Abner's Adventure

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Abner sighed. “What’s for dinner?” He had enjoyed a deep, relaxing sleep. Now that he was awake, he felt tired and rather cranky.

  Catherine went back to the stove and waved her hands with a flourish. “It’s my mother’s Beef Wellington. It’s always been my favorite dish.”

  Abner scowled. “What’s Beef Wellington?”

  Catherine seemed at a loss for words. “Why don’t you try it? It was one of my favorites when I was little. My mother didn’t cook often, because Mrs. Phillips handled that. But when she did, my brother and I always asked for this.”

  Abner grunted as Catherine served him a plate of hot food. The dinner she had cooked seemed to be meat wrapped inside a loaf of bread. It was also smothered in a mushroom sauce, and Abner hated mushrooms. “I hate mushrooms,” Abner said without thinking.

  Catherine’s face fell. She had worked for hours to make the dish, doing everything she could to remember how her mother had made it. Although it was her first time making it on her own, she thought it smelled delicious.

  Abner saw Catherine’s expression and scrambled to say something else. “I didn’t mean that! I’m sure it will be wonderful!”

  Catherine could tell that Abner didn’t mean it, though. “If you don’t want it, you don’t have to eat it. I’m happy to eat every bite myself.” She served herself a generous portion before looking at him to see if he was going to ask for some.

  Abner felt terrible. He hadn’t meant to upset Catherine. That was the last thing he wanted to do. “I’d like some as well, please.”

  They ate their dinner in silence, and then Catherine did the dishes before excusing herself and going into the bedroom again.

  Abner stared at the closed curtain for a moment and decided it was high time he confronted his new wife about the way she ran off if she got the slightest bit upset. “What exactly do you want from me?” he asked.

  “I don’t know what I want!” Catherine said, frustrated.

  “What about what I want?” Abner demanded. “Have you thought about that?”

  Catherine sat up, wiping her tears away. “What do you mean?”

  “You haven’t shared our marital bed at all yet. Do you know how that makes me feel?” Abner asked.

  Catherine grew very quiet.

  “Rotten! That’s how it makes me feel!” Abner continued. “I’m a man, and a man has the right to sleep next to his wife. And—to—well, you know what I mean!”

  Catherine looked at him, trying to blink the tears away from her eyes before he noticed them. She knew exactly what Abner meant. She, too, wanted to have a healthy and happy marriage. She knew what that entailed. But the past few days had been overwhelming. She wanted a little time to get settled and feel comfortable before she could open herself up to her husband like that. She didn’t know how to express it to Abner. All she wanted to do was cry.

  “I need to take a walk!” Abner said. He pushed aside the curtains and walked out the front door to the house. “Well, now I’ve gone and bungled everything!” Abner was upset with Catherine, but he was even madder with himself. Regardless of their disputes, Catherine was his wife, and it was his duty to love and protect her. He felt guilty for losing his temper with her.

  He walked around the house, calming himself down. When he went back inside, he planned to apologize, but he found Catherine shoving her belongings back into her carpet bag. “What are you doing?”

  “I need to get away and think,” Catherine explained. “I can’t be here anymore.” She knew leaving forever wasn’t the answer, but taking some time to think and figure out how to be a better wife might be.

  Abner was stunned. A wife couldn’t just quit after three days and walk out on her husband, could she? “Please don’t do that, Catherine!”

  Catherine kept packing. “I’ve had a lot of change all at once. I need some quiet so I can do some thinking.”

  Abner sighed. He couldn’t believe what he was about to say. He walked over to her and put his hand on top of her carpet bag, preventing her from putting anything else inside it. “Don’t go. I understand. I’ll stay with my employer for a few days and give you some time to think.”

  Catherine paused. She felt angry with Abner for his behavior, but what he was offering seemed kind and generous. “You would do that?”

  “I want this marriage to work, Catherine. I know we haven’t gotten off on the right foot, but I hope we can figure things out soon,” Abner continued.

  Catherine nodded. “I’d like that. I hope so, too.”

