Roberta: Bride of Wisconsin (American Mail-Order Bride 30) by Kirsten Osbourne Page A

shrugged. "I thought it looked pretty, and there were no flowers to put into it."
    Lukas looked at his father and shook his head. "I think you got us a broken frog- mutter ."
    She blushed, embarrassed. "I assure you, I'm not broken. And I wish you would stop calling me your frog- mutter ."
    "But you don't look like a frog, see?" Lukas said by way of explanation, although his words explained nothing.
    "I'm glad you don't think I look like a frog," Bobbie said, shaking her head. "I still wish you'd stop calling me that."
    "What should I call you then?" he asked, his eyes wide as if he really didn't know.
    "Why don't you boys call me Bobbie? It's what my friends call me."
    Lukas frowned at her. "But that's a boy's name."
    "My real name is Roberta, and my mother called me Bobbie from the time I was in the cradle. I like it."
    "I will call you Bobbie, but it's still a boy's name. I think frog- mutter suits you so much better."
    Bobbie looked at Jakob, hoping for a bit of help, but he said nothing. He didn't care what the boys called her, as long as she continued to cook like she did. He'd truly enjoyed dinner the past few nights, and he realized he'd done the right thing to marry her, frog- mutter or no.
    Konrad eyed her. "I agree with Lukas. Bobbie is a boy name, but we will call you that if you like."
    "Thank you." Bobbie was glad the discussion about her name was over.
    "Will you always put empty vases on the table?" Lukas asked again. He really seemed perplexed why anyone would want it there, but she seemed to be happy with it.
    "I might. It's my choice isn't it?" She wished she'd never made an effort to make the table nicer. Obviously they didn't care how it looked anyway. They just cared if the food tasted good.
    "I guess it is," Lukas responded, looking at her like she was crazy. "I still think you might be broken."
    She decided to ignore him. It was no use arguing with an eight year old. She looked at Jakob. "Do you work on Saturdays?"
    He nodded. "I work every day but Sunday, and sometimes I even work then. Not usually."
    "Are you working this Sunday?" she asked, wanting to ask him to take her for the drive and picnic.
    He shook his head, wondering why she was asking.
    "I would like to go for a drive on Sunday after church, if you don't mind. I've been in Wisconsin less than a week, and I'd love to see the surrounding areas."
    He shrugged. "I suppose we could do that if there's no rain." He frowned at her. "After lunch?"
    "I thought we could take a picnic basket and a quilt, and have a picnic somewhere along the way." She held her breath, hoping he'd agree to her suggestion. She wanted to get to know him better, and what better way than to go for a drive and have a picnic?
    "Ja, we can do that. If you want to." He looked at the boys. "You both like picnics, don't you?" They hadn't done anything fun as a family since before Erna died. Perhaps it was time.
    Konrad shrugged. "Picnics are fun."
    Lukas nodded. "I like picnics, even with broken frog- mutter s...I mean Bobbies."
    Bobbie refused to rise to the bait. Minutes later both boys finished, carrying their plates to the sink without being reminded. "Thank you."
    Both nodded before running up the stairs, leaving her alone with Jakob for the first time since their kiss.
    "The house is looking much better," Jakob told her. "I'm very impressed with how hard you've been working."
    She shrugged. "I know that's why I'm here." For once, she wished she was there because he loved her. Because he wanted to fall in love with the bride he'd decided to marry sight unseen.
    "I do appreciate it. When will you start mending?"
    So much for appreciation. He was ready for her to move on to the next project. "I was planning to finish the house first. I haven't done anything upstairs yet except wash the boys' bedding. Their rooms need to be cleaned, and the two spare rooms need some attention as well. If there's something you need right away, set it in the parlor for me, and I'll work on it