She dished his breakfast onto his plate, then dished hers out. She added all the additional pancakes onto a separate plate and placed it in the center of the table. “There are left over biscuits from last night if you want some.”
He glanced up at her. “You do know there’s enough food here to feed a small village, right?” He grinned, then tucked into his meal again. “This is good,” he told her as he wiped his mouth on the linen napkin. Suddenly he put down his cutlery. “Why aren’t you eating?” His demeanor suddenly changed from happy to concerned.
Mary glanced down at her plate and shrugged her shoulders. She never ate until Pa finished in case he was still hungry. She wasn’t sure she should tell Noah that. He might not understand.
“I’m not eating any more until you begin.” He sat ramrod straight and stared at her until she felt uncomfortable. “You’re already far too skinny. You need fattening up.” He frowned and continued to stare.
Under his scrutiny, she began to eat, so he resumed as well. “I’ll be working in the front paddock today,” he said. “I should be back for lunch around noon. Can you manage that?” He took another mouthful of food. “Has anyone ever told you what a wonderful cook you are?”
No, they never had. It wasn’t like Pa to compliment anything she did. “Not really,” she said, not wanting to admit too much. “What do you want for your noon meal?” She thought for a moment, trying to remember what she had available to cook. “I could make some vegetable soup?”
“Can’t wait,” he said as he finished up his food. Taking a last mouthful of coffee he stood. “I really must go. I’ve normally left by now.” Noah walked toward her and Mary stood. Standing in front of her, he stared down into her face.
“Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are,” he asked quietly. His hands came up and cupped her face with his hands. He stared down into her face for the longest time. He was going to kiss her, she was certain of it, and her heart thudded. Mary wasn’t sure how she felt about that, after all, they’d known each other for less than a day.
On the other hand they were married, and he had every right…except they’d both agreed to a marriage of convenience.
As if he suddenly came to his senses, Noah’s hands dropped away and he stepped back. “I’ll be off then,” he said abruptly, then headed toward the front door.
She quivered at the sudden loss of his hands on her, which was stupid, she knew it was. Until now, no one had paid any attention to her. Except Johnny Parsons, and that was for a totally different reason. He’d tried to force her, to sully her, and would have walked away afterwards. If Pa hadn’t come looking for her, called her name when he did, goodness knows what might have happened. She shivered at the thought.
Mary had a little over a few hours until Noah would be back, and there was time enough to prepare the soup. She would also make sandwiches with the cheese she’d bought at the mercantile.
Once the soup was on the stove and cooking, she’d start on supper. Beef stew with dumplings. Already she felt like a queen. The food she’d made in the short time she’d been here would have to last a week or more at Pa’s. She wondered how he was faring without her, then shook herself. He was ready to barter her off to Johnny Parsons – for what she didn’t know – so she needed to get him out of her head.
With the meals prepared, she went to check out the wash room. It was a nice day with a decent breeze, and the sheets she’d removed from the beds yesterday needed washing. As she stood staring, tears rolled down her face. After spending more than ten years washing in the tin bath tub, wringing everything by hand, she was overwhelmed with the wooden barrel that sat on the large shelf. There was a washboard, and also a device on the side, to wring the water out of the washing.
She’d heard of such things, but never had Mary seen such an amazing device herself. Even in this tiny washroom, there was running water. How could she ever leave this place with all of its wonder? She really didn’t know if she ever could. Mary reminded herself once more that she’d willingly signed the contract.
Her heart was already breaking. How would she feel when she had to walk away from all this, and especially Noah? She didn’t dare to even imagine.
~*~
In all the years since Ma had died, Mary hadn’t once felt lonely. Of course she’d grieved for the loss of her dear mother, but that was a totally different thing. Grief and loneliness were two totally different things.
Pa had never really cared for her, and if she didn’t know better, she’d wonder if she was even his daughter. His only interest in her was to have food on the table and the house clean. His pigs were far more important to him, and it broke her heart. She’d decided years ago to distance herself from him, because it was detrimental to her wellbeing to do otherwise.
In the few hours since Noah had left to go to the front paddock, she’d felt hollow. Already she was missing him, which was totally ridiculous. She didn’t know the man, and he didn’t know her. If she could keep it that way, it would be far easier for the both of them to walk away this time next year.
The back door slammed and she knew he was back. Mary gave the soup a last stir and pulled
