Amy let out a wistful sigh, her heart swelling with a sense of belonging. “I wish I could paint,” she said, almost to herself. “Then I’d capture this moment, keep it forever.”
“Can’t we just remember it?” Ruby asked, tilting her head.
“Of course, we can,” Amy replied, ruffling Ruby’s hair affectionately. “Memories are the best kind of keepsakes, aren’t they?”
“Better than any painting,” Priscilla agreed, beaming.
Together, they stood atop the hill, three souls bound by the beauty of the open land and the warmth of newfound companionship.
“Let’s head over to the vegetable garden,” Amy suggested, her eyes twinkling with a hint of adventure. “We can pick some fresh veggies for dinner.”
“Really?” Ruby’s voice quivered with excitement, her usual reserve melting away.
“Uh-huh!” Priscilla clapped her hands, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“See these tomatoes?” Amy pointed to a cluster of plump red fruits hanging heavy on their vines. “They’re ready when they’re this deep color and just a little soft to the touch.”
“Like this?” Ruby asked, gently squeezing one.
“Perfect,” Amy praised. “Don’t squeeze too hard or you’ll look like you lost a fight with it.”
Priscilla reached for a cucumber, her small fingers curling around the cool skin. “And this one?”
“Give it a little twist,” Amy instructed, guiding Priscilla’s hands. With a snap, the cucumber came free, and Priscilla’s face lit up with pride.
“Good job, Priscilla!” Ruby said, giving her little sister an encouraging smile.
As they moved through the rows, Amy showed them how to spot the ripe bell peppers, their glossy skins a sign they were ready to be picked. They filled their baskets with the colorful harvest.
“Can we make a salad?” Ruby asked, holding up a carrot she had unearthed.
“We sure can,” Amy said with a nod. “With all these fresh veggies, it’ll be the best salad you’ve ever tasted.”
“Yummy!” Priscilla cheered.
Amy led Ruby and Priscilla to a perfect picnic spot under a giant oak tree. She’d made a simple lunch for the others before mopping the floors and left it in the oven for them to serve themselves. She’d been married for almost a week now, and they would be headed to church the following morning. She couldn’t help but think of how proud she’d be to be sitting with her family in the pews of the local church.
“Girls, how about we have ourselves a picnic right there?” she suggested, pointing to the shade.
“Picnic?” Priscilla’s face lit up like the dawn, her little legs carrying her toward the oak as fast as they could manage.
Ruby’s lips curved into a gentle smile, a rare sight that warmed Amy’s heart. “That sounds nice,” she said softly.
Amy smiled. “I’ll go get the picnic basket I packed before I came outside.” She hurried into the house and took the picnic basket off the table, happy to have time to spend with the little girls.
Under the canopy of the aged tree, Amy spread out a checkered blanket with corners worn from love and use. She unpacked the sandwiches and placed them alongside a large glass jar brimming with homemade lemonade. The sunlightfiltered through the leaves, dappling the blanket in patterns of light and dark.
“Come sit,” Amy beckoned, patting the blanket beside her.
The girls settled down, Ruby with her usual quiet grace and Priscilla with the unrestrained enthusiasm of youth. They each took a sandwich, the bread fresh and the filling hearty, just the way Amy knew would bring comfort.
“Try the lemonade. I squeezed the lemons this morning,” Amy said, pouring the sweet, tangy liquid into tin cups.
“Yummy!” Priscilla declared, her voice bubbling with delight as she sipped.
“Good job, Amy,” Ruby added, her approval more subdued but no less sincere.
As they ate, Amy watched the children with a tender gaze. “What do you girls like best about living on the ranch?” She was genuinely curious, wanting to know the souls of these little ones who had been entrusted to her care.
