Chapter 6
GRANT
I’ve caught myself twice today standing still, my mind wandering what Lauren’s doing.
Pushing the last load out of the mine entrance, a sweet smell engulfs me.
Curious, I head toward the cabin that is just over the knoll only to find the blankets from my bed draped over the front porch railing, the ends still dripping.
The fact that they didn’t wash themselves angers me, and I sling the door open only to find Lauren standing at the counter. She’s still wearing my shirt, an apron tied around her waist with one sock up and the other around her ankle, showing off her trim calf, her hands in a washtub full of dishes.
“What the living hell, woman?! Did you not understand or are you simply refusing to do as I say? You were supposed to be resting, not working yourself into a frenzy!”
The second the words leave my mouth, I see her start shaking all over and I could punch myself in the mouth.
Three strides later, I’m by her side and when she shrinks back from me, I actually feel tears form in my own eyes.
Without thinking, I pull her to me, hugging her gently and showing her the only comfort I can, as my mind tries to figure out how to fix this, as she stands stiffly in my arms.
Looking around, there are pieces of clothing everywhere. She has spent the entire day cleaning my mess. And if my nose isn’t lying, there’s an apple pie in the Dutch oven.
Leaning down, I kiss the top of her head before picking her up, sitting both of us in the chair as I settle her on my lap.
“I’m sorry, Lauren, I should not have yelled at you like that.
Don’t think that I am not grateful for all that you’ve done, I am.
Lord knows I need a keeper but baby, you’re a mess and I can’t fix that.
I can wash the clothes, the dishes, clean this mess up, but I can’t mend your skin or take away the pain and I feel helpless. I just want you to get better.”
“I did as you said until just now. Washed the laundry in the tub while sitting down and only washed the dishes we needed for supper.”
Her voice is small, but for the most part, her trembling has stopped. I reach down and pull up my sock that refuses to stay tied, my knuckles rubbing along her smooth, soft skin. “Why aren’t you wearing your new clothes? Did they not fit?”
“I didn’t want to ruin them.”
“Little Mouse, they are just clothes. If you ruin something, we will get you another. I see that you did at least put on your apron.”
“I didn’t want to, but I knew it would protect your shirt. It’s so nice, it has pockets with sewn-in padding for lifting the pot lids. I had no idea they made anything like this.”
“By the smell of it, you found the cellar as well.”
“Yes, it’s so organized and well stocked, especially for this time of year. Are you done for the day?”
“I am for a few hours, but I need to do a few things in the barn later.”
“The pie is almost done. If you could gather me a few eggs, I’ll get the potatoes and ham started.”
Even though it’s taken her a few minutes, I feel her start to relax in my arms, and I can’t help but nuzzle the top of her head. Her hair is clean and silky under my dirty beard. When she leans away from me, she twitches her nose unfavorably before quickly saying,
“I was able to wash all of your laundry. There are a few dry pieces laying on the foot of your bed, along with some soap, if you would like to wash up before dinner. I cleaned the tub out as best I could, but I didn’t know how to drain it properly.
“Mrs. Hayes, … I do believe you just told me in a very roundabout way that I stink!”
She looks away, not realizing that I am teasing her. Lifting us both up, I set her on her feet, making sure she’s standing on her own, before heading to the bedroom to get those clean clothes.
“Would you like me to put some water on the fire to heat?”
“No, I’ll head to the creek … never liked sitting in my own dirt and I have plenty on me, according to my new wife.”
“Please, don’t take offence.”
“Honey, it’s not like you’re lying; my nose is not dead.
As a matter of fact, smelling that apple pie across the valley is what got you caught working too hard.
I’ll grab those eggs on the way back if you want to start the rest. Here, let me put the pots on the cradle so that you don’t have to lift them. ”
Pulling the other two pieces of the cradle out, which I had tucked next to the firebox, I hook up the various pieces before setting the pans in them.
