She licked her lower lip. “And the reporter from Chicago was there, too.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face before he said, “That’s good. I hope the interview went well.”
“Are you upset we were there when the reporter was?”
“How can I be upset? There’s nothing wrong with what you and the children did.”
“I know, but after what you said last night about Isaac, the timing couldn’t have been worse.”
“Richard’s my brother. He accomplished a lot. Why wouldn’t Isaac be impressed with him?” With a shrug, he went back to milking the cow. “There’s no way I can compete with all the things he’s done.”
“Oh Dave.” She put her hand on his back and leaned into him. “That’s not true. You’re his father. Isaac will always like you more.” When he didn’t respond, she added, “It might not seem like it now, but as Isaac grows older, he’ll appreciate everything you’ve done for him.”
“There’s a difference between appreciating someone and admiring them. No one admires farmers. They admire rich businessmen who make a name for themselves.”
“That’s not true. Tony’s decided to go into farming as soon as he can buy his own land. Not everyone chooses to be like Richard.”
He stopped milking the cow and turned back to her. “I understand what you’re trying to do, and I wouldn’t expect anything less. It’s why I love you so much. But I’m a grown man. I can handle it if Isaac prefers Richard to me.”
She was ready to insist Isaac didn’t prefer Richard to him, but he gave her a kiss.
“I’m glad everyone had a good time,” he said. “I’ve decided I’m not going to keep dwelling on something I have no control over.”
Jasper barked, and Isaac called out for him to chase a stick he was about to throw. This resulted in Adam crying in protest since he’d been playing with the dog first.
“I’ll let you take care of that while I take care of the milk,” Dave said before he gave her another kiss.
Mary stood up and went out of the barn. Isaac threw a stick, and Jasper chased after it. Adam tried to chase after Jasper, but Jasper was too fast. Adam ended up falling face first into the grass. Mary already knew his crying would get louder as soon as he sat up, and she was right. She winced. For a little boy, he sure had a strong pair of lungs.
She picked him up and rubbed his back. She glanced over at the porch where Rachel was still eating her treat. When the girl loved something, she took her time to savor it, unlike her brothers who would wolf it down as if someone was going to steal it from them.
She reached Isaac just as Jasper returned to him with the stick. “Didn’t Rachel tell you to stay on the porch?”
“No,” Isaac said as he took the stick from Jasper.
She set Adam down and waved for Isaac to give him the stick. “Let Adam have a turn with the stick.”
Isaac looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “But he doesn’t throw far.”
“Adam was playing with Jasper first. The least you can do is share the stick.”
“Play,” Adam said.
Isaac rolled his eyes. “He’s such a baby. All he has to do is cry, and he gets whatever he wants.”
“That’s not true,” Mary replied. “You get a lot more than he does.” She gave the stick to Adam and then pulled Isaac aside so she could talk to him without anyone overhearing them. “Isaac, it wouldn’t hurt for you to share with your brother.”
“But he’s little. He can’t do anything.”
“He’ll be able to do more as he gets older. You need to be patient with him. You were that age at one time. How would you have felt if you had an older brother who wouldn’t share with you because you were too slow?”
Isaac considered her words for a moment then said, “Alright, I’ll let him play with me and Jasper.”
“And you’ll take turns throwing the stick?”
He nodded.
“Good.” She paused and glanced at the barn. “Isaac, do you like your pa?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if he sometimes wished Richard was his father instead, but then she settled for, “Are you glad he’s your pa?”
“Yes.”
Well, that was really all she needed to know to set her mind at ease. Feeling better, she gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Go on and play with your brother and Jasper. Remember to take turns with the stick.”
“I will.”
She left the two to play and walked over to the porch where Rachel had finally finished her tart.
“Rachel,” she began, “why didn’t you tell Isaac to stay on the porch like I asked you to?”
Rachel looked at her as if the thought hadn’t occurred to her to follow her mother’s instructions. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Mary asked.
Rachel shrugged. “I was eating.”
Mary sighed but realized the matter wasn’t important. “Alright. Come into the house. We’ll wash you up, and you can help me with supper.”
Chapter Twelve
Dave appreciated Mary’s concern. It was just like her to worry about how others were feeling. When he married her, he knew he was getting a wife who had a good heart, and it seemed the more he got to know her, the more it occurred to him just how much he lucked out. He went to the train station on a whim. He had proposed to her on a whim. He hadn’t known much about her. Other women answering mail-order bride ads weren’t that wonderful. They had seemed alright on the surface upon first meeting them, but over the years, it became obvious their husbands weren’t all that happy in the
