by Zoe Matthews
Hannah’s cheeks heated as Chase swept her past the group of people. She noticed that everyone was smiling at her in welcome. She wasn’t used to so much attention.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for Chase to marry,” an older man boomed in a loud but pleasant voice. “We never thought a woman would have him.”
“We are so happy for you both.” A woman stepped forward. She had brown hair and green eyes and she greeted Hannah with a friendly smile. “We are so excited to meet you.”
“Yes, we are pleased to meet you.” Another woman pushed her way forward and reached to draw Hannah towards the parlor. There were so many people. The men were tall and broad-shouldered like Chase and the two women who stood beside them were likely their wives. She could hear children playing in the background.
Hannah forced herself to speak. She didn’t want to disappoint Chase on this first meeting, even though she felt very overwhelmed. “Thank you for your kind welcome. I am happy to be here, too. I brought something for the dinner.” She thrust the basket at the nearest woman who took it with delight.
“It smells good.” She pulled the towel away to see what was underneath. “Biscuits! They look delicious and will be a great addition to the roast beef we made.” She took Hannah’s arm. “Why don’t you come into the kitchen with us?”
“Yes, come join us,” Lucy seconded the invitation. “We still have a few things to do and you can tell us all about yourself.”
“I’m Ruth. I’m married to Brent,” the woman who had grasped her arm told her. “And that is Nellie. She is married to Anthony.”
“Let me have your coat, Hannah, and then you can go with the ladies if you choose.” Chase helped her remove her coat and hung it next to his in a closet. Hannah knew he was letting her know he would stay next to her if she wished, like he had promised.
Suddenly, Chase’s father reached her and gave her a big bear hug. This was totally unexpected and at first Hannah didn’t know what to think of it, but as he leaned away, Hannah could see the same twinkle in his eyes that she had seen before in Chase’s. “Welcome to my home, Hannah.” She could tell that he was sincere and she immediately started to relax. “I can see that Chase chose well.”
“I am fortunate that Hannah chose to marry me,” Chase announced to his family.
“I think I was the lucky one,” Hannah was able to quip as the women led her away. She glanced over her shoulder with a smile, letting him know she would be fine.
****
“Where did she come from?” Brent asked as he shook his head. “I didn’t know mail-order brides came like she did.”
“What I would like to know is why she’s with you,” teased Anthony. “She agreed to marry you? I’m in shock.”
“I know what you mean.” Chase meant his words even though he knew his brothers were teasing him. He still remembered his first glance of Hannah standing against the train station wall, trying to keep herself out of the weather, anxiety showing on her face. “I sure hope I can do all I need to, to deserve her.”
“I thought she’d be older since she’s a widow. She looks very young,” Pa commented as he lit a cigar and started to puff.
Chase stood in front of the roaring fire to warm his hands. How could he let his family know the expectations Hannah had inadvertently placed on their marriage? He had always hoped for a good strong marriage, like his Ma and Pa had had.
****
Hannah listened with interest as Chase and his brothers reminisced about their childhood. They talked about climbing trees and how Brent fell out of one and broke his arm. Anthony told a few stories of how they liked to jump out of the haymow, even though it scared their ma to death. She watched how Chase and his family interacted with each other as if they loved to be together. The in-laws were included in the joking and stories. They all took turns helping the four children when they needed it. When the last bite was taken, Lucy stood up to clear the table and Hannah immediately started to rise to help. Chase stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“I hope my family isn’t too much for you,” Chase whispered to her. “Are you handling this okay?”
Hannah nodded her head. “I love hearing the stories about your childhood.” It was nice to hear that there were some children who had a normal childhood and were loved right from the day they were born. She wanted that for her baby.
Chase’s pa stood up along with the other men. “Let’s go to the library,” he suggested, and then looked at Lucy. “Unless you would like us to do the dishes?
“Oh, heavens no,” Lucy retorted with a mock frown. “The last time I took you up on that offer, there was water all over the floor. It looked like it had been flooded and it took forever to get it to dry. No, I believe its best you let us women tidy things up. You go ahead and enjoy yourselves. We will bring in the dessert in a while.”
“You could watch the boys,” Nellie suggested to her husband, Anthony, and he nodded his agreement. Hannah watched as they both exchanged a smile. Soon the kitchen was empty except for the women.
Lucy started to fill a basin with water and Ruth gathered up some towels for drying. Hannah stood and started to gather up dirty dishes. The other women continued their chatter, but Hannah started to think about the meal she had just shared with Chase and his family. It was very different than what she had been used to. There had never been conversation when she lived with Dr. Wilson. Meals were always quiet.
Jack sometimes would bring home men for her to serve a meal and entertain, but she was never asked to eat with them. She had been required to stand and serve, making sure none of them ran out of coffee or whiskey. Jack and his friends usually made such a mess, it would take her days to clean it all up.
Chase is a better man than I hoped for, she thought to herself. She enjoyed the stories, but she enjoyed even more hearing Chase’s booming laugh, and his obvious happiness that he was spending time with his family.
