whatever will I do?” Her arms flung out in exaggeration. “Come back here!”
Owen cleared his throat as the woman dramatically crouched down and reached for the kids, who were clutching their stomachs in laughter. Everyone froze as they turned towards him.
The children fell silent, but Ruby gasped in surprise, banging her head into a chair when she stepped on her skirts as she struggled to get up on her feet. He heard her gulp as she offered a sheepish smile. “Hello! Sir. We were … You’re home early.”
He glanced at the setting sun. “I suppose you could say that. You’re not getting the house dirty, are you?” His eyes drifted back to the children. When he nudged his head, they obediently climbed up, setting the chairs back in their correct positions.
When Owen glanced back to Ruby, the merriment in her eyes was gone. The smile thinned as she nodded. Fixing the apron tied around her waist, the girl dropped her gaze and turned. “Of course not. Though even if we were, it would easily be cleaned up again. We were just playing. They’ve been such good children; I thought I’d show them a few games I used to play back home”
He didn’t know what to say to that. Didn’t Parker and Kate already know how to play? Silence reigned as he considered something to say next. “What about supper?”
Her face paled as she glanced back at the fireplace. “It’s cooking right now. Chicken pie. I mean, I put it on, it’s …” the girl hurried over and then sighed in relief, pointing to the pot. “See? It’s here. It’s cooking, I promise. I just, we had the time, and, and …”
She started to stammer, her face growing red. Owen ground his teeth. But he wasn’t certain if he was irritated at her nervous behavior or at himself for making her nervous. She’d been laughing one second, but the moment he arrived, she was a clumsy mess of nerves.
Shifting his feet uncomfortably, he nodded and waved a hand that quieted her immediately. “I can smell it,” he said finally. “Fine … I’ll go rinse off out back.”
“Do you need bathwater? I can draw some,” she volunteered, clasping her hands together. The idea didn’t seem to thrill her, but the way her eyes widened made him wonder if that’s how she had been raised to treat others. It was generous of her. And the way she stood in the light made her face glow. He blinked and took a step back, wondering why, for a mere second, she had looked like his wife.
“No.” Owen turned his head. “No, I’ll do it. I’ll be done in time to eat with everyone, so set me a plate.” He then carefully maneuvered around the room to avoid getting too close to the strange young woman and his two children.
***
As he washed, he needed a distraction from his sore muscles, and for some reason, the way she had played with the children wouldn’t leave him. It was silly and childish, but he hadn’t heard them laugh in a while. He sighed, burying his face in the water. Her soft brown hair had looked golden in the evening glow.
This time when Owen returned inside, he found supper laid out and Ruby tickling Parker with Kate’s help. “Under the arms,” she told the little girl while laughing.
“No, not Kate!” he wailed before erupting into giggles. “I’m laughing too hard!”
Sure enough, the little boy snorted. That made Kate fall over onto her blanket, the one she carried everywhere, laughing loudly. Ruby leaned against the chair with a hand clasped over her mouth. “Parker, where are your manners?” she demanded, pretending to be serious for only a moment before throwing her head back in laughter. “Oh, you children! My insides are going to tear in two!” She wiped away her tears before noticing Owen leaning against the door.
Her smile froze for a second before she nodded to him. She opened her mouth to say something, but he shook his head. This time, he didn’t want to interrupt. There was a tight feeling in his chest as he watched. It was what a family was supposed to look like, wasn’t it?
Ruby searched his gaze before turning back to the children. She giggled as Parker poked his sister, who squealed loudly. “All right, enough laughter,” the woman announced with a clap of her hands. “I think that emptied our stomachs. Wouldn’t you say? The pie should be cool. Is anyone hungry?”
They scrambled up. “Me! I am!” Parker hopped up and down, raising one hand in the air.
As Ruby stood, Kate waved both of her hands. “I am, Mama, I am!” The young woman had started to stretch out her arms to the two-year-old, but froze.
Owen’s heart plummeted. He straightened, wondering if he had heard right. What had he just called her? Where would she have gotten that idea?
His wife, though she didn’t feel like one, heard him. The man had such a strong presence, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to ignore him. Her breath stopped short as she stared at little Kate, who was tugging on her arms now. There was the strangest sensation within her chest. “I …” Her body obeyed, bending to pick up the child before she turned back to Owen.
Though the man had said his children needed a mother, the expression he wore now said anything but. Ruby couldn’t help but take a step back from the dark look, wrapping her arms around Kate protectively. Owen’s gaze turned dark. She spotted the hands balled into fists and couldn’t help but glance towards the front door. If she had to, could she outrun him with a child in her arms?
Ruby thought fast, trying to save the situation. Being called that had been unexpected, and for
the smallest moment, she’d felt invincible. But her husband’s face told her this was not good news.
“I … it’s just Ruby.” She licked her lips. “Kate? I’m just … I’m just Ruby, you hear, my sweet?”
“Ruby,” the girl struggled with her r’s, and it made her smile. “Wuby. I’m hungry.”
Owen looked away, and it broke the moment. She didn’t see him turn, but felt it in her body. Ruby’s shoulders relaxed though she held the child tighter. The room was too hot. Inhaling deeply, she swallowed and led the children to the table.
It would be the first time they ate as a family, Ruby realized. Though she had been hoping for it to come sooner, now she wondered if it was too soon. Especially after what had just happened. Glancing around, she tried to avoid Owen’s gaze. And if she was any good at guessing, she was fairly certain he was doing the same thing.
Chapter Six
“Sir? Do you have a moment?”
He sighed with his hand on his bedroom door and turned to Ruby. It was late, and he was exhausted.
She wrung her hands quickly in a flurry of movements. Something was bothering her. It could be anything. Owen didn’t want to talk, so he considered telling her that it could wait till another time.
“It’s late,” he started apprehensively.
“I know, and I still have the kitchen to clean, but I wanted to ask …” Ruby took another step forward. She needed them to be on the same page. “It’s just … we haven’t talked. I don’t know what—I mean, I … and earlier, it was just—I mean …”
He cleared his throat. “Is there a question in there?”
And she moved back. That wasn’t what he had meant. How did she have the courage to speak up but then become meek as a mouse? “I … It’s just, when Kate said … it’s just that I, if it’s … what you’ve said about us. I just wanted to, I mean, I want to … your children are precious. You know that, right?” She stepped forward, reaching him.