Chapter Ten #2
As he gave the bucket one final shake, Jed couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride in his chest. He’d kept his promise to Maeve this time–Lila was fed, bathed, and dressed for bed, and without her uttering a single sob of protest. He took a moment to stare out into the nighttime gloam, and a brief strand of worry tangled in his chest.
Maeve and Samuel hadn’t stayed on the property for long; in under an hour, the pair were halfway down the hill in pursuit of the two stray bulls.
He’d never seen someone look so at ease on the back of a horse, Maeve’s hair whipping behind her as she urged Ash forward.
Jed had even had the chance to watch her work a lasso, though it didn’t result in a successful catch.
That was in the afternoon. Now, as evening crept its way across the sky, Jed couldn’t help but to begin imagining the worst.
Then, lantern light; a flicker moved over the head of the hill, faintly illuminating the shape of a horse and its rider.
As the figure drew close, Jed felt his heart skip a beat as Maeve’s face came into view.
She must have been tired, but she handled Ash as if she were getting ready to do another day’s worth of riding.
There really was no limit to her spirit; if the situation called for it, Jed was certain she’d ride across the whole of the West itself to get her job done.
He moved to step off the porch but paused, swiveling back toward the cabin door to head back inside.
He’d left Lila alone for a good while, and it would do him no good to trip at the metaphorical finish line.
As he slipped through the back, Jed let out a sigh of relief to see Lila still sitting in the living room atop her lilac blanket.
He’d left her with every spoon he could find in the house, and it seemed to have held her attention long enough for her to not cause trouble.
She immediately looked up at the sound of the back door closing, squealing in delight as she threw the spoons aside to reach toward Jed.
He chuckled lightly, crossing the room in a few steps to scoop Lila up into his arms. Her cheeks were still rosy from the warm bath water, and her damp hair stuck out in every direction after being vigorously towel dried. “You know Maeve’s back, don’t you?”
Lila balled her fists and shook her hands furiously, letting out another excited shriek.
“Think she’ll be proud of how good you were wit’ me?” Jed asked.
“I reckon she will be, yeah.”
Jed glanced over his shoulder, unable to stop himself from smiling with relief.
Maeve gently tapped her foot against the opened back door to close it, then kicked her boots off into the corner as she dragged her feet to the living room.
With a dramatic groan, she dropped onto the couch, her hair far more tangled than usual and her flushed cheeks still glimmering with sweat.
“Bulls back in the pen?” Jed asked hopefully.
Maeve nodded, letting out another exhausted groan.
“Ran us ragged, those two. Feels like I rode from one end of Wyoming to the other.” She ran a hand through her mess of hair, eventually sitting up with one more quick breath.
Jed wouldn’t comment on it…but it was obvious Maeve was trying to hide her smile.
A ride like that didn’t come often, and it was clear she’d fully enjoyed her afternoon, loose bulls notwithstanding.
“Glad yer back in one piece.” He shifted Lila against his hip, freeing a hand to gesture toward the kitchen. “There’s some leftover soda bread an’ stew fer you, if that interests you.”
“No, but thank you. I ate something over at Sam’s once we managed to snag the bulls.” Maeve let out a large yawn, rolling her shoulders as they audibly let out a pop. “He offered to keep ‘em in his pens while we’re fixing our fence.”
Jed nodded, shifting Lila once more against his hip. She’d pushed herself so hard today; part of him was worried she’d keep going into the night unless he said something. “We’ll work on that first thing tomorrow.”
Much to his surprise—and relief—Maeve nodded in agreement.
“Right. Well…” He adjusted Lilia and started for the bedroom. “Night fer now, Maeve.”
“Oh, wait! Jed!”
He paused, half-turning around. Maeve blinked, clearly surprised he’d stopped so readily. She pulled her hand back to her side, fiddling with a loose thread around the hem of her collar while visibly trying to find the words she wanted.
“Um…I was thinking the other night ‘bout some ways we could try an’ get Lila to sleep better?”
Jed watched a red flush creep up her neck and across her cheeks. Or was she still just overheated from all the riding?
“Ugh, I’m acting all foolish fer no reason.” Maeve let out an annoyed grunt, flexing her fingers before finally managing to spit out, “Why don’t I try sitting in bed with the two o’ you?”
Now it was Jed’s turn to feel his face heat. Sharing a bed? With Maeve?
‘She ain’t just some random woman,’ Jed reminded himself. They were married, after all. They should’ve been sharing a bed quite some time ago. But the month felt as if it had slipped by and, if he were to be honest with himself, he didn’t feel he had the right to ask that of her.
But now here Maeve was, suggesting it all on her own. And the idea of sharing such an intimate space with her only caused Jed’s face to grow hotter.
“I–I wouldn’t stay!’ Maeve quickly clarified.
“I just– Well, maybe Lila got used to having a Ma an’ Pa sleeping with her between?
And I could just lay on top of the blanket!
And if she falls asleep…?” Her face was beet red, and she quickly shook her head.
“I’m sorry, I–I sound silly, getting all flustered over something like this.
We’re married, after all! We–we should've been sleeping in the same room fer well over a month now. I just–I–I ain’t… ”
‘She feels just as awkward about it as I do?’
The thought was surprisingly reassuring.
It meant that Jed hadn’t been too stuck in his own head.
That, for once, he’d actually read another person correctly.
Jed softened his expression, stepping toward Maeve with his hand outstretched.
He hesitated, then fully committed to setting it comfortingly against Maeve’s shoulder.
She caught his eye, and even now he couldn’t help but be stunned at how truly blue they were.
Rimmed with a touch of red, darkened with a lack of sleep, but still incredibly brilliant.
That spirit of hers really was endless, just like the sky itself.
“I-” Jed cleared his throat, forcing himself to continue on. He didn’t need fancy words like Thomas to reassure his wife. That wasn’t the sort of person she was. “I think it’s worth a try. So long as ye’re sure about it.”
Maeve stared for a moment, stunned into silence. Then she glanced at his hand, and Jed quickly put it around Lila’s back for extra support. But after a beat she nodded, seemingly committing to their plan.
“A-Alright then. I’ll get dressed and...” Maeve ran a hand through her hair awkwardly. “I’ll meet you there, I guess?”
Jed could only manage a nod. Lila, meanwhile, could manage far more, babbling excitedly with a loud clap of her hands.