  Abner took a sack from the kitchen and packed some clothes into it. “I’ll come back in a few days to check on you. If you need to see me, I’ll be at the ranch.”

  “Okay.” Even though Catherine wanted to be alone, she hated to see him leaving. “Abner, wait!”

  Abner paused before he opened the door. “What is it?”

  “Maybe . . . maybe you should come back for dinner each night. So we can check in on one another,” Catherine suggested.

  Abner brightened. “I’d like that. You know I love your cooking.”

  Catherine blushed. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow evening, then.”

  “See you tomorrow.” Abner exited the cabin and set off for the ranch in Bagley. He knew Tom and Penny McClain wouldn’t mind an extra man sleeping on the premises. They had a series of cabins on their land where their adopted sons lived, and there were several empty cabins. Abner had never stayed there before, but Tom and Penny were warm and welcoming. Penny happened to be one of Edna Petunia’s adopted daughters, and she and Tom stayed busy raising their seven sons and all the orphaned boys they had taken in.

  When Abner got to the ranch, he saw Tom chopping wood outside with one of his sons.

  “Abner! What brings you here this time of night?” Tom asked. He set his ax down to greet Abner.

  Abner sighed. “I’m having trouble with my new wife.”

  “Already?” Tom looked surprised. “It’s been less than a week!”

  Abner shook his head. “It seems whatever I do is wrong.”

  “I’m sure you two can work things out. What are you doing here, though?” Tom hoped Abner hadn’t come looking for advice. He enjoyed his own wonderful marriage with Penny, but he didn’t presume to know a thing about other people’s marriages.

  “I was hoping I could stay here for a few nights to give Catherine some space. I’ll work extra in the mornings in exchange for food and shelter,” Abner explained.

  Tom thought for a moment. “That’s fine, Abner. Cabin six is open. I’ll have Penny make up the bed for you.” He motioned for his son to continue chopping without him and led Abner inside.

  “Hi, Abner!” Penny called as soon as she saw him. “How’s that new wife of yours? I heard from my niece Chrissy that she’s just beautiful.”

  Abner hung his head. “I’m afraid she’s not very happy with me now.”

  “Is that right?” Penny asked.

  Abner nodded.

  Tom clapped Abner on the back. “He’s going to stay with us for a few nights until they patch things up. Can you get Cabin Six ready for him?”

  “I forgot to tell you, we’ve got a new young man in Cabin Six. But Cabin Nine is open. I’ll make the bed there, and Abner, don’t worry about a thing!” Penny exclaimed.

  Tom turned to Abner and smiled. “I can’t keep track of all the comings and goings around here. You’ll understand one day when you have kids.”

  “I hope you’re right about that,” Abner replied. At this point, he just wanted a healthy marriage. They could worry about expanding their family later, once Abner and Catherine had resolved their issues with each other.

  Penny cheerfully showed Abner to Cabin Nine. Each structure was a small, basic room with a twin bed and a chest of drawers to put clothing in. Even though it wasn’t anything fancy, it was neat and tidy, and since there wasn’t much inside, it felt spacious. Abner waited as Penny made the bed with fresh sheets.

  “Let us know if you need a
nything at all. Breakfast is in the bunkhouse, as you know.” Penny started to exit the cabin. She turned back around and added. “Oh, and Abner? Get some rest. I’m sure everything will work out!”

  “Thank you, Penny,” Abner said gratefully. He was so appreciative of Tom and Penny and everything they’d done for him. After his parents had passed, Penny had made him enough casseroles to last a month. Tom was a good employer, treating all his men fairly. And now they were helping him work through his relationship issues. Abner didn’t know many families who would do so much for one of their employees.

  He climbed into bed and tried to get some rest as Penny had instructed. But all he could think about was Catherine and the terrible argument they’d had. He tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. Finally, he drifted off to sleep, hoping the next day would be better.

