She wrote to Elizabeth, telling her how she’d found Doug and about the pleasant ride on the train. She told her sister that she had come to a truly starving man who would eat anything and everything put before him.
And then she wrote to her mother and told her how happy she was there in Colorado and how there was no need to worry.
Once she’d finished both letters, she set them aside, and hid a yawn behind her hand. “I’m going to use the outhouse and then go to sleep. I don’t think I’m fully recovered from that long train ride yet.”
“I don’t blame you,” Doug said. “I’ll wait down here until you’ve changed.”
“Thank you for giving me a little time.” She was truly surprised he was being so considerate while waiting for her to ready herself for bed at night. She knew he didn’t want to be, and he had seen her unclothed now.
Trudie used the outhouse and then passed him again. He was still sitting at the table. She wasn’t sure what was on his mind, but whatever it was, it certainly seemed to occupy him well. She had a hard time sitting idle, and he seemed to have no issue with it at all.
She changed into her nightgown and got into bed, closing her eyes and praying that sleep would come swiftly as it had the night before, but instead, she was still awake when Doug came to bed. She thought about feigning sleep, but she didn’t like to be dishonest, so instead, she waited for him.
Doug walked into the room and shed his clothes on the floor, getting into bed with her while wearing nothing.
“Aren’t you going to wear a nightshirt?” she asked, a little startled.
“Nah. I can’t feel you against me if I wear a nightshirt, and I sure wish I could talk you out of your nightgown. It’s not like I haven’t seen you in your altogether.” He tried to be persuasive with his tone, but he had so little experience with women, he wasn’t sure he was doing it correctly.
“You’re going to have to wait for that part of our marriage. I’ve told you that.”
“But that was yesterday. I thought maybe I’d convinced you by being such a considerate husband today.”
She laughed softly. “You’re going to have to work harder than that. I’m not that easily swayed when I set my mind to something.”
“Well, then I’ll just have to kiss you a little.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly, wanting to do so much more than he knew she’d allow.
She turned to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and enjoyed the feel of his lips on hers. She was no stranger to the male anatomy having had to take her turns changing diapers of her younger siblings, but she hadn’t really thought a man would feel like Doug did.
Her fingers toyed with the muscles in his broad shoulders, and she sank into the kiss.
Doug pulled her closer, pressing himself against her. “Are you sure I can’t persuade you to lose the nightgown?” he asked, feeling a bit desperate with her so close to him.
She sighed. “Not tonight. I really want to know you a little better. Perhaps we could go for a walk after supper tomorrow.” She knew he didn’t want to take the time to really get to know her, but it was the one thing she wanted from him.
He groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me, Trudie. Just as you fatten me up, I’m going to die of frustration.”
She kissed his chin. “I’m sure you’ll live. I did suggest you put on a nightshirt.”
“I’m not wearing a nightshirt in bed with my wife. It goes against everything I believe as a man.”
“I don’t believe there’s anything in the Bible that would suggest a man shouldn’t wear a nightshirt when he’s in bed with his wife.”
Doug shook his head. “Will you always get the best of me verbally?”
She nodded emphatically. “Always. It’s one of the lasting benefits to being a member of the demon horde.”
He wasn’t sure how to respond to her, so he simply closed his eyes. She made him tired anyway.
Trudie watched him by the light of the full moon, enjoying watching him fall asleep. Everything about Doug was perfect to her. Except maybe his warped sense of humor. She might be able to get beyond that, though.
TRUDIE WAS ABLE TO finish her planting the following day. Doug came home for lunch, but when he saw how busy she was, he headed back out as soon as he’d finished his meal. When he came home for supper, she had fried chicken waiting on a platter, along with a mountain of mashed potatoes, green beans, and a cream gravy.
“I think I’m going to like having a wife,” he said as he walked to the sink to wash his hands. “It looks like you finished your planting.” Making small talk about things was difficult for Doug, because he’d been raised to speak only when he had something important to say. But having a wife meant talking to her.
“I did. I’ll do the wash tomorrow, and then I’ll give the house a good scrubbing. I’m just pleased I got it in, so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get everything planted in time to have a good harvest this year.”
“I hope you planted some pumpkins. One of my favorite things in the world is pumpkin pie!” He could talk to her about food all day. He could talk to anyone about food. It was so much easier than trying to find something else to say.
“I’m glad to hear it. I thought I’d take a
