His Redeeming Bride

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “Can I see it?”

  “After we finish breakfast.”

  That seemed to be the only motivation she needed since she practically inhaled the rest of her meal.

  “What do you say?” Neil asked Sarah. “Can I take Luke out there?”

  Sarah tore her eyes from Emily as she gulped down the milk in her cup. “I’ll get him ready.”

  While she changed Luke’s diaper, she heard Emily and Neil up in the attic as they searched for the harness.

  “Pa, did I wear that little dress?” Emily asked.

  “Yes. You used to wear all these dresses.”

  “Why did you save them?”

  “In case you had a younger sister.”

  “Well, you might still need them, right?”

  Sarah listened for his response, for she wondered the same thing.

  “Em, you think too much for a girl your age,” came his response.

  Sarah unpinned the cloth diaper, trying not to dwell on her disappointment. She removed the soiled diaper and dropped it in the bucket at her feet.

  Emily gave a loud groan. “But Pa, you tell me that I should think all the time because it will make me smart.”

  He laughed. “Touché.”

  “Too-what?”

  “Touché. It means you win the argument. You are right. You do need to think because it will make you smart.”

  Sarah slipped the dry cloth under Luke’s bare bottom as she noted the girl’s eager jumping up and down on the attic floor.

  Neil grunted and some objects clanked together before he stated, “Here it is. Still in fine condition too.”

  “I can’t wait to see Luke in it!” Emily squealed.

  “You will soon enough.”

  A lid to a trunk slammed shut.

  “Pa?”

  “What?”

  “What do I call Mrs. Donner now that she’s no longer Mrs. Donner? I mean, do I call her Mrs. Craftsman?”

  A long pause followed while Sarah pinned the diaper securely on Luke who grinned at her. She bent down and kissed his nose. He laughed and reached for her hair, but she had it pulled back into a bun so he couldn’t grab it.

  “Ha ha,” she retorted playfully.

  He grunted but quickly smiled again and waved his arms.

  “What do you want to call her?” Neil finally asked.

  Sarah lifted Luke so he’d stop gurgling. Hastening to the door of her room, she turned her ear so she could hear them better. She wanted to know what Emily wished to call her.

  “Well, Ma’s not coming back, right?”

  “Right.” His voice was so low Sarah barely heard him.

  “Then it makes sense that Mrs. Donner is now my mother since she married you.”

  “In a way, yes.”

  “Will Luke be calling you Pa?”

  “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it, but I guess so.”

  “I think I’ll call her Ma.”

  “She’ll like that.” She detected a smile in his voice.

  Sarah forced back the tears in her eyes and kissed the top of Luke’s head. Stepping into the hallway, she waited for Neil and Emily to descend the ladder. Once Neil shut the attic door, she watched in fascination as he put the harness over his head and strapped it around his chest.

  “I’m ready for him,” he told her.

  She handed Luke to him and he put the baby into the harness. Luke fit into it, his back to Neil’s chest so he had a good view of everything in front of him. She didn’t know why the sight of a man in faded denim pants and a blue cotton shirt carrying a baby in a harness should appeal to her as much as it did. Neil looked downright handsome. Again, her stomach did those crazy flip flops.

  Luke wiggled his arms and legs and babbled.

  “If memory serves, you did the same thing,” Neil told Emily.

  Emily waved at Luke. “I’m going to have more fun than you because I’ll be riding a horse! Come on, Pa! Let’s go.” She ran down the steps, calling out, “We’ll be back for supper, Ma!” Then she flung open the kitchen door and rushed outside.

  Sarah turned to Neil. “You won’t be back for lunch?”

  “We usually eat out in the pasture like the other farmhands do. Don’t worry, I can find something edible for Luke. I’ll even change and wash the diapers if you hand me a couple of clean ones.”

  She retrieved the new cloth diapers from her dresser and handed them to him.

  He shoved them into the pouch he had sewn to the back of the harness. He took a moment to study her. “Are you sure you’re all right with this?”

