Mrs. Miller smiled at her daughter. “I figured you would be soon. No one in the family seems to be able to marry for more than a few months without getting in the family way.”
After supper, Thomas slumped back against the worn leather of the buggy seat, a bemused smile playing on his lips as Joy guided the horse with ease.
“Never thought I’d find myself feeling this...” Thomas struggled for the right word. “Content, just sitting here listening to the crickets.”
Joy chuckled, her eyes still on the path ahead. “It’s so much more tranquil here.”
He nodded, considering her words.
“Today was good for you, wasn’t it?” Joy asked. She was back in her silk gown and she seemed so out of place with the leads of the buggy in her hands.
“Surprisingly, yes,” Thomas admitted. “I never imagined I’d take such delight in watching chickens or…what was that game you played with the kittens? ‘Pounce and tumble’?”
“Something like that,” she said, her laughter coming easily. “It’s not exactly a game with rules more than it is giving them a bit of exercise.”
“It looked like fun.” He paused, then added with mock gravity, “I fully expect our future offspring to be champions at it.”
“Only if we’re raising them on a farm,” she teased.
“Speaking of raising,” Thomas ventured. “Your family…they were so welcoming, so full of life. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with them, despite how different it is from what I’m used to.”
“Did you?” She glanced at him with a smile.
“There’s something about the simplicity of their lives that’s very…appealing,” he said.
“Appealing enough to trade in your suits for overalls?” Joy asked.
“Let’s not be hasty,” he replied with feigned alarm. “A man can appreciate the way another man lives without wanting to join them.”
“Of course,” she agreed. “But it wouldn’t hurt you to get some dirt under your nails once in a while.”
“Perhaps,” Thomas conceded. “Though I must say, I’ve never slept better than I do after a day of fresh air and honest work. You’ve shown me that.”
“See? You’re practically a farmer already,” Joy said.
“Let’s not go planting crops just yet,” he replied, chuckling softly as he reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “But today? Yes, it was perfect.”
Joy smiled. “I thought so too.”
“Your folks seem to always be calm,” Thomas observed. “I couldn’t help but notice they didn’t exactly leap for joy at the news of us expecting.”
Joy chuckled. “Thomas,” she said with an affectionate shake of her head, “when you’re the fourteenth child born to parents, and your older siblings have turned childbearing into a competitive sport, the announcement of yet another grandbaby isn’t exactly unexpected.”
“Fourteenth.” He rolled the number around his tongue like a foreign concept. “It’s hard for me to even think of having that many children.”
“It didn’t bother me,” Joy said. “At last count, Mama said there were thirty-two grandchildren. Or was it thirty-three? Even I can’t keep track of them all.”
“Family gatherings must be chaotic,” he mused.
“More like a circus,” Joy confirmed with a laugh that held a note of pride. “Of course, the family is spread across the country now. There are only six or seven of us still in Beckham. Elizabeth has sent out lots of our siblings as mail-order husbands and wives.”
“I think I’ll feel very out of place.”
“You’re not allowed,” she teased. “The best thing you can do is bring your appetite and a sense of humor. Miller gatherings are not for the faint of heart.”
“An appetite and a sense of humor,” he repeated. “I believe I can manage that.”
“See?” Joy nudged him playfully. “You’re adapting already. By the time our little one arrives, you’ll be ready to join the ranks of the Millers.”
“I’m not sure of how true that is,” he said. “But I’ll certainly do my best to fit in.” He raised his hand and pointed off into the distance. “There it is. It’s not much, but my family has always vacationed there.”
Not much?Joy shook her head. “I don’t know how you can take that kind of wealth for granted.”
He shrugged. “You get used to it eventually.”