Ruth and Nellie would not allow her to lift any heavy dishes, so she finally appointed herself to dry the dishes with Lucy who couldn't do any heavy lifting either since she was also expecting.
“I sure hope I’m having a girl this time,” Lucy announced. “We need to add a girl to this family.”
Nellie turned to Hannah. “How about you? What do you want, a boy or a girl?
“How did you know?” Hannah had wanted to keep it a secret for a while longer.
“I didn’t tell them,” Lucy told her as she put away the leftover food.
“Lucy made you ginger tea for dinner. Anyone who wants that type of tea is most likely expecting,” Ruth explained with a grin. “How far along are you?”
“Probably about three months.”
Nellie had picked up her crying son and started to nurse him. Hannah marveled that Nellie handled her son so naturally. She ran a hand over her son’s head lovingly.
“I’m a widow,” Hannah wanted to make sure they knew Chase was not the father, that they hadn’t met before.
“We know, dear,” Ruth smiled gently as she washed a dish and handed it to Hannah. “Chase did tell us that. He just didn’t tell us much else.”
“There isn’t much else to tell.” Her past history with Jack was something she didn’t want to discuss with anyone, much less Chase’s family.
“So, do you know what you want to have?” Nellie asked again.
“I haven’t thought about it,” Hannah admitted.
“Well, if you have a girl, you will make Pa very happy,” Lucy quipped. “He is so funny. When I was pregnant with Charlie, Pa told me he wanted me to have a boy, but now after getting four grandsons, I think he’s ready for a girl.”
“We are very glad you are here and that you married Chase,” Ruth told Hannah. “He deserves a good wife.”
“I don’t understand why he hasn’t married before now,” Hannah commented.
“Living in a town this size, there aren't very many unmarried women to choose from,” Lucy explained.
“Well, there
was Susan,” Ruth said with a tease.
Hannah was curious and was glad Lucy continued her story.
“Yes, Susan grew up with Chase, but all she talked about was how she wanted to get out of Pine Valley and she did leave as soon as she graduated from school.”
“She broke his heart,” Ruth showed sympathy as she picked up a basin of dirty water and threw it out the door. “It took him a while to get over her, and by then all the other women his age had married or left.”
“There was one time a single woman did come to live here, but she hardly gave Chase a glance and married someone else,” Nellie contributed to the conversation.
“And then there are those women the Bridgers married,” Ruth commented as she put the last of the plates away in a cupboard.
“I wouldn’t really count them,” Lucy said. “It was destined that they married the Bridger brothers, all three of them.”
“He’s been looking for a wife for almost ten years,” Ruth explained. “He watched Lucy and his two younger brothers marry and start families.”
“Why didn’t anyone want to marry him?” Hannah wanted to know.
“We don’t know. He certainly is handsome and charming enough. Maybe he was waiting for you,” Lucy said.
“My guess is there was no one who clicked with him. You know how it is. You take one look at a man and you instantly know he is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with.” Nellie explained.
“Yes, that is how it was with Brent,” Ruth agreed. “Love is a powerful thing.”
Hannah wished she knew what they were talking about. A powerful click? That definitely hadn’t happened with Jack. And with Chase, she had been so nervous when she met him, that was all she felt. Maybe the click only happened with people who had time to court and get to know each other properly.
“We can tell Chase cares for you,” Lucy pulled out a cake that had been sitting on the back of the counter. She carried it to the kitchen table and started to cut it in pieces with a knife. Ruth brought some small plates to the table. “We are so glad you are here. Chase has been lonely for a long time.”
“I…I just hope I can be the wife he needs,” Hannah stammered.
“You already are.” Lucy started to cut the cake. The women quickly put a generous slice of cake on each plate, and then Lucy and Ruth picked up a few and left the kitchen in order to take the cake to the men in the library.
Hannah picked up two other plates and followed her new sisters. She could hear loud laughter as they reached the library and her heart inadvertently jumped. Were the men drinking? When Jack brought men to the home, loud laughter was the first sign the men were starting to get drunk. She wanted to turn around and hide in the kitchen, but she knew she needed to do her duty and serve the cake along with the other women.
“I sure love to hear them laugh,” Lucy commented with a grin at Hannah. “They work so hard, it’s good to hear that they are relaxing.”
When Hannah entered the library, she quickly scanned the room. There weren’t any glasses or bottles of whiskey anywhere. Chase and his Pa were drinking coffee, but other than that, none of the men had glasses in their hands that would have been full of alcohol. The other women handed out plates of cake and Hannah quickly gave Chase one of the plates she carried.
“Are you having a good time?” Chase asked her as he accepted the plate. He tapped the place next to him, indicating she should sit next to him, so she did.
“Yes, I am enjoying getting to know your family.”
“Lucy, this cake is delicious,” Pa complimented her as he took a huge bite. Hannah took a careful bite and noticed there were some berries in it. It was very good.
“I used up the last of my dried berries,” Lucy told everyone. It is a good thing it is almost May. I can’t wait until summer so I can replenish them.”
“Lucy grows strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries,” Chase told Hannah.
