I’ve heard that about him.”
“It’s true.” Gloria added with a smile. “Jake can’t abide lies. And you’re his wife now, he’ll guard you like family. You are family. Like me and Flossie and the kids.”
Julia smiled back at her sister-in-law. What a comforting thought to part of a family. She had allies. Julia decided then and there she wanted to be part of the Shelling family nearly more than anything she ever wanted. And she was going to do what was necessary to make them proud. “I imagine the gentlemen are wondering where we’re at. We’ve been up here a long time.”
Gloria stood slowly. “No. Harry and Will will say, ‘So that’s your new bride.’ Jake will say ‘yep’, and they’ll take the kids out to the barn or look at some fencing.”
Julia laughed. So did Flossie.
“You’re right about that. But we still have lots to do. We have to get Julia here unpacked and think about supper and getting her started tomorrow,” Flossie said as she stood.
Julia looked up at them and smiled with less anxiety and more hope than she’d felt in a long while. “Thank you.”
* * *
Gloria threw together biscuits and Flossie found a piece of ham hanging in the smoke house. Julia watched as the two women made a thick white gravy with the ham drippings. She burnt herself twice on the stove and resigned herself to setting the table. Gloria promised to bring by her recipe box the next week for Julia to copy. Flossie said she’d help her clean the kitchen and unpack. The Shelling family crowded around the table, and Jake said grace. The women’s work was devoured in moments. But the family laughed and talked about everyday things until someone mentioned Julia. The table’s occupants quieted, and some nodded politely at her, as if unsure of what to make of Jake’s new wife. Well, she didn’t blame them; she didn’t know what to make of herself.
Her new husband was clearly the head of the Shelling family. Will and Harry deferred to him and asked his advice. His niece and nephew hung on every word out of his mouth. And his sisters visibly adored him. And he them. There were only warm looks and words between them all. Julia felt like an outsider knowing little of what they discussed, but she saw a better chance of belonging than at any time in her life. The teasing hope of happiness was present, and Julia was determined to be part of it.
She stood beside Jake on the porch and waved goodbye to his sisters and their husbands. Flossie, Gloria and his niece and nephew had kissed him goodbye and told him they loved him. He kissed them back and returned the sentiment. Millie waved goodbye from the back of the wagon long after Julia could see her face. She looked up at her husband.
“Your family is all very kind. They made me feel welcome.”
Chapter Six
“Knew they would,” Jake said. He looked down at the beautiful blonde that was now his bride. “They like you already.”
Julia folded her hands at her waist. “I’m glad. I like them.”
The unasked and unanswered question was whether or not Julia liked him as well. Will and Harry had twisted and squirmed in their skin for want of asking questions. He knew what they were thinking. He had ordered a workhorse and got a hothouse flower.
Like a daffodil in April, Julia was fresh and delicate. But clueless as to farm life, even he could see that. All done up in layers of yellow, nearly matching the blonde of her hair. Her eyes were as clear blue as the sky on a summer morning. His new bride was like a bouquet of colors in contrast to his dark hair and the tan skin of his face and hands.
“I ‘spect you’re tired. I’ll heat water so you can wash up.”
“Would you mind if we sat and talked?” she asked.
“No. I imagine we’ve got some things to work out,” Jake replied as he opened the screen door to let her pass.
“Work out?” she repeated.
Jake pulled a bottle of whiskey from under the sink and poured himself two fingers full in a
“It’s true.” Gloria added with a smile. “Jake can’t abide lies. And you’re his wife now, he’ll guard you like family. You are family. Like me and Flossie and the kids.”
Julia smiled back at her sister-in-law. What a comforting thought to part of a family. She had allies. Julia decided then and there she wanted to be part of the Shelling family nearly more than anything she ever wanted. And she was going to do what was necessary to make them proud. “I imagine the gentlemen are wondering where we’re at. We’ve been up here a long time.”
Gloria stood slowly. “No. Harry and Will will say, ‘So that’s your new bride.’ Jake will say ‘yep’, and they’ll take the kids out to the barn or look at some fencing.”
Julia laughed. So did Flossie.
“You’re right about that. But we still have lots to do. We have to get Julia here unpacked and think about supper and getting her started tomorrow,” Flossie said as she stood.
Julia looked up at them and smiled with less anxiety and more hope than she’d felt in a long while. “Thank you.”
* * *
Gloria threw together biscuits and Flossie found a piece of ham hanging in the smoke house. Julia watched as the two women made a thick white gravy with the ham drippings. She burnt herself twice on the stove and resigned herself to setting the table. Gloria promised to bring by her recipe box the next week for Julia to copy. Flossie said she’d help her clean the kitchen and unpack. The Shelling family crowded around the table, and Jake said grace. The women’s work was devoured in moments. But the family laughed and talked about everyday things until someone mentioned Julia. The table’s occupants quieted, and some nodded politely at her, as if unsure of what to make of Jake’s new wife. Well, she didn’t blame them; she didn’t know what to make of herself.
Her new husband was clearly the head of the Shelling family. Will and Harry deferred to him and asked his advice. His niece and nephew hung on every word out of his mouth. And his sisters visibly adored him. And he them. There were only warm looks and words between them all. Julia felt like an outsider knowing little of what they discussed, but she saw a better chance of belonging than at any time in her life. The teasing hope of happiness was present, and Julia was determined to be part of it.
She stood beside Jake on the porch and waved goodbye to his sisters and their husbands. Flossie, Gloria and his niece and nephew had kissed him goodbye and told him they loved him. He kissed them back and returned the sentiment. Millie waved goodbye from the back of the wagon long after Julia could see her face. She looked up at her husband.
“Your family is all very kind. They made me feel welcome.”
Chapter Six
“Knew they would,” Jake said. He looked down at the beautiful blonde that was now his bride. “They like you already.”
Julia folded her hands at her waist. “I’m glad. I like them.”
The unasked and unanswered question was whether or not Julia liked him as well. Will and Harry had twisted and squirmed in their skin for want of asking questions. He knew what they were thinking. He had ordered a workhorse and got a hothouse flower.
Like a daffodil in April, Julia was fresh and delicate. But clueless as to farm life, even he could see that. All done up in layers of yellow, nearly matching the blonde of her hair. Her eyes were as clear blue as the sky on a summer morning. His new bride was like a bouquet of colors in contrast to his dark hair and the tan skin of his face and hands.
“I ‘spect you’re tired. I’ll heat water so you can wash up.”
“Would you mind if we sat and talked?” she asked.
“No. I imagine we’ve got some things to work out,” Jake replied as he opened the screen door to let her pass.
“Work out?” she repeated.
Jake pulled a bottle of whiskey from under the sink and poured himself two fingers full in a
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