  Chapter 5

  Catherine woke up feeling empty and anxious, like she had forgotten something. She walked around the house slowly, trying to see if she had missed something the night before. Suddenly, the events of the past evening came rushing back. She shuddered as she recalled her and Abner’s fight.

  She thought about what her mother would say if she were there. Surely, her mother wouldn’t have approved of the way they had spoken to one another. They were married now, and Catherine knew she had to start acting like it.

  Still, some things about Abner positively infuriated her. The way he spoke while he chewed, ignored the appropriate silverware, and didn’t seem to know what a duster was all confounded Catherine. She didn’t think she was asking for much. It was the little things that made a man.

  Catherine wondered what she would do all day until Abner arrived for dinner. She longed to see other people, but she didn’t know anyone in Nowhere, and she wasn’t sure if it was safe to wander outside alone. She fussed around the house for a while, straightening furniture, dusting, and re-organizing the drawers.

  When she had finished, she decided that a little fresh air would do her well. She didn’t have a key, so she took a ring she’d inherited from her mother with her. It was the only possession she cared about, since it had sentimental value. Just in case anyone robbed the house, they wouldn’t find that. Before she left, Catherine changed her mind and also took the necklace Abner had given her. She’d taken it off in a fit of frustration, but now she picked it up and clasped it around her neck. She admired her reflection in the window. It really was lovely.

  Catherine left the house and shut the door behind her. It closed with a thud. She hoped Abner wouldn’t mind that she was leaving it unlocked. In the city, she had always locked her doors, but she had a feeling things were different in Nowhere.

  Catherine tried to recall the path she and Abner had taken from the church to the Phelps’ house. If she could retrace her steps, she could explore the small town she had seen when she’d arrived. She also hoped to attend church services there. If she remembered how to get there, she’d have an easier time navigating the way on Sunday.

  Catherine was amazed by how different the climate in Nowhere was from where she had lived in Boston. Certain things were the same, like the humidity in the air. But where Boston was full of buildings, Nowhere had hills and plains as far as the eye could see. It was much warmer in Nowhere, and she enjoyed that. She tried to follow the exact steps they had taken, and she was pleasantly surprised when she saw the church where she and Abner had been married just a few days earlier.

  Catherine walked down the main street of Nowhere. She was glad to see a bank, a post office, a customs house, and even a library! She couldn’t wait to apply for a card so she could borrow books. As she continued walking, she found two businesses that interested her even more than the others—an ice cream parlor and a mercantile. Catherine decided to leave the ice cream for another day and explore the mercantile.

  When she walked in, a friendly man greeted her immediately. “Good morning!”

  “Good morning,” Catherine replied.

  “I’m Lewis Darcy. Are you Catherine?” the man asked.

  Catherine flushed. “Yes, that’s me. How did you know?”

  Lewis grinned. “There aren’t many new people in town, and word travels fast. Plus, my mother-in-law's the one who sent for you, my brother-in-law married you, and your husband was here just the other day.”

  “Oh, wow,” Catherine said, overwhelmed. “You’re related to Pastor Micah?”

  “My wife, Ruby, is sisters with his wife, Sarah Jane,” Lewis explained. “How are you adjusting to life in Nowhere?”

  “It’s certainly . . . interesting,” Catherine said honestly.

  Lewis chuckled. “That’s right, it certainly can be. I hope you’re settling in comfortably. Abner’s got a nice piece of land he inherited from his folks. The house is a bit small, but I’m sure you’ll spruce it up in no time.”

  “I have already begun to do a little decorating,” Catherine admitted.

  “Abner tells me you come from up north?” Lewis asked.

  “That’s right,” Catherine nodded. “Boston.”

  “Must be cold up there,” Lewis remarked. “My wife and her adopted sisters all came from New York. They all say moving here to Texas was the best thing that ever happened to them. I hope you’ll soon say the same thing.”

  A troubled look crossed Catherine’s face.

  Lewis felt like he’d said something wrong. “I apologize if I’ve upset you in any way, Mrs. Phelps.”