  “Yes. I am. I trust you with him.” She went over to Luke and kissed him on the top of his head. His blond wavy hair was soft to her lips. Smiling at Neil, she softly continued, “Neil, as far as I’m concerned, Luke is your son. Not only are you the only father he’s ever known but you pay more attention to him than Jim would have. I hope you’ll let him call you his father.”

  Neil brought his hands up to her arms and pulled her closer to him, his touch gentle but firm. “I do think of him as my son.”

  She nodded, aware of her flesh tingling where he touched her. “I know, and I’m grateful for that.”

  He leaned closer to her, his eyelids closing, and she followed suit, pulse racing, realizing that they were about to kiss. His lips brushed against hers just as the kitchen door swung open and an impatient Emily called out, “Pa? Are you ready yet?”

  They bolted from each other at the same moment, and for the brevity of the kiss, it consumed her with a searing heat that sparked her body in a way that Jim’s kisses never did. Clearing her throat and feeling flustered, she said, “You better go.”

  He hesitated for a moment before he nodded. “You’re right. If I wait any longer, Emily will be charging up here like a knight going into battle.”

  She chuckled at the image of the little girl wearing armor.

  “Pa?”

  “We’ll be back at supper time,” he replied.

  Sarah stared after him as he traveled down the steps, thinking of the kiss and wondering what possibilities might lay ahead for them.

  ***

  Late that night, Neil stood in the hallway, contemplating his options as he had every night since he married Sarah. The hallway was covered in darkness, but he knew where the three bedrooms were like he knew the back of his hand. The moonlight streaming through his bedroom window gave enough light through his open door to show him that Sarah left her door partially open. She used to shut it. That meant she was inviting him in, didn’t it?

  They had kissed earlier that day. She hadn’t pulled away from him. Well, not until Emily interrupted. He thought that Sarah might be open to pursuing the physical side of their marriage. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, his bare feet gliding slowly across the cool hardwood floor, barely making a sound. He would ask. Just one question and he would know either way.

  His heart raced as he reached her door. She did touch his shoulder while she poured his coffee for him at supper. She hadn’t done that before. He took that as a hopeful sign. Maybe I’m reading too much into things. I want so badly for her to love me. It hadn’t occurred to him until that moment that he needed her...or that he loved her.

  He didn’t like this feeling of vulnerability that love required. It was easier to step back, to pretend that they weren’t married and simply live as they had been. Friendship was nice and safe. But neither his heart nor his body was eager to play it safe. A man was hard pressed to find a woman better than Sarah. Neil would be a fool to turn his back on the chance of making their marriage all it could be.

  That’s where I’ll start. I’ll tell her that I love her and that I want to be a real husband to her.

  Taking a deep breath, he softly knocked on her door. The door swung open and his gaze fell to her sleeping form tucked under her covers. The cool night air drifted through the room. Luke rolled over in his crib. Neil debated waking her up but didn’t have the heart to do it. She worked hard on the purp
le dress that day. Inspecting the flattering dress that rested on her rocking chair, he realized she had completed it. He hoped she would wear it tomorrow. It would look nice on her.

  He noticed Luke shiver, so he closed the window until it was open a crack and pulled the blanket up to his shoulders. The baby sighed and Neil smiled. It had been a fun day, taking the boy and Emily out to the fields. The only thing missing was being able to come home and kiss Sarah the way he wanted to.

  Tomorrow. I’ll tell her how I feel tomorrow. Sure, it was something he promised himself every night, but he was determined this time. That, and he knew his body wouldn’t leave him alone until he made a move to figure out if she wanted to join him in bed. Deciding that the next day would answer his questions, he quietly left the room and spent the rest of the night trying to sleep.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sarah tied the purple ribbon around her hair. She inspected her reflection, noting the braiding of her hair and the way her dress showed off her curves. Blushing, she fought the urge to throw on one of her drab dresses. But she wanted Neil to be attracted to her. Maybe it would give him ideas pertaining to the bedroom. Twirling the brush in her hand, she wondered if it was wrong to tempt him, but how could it be wrong to tempt one’s own husband to bed? It was strange that she was even interested in lovemaking since she didn’t enjoy it with Jim. However, she had a feeling she would enjoy it with Neil. He actually listened to her and treated her with respect. His touch and kiss made her feel things that Jim’s hadn’t, at least not since she realized Jim would never love her.

