by Danni Roan
“Thank you,” she breathed.
Teddy strode toward the door giving his blushing bride her privacy, closing the door behind him with a sigh.
Amanda sucked in a deep breath. She was surprised that Theo had been willing to step out while she changed. She would just slip into her nightdress and wrap.
Reaching behind her, Amanda started on the buttons at her back, but the tiny mother of pearl disks and simple loops that held her dress closed wouldn’t budge. Her arms burned as again and again, she tried to get out of the elegant dress and hot tears began to fall.
“Theo!” she finally called in embarrassed exasperation. “I need your help.”
Teddy dashed into the house. “What’s wrong?” he asked, looking around.
“I can’t…” Amanda sniffed, pointing at the buttons down her back.
Teddy grinned. Perhaps his young wife would need to get over her shyness sooner rather than later, he thought as his fingers trembled on the first button of the beautiful dress.
Chapter 8
Teddy took Amanda’s hand, kissing it softly as they walked toward the door. Today would be their first real day as husband and wife, and he couldn’t wait to sit with the pretty woman in church.
He had worried, the night before that she wasn’t ready to be his wife in every way, but together they had gotten through those first awkward moments of intimacy, and he felt more connected to Amanda than ever before.
“You look lovely,” Teddy grinned, admiring the violet dress his new wife wore. “You sure have a powerful number of pretty things.”
Amanda blushed, tying the ribbon of her matching bonnet. Teddy had been accommodating all morning and had even buttoned her dress. Now she was hungry and thinking of nothing more than breakfast.
“You’re sure Rosa won’t mind if we join everyone for breakfast?”
“No, she’ll expect us. Besides, this way you’ll get to meet the crew, and they’ll keep an eye out for you. I’m sure in no time you’ll be fast friends with Rosa and little Christina. We’d better hurry though, we’re already running late.”
“Late?” Amanda gaped, the sun had barely reached the top of the low hills as a half globe, and she was dressed and ready to leave.
Teddy placed his hand at the young woman’s back and opened the door, ushering her out into the light of a new day.
“Theo-dore!” Rosa spat as Teddy walked into the main house. “How come you not tell us that you are getting married?” The fiery woman shook the spatula she had been flipping pancakes with at Teddy. “We could have made a big party.”
“I didn’t know,” Teddy pleaded. “We just kind of decided, and it happened.”
“With half the town turnin’ out to watch,” Cookie snapped as he walked an empty platter from the table.
Amanda shrank back from the old man, but Teddy’s soft laugh in her ear steadied her. “Don’t worry, Cookie’s bark is far worse than his bite.”
“Come, eat,” Rosa said, carrying the platter of pancakes to the waiting cowhands. “Cookie will bring more bacon.”
Amanda took the seat that Theo offered, gazing around her at the curious faces of the other men. She recognized Mayor Dan, from her first encounter on the ranch, but everyone else was strangers.
“I’d like you all to meet my wife, Amanda.” Teddy beamed with pride. “Amanda, this here is Rosa, and that’s little Christina, you met them before.” He blushed, pointing at the little girl sitting next to Dan in a tall, highchair.
The men around the table each greeted Amanda putting her more at ease, though she was sure she would never remember their names. She had thought this initial meeting would be awkward, but so far, everyone seemed happy to see her there.
“Your dress is beautiful,” Rosa said, taking a seat and offering a smile. “Come now, we eat.”
An hour later, Amanda settled on the seat of the buckboard with Theodore, feeling nervous but happy. So far, this married life wasn’t too bad, and she seemed to be handling each challenge well enough.
Theo squeezed her hand as they set out, and she scooted a little closer to him.
“We’ll drop the buckboard off at the livery this morning,” Teddy spoke. “You’ll ride back with Rosa and Christina.”
“What about you?” Amanda blanched. “Aren’t you coming home?”
“I’ll ride Pepper.” He turned slightly to look at his placid pony trotting behind the wagon. “Can you ride?”
“Yes, of course.” Amanda turned, looking at the horse then down at her dress. It was not the kind of thing one wore riding.
“I don’t mean today, but if you’re of a mind to ride sometime, I can organize a quiet horse for you. I don’t want you to feel like you’re stuck at home while I’m out workin’ all the time.”
“I don’t have a saddle,” Amanda protested.
“Well, we’ll see what we can do about that. Dan has plenty of saddles. I’m sure one of them will suit.”
Amanda felt her cheeks flame, she didn’t want to be a problem for Theodore, but she needed to explain. “I ride sidesaddle.” The words tumbled out and Amanda dropped her eyes as Theo’s brows rose.
“Oh, of course.” Teddy sat in silence for several moments, contemplating the issue. “I’ll talk to Darwin when I drop off the wagon,” he finally said. “I don’t know if he has a sidesaddle, but maybe he can help me get one.”
Amanda relaxed a little at Theo’s words. The thought of riding astride was simply too indecent to consider. “I would appreciate that.”
