Chapter Nine
True to his word, Jed fully embraced the concept of partnership the very next morning.
Instead of focusing on his own routine, he made sure to put his full attention on Lila, leaving Maeve plenty of breathing room in the kitchen.
As she stirred the big pot of porridge on the stove, she found herself occasionally glancing toward the living room, watching as her husband, still in his flannel nightshirt, made silly faces at the half-asleep toddler.
It was such a ridiculous sight that Maeve couldn’t help but giggle at it.
Jed’s eyes briefly met hers and she turned back to her pot before he could catch her blushing face.
Once the food was warmed and the coffee pot boiled, Maeve moved to set the table.
Only, Jed immediately came to her side, leaving Lila wiggling happily on her blanket to take the dishware off Maeve’s hands.
It was a bit awkward at first. His hands bumped into her own, causing the plates to clatter a bit in her grasp.
He then grabbed a bit too much of her hands, causing a flush of his own to rush across his face.
“S-Sorry,” Jed mumbled.
“It's alright,” Maeve assured him.
He then shifted the plates into his grasp, leaving Maeve somewhat stunned as he set the table. Then he returned to her side, and it took her a moment to realize he was waiting for something else to help with.
So Maeve obliged, digging out a pair of mugs that were swiftly taken to the table.
The porridge followed suit, as did the pot of coffee, and soon the trio were all sat for breakfast. Jed made sure to take Lila onto his lap before Maeve could, pulling her bowl away from Maeve’s setting as he sat down.
It had been some time since Maeve had actually eaten her breakfast hot, and she wasted no time shoveling her spoon into her bowl, nearly burning her tongue as she ate.
“Slow down there,” Jed chuckled, offering his spoon to a wide-eyed Lila. “I ain’t in any rush to get the day going.”
“I–I know! I just– I mean-” Maeve swallowed a gulp of water noisily, forcing herself to stop and think.
‘He ain’t trying to attack you, Maeve. Don’t be getting all defensive.’
“I…” Her eyes flickered toward Jed’s plate. “I guess I wanna give you a chance to eat, too. While it’s still hot, I mean.”
A suggestion of a smile appeared on Jed’s lips. “Well…I appreciate that. But still, I don’t want you hurting yerself fer my sake.”
Maeve took that to heart, urging herself to slow down for the remainder of the meal.
***
This trend continued throughout June, with Jed making a conscious effort not to trap Maeve in an endless loop of homemaking.
Every hour or so he’d come back to the cabin to check in, offering a hand with hanging wet laundry or taking Lila on a stroll around the pasture to give Maeve a break.
There were even mornings where Maeve was left to handle the ranch’s affairs, letting the cattle out to graze and patrolling the fence to ensure nothing had fallen over or needed repair.
And during the late afternoon both she and Jed worked on their vegetable garden, propping Lila upright with a mound of pillows so she could watch them weed and water.
His effort to change was noticeable. To have Maeve not just be his housekeeper, but a partner in their now-shared ranching business.
There was a level of respect building between them, a silent understanding that he had come into her life, stepped into her family’s livelihood, and that Jed knew he needed to make it clear he wasn’t there to take it away from her.
Sadie noticed as much during her next visit, curiously watching Jed through the cabin’s window while sipping a cup of tea. “So…he offered to sweep the front porch?”
Maeve nodded, watching Lila like a hawk as she pulled herself up off the ground using Maeve’s father’s armchair for the third time in a row.
“No prompting from you whatsoever to do so?” Sadie sounded genuinely surprised. “He just decided to do it?”
“Yup.”
“All on his own?”
Maeve nodded again, her foot bouncing nervously as Lila took slow, careful steps while clinging to the armchair.
“He’s been doing a lot to help out lately.
But I feel awful. ‘s been almost a month of him here, an’ I don’t think he fully sees this place as his own yet.
” Her hands instinctively stretched out toward Lila, hovering near the girl’s waist as she continued to maneuver side to side.
“More like it’s just something he’s gotta work on fer the sake of it. ”
“Well he didn’t exactly bring a lot of personal items with him,” Sadie pointed out. “Though if you’re really worried about it, you could spend some of this newfound free time making something?”
Maeve gasped slightly as Lila wobbled, though the toddler was quick to catch her balance. “Ah–make something?”
“You know. Like a blanket, perhaps?” Sadie paused, her gaze following Maeve’s as they both stared intently at Lila for a beat.