  She set the brush on the dresser, straightened her back, and opened the door. She wasn’t an untried woman. She knew what a man and woman did together in bed, and she wanted that closeness with Neil. Should the chance come to act on her desire, she would give into it. Nodding, she marched out of her bedroom and down the staircase, determined to give Neil a kiss. If a kiss wasn’t bold enough to get his interest, then he was a lost cause.

  However, as soon as her foot landed on the bottom step, she saw that Neil and Emily were talking and looking out the kitchen window.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. She bypassed Luke, who was holding onto a chair so he could stand, and joined them at the window. Her eyes took in the dark gray sky and light rain. The strong wind whistled against the house and bent the smaller trees on the property. “I knew it was windy but I didn’t realize a storm was brewing.”

  “We won’t be going to church today,” Neil replied. “Emily, change into your play clothes. Then gather your dolls and come back down here.”

  Something in his tone worried Sarah. She waited until Emily was upstairs before asking, “Do you think it’s going to be bad?”

  He turned to her, paused for a moment, and smiled. “I was hoping you’d wear that dress today. You look beautiful.”

  Her cheeks grew warm. Smoothing her dress, she thanked him. “I have to admit that wearing light colors is nice.”

  A heavy tree branch fell off one of the trees and hit the porch swing.

  She jumped.

  He picked Luke up and put him in her arms. “Take Luke to the storm cellar. Is there anything you want to keep?”

  Startled, she shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”

  “All right. I’ll get Emily.”

  As soon as he raced up the stairs, she hurried out the door, dodging a smaller tree branch that flew at her. The wind, picking up in intensity, twisted the skirt of her dress around her legs, making it difficult for her to run across the lawn to the storm cellar at the back of the house. She pressed forward into the strong wind, clutching Luke to her chest.

  Ben was the first to see her as the farmhands rushed into the underground dwelling. “I’ll get him in for you.”

  She handed him the crying child and followed him in, thanking Jacob who held the door for them. One last look at the dark sky caused chills to run up and down her spine. It was a spooky sight, and she prayed Neil and Emily would hurry. As soon as her feet landed on the dirt floor, Ben handed Luke back to her.

  Cal held a lantern in the center of the group of five farmhands who huddled together in the small space. “There’s no need to worry, Mrs. Craftsman,” Cal assured her. “This shelter is secure.”

  “Do you think we’re really going to have a tornado?” she asked. She had heard of tornadoes but never experienced one.

  “We can’t say for sure. We just know when it looks bad, it’s best not to take our chances.”

  She nodded and turned her attention to the cellar door. How long would it take Emily to get dressed and grab her dolls?

  The sound of hail pounded on the door. She backed away from it and the men gathered around her so she was in the center of the group. Closing her eyes, she said a quick prayer for Neil and Emily. The wind grew stronger, and the group stood in silence. She took in the worried looks on the men’s faces.

  “I’m going to get Neil and Emily,” Ben said, reaching for the door.

  A loud knocking stopped him. He eagerly unlocked the door and held onto it as Jacob held his arms up. Sarah watched with relief as Jacob took Emily from Neil who stepped into the cellar. They fought the wind and hail so he could lock the door. Overwhelmed to see that he and Emily were safe, she pushed passed the farmhands so she could hug Emily. Then she turned to Neil and kissed him. It wasn’t something she planned to do, but she was so grateful to see him that she didn’t stop to question the wisdom of her actions. When she pulled away, she recalled their audience and turned her focus on Emily and kissed her forehead.