“If you need anything else while I’m workin’, you can always walk up to the house and ask Rosa. She goes to town fairly often, and you can always ride along.”
Though quaint, Amanda enjoyed the church service in Needful and was surprised at the number of people who took the time to greet and congratulate her and Theo. It would be a long time before she remembered all of the names of the people who stopped to shake her hand, but they made her feel welcome.
“I see you survived your first night as a wife,” Ellen teased, making Amanda’s face flush. “Teddy’s a good man,” the other woman grinned. “You chose well.”
Teddy smiled, shaking hands with friends and acquaintances as they greeted him, but his face froze when the saloon owner paused, his eyes roaming over Amanda critically.
“If I’d known you were such a pretty thing,” Mr. Alder spoke, a hard glint in his eye, “I’d have come callin’ myself. Why, with the money I make in the saloon, you’d have lived the kind of life a lady like yourself deserves.”
Teddy stepped closer to Amanda, wrapping an arm around her possessively. “I’m not sure life as the wife of a saloon owner is what one might call fit for a lady.”
Mr. Alder chuckled, walking away with a quick retort. “If you ever get tired of this country bumpkin, you come see me.” His dark eyes lit on Amanda again, and she sank into Teddy’s embrace, offering a haughty look for the rude man.
“I’m starting to think I was fortunate to meet you first,” Amanda admitted looking at Theo. “Now, may we go home?”
Teddy walked Amanda to the waiting wagon as Dan handed him Pepper’s reins. He still couldn’t believe, after what he had done upon Amanda’s arrival, that she had consented to marry him. Perhaps he was just the best pick of what was available, but he knew if he worked hard, he could indeed win her heart.
Chapter 9
Monday morning broke, cool and misty as the first watery glint of light touched the window of the tiny cabin and Teddy rolled out of bed.
“Is it time to get up?” Amanda blinked, bleary-eyed into the darkness.
“You go on and sleep if you want to,” Teddy leaned over, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ve got to get to the house and start chores.”
Amanda sat up, squinting at the faint line of light along the horizon through the blank window. “It’s still dark.”
Teddy grinned. “That’s life on a ranch, darlin’. Up at the crack of dawn, long days in the saddle, and plenty
to do.”
“What am I to do while you’re gone?” Amanda felt her stomach knot.
“Whatever you’d like. You just trundle on up to the house when you’re ready. I’ll ask Rosa to hold a plate for ya, and you two can get to know each other.”
Amanda nodded, wondering what she and the lovely Mexican woman would ever find to talk about. Rosa was bold, confident, and full of spunk, while Amanda was timid, fretful, and confused.
“I’ll come with you,” she said, throwing the blankets off and climbing from the depths of the warm bed. “I don’t think I’d like to be here alone in the dark. What if one of those horrid cows turns up?”
Teddy pulled Amanda into his arms, kissing her sweetly. He loved the way she felt tucked up next to him, but he was trying to take his time and let her adjust to married life. “Suit yourself,” he grinned. “Maybe Dan should think about putting up a fence around the main property to keep the cattle from wandering through the place, not that they tend to,” he added quickly at Amanda’s horrified expression.
The noise and bustle of the main house washed over Amanda upon entry, in a disorienting wave as voices mingled in a cacophony. Men she had never seen before straddled chairs as the old cook and Rosa placed stacks of food before them.
“Mornin’,” Teddy offered, striding to the table and pulling out a chair for Amanda as she reluctantly followed. “What’s on the schedule for the day?”
“The usual,” Cookie grumbled. “Eat up so’s we can get it done before the cows come home.”
The whole table erupted in laughter, making Amanda flinch. She suddenly felt completely out of place with the rowdy cowhands.
Rosa brought a tray of biscuits, taking her seat at the end of the long table and smiling at Amanda. “You eat,” she grinned. “You are too skinny for a rancher’s wife.”
Amanda ducked her head, taking the biscuits and passing them toward Theo, trying to make herself as small as possible as she dodged the scrutiny of the other men.
“Do not listen to these men,” Rosa said, eyeing Amanda’s fresh floral print dress. “They will talk too much. Today you will stay with Christina and me. I will like having another woman around to help with the work.”
Amanda blanched. What could she do to help Rosa? She was singularly ill-equipped to work on a ranch. Perhaps she had married too quickly, and Teddy had not been the best choice. How could a girl from Virginia, who had barely even lifted a finger to serve herself, fit in on a hard-working ranch?
Teddy looked up, trying to catch Rosa’s eye, but Dan’s wife was busy fixing a plate for her little girl. He wanted to let Rosa know that Amanda might need some time to settle into life on a ranch. He didn’t care if Amanda did all of the usual wifely things, he liked her just the way she was.
In a matter of minutes, the food was finished and the men rose to their feet, preparing for the start of a long day.
“I’ll try to get back to the ranch for lunch,” Teddy whispered, pecking Amanda on the cheek. “Just tell Rosa if you need anything.”
