Chapter 16
She couldn’t spend another moment wallowing in her tears.
Not when there was so much to do. Not when Mandie could help in at least a small way by preparing meals for these men who’d taken her in with such kindness. Enoch especially.
As the first blush of dawn showed outside the window, she pushed herself from the bed, ignoring the lingering ache in her head.
She dressed quickly, then pinned her hair into a chignon at the nape of her neck.
A glance in the mirror showed her face still bore traces of the previous day’s tears.
Hopefully that would fade once she got moving.
The house remained quiet as she stepped softly down the hall and into the kitchen. The cookstove was already lit with the coffeepot on the surface, which meant at least one other person was up. A check inside the pot showed the water just starting to boil.
She set to work pulling out the biscuits Bea had made the morning she left.
They were starting to grow hard, but would hopefully still be fresh enough to serve.
To go with them? Would the men mind fried ham and eggs again like she’d prepared yesterday?
She had no idea how to prepare pastries, and she’d not found potatoes anywhere.
“You’re up early.”
She jumped at the deep voice behind her. Enoch.
She turned to find him standing in the kitchen doorway, his broad shoulders filling the frame. The morning light filtering through the small window cast his rugged features in sharp relief, highlighting the angles of his jaw beneath his beard.
“I wanted to get breakfast started.” She kept her voice low. The others might still be sleeping.
His blue eyes searched her face, concern etching lines around them. “How are you feeling?”
She summoned a smile, hoping it reached her eyes. “Better. Truly. I needed the rest yesterday, but I can’t spend all day in bed again. Not when there’s so much to be done.”
He stepped closer, his large frame filling the small kitchen. Even with the island between them, his presence surrounded her. “You’ve been through a lot, Mandie. No one expects you to push yourself before you’re ready.”
His use of her given name, the gentleness in his tone, sent a flutter through her middle. How was it that this man she barely knew could both unsettle and comfort her with a few simple words?
She lifted her chin. “I am ready. Helping, even in small ways, will make me feel more myself again.”
He held her gaze a moment longer, then inclined his head. “All right. But promise you’ll stop if it’s too much.”
“I will.” She turned back to the work counter to begin slicing ham. Anything to hide the effect his nearness had on her composure.
He moved to the stove to check the coffeepot, and she tried not to notice the way his shoulders strained against his shirt, or the fluid grace of his movements despite his size. His hair and beard curled damp around his face, like he’d just washed up.
The scent of his soap drifted to her, clean and masculine, mingling with the aroma of woodsmoke. She focused on the ham, the rasp of the knife against the cutting board, and tried to ignore the awareness prickling along her skin.
He reached for the mugs hanging on pegs by the window. “The others will be in soon. They’ll be glad for a hot meal.”
Mandie nodded, focusing on the steady rhythm of her knife against the cutting board. “I hope this will do. I’m afraid my culinary skills are a bit lacking compared to Bea’s.”
Enoch’s low chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. “I reckon anything you make will be a sight better than what we’d rustle up on our own.”
She glanced over her shoulder, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll bet the four of you could handle things.” They likely possessed any number of skills the dandies back east couldn’t manage.
“You’d be surprised. Thomas once tried to make hoecakes and nearly set the kitchen ablaze.”
Mandie laughed, the sound feeling rusty and unfamiliar in her throat. “I’ll do my best to keep from a similar fate.”
Enoch’s gaze warmed, a glint of humor softening the blue. “Thank you for saving us from ourselves.”
At last, he turned and left the room, steaming cup in hand.
She let out a long breath. When would her body stop reacting to his every word and look?
Soon the scent of frying ham and eggs filled the kitchen, and she could hear the men’s voices drifting in from the other room as they gathered for the morning meal.
She arranged the food on platters, then gathered her courage and carried them and the coffeepot out to the dining room. The brothers were all seated around the table, their conversation halting as she entered.
“Good morning.” She set the platters in the center of the table, trying not to feel self-conscious under their gazes. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Famished.” Thomas eyed the ham with undisguised eagerness. “This looks a right sight better than what Enoch would have made.”
Enoch shot his brother a glare as he took the coffeepot from her with one hand and pulled out her chair for her with the other. “You’re not wrong about that, but at least I haven’t set fire to the kitchen yet.”
It didn’t feel right letting Enoch pour the coffee while she sat, but it felt less proper to argue with him for the task. So she lowered herself and allowed him to push in her chair.
Robert cleared his throat. “We’re most grateful for the meal, Mrs. Beaumont. Your efforts are appreciated.” He shot Thomas a quelling look.
Mandie smiled, relaxing a bit as she smoothed her napkin in her lap. “It’s the least I can do after all your kindness. And please, call me Mandie. Mrs. Beaumont feels far too formal.”
