“That’s no problem,” Hank replied, obviously trying to keep the grin from his face. “I hope you brought your wagon.”
Doug nodded. “I did. I was planning to try and cook again.”
Hank shook his head. “I’m glad we won’t need to be on constant alert for a fire at the ranch any longer.”
Trudie gave Doug a scathing look. “You hungry?”
“I’m always hungry.”
“I’m not cooking for you unless you stop to get my trunk on the way out of town.” Trudie wasn’t about to leave everything she’d worked on since childhood to take into marriage with her.
“No problem there. Do you keep aprons in there? I hear women like to wear aprons when they cook.”
Trudie sighed. “Yes, I do have aprons in my trunk. As well as other things that are dear to me.” Hopefully the man would eventually think about something other than his stomach.
Doug loaded his arms with the items he’d purchased and walked toward the door. “Am I going to be dear to you?”
“Depends on how demanding you are about your food. I’m a good cook, and I promise to feed you at regular intervals. As long as you don’t annoy me.”
He stopped walking and stared at her for a moment. “You’ll feed me anyway. That’s what wives do.” He knew there was no way he could avoid annoying her. He’d been told his entire life that he was annoying. Surely, he wouldn’t be able to hide it from her.
“We’ll see.”
He put all of their purchases in the wagon parked right in front of the store. “There, now let’s go get hitched.”
“You make it sound like I’m the other half of a team of oxen.” Trudie wasn’t sure what to make of Douglas now that they’d met. He seemed a little odder than she’d expected from his letter. His letter had been filled with humor, but now that she was with him, that humor seemed over the top.
“We’ll work together. I bet eventually we’ll even be good at it.” He held his arm out to her, and she took it, wondering if he was going to annoy her every day for the rest of her life.
“Mrs. Goldman says you’re a regular church-goer, but she suspects it’s because of the potluck they have after church every week.” Trudie wanted to know where he stood with God, and that seemed a good way to find out.
“Figured that out, did she?” Doug grinned. This little lady amused him more than he’d expected. “I go to church to worship God, but I happen to really love the food they serve as well. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”
“Not if you really are going for the right reasons, and not so you can get free food every week.” Surely he wasn’t so hungry that he would go to church just for a good meal.
“Free? I always slip money to whoever makes the best dish to pay for my share of the food.”
Trudie stopped walking and frowned at him. “Do you really?”
He nodded. “It inspires all the ladies in town to do their best cooking.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“Oh, you’ll be glad of it if you’re the one with the best cooking. You could spend the money on anything you wanted.”
“I’m not terribly worried about that,” Trudie said. “I had a job, and I still have money from it. I’m not going to be dependent on your good will for the things I want and need.” If she wanted a new dress, then she wouldn’t go to him for money. Instead she’d use her own money and buy it if she wanted to.
“Glad to hear it. I like independent women. They have the most sass.” Doug didn’t have to look at her to see she was shocked by his statement.
“And you think sass is a good thing in a woman?” Her brothers had always told her that her sass would keep her from ever finding a man.
“I never really thought about it, but as I was picturing the woman who would come and be my mail-order meals, I thought she’d be in her forties, unable to tie her apron strings, and plain looking. You’re anything but. I guess I’m glad that I got sassy you instead of the meek woman I expected.” He was mostly glad anyway. He was still a little worried that she’d be more work than he’d bargained for, but he had no right to complain.
“Well, isn’t that nice.” They’d reached the parsonage, and she reached out to knock, but he caught her hand. “What?”
“I don’t want to kiss you for the first time with the pastor and Mrs. Goldman watching. How about we try a kiss now?” He hadn’t expected to even want to kiss his bride, but little miss sassy pants made him want a lot more than he’d expected to want.
She sighed, looking at him. “I’ve never even kissed a man, Mr. Charleston. We can’t wait another five minutes so I can say I was never kissed before my wedding?”
“You can still say you weren’t kissed until your wedding day.” He didn’t wait for her to argue with him more, but he instead lowered his head to hers and kissed her softly. He didn’t try to deepen the kiss, but he just enjoyed the feel of her against him. Now, he suddenly didn’t feel the need to have a talk with her about not doing anything that could bring children into their lives. Instead, he was anxious for the wedding night. Whether he was ready for children or not, he was definitely ready for a real marriage.
When he raised his head, he saw a dazed look in her eyes, and he couldn’t help but grin. He didn’t know how
