He shook his head.“A stream.In the morning.”
She frowned.“Are you saying you’re going to make me wait another day before we can consummate this marriage?”
He nodded.“Maybe two.”He was teasing of course, but he loved the scolding look she gave him, with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.
“Thomas W.Harlan.You’re going to be the death of me.”
He chuckled and opened his arms wide.She immediately flew into them.“Hardtack and jerky, then bed,” he finally said.“We need sleep.”
“We do.I want to cook you a wonderful meal, but I can see that there’s no sense in even trying tonight.I plan to explore and buy seeds for my garden tomorrow.Maggie wrote there is a general store in town, and I’ll find it.”
He pointed in the direction of the store.“There’s a path to town.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to see the town as well as Maggie and Belle.And Belle should have had the baby by now.I’m so excited!”
He shook his head.She was so happy about everything.He hoped the harshness of their lives wouldn’t crush her spirits.
She pulled the sheets and blanket off the bed and shook them out.“I’ll give them a proper cleaning, but not tonight,” she said as she put them back on the bed, folding the corners of the sheets perfectly.
He pulled out hardtack and jerky, and she sighed as she looked at it.“This is the last time I eat this for a long time!Hopefully ever!”
He shrugged.“I eat it often.”
“Not anymore.You have a wife to cook for you now.Do you like sweets?”
“I do.”
“I’ll make sure I bake for you then,” Sally found her nightgown in one of her bags.She had slept in her clothes the whole time she was on the trail, and though she didn’t want to put it on until she’d bathed, she wanted to wear something clean for a change.
Tom saw her pick up her nightgown and took it as his cue to go outside.“I-I’ll be right back.”
“You can stay,” Sally said.“We’re married.”
He was gone before she finished what she was saying.She shook her head, wondering how he was going to be able to handle marital relations with her when he was afraid to see her with no clothes on.
She used the water that was left in her flask to wash herself.There wasn’t nearly enough to do a good job, but she washed what she could before slipping the nightgown over her head and climbing into bed.
She sighed contentedly as she felt the mattress under her back.It had been so long since she’d been in a real bed that she’d almost forgotten how good it felt to have somewhere soft to sleep.
She was almost asleep before Tom returned.He undressed quickly and climbed into bed beside her, unsurprised when she immediately moved toward him.Winter nights would be much warmer from now on.He was certain of it.
*****
FIRST THING THE FOLLOWINGmorning, Sally looked around for food, but there was nothing in the cabin to cook.Tom got out of bed shortly after she did, and she asked where he kept the food.
He shrugged.“I eat jerky and hardtack.”
She sighed.“I suppose we’ll have jerky and hardtack for breakfast then, and I’ll procure some food to cook before suppertime.I cannot keep eating this day in and day out.”
“Put anything on my bill at the store.”
“All right.”She took the hardtack and jerky, placing the food on plates and putting them on the table.Perhaps she couldn’t serve anything nutritious or good-tasting, but they didn’t have to eat like animals anymore.
After breakfast, Tom kissed her cheek and hurried off to work.He wasn’t expected back yet, but there was always work for a man ready to toil away.
Sally found the stream and filled the tin tub that had been attached to the side of the house with water she warmed on the stove.She looked forward to cooking on the stove he’d talked about in his letters, but first, she needed a bath something awful.She planned to prepare one for Tom right after supper.
She took her time bathing, using the soap he had.She didn’t much care for how rough it was, but she needed a thorough cleaning, and it was available.Perhaps there would be something softer and better at the store in town.She’d find out soon enough.