After Enoch poured the coffee and took his seat, they all bowed for James to say a prayer. As he asked God’s blessing on the food, she sent up her own petition. Help me know what to do, Lord. Send guidance.
As soon as they spoke the amen, the men filled their plates and tucked in. Mandie nibbled at her food, her stomach still unsettled. She had no idea now if it was from all the unrest in her spirit, or from the effects of the new life growing inside her.
A child.
She still couldn’t fathom that fact. But she was coming to think of the babe as part of herself.
Conversation flowed around her, the brothers discussing the day’s tasks.
“We need to get the order in for the barn wood soon.” Robert glanced around at Enoch.
“You want to go do that today while we cut new poles for the supports?” Enoch took a drink of his coffee. “You can check the telegraph office again while you’re there, see if a reply came for Mandie.”
“And then swing by the Jenkins place on your way back,” Thomas added. “Check if Bea’s ready to come home.”
Robert gave a quick nod. “I’ll take care of it.”
Mandie’s heart skipped at the mention of a possible reply from her parents. She’d nearly forgotten about the telegram in the upheaval of yesterday’s revelations. What would they say? How much did they know? Would they be worried sick over her disappearance? Her injury?
She needed to tell them about the babe, but she couldn’t bear the thought of them learning the truth of her situation through an impersonal wire. She should compose a proper letter, break the news gently, and in full sentences. But what could she possibly say to explain all that had transpired?
What would they do when they learned Clayton had done the unthinkable? Her parents had always thought so highly of him, approving of his intentions toward her even before she came out of mourning. The scandal would be devastating, especially with Papa’s bid for mayor coming up.
Enoch’s deep voice pulled her from her spiraling thoughts. “We’ll fell the logs for the poles this morning, then haul and peel them.” He glanced at James and Thomas. “If we push, we might get them set today too.”
The other two nodded, easy communication among men who knew each other so well. What would it be like to be a part of a family like this? To belong as one of them?
The forbidden thought crept in before she could stop it. If she accepted Enoch’s proposal, this could be her family. These men, this land, could be her home.
She pushed the idea away. England would be her home. Enoch said he would have to go there. Besides, this decision was too big to be swayed by emotion.
Better to focus on something she could look forward to…Bea would return by tonight.
The prospect of having the older woman’s steady presence and wisdom back in the house eased some of the tension in Mandie’s shoulders. And her cooking skills. Mandie would pay far better attention to Bea’s recipes from here on out.
She’d never realized how hard it was to cook a full breakfast and dinner, as well as have cold food set out at midday.
Had preparing food been easier in Savannah, where breads and meats could be bought freshly baked?
Maybe, but their cooks had also made much fancier meals than she or even Bea had turned out here, where every detail had to be accomplished from scratch.
As the meal concluded, the men rose to begin their work. Each thanked her for the meal, though it was only fried ham, leftover biscuits, and eggs. Barely hearty enough for all the work they’d be doing.
Enoch paused as she stood to collect the dishes. “I can bring in more water for you before we head out, if you need it for cleaning up.”
She sent him a small smile. “That would be much appreciated, thank you.”
He nodded, his gaze lingering on her face a moment longer before he turned and strode out the door.
Mandie busied herself clearing the table, doing her best not to dwell on the way her pulse quickened at his nearness, at the gentle timbre of his voice when he spoke to her.
It was only natural to feel drawn to his strength and steadiness in the midst of her own upheaval. But she couldn’t let herself depend on him too much, couldn’t let gratitude blur into something more dangerous.
By the time he returned with the pail of water, she had the dishes neatly stacked in the kitchen and the table wiped down. He set the bucket in the sink, then hesitated. “If you need anything, just call out. I’ll be working close by today.”
“I’ll be fine. Truly.” She looked up at him, willing confidence into her voice. “I may be a bit slower at the chores than Bea, but I’m capable.”
That ghost of a smile touched his lips, there and gone. “I don’t doubt that.” His eyes held hers a second longer. Then he gave a short nod and turned for the door. “That mare will likely foal today or tomorrow, so I’ll be within shouting distance if you need me.”
A mare due to foal… Wasn’t that the one Enoch nearly died saving in the fire?
Thought of the fire spurred something else she’d forgotten.
Enoch was nearly out of the kitchen when she called out. “Wait, Enoch. Your burns. I can see that your head and neck are healing, but the rest…I haven’t checked them since that first night.”
He paused and half-turned back. “It’s all right. I’ve been putting the salve on. James says they look to be healing well.”
Disappointment pricked through her. Of course his brothers would be tending to him. He didn’t need her help. “That’s good. I’m glad they’re improving.”
With that, he ducked out the door, leaving her alone with the morning sunlight and a counter stacked with dirty dishes.
She let out a slow breath and set to work, plunging her hands into the warm, soapy water. At least she had work to distract her from all the questions churning inside.