“I have never seen one with multiple arms. Thank you, this will make things much easier for me.”
“You are welcome. I will return shortly. No peeking.”
A small smile graces her lips before she blushes and I can’t help but chuckle to myself.
Whistling on my way to the creek, I stay in sight of the front porch.
Stripping out of my dirty clothes, I wonder just how long I’ve worn this set, as the smell of wood smoke and sweat makes my own nose curl up as I pull the shirt over my head.
The water is so cold I almost scream like a girl, but it doesn’t take long for my body to adjust as I rub the soap over my skin, making sure to wash my arms and hair multiple times as the dirt seems just to keep pouring off me.
Because I don’t want Lauren to touch them, I grab the clothes I had on, scrubbing them hard and trying to get days of my stink off them.
Instantly, I feel bad when I realize how long this is taking and how much work she had to do to get all that laundry clean today.
I don’t know who I’m more aggravated with, her for not listening or myself for letting it get this bad in the first place.
Shaking what water I can off my now clean skin, I will admit that I do feel better with all that filth off me.
Trying to get clean clothes on my large frame while I’m still wet has me yanking and pulling until I hear one of the seams start to rip on my shirt.
Deciding to forgo it, I gather up all the wet clothes and head back to the house barefoot, grousing the entire way about every sharp rock I step on.
Throwing the wet clothes on the porch, I head over to the chicken coop, just waiting for Blue to show his ornery ass, but he completely ignores me when I step in.
Lucy, on the other hand, is not happy about me taking her eggs, but she just fusses and waddles off.
Because my arms are full, it takes me a second to get the back door open. Rounding the corner, Lauren actually jumps, but then her eyes get big when she realizes my state of undress. I watch her mouth pop open as she gazes at me from the top of my head to the end of my bare toes.
“Here are the eggs. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Didn’t you recognize me without all the dirt?” Her eyes dart around and I can’t help but laugh lightly as I can tell she doesn’t know what to look at.
“Your appearance is quite startling, especially in this state of undress.”
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
“You don’t need me to tell you how attractive you are since you wear your confidence like a second skin.”
“Whoa, that was a close one then … I was worried my own wife found me unattractive.”
Laughing, she throws a small dish towel at me and it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. Her smile lights up her entire face and you can see the girl she has been hiding from the world peeking her head out for just a moment.
“There are some dry towels next to the tub. Put some clothes on.”
“Why … is this distracting?”
“Slightly. There should be rules that limit how many positive traits a person can have. Doesn’t leave any for the rest of us. Even though you still need a haircut and a shave.”
Taking pity on her, I walk into Eliza’s room and grab a towel off the side of the tub. When I realize the dirty water is still in it, I yell out, “Hey, were you saving this dirt in here for soup later?”
“Don’t be silly, I didn’t know how to drain it.”
“Well, come here real quick and I’ll show you how it works.”
I can see the fatigue all over her swollen face as she slowly walks toward me and I have to make myself not snarl. “You have pushed yourself too hard today. I can see it all over you.”
“Yes, I do believe you’re right. To be honest though, I don’t really know anything else. I’ve never had time to just sit around and when you told me to do that, you might as well have been speaking a foreign language.”
“Lauren, I understand better than anyone that there’s always something to be done, but would you at least try to take a few breaks or not push so hard to get it all finished in one day?
It’s just us out here, so there’s no one to impress.
If there are a few dirty dishes and the floor needs to be swept, it’s not the end of the world. ”
“I don’t ever want to become the thing you regret saving, Grant. I’m scared and not sure what to do next. Nothing here is mine and I feel like I’m walking in the shadow of your previous wife, and I don’t want to step on any toes.”
“Other wife?”
“Yes, I know you still mourn her. I saw you standing at her grave this morning before you left for the mine.”
“Okay, we really need to talk but before we get into all of that, let me show you how to work the tub. We’ll eat, then sit down with a cup of coffee and clear the air. Is that alright with you or are you too tired?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hurting all over, but a cup of coffee in front of the fire sounds very pleasant.”