“We usually get together and make jam,” Ruth looked at Hannah. “You will have to join us this year.”
“I would like that,” Hannah accepted the invitation. She had made jam many times in Texas for the doctor and would enjoy making some again.
“Are you all right?” Chase whispered to her. “You look a little pale. We can go if you would like.”
Hannah shook her head. “I am fine. I don’t want to take you away from your family.” She was so relieved that she didn’t find Chase and his family drinking, that she almost felt faint. She was starting to really see that Chase was very different from her first husband. His touch no longer frightened her. In fact, she was starting to feel a strange sensation throughout her body every time he did touch her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Ruth told me she would teach me a new knitting stitch that I can use for a baby blanket.” Chase leaned back against his chair, accepting her words as truth. Hannah was starting to realize that things were changing between them and Chase was starting to become a man she wanted to get to know.
****
“Did you have a good time with your brothers?” Hannah asked on the way home.
Chase nodded as he used the reins to get Apache to go a little faster. “How did the knitting lesson go?”
“I really like the new stitch. I can’t wait to try it out on my own.”
“The next time you are at the general store, go ahead and purchase as much yarn as you need.”
“I might.”
“If it wasn’t Sunday, I would drive you there now, but it is closed.” He hoped she really would purchase what she needed for the baby.
“How about if I give you your first driving lesson with the mare tomorrow?” Chase suggested, changing the subject. “As long as it isn’t too cold.”
“I would like that.” Hannah smiled her agreement.
“I have a small buggy you can use at the livery. It is just the right size for the mare. I will bring it home tomorrow. You should be able to hitch it up yourself.”
Both were quiet for a while, thinking their own thoughts. Chase was thinking of this time next year, when there would be a little child in their home. A son who he could teach to ride a horse, or a daughter to, well, he wasn’t sure what he could teach a daughter, but he was sure he would figure out something.
Chapter 8
When they arrived at their home, Chase jumped down to the ground, still holding the reins to keep Apache in check. “I will help you inside and stir up the fire. Then I will take care of the barn chores.”
Hannah shook her head. “No, go ahead and take care of Apache. I’d like to go with you and see the horse you found for me.”
“All right,” Chase stepped back into the buggy and snapped the reins. Soon they were moving across the yard toward the barn. “Have you thought of a name for the mare, yet?”
“I have something in mind, but I would like to meet her first.”
Chase stopped the buggy and helped her to the ground. He opened the barn door and then unhitched Apache. She watched as he performed this chore and she couldn’t help but notice how masculine he looked. His shirt pulled over his muscles as he quickly led Apache into the barn and his warm stall. Betsy greeted them with a loud moo.
“I know, girl,” Chase called out to the cow. “It’s a bit later than usual, but I will get to you in a minute.”
“I can milk her,” Hannah declared and quickly found a bucket and stool. “It was always my job at the farm and I enjoyed it.”
“It’s not your job here,” Chase told her as he reached to take the pail from her, but Hannah pulled it away.
“I really would like to do it, Chase,” Hannah told him quietly. She looked up at him and he could see her sincerity. Chase wanted to reach for the pail again, but suddenly wanted to be able to hold her hand instead. It was getting harder and harder not to touch her as much as he wanted to.
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. You can milk Betsy in the afternoons. But I will continue to do it in the mornings and when it is too co
ld for you to be out in the weather. Does that sound good?”
Hannah nodded and smiled at him. She turned and started to milk the cow while Chase took care of Apache. It was quiet in the barn for a while as they each performed their chores.
Then Chase noticed that Hannah had finished milking the cow and was standing outside of the mare’s stall looking at the horse. She reached her hand out in invitation to come closer to her, but the horse stayed well out of reach.
“I don’t think it will take long for you to get her to trust you,” Chase commented. “She’s skittish, but she is gentle and once she knows you, I think she will come right to you.” He picked up a bucket and poured some oats into it. “Here. Go ahead and see if she will take this from you.”
Hannah accepted the bucket and scooped up a handful of oats. She held her hand out to the mare who still refused to come nearer, but Chase could tell she wanted the oats. Hannah was very patient and after a few minutes, the mare did come a few feet closer, but she still wouldn’t eat the oats from Hannah’s hand.
****
Hannah watched as the mare’s coat flickered with fear. “Is she all right?” she asked Chase. She felt disappointed that the mare wouldn’t eat the oats she had in her hand.
“She just needs to get used to you.” Chase closed Apache’s stall door as the large horse helped himself to his dinner. He walked closer to Hannah and her body tingled with awareness as he neared her.
“I think she was a beautiful horse at one time. Once she gets some good meals into her and she fills out, she will be beautiful again.”
“I think she’s already beautiful,” Hannah told him loyally. She tried to push the excitement of having a horse of her own down deep inside her. Something could happen. Chase could decide he couldn’t afford to feed her after all, or be afraid she wouldn’t be a good driving horse. She remembered that Chase had found the horse on the side of the road. What if her previous owner found her and wanted her back? She knew that good things never lasted long and it was best if she didn’t count on them.