Amanda looked up, her luminous blue eyes huge, but she didn’t say anything. Finishing her breakfast, the young woman looked toward Rosa feeling completely useless. “Can I help?” The words were a bare whisper.
Rosa wiped Christina’s little face, leaning in and kissing the dark-eyed child. “Come, we will clean.”
Amanda pulled her chair back from the table, looking down at the dirty plates and wondering where to start. “What do I do?” she asked, hanging her head in shame.
Rosa lifted Christina from her chair, placing the girl on the floor and smoothing her dress.
“You have never washed dishes?” Rosa asked, starting to gather the dirty plates and cups. “You take,” she nodded toward the rest of the dishes on the table.
Amanda gathered a few dishes together, following Rosa to the kitchen and watching as the other woman scraped any leavings into a bucket.
“You will learn,” Rosa grinned. “You are not the first Needful bride who is new to this life.”
Amanda looked up, relieved at the smile on Rosa’s lips. Had other women come to Needful without any skills?
***
Amanda helped Rosa lay out sliced bread, cheese, and meat on a sideboard for lunch, then washed her hands and stepped out the door. She would take some of the offerings to the cabin and hope that Theo would join her. At the moment, she was too tired to think further than that, and her hands were raw from washing dishes.
She had never worked so hard in her life as she had helping Rosa clear the remains of breakfast from the table.
Cringing as the sun blasted down on her head, Amanda realized she had forgotten her bonnet but pressed on to her new home wanting nothing more than to sit down and put her feet up.
The sound of a cow bawling somewhere in the distance made Amanda hurry toward her new home, dodging through the door and closing it quickly behind her.
With a sigh of relief, the young woman walked to one of her trunks and began rummaging through it, laughing when she found the small jar of hand cream. Sinking to the floor, disregarding the dust collecting on her dress, Amanda smeared the cream onto her chaffed hands. “How do women do this every day?” The words echoed into the empty house.
Sagging against the trunk, Amanda leaned back against it closing her eyes as she stretched tired limbs. Rosa wasn’t much bigger than Amanda, yet she had worked tirelessly, washing, drying, and putting dishes on a shelf. She had even scrubbed the table and started a massive batch of bread.
“I’m useless,” Amanda sniffed tears pricking behind her eyes. “Why did I ever think I could do this?”
Pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve, she dabbed at her eyes, her arms dropping to her lap once more as she quivered with fatigue.
***
Teddy touched heels to Pepper’s flanks, letting the horse stretch out for a good run home. He had promised he would join Amanda for lunch, and he smiled, thinking of seeing his pretty wife.
The ranch came into view and Teddy, eased back in the saddle letting Pepper slow. He didn’t need everyone on the ranch to see how much he liked his new wife.
Pulling up to the ranch house, Teddy tied Pepper to the hitching post and strolled into the house.
“You back already?” Cookie chuckled as Teddy walked through the door. “Seems like your little woman went home.”
“Is something wrong?” Teddy gazed around him, worried that something had happened between Amanda and Rosa? Teddy knew that Rosa could have a sharp tongue and Amanda seemed timid at best. “I’ll check on her,” he said casually, walking back outside and breaking into a trot as soon as he was out of sight.
Teddy opened the door, hesitating when he saw Amanda sitting against her trunk, her eyes closed. A smile flickered across his face and he hurried to her side, leaning in to place a kiss on her cheek.
“Ahh!” Amanda jerked with a scream, balking as Teddy tugged at her hand.
“Easy, there,” Teddy soothed. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Amanda patted her chest, her breathing slowing once more. “I’m sorry I must have fallen asleep.”
Teddy stood, pulling her along with him. “It’s been a long day for you.”
“Oh, you came home for lunch,” Amanda’s eyes grew wide. “I brought food for you.” Releasing his hand, she hurried to the trunk where she had placed the covered plate.
“What about you, did you already eat?”
Amanda stared at Teddy for a few moments rubbing her hands. “I didn’t think.”
Teddy’s smile was warm as he pulled the old bench toward the trunk, helping her to sit. “You sit,” I’ll be right back.”
Amanda lifted a tiny piece of cheese, nibbling on it only to discover that she was famished.
The door opened again and Teddy returned, shoving the door closed with a foot and walking toward her, his hands full of teapot and cups.
“You don’t drink tea,” Amanda blinked.
“No, but you do,”
Teddy grinned pleased with himself. He knew it would take time for his sweet bride to adjust to her new life, but he didn’t care. He hadn't married a handmaiden to work for him. He wanted a companion and a friend.
Amanda blushed, weariness bringing tears to her eyes. “Thank you.”
Teddy separated the food on the plate, making sure that Amanda had enough to eat.
Finding her manners, Amanda poured the tea. There was no cream or sugar, so she sipped the hot brew black. The first sip washed the dryness from her throat, and the second imbued her with a hint of energy.