  Catherine was distracted by hearing someone call her Mrs. Phelps. It wasn’t natural to her, and she didn’t feel right about anyone calling her that. “Call me Catherine,” she said firmly.

  Lewis looked surprised but nodded. “Yes, ma’am—er, Catherine. I truly hope I haven’t offended you.”

  Catherine smiled. “You haven’t. It’s just a lot to get used to, being here and not knowing anyone.”

  “I can imagine that would be very difficult,” Lewis agreed. “Now, I’ve certainly pestered you enough with questions. What can I help you find?”

  Catherine looked around the store. “It looks like you have just about everything here!”

  Lewis chuckled. “We do our best to provide what the people of Nowhere need.”

  “I’m not sure, but I will need some groceries because we’re running very low,” Catherine explained. “And I see you have some fabric.” Her eyes glimmered with excitement.

  A half hour later, Catherine strolled out of the mercantile, dragging a wagon that contained her purchases. Lewis had said she could return it on Sunday when she came into town for church. Catherine couldn’t wait to get home and prepare dinner with all of her new ingredients. She had also purchased three bolts of fabric to make new curtains with for Abner’s house—well, for her and Abner’s house. It was hard to get used to the fact that the house belonged to her now as well.

  By the time Catherine returned to the house, she was exhausted and thirsty. She poured herself a glass of water and drank it quickly. She thought about Abner and wondered how he was doing. It seemed unbelievable to her, but she actually missed his company. Although the house was small, it felt empty without him in it.

  Catherine pondered what to cook for dinner. She hoped to find something that would really impress him, a dish that would make him ask for seconds. She searched around the house, hoping to find a hint for what types of food Abner enjoyed. She opened each drawer, hunting for some sort of clue. Nestled behind the ice box was a small wooden recipe box. Catherine thought it must have fallen back there some time ago, because it was covered in cobwebs. She picked it up, dusted it off, and opened it.

  Inside the box were twenty-eight handwritten recipes with the name Alma Phelps. Catherine figured that Alma was probably Abner’s mother’s name. The recipes listed how to prepare everything from pork chops to bread pudding with detailed quantities. Catherine flipped through the recipes eagerly, searching for one she had all the ingredients for.

  Finally, Catherine settled on a pot roast. She carefully pulled all of the i
ngredients out of the pantry and got to work. She couldn’t wait until Abner tasted her food. She hoped he would be pleased that she had made the effort to find a family recipe.

  As Catherine cooked, she also tidied the house. Although it was far cleaner than it had been before she arrived, it was never perfect. She adjusted the furniture several times, wanting everything to be just right.

  As she waited for the pot roast to finish, she sat down and began to work on the new curtains she planned to put up in the front windows. She loved the new fabric she had purchased at the mercantile. It had been good to get out of the house and talk to someone. She looked forward to meeting some of the other residents of Nowhere, and she hoped Abner would introduce her to his friends.

  Soon, it was time for Abner to arrive for dinner. Catherine chose her favorite dress to wear. After the accident, nearly all of her belongings, including her clothing, had been taken from her to pay her parents’ debts. But she had sneaked a jade green dress in the bottom of a battered carpet bag, and no one had ever asked her about it.

  Catherine slipped the jade dress on and checked on the pot roast. It was nearly done, just in time. Abner was due in five minutes. Catherine waited for the clock to strike the top of the hour so she could pull the roast out of the oven.

  Five minutes stretched to ten and then twenty. She took the roast out, angry that it would probably grow cold as she waited for Abner. Where was her husband? After thirty minutes, Catherine wondered if something had happened to him. She wondered if she had misunderstood the time they had agreed to meet.

  Finally, after forty-five minutes of waiting, Abner burst into the cabin, his face bright red with exertion. “So . . . sorry,” Abner huffed. “Ran . . . here . . . forgot!”

  Catherine took a deep breath, trying not to grow angry. “I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

  Abner caught his breath. “I’m so sorry, Catherine! I forgot!”

  “You forgot?” Catherine couldn’t believe Abner’s excuse. “How could you forget? We agreed to this!”