Chapter Six #2
“No, you shouldn’t have,” she choked out, “He’s one of your best friends, and the last thing I want is to come between you two.”
Garrett scowled.
“You’re not. He’s the one that is making the trouble. Not you or your brothers or sisters,” he said, his tone stern.
“I should have thought to send you a telegram, I should have made absolutely sure our aunt could handle the boys before I agreed to just bring the girls with me. I should have done this all better!” she said, her voice growing more frenzied with each word.
“Hannah, stop, please,” Garrett pled, taking her hand.
As his fingers wrapped around hers, the warmth of his much larger hand calmed her, just like his touch had done in the church. It settled her aching heart enough so that she could draw in a shaky breath and try to compose herself.
“This isn’t what I wanted,” she whispered after a moment, “For you or me. Look at what you’ve done. You built this beautiful house. You took us in- all of us- and what do I do? I ruin a sixteen-year friendship all before you and I even get a chance to get settled.”
She bowed her head in shame.
“You deserve better,” she breathed.
Her breath hitched as she felt Garrett’s other hand gently curl around her chin, guiding her to look at him. She nearly started to sob again as she met his deep brown eyes, full of steady calm.
“What I deserve is my choice. And my choice is you,” he said with certainty. “I believe this is the path God wants for me, but I also know that that path comes with obstacles. Our job- my job, is to figure out how to overcome them and be the man God wants me to be.”
Hannah’s breath punched out of her lungs. How long had she wished that her faith was as unshakable as his? Had she wished that not every step she took was on unsteady ground?
“I admire your faith in God,” she confessed.
“It’s not just God. I have faith in you, too. In us. We just have to have time to figure out how things work between us,” he replied solemnly.
Hannah took in another deep breath, feeling a little calmer with each word Garrett spoke to her.
“I can’t believe I haven’t said this yet,” she said after a while, looking at him with a small smile, “But I really am so happy that we finally got to meet in person. Your letters, they… they gave me something to look forward to.”
Garrett’s eyes filled with relief as he smiled back.
“I felt the same way with your letters,” he replied, “And that’s what Dean doesn’t want to accept yet. That we aren’t the strangers he thinks we are. Even though we have much more to learn about one another, we are fond of one another for what we do know.”
Hannah relaxed a little more in her chair.
“So you think the house is beautiful, huh?” Garrett asked.
Hannah’s grin returned, bigger this time, and her eyes roamed over the neat, small kitchen with its little stove, shelves, and countertops.
“I really do,” she replied honestly. “I can’t believe you built this all yourself. It’s truly amazing.”
“I’ll make it bigger,” he promised quickly, “Once I can get a few things on the ranch settled, we can add on to it.”
Hannah shook her head, remembering how tight their quarters in Michigan had been in the small, two-bedroom clapboard cottage near the docks.
“It’s already bigger than what we are used to, you don’t have to change a thing,” she replied. “Besides, your focus should be on the ranch. And ours should, too. What else can I do? Keeping the house clean is easy, especially with Rebecca and Maria to help.”
Garrett’s brows shifted up in surprise.
“You want to do more?” He asked.
“Of course I do,” she readily agreed, “This is our home now too.”
Garrett’s smile was warm and grateful.
“We can talk about it tomorrow,” he said with a nod. “It’s late, and we’ve already had a big day.”
Hannah huffed out a laugh. It had been several big days, starting from the moment she had left Michigan, and she was plumb worn out.
Suddenly, she remembered that there was another reason why this particular day was so big.
They were married now. Husband and wife, and as such, there was something else she was supposed to do.
She paled at the thought. She wasn’t prepared. Wasn’t ready.
“Garrett,” she shakily replied, guilt racking her anew, “I… about tonight, I—”
She couldn’t find the right words as she glanced down the hall toward the bedrooms. Then Garrett squeezed her hand, and she turned back to him to find his patient eyes waiting for her.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said with quiet assurance. “We don’t have to rush into anything. You take your room, and I’ll sleep out in the barn again.”
Relief and guilt flooded through Hannah.
“No, please don’t sleep outside anymore,” she insisted, “At least sleep in the house, in a real bed.”
“I appreciate that,” he said, rising to his feet, “But it’s actually been good that I’ve spent the night in the barn.
There’s a pack of coyotes that have been stalking the cattle.
I wouldn’t have discovered them if I hadn’t been sleeping out there.
I got to keep watch; make sure I don’t lose any of the herd. ”
“Need some help with that?”
Garrett and Hannah both turned and found Isaac had come into the small kitchen. He had been silently fuming all day after Dean’s explosive words, and by the look in his eyes, he still was.
“You don’t have to,” Garrett replied, shaking his head. “You’re still learning the ropes during the day, you don’t need to be working through the night as well.”
“I want to,” Isaac quickly countered, “I don’t feel much like sleep anyway, and I want to learn about everything we do around here.”
“Me too,” Louis said, jogging up to his brother’s side. He puffed out his little chest, making Hannah smile. “I want to help.”
“Jacob will too,” Isaac added as the boy in question came ambling down the hallway.
He scowled at his big brother.
“I will too what?” He asked testily.
“Help us keep the coyotes away,” Isaac answered, giving him a stern look, “And I don’t want to hear a word about it.”
Jacob’s scowl grew deeper, but he said nothing as he looked down at the floor.
“You boys sure?” Garrett asked, “It’s a lot different sleeping out in the barn.”
“We’re sure,” Isaac replied, “We want to help.”
Hannah’s heart throbbed with gratitude, thankful that as usual, Isaac was willing to lend a helping hand with whatever needed done.
“Well, I appreciate it,” Garrett answered, “Go on and get your shoes back on, and we’ll head out.”
As the boys went back down the hall, Garrett leaned down until he was level with Hannah’s face.
Her heart skipped a beat as she thought he was about to kiss her lips, but then instead, his brushed a soft peck along her cheek, just as he had done at their wedding ceremony.
She was surprised at the disappointment she felt, and she couldn’t help the blush that colored her cheeks pink as she kept such a feeling to herself.
“Sleep well, Hannah,” Garrett said warmly, “We’ll talk in the morning.”
Still blushing, she rose to her feet to turn down the oil lamps sprinkled around the kitchen.
“You too, Garrett,” she replied softly.