wanted to eat everything in sight. This morning she’d eaten half a loaf of bread with butter spread over the soft sides. Thinking back, she was embarrassed by how much she’d eaten, but at the time her stomach kept wanting more. If this continued until the baby arrived, she’d be as large as a cow.
Continuing to watch her steps carefully as to not find an icy patch or a slick mud puddle, she finished her short trek to the barn. She looked for Rand, but didn’t see him, so she walked through the barn and to the other end where the chicken coop was. The latch was rusty, and she had to jiggle the handle to open the gated-off area.
Many of the hens were subdued today, sitting in their nests. She went from one to the next, carefully lifting the hens while holding back their wings and quickly grabbing the eggs from under them. If only the task of collecting eggs were this easy every day. Back in Maryland, she’d had plenty of experience being pecked through her clothing. Those were the times she was grateful for the layers of clothing a woman was destined to wear.
Her basket was half full and there were no more eggs to collect. She’d check again later that evening before supper. Beginning her walk back to the house, she spotted Rand digging a posthole. At her feet was a large pile of snow that he’d shoveled aside to clear a path to the barn and because of its size, the heap was taking longer to melt. An idea formed, bringing a mischievous grin to her face. She and Daniel used to love snowball fights.
Would Rand also or would he be upset should she throw one his way? Taking a chance since she’d learned he had a sense of humor, she set the basket on the ground, carefully stooped down and gathered snow in her hands. Patting it in her palms and smoothing it until it was a perfect circle, she tried to stand back up—only, she’d forgotten the limitations her swollen body placed on her.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stand back up and her ankles teetered precariously.
“Drat, drat, drat,” she muttered. So much for impulsive behavior, to have a little fun. On second thought, she still had to get his attention somehow and quickly before she ended up a muddy mess. She arched her arm back then swung it forward, releasing the ball of snow with a precise aim. It hit its target square in the back.
“What was that?” Rand jumped from his hunched position.
“Over here,” she called out, torn between wanting to laugh at his expression or cry at her predicament.
“Whatever are you doing?” He strode her way.
“I’m stuck,” she laughed, giving him a coquettish smile. “I had to get your attention somehow.”
Extending his arms, he slipped them under her shoulders and pulled her to an upright position. With a stern voice but twinkling eyes, he questioned, “And how did you come to be in that position?”
Pink tinted her cheeks. “I, uh, dropped the basket of eggs.”
“And they all miraculously survived?” Eyeing the perfect basket of eggs, his lips twitched with laughter. “Tsk, tsk. And to think I admired you for your honesty.”
Lettie let go of her laughter, feeling almost giddy at the playful banter. How long had it been since she’d felt free to have a little fun? “Would a fresh batch of sugar cookies redeem my reputation?”
He cocked his head to one side and crooked a finger to his chin, deliberating. “Hmm. It would go a long way in restoring my opinion. But I think for the full redemption, a hot cup of coffee will also be in order.”
“I think that can be arranged.”
“In all seriousness, please be careful. I told you I’d be happy to continue collecting the eggs. You need to rest and take care of the baby.”
Heaving an exasperated sigh, she looked him straight in the eye. “Women have been having babies for all of time without becoming lazy. I feel great now, honest.”
He wrung his hands and Lettie could see the internal battle playing out through his eyes. “I
Continuing to watch her steps carefully as to not find an icy patch or a slick mud puddle, she finished her short trek to the barn. She looked for Rand, but didn’t see him, so she walked through the barn and to the other end where the chicken coop was. The latch was rusty, and she had to jiggle the handle to open the gated-off area.
Many of the hens were subdued today, sitting in their nests. She went from one to the next, carefully lifting the hens while holding back their wings and quickly grabbing the eggs from under them. If only the task of collecting eggs were this easy every day. Back in Maryland, she’d had plenty of experience being pecked through her clothing. Those were the times she was grateful for the layers of clothing a woman was destined to wear.
Her basket was half full and there were no more eggs to collect. She’d check again later that evening before supper. Beginning her walk back to the house, she spotted Rand digging a posthole. At her feet was a large pile of snow that he’d shoveled aside to clear a path to the barn and because of its size, the heap was taking longer to melt. An idea formed, bringing a mischievous grin to her face. She and Daniel used to love snowball fights.
Would Rand also or would he be upset should she throw one his way? Taking a chance since she’d learned he had a sense of humor, she set the basket on the ground, carefully stooped down and gathered snow in her hands. Patting it in her palms and smoothing it until it was a perfect circle, she tried to stand back up—only, she’d forgotten the limitations her swollen body placed on her.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stand back up and her ankles teetered precariously.
“Drat, drat, drat,” she muttered. So much for impulsive behavior, to have a little fun. On second thought, she still had to get his attention somehow and quickly before she ended up a muddy mess. She arched her arm back then swung it forward, releasing the ball of snow with a precise aim. It hit its target square in the back.
“What was that?” Rand jumped from his hunched position.
“Over here,” she called out, torn between wanting to laugh at his expression or cry at her predicament.
“Whatever are you doing?” He strode her way.
“I’m stuck,” she laughed, giving him a coquettish smile. “I had to get your attention somehow.”
Extending his arms, he slipped them under her shoulders and pulled her to an upright position. With a stern voice but twinkling eyes, he questioned, “And how did you come to be in that position?”
Pink tinted her cheeks. “I, uh, dropped the basket of eggs.”
“And they all miraculously survived?” Eyeing the perfect basket of eggs, his lips twitched with laughter. “Tsk, tsk. And to think I admired you for your honesty.”
Lettie let go of her laughter, feeling almost giddy at the playful banter. How long had it been since she’d felt free to have a little fun? “Would a fresh batch of sugar cookies redeem my reputation?”
He cocked his head to one side and crooked a finger to his chin, deliberating. “Hmm. It would go a long way in restoring my opinion. But I think for the full redemption, a hot cup of coffee will also be in order.”
“I think that can be arranged.”
“In all seriousness, please be careful. I told you I’d be happy to continue collecting the eggs. You need to rest and take care of the baby.”
Heaving an exasperated sigh, she looked him straight in the eye. “Women have been having babies for all of time without becoming lazy. I feel great now, honest.”
He wrung his hands and Lettie could see the internal battle playing out through his eyes. “I
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