Chapter 6
POV: Sorsha
I woke with a start and blinked in confusion before remembering where I was. How did I get here? Goodness—I must have fallen asleep in the hay, and Callum brought me here.
Carried me.
And I hadn’t even woken. How was that possible?
Maybe because I felt safe with him.
But should I really let my guard down completely?
The last rays of sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over the blanket tucked around me. Beside the bed, my new shoes waited neatly in place.
He carried me, and I never stirred—such a pity. That would have been a wonderful memory.
I grinned. Maybe it would happen again… before he chased me away.
The smell of food drifted into the room, pulling me up. I wanted to see how he cooked so that I could copy him.
Rushing into the kitchen, I froze when he looked up.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Um, yes. You didn’t have to carry me; I like sleeping in the hay.” I smiled at him, but my smile faltered when a frown creased his brow.
“The bed was very comfortable, too,” I added quickly.
Slipping in beside him, my gaze fastened on the pan. Actually… what was in the pan?
“Is that…?”
I didn’t know what it was, but the smell was mouthwatering.
“It’s steak,” he said. “I thought we should have a celebratory dinner, seeing as it’s our wedding day…” His voice trailed off, and one glance at his face told me he was embarrassed.
“Are you sorry you married me?”
His head snapped up, blue-green eyes locking with mine, blazing with such intensity that I almost forgot to breathe. “No,” he said, fierce enough to make me flinch. Then softer, “Not that.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
His cheeks deepened to crimson, and I grinned at his shyness, though I couldn’t quite understand why he was embarrassed.
Turning the steak, he cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Would you mind setting the table?”
“Okay.”
I obeyed, though my eyes followed him with every movement, drinking in the way his broad shoulders flexed as he worked.
When the food was ready, he lifted the lid from another pot and spooned mashed potatoes and green beans onto my plate before adding a thick, perfectly seared piece of steak. He set it before me with quiet care, then served his own.
“Enjoy,” he murmured.
I hesitated a moment, watching carefully so I wouldn’t make a fool of myself.
But then I took a bite of steak—and couldn’t hold back the moan of delight.
“Oh my god, this is divine,” I gushed.
“Good. You need a bit of meat on those bones.”
The words had barely left his mouth before his face went scarlet.
I gazed at him for a long moment before saying, “It sounds like you want to fatten me up so you can eat me.”
I chuckled—then froze when his eyes widened.
Quickly, I added, “Like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, you know.”
He popped a piece of meat into his mouth and chewed carefully while I waited for him to say something. Anything.
“Would you like me to teach you how to read?” he asked at last.
I gaped at him in astonishment.
“Am I not too old to learn?”
“Never too old,” he said simply.
“Can you also teach me how to cook?” I asked, hopeful.
“Mm-hmm.” He nodded.
I smiled a big, genuine smile—the kind I reserved only for special people.
A small groan escaped him, and I wondered immediately if he already regretted his promise.
“The wood for Mabel’s shelter arrives tomorrow, which takes priority, but we can start after that.”
I clapped my hands in delight. “I can help!”
“Finish your food,” he said evenly, glancing at my plate.
Usually, I was still hungry after eating, but not this time. I chewed the last piece of steak while he watched me with eagle eyes. Steak was far more filling than vegetables.
Leaning back, I suddenly belched and clapped a hand over my mouth in horror. Callum only chuckled and got up to clear the table.
“I’ll wash the dishes,” I offered quickly.
“You can dry if you want.”
On the porch in the backyard, he’d built a counter with running water. I’d seen it earlier but hadn’t realized what it was.
“It would be nice to have this in the kitchen,” I said, hurrying beside him.
“I’ve thought about it, but it would mean laying pipes and tearing down walls. This wall is adjacent to the bathroom, so it was easy to build it here.”
Callum was clever. And very handy.
And handsome.
I just hoped he’d be my husband for a while.
I stared at him unabashedly while he ran the water. When he noticed, I quickly looked around for a dish towel and waited.
We worked side by side, and deep inside me, something flickered to life.
It didn’t take long to finish the dishes, and we carried them back to the kitchen, where Callum put them away.
Now what? Did he go to sleep as soon as it was dark?
Grabbing matches, he lit two oil lamps before turning to me. “Would you like some tea?”
Tea? Not alcohol.
I couldn’t remember what tea tasted like. My mom used to brew it, but that was long ago.
“Okay.”
He stoked the fire in the stove and moved the kettle—
I pointed at the herbs hanging from the ceiling. “What are those?” I asked.
He grabbed a bushel of green-looking stuff I would have classified as weeds—except for the lemony scent.
“This is lemon balm, but it needs to dry out.” He slid open a drawer and removed two tins. Pointing at the dark green one, he explained, “In here are the dried herbs I use for my tea, but you shouldn’t.”
“Oh, why?”
“Because they are for…” he paused, as though searching for the right word. “They are for men.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure if that was true, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
“This tin,” he opened the white one, “has tea for you.”
He measured the tea into two perfectly round and perforated tin balls, clipped them shut, and sank them into the cups before adding hot water.
I stared in fascination as the water changed color, both cups taking on a yellowish hue.
After a while, he fished the balls out with a spoon and handed me mine.
I took a hesitant sip, not finding the taste special. He must have read it on my face because he immediately asked, “Do you want sugar in yours?”
Oh yes. Sugar would definitely make it better.
I nodded enthusiastically.