Chapter 8 #2
“No,” her mother said, looking to Papa. “I won’t hear of you staying in a hotel. Carrie, your room is available. After you took your things and moved, we got a bigger bed and made it our guest room. You two can stay there.”
“We already have a reservation.” Carrie was uncomfortable with the thought of sharing a room with Spencer in her family home.
“I’ll cancel it for you,” Robert said. “I have to go back to work right after supper and can swing by there on the way. Besides, I brought your things in from the porch.”
“That settles it,” Mama said, smiling.
Carrie accepted the decision with a smile as Spencer squeezed her hand under the table.
It would no doubt work out just fine. The rest of the meal went well, with each person sharing something about their day.
Spencer spoke of the seemingly endless prairie and how Cheyenne was the farthest west he had ever lived.
After that Greta brought up the wedding and all the plans she had for the day.
“We’ve rented one of the big halls at the opera house for the reception. We’re going to have dancing and food and lots of people.”
“What say you to all that fuss, Michael?” Papa asked.
“I told her I’d be just as happy to elope, but a big wedding seems important to her,” Michael Decker replied. He grinned and nudged Greta in the side. “So I told her just this once she could run things like she wanted.” Everyone laughed.
By the time they were ready to retire to bed later that night, Carrie was more than a little spent. The day had been long, and the emotions of seeing her family again left her feeling like a wrung-out cloth.
“Well, I have to say that I really love your family. They’re wonderful,” Spencer said, closing the bedroom door.
“They are. They’ve always been that way.
That’s why I don’t understand why I should feel the way I do about not fitting in.
” She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed and began unbuttoning her boots.
Thankfully, part of Mama’s arrangements for the dressing table included a button hook because she wasn’t sure where she’d packed hers.
Spencer began undressing. This had been their routine since their first night together. Neither paid much attention to the other. Usually, they just turned away to give each other privacy.
“Looks like someone has already put the clothes away.” Spencer held up an empty suitcase.
“That’s probably where Rosie and Greta disappeared to after supper.” Carrie removed her second boot and went to the armoire. Opening the door, she found their things arranged inside. “Goodness, they even pressed them. How in the world did they manage such a feat?”
Spencer shrugged. “I’ve never been good at things like that and always paid my landlady extra to iron my clothes.”
Carrie nodded. “I paid Rebecca to do mine. She needed the money, and I was always so busy. Mama taught me how to do all the household chores, but we’re gonna need help.
I have no way of knowing what I’ll be able to keep up with as I do my research.
Of course, I may not have any patients at all and will be grateful to revisit my skills as a seamstress and cook. ”
Spencer shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.
I’m sure it will all work out. We’ll figure it out bit by bit.
First, we have to find our own place. We can go looking tomorrow.
This is Monday, after all. We can buy a paper and see what might be available.
If that doesn’t work, then perhaps your folks will know.
Now, would you like me to unbutton your blouse? ”
“Yes, please.” She brought her nightgown and robe with her and came to stand with her back to Spencer.
This, too, was their routine. He undid the buttons, then turned away.
This time, however, Carrie clutched her things and headed for the door.
“The bathroom is next door. I’m going to go clean up a bit.
It will give you some privacy to finish changing. ”
She was impressed with the new bathroom.
The copper tub encased in an oak frame that her father and brother had created was difficult to pass up.
Maybe there’d be time for a long soak tomorrow.
The rest of the room was just as nice, and Mama had seen to it that every comfort was available, from towels and washcloths to bars of homemade soap that had a distinct scent of roses.
Carrie quickly removed her clothes, doing her best not to be nervous about being home, nor the days to come.
Everyone had been so welcoming and supportive.
Even the news of her marriage to Spencer hadn’t gone over too badly.
Carrie looked into the mirror that hung just over the sink.
She could well imagine the ease with which this might allow her father to shave in the morning.
It was certainly better than the life they’d had when Mama and Papa had first arrived in Cheyenne.
Carrie couldn’t remember their tenting days, but Mama always told stories about it when they were young.
After living in a tent during the cold winter months, the Vogel family had progressed to the small building in back of the house, where the original owners planned to make a woodshop similar to the one Papa had there now.
Carrie didn’t remember that time or place either, but then they’d taken over this house, and her memories were plentiful.
Coming home had brought to mind a great many things.
She’d had a good life here even if she didn’t feel that she fit in or belonged.
One way or another, she had to overcome her doubts about her family’s love and acceptance.
There was no benefit in continuing to feel the way she did.
Besides that, things had changed in the last eight years.
And she was certain that it didn’t just extend to the house alone, although those changes were quite impressive and even unexpected.
Mama had written about some of them, but Carrie hadn’t really given it much thought.
Having the huge porch created for visiting and a big upstairs bathing room with indoor toilet had been a longtime desire of her mother’s.
Carrie had left home knowing that one day her father would see to it that the changes were made.
He loved Mama and wanted to give her all the worldly comforts.
And he had. The house was hooked up to plumbing, sewer, electricity, a furnace system, and telephone service. The latter was especially fascinating and annoying, Mama had told her. The officers at the jail thought nothing of calling Papa day and night.
Carrie washed up and changed into her nightgown and robe, then made her way back to the bedroom.
She found her husband already changed and ready for bed upon her return.
That was when she finally allowed herself to think about their arrangements.
She glanced around the room. There wasn’t really decent space to set up a comfortable pallet on the floor.
Not only that, but while the house had come up to date in many ways, there were still no locks on the bedroom doors.
In her family, there was always a sort of unspoken rule about not keeping people out.
She bit her lip and pondered the matter. There wasn’t really a choice.
“What’s wrong?” Spencer came toward her.
He wore a loose-fitting nightshirt and had no idea how handsome he was. Carrie tried to ignore her thoughts. “We’ve got no choice but to share the bed.”
“I can sleep on the floor.”
She shook her head. “No, you really can’t.
There’s not space to begin with, but you might as well know that my parents or siblings are likely to come barging in.
I mean, they usually knock first and make sure it’s all right, but there would be no time to get you up off the floor and into bed.
” Her voice was barely a whisper. She gave a sigh and looked at the bed.
It was larger than any of those they’d had at the hotel.
“It’ll be all right.” She looked at Spencer. “I’m sure we can make do for a night or two.”
“Are you sure?” He took hold of her shoulders and waited until Carrie lifted her gaze to meet his. “I don’t want you uncomfortable. I will be a perfect gentleman. I promise.”
“I know.” She forced a nervous smile. “I trust you, Spencer. I’m sure we’ll be just fine. Besides, my folks keep it cold at night. We’ll appreciate each other’s body heat, I’m sure.”
He laughed and waved his arm toward the bed. “Which side do you want?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. It would be all right. They were on a mission here, and the end results were far more important than her discomfort for the moment. She truly wasn’t worried about Spencer breaking his vow.
She was, however, starting to question her own resolve.