“I–um–I saw that yarn I bought for your birthday, you know,” Sadie tried to continue as Maeve refused to take her eyes off Lila, “completely untouched in a basket beside your bed, and-” She finally let out a bemused giggle.
“Maeve, you’re making it very difficult to hold a conversation with you. What on earth are you doing?”
“Waiting,” Maeve replied plainly.
“Waiting? Waiting for what?”
As if to answer Sadie’s question, Lila let out a surprised squeak as she tripped over her own feet. Maeve immediately dove across the floor, her hands catching under Lila’s arms before she had the chance to fall over completely.
“Woah–!” Sadie immediately sat upright, her tea abandoned on the side table as she joined Maeve on the floor. “I barely had the time to realize what was happening. How did you do that, Maeve?”
“Knew it was gonna happen sooner or later,” Maeve explained.
“Okay, but how?”
Maeve helped right Lila’s balance, ensuring the toddler’s hands were firmly against the cushion once more before removing herself, if with great hesitation.
“‘S been her new fixation the last few days. I dunno when kids are supposed to start walking, but Lila decided now was the time.” Maeve finally settled into a kneeling position, hands curled in her lap as she waited for the next inevitable tumble. “At this point it ain’t a matter of if, but of when she falls over.”
“Goodness me. I never realized how much attention little ones needed at all times.” Sadie paused, thoughtfully tapping her chin.
“You know, I’m not entirely sure when children are supposed to start walking either.
Plenty of little ones pass through the general store, but I admit, I’ve never thought to stop the mothers and get specifics. ”
The pair quietly watched as Lila eased herself back to the ground, sat for a moment, then grasped at the chair to pull herself up again.
She made quite the commotion while doing so, huffing and puffing with such exasperation that Maeve couldn’t help but laugh.
“She sounds like a grouchy old man trying to get up from his rocker.”
“I was thinking the same thing!” Sadie cackled. “How’s something so small have such a big voice?”
Maeve grimaced, realizing Sadie had never once heard Lila in the throes of a tantrum.
“Well I’m just glad Lila’s settling in nicely with you all.” Sadie stretched her hand back toward the couch, grabbing her teacup and setting it on her knee. “Honestly, it seems like things are starting to come together for your little family.”
“H-Hey now,” Maeve stammered, suddenly feeling anxious. “Joshua’s still talking wit’ Ms. Miller. Last I heard, she wanted to come see us near the start of July.”
Sadie made a slight face. “That’s barely a week away, Maeve.”
Maeve was well aware. The thought was both a relief and oddly terrifying, and she couldn’t predict which feeling she’d experience whenever the thought resurfaced in her mind.
“You really don’t think you and Jed are doing a good job taking care of Lila?” Sadie sounded genuinely surprised. It was as if she saw something in Maeve that she couldn't make out for herself.
“I…don’t think we’re doing an awful job of it,” Maeve admitted. “I just… I dunno. I still don’t think we’re what she needs. Me an’ Jed just started figuring out how to work well together, an’ the ranch still needs a lot of work.”
“I did offer to come watch her,”
“I know you did,” Maeve sighed. “But that ain’t a good long-term solution. An’ ‘sides,” she added with a grimace, “it ain’t like the bandits have let up.”
Sadie’s expression faltered. “I…suppose that’s true.
Joshua’s been kept busy back in town. Feels like there’s a new report daily about some poor family being attacked, or their animals getting stolen.
” She sighed, sipping her tea while giving a longing glance Lila’s way.
“You’re right, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. ”
“It sounds more like you wanna keep Lila ‘round fer yerself.” Maeve hoped her attempt at teasing would lighten her friend’s mood. And, to her credit, she did manage to get a smile out of Sadie.
“Maybe a little? But I’m certainly not ready for children. Not all of us have the luxury of being married, Mrs. Mercer.”
“Ooh, but I bet you got a husband in mind, don’t you?” Maeve smirked, giving her friend a knowing glance. “A certain fair-haired neighbor of mine, who got an older brother who’s a lawman?”
“M-Maeve!” Sadie’s ears reddened as she let out an embarrassed squeal. “You stop those wicked thoughts of yours this instant!”
Lila let out a squeal of her own, bouncing excitedly up and down while hanging onto the chair.
“See? Even Lila thinks you an’ Samuel should get together,” Maeve giggled.
***
Maeve decided that for the last day of June she would dedicate herself to starting a blanket for Jed. It had been a lovely idea from Sadie, and if she started close to the beginning of the next month, she could watch herself progress with each passing week.