“There was quite a bit of dead wood there, and I just made good use of it.”
“I have a load of coal coming,” Nicholas said, reluctantly removing his hand from her arm. “It ought to get here tomorrow or the next day at the latest. I also arranged for the ice man to deliver here until the creek freezes. I figure I can manage to keep us supplied through the winter.”
Daughtry felt her skin tingle long after Nicholas had stopped touching her. She barely heard his words as he continued to speak of his arrangements for the ranch.
“I thought we might go into town tomorrow. We could purchase some of the things we’ll need for the winter and also get some staples that I didn’t have on hand. Milk and eggs ought to be readily available.”
“A milk cow and chickens would suit us better,” Daughtry said without thinking.
“I suppose that’s true enough,” Nicholas said thoughtfully, “but with winter coming on and us not having the ranch really prepared for livestock, I thought maybe we’d just rely on store bought.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Daughtry replied, walking with slow even strides beside her husband.
They paused at the broken down corral, and Nicholas leaned against a piece of fencing. The wind had picked up a bit and blew wisps of Daughtry’s hair across her face.
Daughtry noticed the look of hesitancy in her husband’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he were hiding something from her. How could she know what type of man he’d been before or what type he’d be now? Mother had once said that people always proved their true nature by their actions. Well, so far Nicholas’s actions had given Daughtry little to fear.
“What do you suppose we should do first?” he asked her seriously.
Daughtry’s introspection was released as she shrugged. “It all depends on your plans.”
“What would you suggest?”
Daughtry smiled. “Well, being a woman, I suggest the house be put in order first. When I was trying to repair the roof the other day. . .”
“What? You were up on the roof?” Nicholas interrupted.
Daughtry felt her face flush. “Not exactly ladylike, was it?”
Nicholas laughed. “Ladylike or not, I’m amazed at your abilities. Did you actually get up there to fix the roof?”
Daughtry nodded, feeling rather proud. “I was inspired. The second night here it rained so hard that I had puddles all through the house. I can’t say I accomplished much, but it was a healthy start.”
“I guess that’s what I’ll do first then,” Nicholas said with a thoughtful glance back at the house. “What else?”
Daughtry smiled. He genuinely wanted her to have a say in the matter. “Well, I’d like to cart everything out of the house and clean it good before winter sets in,” Daughtry admitted. “As you could see, I only managed to set the kitchen and bedroom to rights before your return.”
“Two very important rooms, if I do say so myself,” Nicholas remarked.
“I figured it that way too,” Daughtry said and, without thinking of the implications, added, “after all, I figured most of my time would be spent in one place or the other.” The words were no sooner out than Daughtry realized how they sounded. She clapped her hand over her mouth.
Nicholas laughed until he doubled over, and Daughtry turned crimson, knowing he must think her terribly forward.
“I didn’t mean,” she started to justify herself, then realized she would only make matters worse by continuing.
Nicholas straightened up and tried to control his mirth. “That’s quite all right, Honey,” he said with tears of laughter gleaming in his eyes. “I pretty well figured what you meant.”
Daughtry had to turn away to hide her embarrassment at her own statement. Sometimes, she thought, I say the stupidest things.
Nicholas sobered as if he’d noticed her discomfort. “So we empty the house,” he said matter-of-factly, “and we wash it all down. Then what?”
“We put it all back
“I have a load of coal coming,” Nicholas said, reluctantly removing his hand from her arm. “It ought to get here tomorrow or the next day at the latest. I also arranged for the ice man to deliver here until the creek freezes. I figure I can manage to keep us supplied through the winter.”
Daughtry felt her skin tingle long after Nicholas had stopped touching her. She barely heard his words as he continued to speak of his arrangements for the ranch.
“I thought we might go into town tomorrow. We could purchase some of the things we’ll need for the winter and also get some staples that I didn’t have on hand. Milk and eggs ought to be readily available.”
“A milk cow and chickens would suit us better,” Daughtry said without thinking.
“I suppose that’s true enough,” Nicholas said thoughtfully, “but with winter coming on and us not having the ranch really prepared for livestock, I thought maybe we’d just rely on store bought.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Daughtry replied, walking with slow even strides beside her husband.
They paused at the broken down corral, and Nicholas leaned against a piece of fencing. The wind had picked up a bit and blew wisps of Daughtry’s hair across her face.
Daughtry noticed the look of hesitancy in her husband’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he were hiding something from her. How could she know what type of man he’d been before or what type he’d be now? Mother had once said that people always proved their true nature by their actions. Well, so far Nicholas’s actions had given Daughtry little to fear.
“What do you suppose we should do first?” he asked her seriously.
Daughtry’s introspection was released as she shrugged. “It all depends on your plans.”
“What would you suggest?”
Daughtry smiled. “Well, being a woman, I suggest the house be put in order first. When I was trying to repair the roof the other day. . .”
“What? You were up on the roof?” Nicholas interrupted.
Daughtry felt her face flush. “Not exactly ladylike, was it?”
Nicholas laughed. “Ladylike or not, I’m amazed at your abilities. Did you actually get up there to fix the roof?”
Daughtry nodded, feeling rather proud. “I was inspired. The second night here it rained so hard that I had puddles all through the house. I can’t say I accomplished much, but it was a healthy start.”
“I guess that’s what I’ll do first then,” Nicholas said with a thoughtful glance back at the house. “What else?”
Daughtry smiled. He genuinely wanted her to have a say in the matter. “Well, I’d like to cart everything out of the house and clean it good before winter sets in,” Daughtry admitted. “As you could see, I only managed to set the kitchen and bedroom to rights before your return.”
“Two very important rooms, if I do say so myself,” Nicholas remarked.
“I figured it that way too,” Daughtry said and, without thinking of the implications, added, “after all, I figured most of my time would be spent in one place or the other.” The words were no sooner out than Daughtry realized how they sounded. She clapped her hand over her mouth.
Nicholas laughed until he doubled over, and Daughtry turned crimson, knowing he must think her terribly forward.
“I didn’t mean,” she started to justify herself, then realized she would only make matters worse by continuing.
Nicholas straightened up and tried to control his mirth. “That’s quite all right, Honey,” he said with tears of laughter gleaming in his eyes. “I pretty well figured what you meant.”
Daughtry had to turn away to hide her embarrassment at her own statement. Sometimes, she thought, I say the stupidest things.
Nicholas sobered as if he’d noticed her discomfort. “So we empty the house,” he said matter-of-factly, “and we wash it all down. Then what?”
“We put it all back
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