  Ben slapped Neil on the back. “We were starting to get worried.”

  Neil waved his hand. “You know how hard it is to get rid of me.”

  “It sounds bad out there, boss,” Cal added.

  “It is. There’s a tornado somewhere out there. I could hear it.”

  The mention of a twister was enough for Sarah to stay close to Neil and Emily. It suddenly occurred to her that losing either of them would have caused the grief that Jim’s passing had not. Ten years of her life she spent with Jim and did not mourn his passing. But half a year with Neil and his daughter changed her entire life. With Neil, she had a man worth loving, and with Emily, she had a daughter.

  Once the winds died down, they ventured out, noting the fallen tree branches that were strewn across their wet property. Hail, the size of a silver dollar, littered the grass as well. Part of the roof on the barn needed repairing and a few other places needed fixing, but it could have been worse. The bunkhouse, barn and house were still standing. Most of the animals were safe. She counted her blessings and said a prayer of thanks for each one.

  “It looks like we got some work to do,” Neil told the farmhands.

  Cal laughed. “Heck, if that’s the worst of it, let me at it!”

  The rest of the men nodded.

  Neil turned to Jacob. “Go check on your wife and son. The tornado sounded like it was southeast, so your place should be fine, but it never hurts to be sure.”

  “Thanks, boss,” Jacob said as he hurried to his horse.

  The rest of the farmhands departed to start the repairs.

  “Oh, I grabbed this on my way out with Emily.” Neil turned to her and handed her the locket that her parents had given her. “I know how much this necklace means to you and if the house got blown down, I wanted you to have it.”

  She took it from him, her hand trembling. “Neil, I...I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, touched that he thought to retrieve it.

  “There are some things money can’t replace.” He stroked her cheek with his fingers, brushing away a tear, and kissed her.

  “This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” she finally replied when she trusted her voice to remain steady.

  “I told you she was going to cry,” Emily spoke up, holding her two dolls and looking satisfied that she made an accurate prediction.

  He glanced at his church suit. “I’m going to help the men after I change.” Neil
smiled at Sarah and ruffled Emily’s hair.

  “Hey! I like to look nice,” Emily argued, combing her fingers through her tangles.

  “The wind already messed it up. There’s not any more damage I can do,” he replied.

  “Come,” Sarah told the girl. “We’ll fix your hair so it’ll look good again.”

  Seeming to be happy, Emily joined them as they walked back to the house.

  ***

  Neil spent the rest of the day thinking of Sarah and how happy she looked when she saw him and Emily enter the storm cellar. Cassie hadn’t looked at him that way, but he knew what the look meant. It meant that he mattered to her, and that made him feel as if he were ten feet tall.

  He worked through supper, hardly noting the time since he was determined to get the barn roof finish. Jacob suffered no damage to his home, so everyone fared well despite the horrible storm.

  By the time he entered the house, it was a little after ten. To his surprise, Sarah was waiting at the kitchen table for him. She looked up when he opened the door and asked if he wanted something to eat.

  His growling stomach reminded him that it had been a long time since he ate. “Would you believe I forgot I was hungry?”

  “Then it’s a good thing that I’m here to remind you,” she joked. “Come and sit down.”

  He hung his hat up and removed his boots by the front door and obeyed her, enjoying the fact that she was taking care of him. “Are the children asleep already?”

  “It is after ten,” she replied as she pulled out a plate of food for him.

  “Are you going to eat anything?”

  “I thought I’d share some cookies with you.”

  “Cookies? I’m surprised Emily left us any.”

  She grinned. “I hid some from her.” She placed a small plate of cookies in front of him and squeezed his hand. “But don’t tell her.”

  He glanced at her hand, liking the soft feel of it. “I wouldn’t dare.”

  During the next half hour, he ate and talked with her. He offered to help her wash the dishes, but she insisted he sit and enjoy a cup of milk while she took care of it. “It’s only two plates and a fork,” she said.