“Good, it’s a date then! Now, if you can bend down slightly, I will show you the lever that lets the water out.
Just turn it away from you and the tub will drain dry.
It was smart of you to use the water you’d bathed in to wash the clothes.
I never noticed the lines strung up above the bed, but I bet Eliza used to do the same thing in the winter months.
Lord knows the girl hated to be dirty. Now, up here is the valve that opens the roof cistern. ”
“What is that?”
“It’s a holding tank mounted under the roof that holds rainwater. Back home, these were common in most houses. They were used for inside toilets and for bathing. When I left, there were rumors of heaters that could be installed as well, but I would have to investigate that further.”
“A fully functioning inside toilet? I can’t even imagine the smell.”
“There was no smell; just like this tub, the water and waste were piped out and away from the house.”
“Where does this water go?”
“I had that same thought initially until I found some piping when I was expanding the front of the cabin. It was so small before, I felt like I was bouncing off the walls. The pipes actually run under the pit of the outhouse, flushing it into the field.”
“Well, that answers a few of my questions. I should have known that you were not from around here, as your speech is more proper than most.”
Lauren’s belly growls, making me laugh and she blushes, embarrassed. “Come on, let’s go feed you.”
Shockingly, we work well together. She peels the potatoes while I cut the ham up.
When she motions toward the pan, I lift it so she can put a scoop of lard in, waiting until it melts before placing the potatoes in.
Once the thick pieces of ham are done, she cracks the eggs into the leftover grease to cook them.
“How do you like your eggs?”
“Anyway, you fix them, but if possible, a little runny.”
“She flips the perfectly cooked eggs like a pro, scooping them onto a now-clean plate, alongside the potatoes and the ham.”
“I have died and gone to heaven. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had a meal like this?”
“Actually, no I don’t, but I understand the sentiment. Once we’re finished, the pie should be cool enough to eat. I’m not sure how the crust turned out in that Dutch oven, so it may be more of a cobbler than a pie when I get it out.”
“As good as it smells, I couldn’t care less the version you serve me.”
“The old saying must be true: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
I nod my head in agreement, practically groaning at how tender the potatoes are.
Glancing up, Lauren has a slight smile on her face.
We eat in comfortable silence, both of us simply enjoying a good meal.
Of course, I get up and have seconds, but when she starts to clear the table, I get up and gently push her back into the chair.
“I’ll clean up, you sit here for a minute.”
While she’d been cutting up the potatoes earlier, I prepared the coffee. It just needs to percolate for a while over the fire, which gives me plenty of time to grab a few things to make her more comfortable.
Sitting two clean cups on the mantle, I head to Eliza’s room and grab one of the blankets off the bed.
Picking Lauren up chair and all once again, I place her closer to the fire before tucking a blanket around her now bare legs, because my socks keep falling down to her ankles.
Pouring us both a cup of coffee, I raise the lid off the Dutch oven. “Is this ready?”
“Yes, there are two small plates ready on the counter if you want to scoop us out a piece.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. Grabbing the spatula, I serve her first. The crust and apples steaming up in my face have my mouth watering. She giggles when she sees the size of the piece I’ve cut for myself. Settling down next to her, I don’t even try to stop the moan I make with each bite.
“Will you marry me?”
“According to you, I already did.”
Her sassy remark has both of us laughing. “Yes, but after eating this pie, I feel bad for the auctioneer. He had no idea what a gem you were. I do believe I may have cheated him. You must admit, it will be quite the story to tell your grandchildren one day.”
“Are we skipping a generation and just aiming for grandkids first?”
“Why not? After all, we got married before we even knew each other’s names. We can do anything we want. You may only live once, but if you do it right, that’s enough.”
The smile on her face as she shakes her head lightens my heart. I realize the courage she’s showing and the fact that she can smile after all she has been through is amazing.