“I’m sure,” Teddy grinned, seeing how the idea had cheered her. “I’ll talk to Dan tonight, and we can go tomorrow.”
Amanda looked down at her dress, now stained from working in the main house with Rosa. She should probably look into more practical clothing for everyday use.
“Thank you,” Amanda’s voice was soft. “It would be nice to see Olive and the rest of the Hamptons. They were very kind to me while I was there.”
Teddy’s grin brightened. “I’ll tell you what, you pack a bag, and we’ll stay at the boarding house for the night and go to church on Sunday. We can buy a picnic from Olive and make a day of it.”
“But that will be expensive.” Amanda looked up at the simple house around her, surprised when Theo’s face darkened.
“I can afford to take my wife to town,” he growled, standing to his feet and collecting the dishes. “I ain’t some wet behind the ears boy who doesn’t know enough to save his pay.”
Amanda gaped as Theodore loaded the tray with the dishes and stormed from the house. Still stunned by Theo’s behavior, Amanda rose and began picking up the items of clothing scattered about the house. She had always had someone to help her at home. A maid to clean and a girl to help her dress and care for her clothing.
Bundling a dress in her arms, she walked to her trunk, longing for someplace to hang her garments for easy access. How would she ever adapt to this life? What had she said that upset Theodore so? Somewhere between stepping onto the train that brought her to Texas, and now, life had become very complicated. Amanda understood how to make her way in the social rounds of her Virginia home, but Texas was like being in a foreign country where she didn’t know the language, rules, or etiquette.
Teddy returned as Amanda was placing two of her best dresses into a bag. She wanted to go to town, but she didn’t want to overtax her new husband. She needed to learn how to carry her own weight. Theodore had wanted a wife, not a helpless child.
“Good, you’re getting ready,” Teddy looked over at his wife, feeling awkward at his snappishness from earlier. He wanted Amanda to know that he could care for and provide for her, even if he couldn’t afford fancy dresses, a big house, and all the niceties she’d grown up with.
“I’ve packed a few dresses, and my night things, just the items I’ll need,” Amanda smiled, looking at the two bags she had filled moments ago.
“You packed one for me, thank you.”
“I,” Amanda looked between Theo and the bags. “I will.” She smiled, trying to put a brighter note on her mistake.
“You need two bags?” Teddy looked at the bags, then at his wife, who smoothed her ruffled dress.
“I can leave one,” Amanda sniffed, feeling foolish.
Teddy’s shoulders fell. He had upset Amanda with his ignorance. It wasn’t what he had intended, and he moved toward her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t know what a woman needs when she travels,” he said, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll just put my Sunday duds in a bag, don’t worry.”
A flicker of annoyance shot through Amanda as she pulled away. Theo was patronizing her. Perhaps she wasn’t a good wife or efficient in homemaking, but she was not useless. “I’ll pack your things.”
Teddy scratched his head, wondering what he had done this time. He had been lonely for so long. Sure, he had his friends, the men he had fought and traveled with, but having someone to love had lingered as the desire of his heart for a long time.
Perhaps the wedding was only the beginning of a relationship. Teddy had much to learn about loving a woman and keeping a wife. Running his hands through his hair, he thought about Amanda’s agitation. He didn’t even know what he had done to upset his pretty bride.
Turning, Teddy strode to the window, gazing out across the slope of the hill leading toward the pools. He wanted to talk to Amanda, to pour out his heart, share his past and his future, but they were so far apart, how would he ever share the darkness in his soul.
Uncertain what else to do, he pulled his mouth organ from his pocket and stepped out onto the porch while Amanda prepared his things.
Pressing the harmonica to his lips, he let a sad, trilling note drift into the afternoon sky. Old sorrows, aching hurts, and days of blood and fear, pooled in his chest escaping with the sad song as he thought.
***
Amanda hustled around the cabin, her temper simmering as she felt like a stupid little girl. She should have thought to pack a bag for Theodore. Gathering her discarded dresses and stuffing them into her trunk. It was inconvenient not having anywhere to hang her things for easy access.
Outside, a sad song drifted toward the oncoming night, and Amanda’s heart sagged. There was so much she didn’t know about the man she had married. She didn’t even know he played the harmonica.
Finishing her work, she stepped out onto the porch, prepared to apologize and explain.
“We can go to the store tomorrow,” Teddy spoke, still staring out over the hills. “If you need anything.”
Amanda turned, clutching her favorite lavender dress to her bosom. “I was wondering about one thing,” Amanda spoke, feeling nervous about asking. She didn’t want to be wasteful with Theo’s resources, but this item seemed like a necessity, not a convenience.
“Whatever you need,” Teddy turned, smiling his encouragement. “You’re my wife, and I want to take care of you.”
Amanda swallowed hard, meeting his eyes. “I’d like a tub.”
Teddy blinked, surprised at the request. The men on the ranch either washed in the spring or used a big tub in the bunkhouse in the winter. He looked down at his sweat and dust-covered clothing. After a day in the saddle, he needed a
