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“It does get warm down there, especially in the summer.” Theo grinned at her. “What did you think of Harry?”
Rena grinned in spite of her weary state. “Considering how many parts Harry is missing, it’s a wonder he’s still alive. Perhaps he’s more like a Frankenstein experiment on a smaller, crustier scale,” Rena said, earning a shocked look, followed by a guffaw from Theo.
“Now that’s funny, girlie,” Theo said, imitating Harry’s manner of speech. When they reached the barn, he took Scout’s reins from her. “Go on and get cleaned up down at the creek. It will make you feel better. I’ll see to the animals.”
Rena’s steps dragged as she made her way to the cabin to get clean clothes, a towel, and soap.
“Rena!” Theo called, halting her when she was nearly to the door.
She turned around and looked at him.
“You did good today.”
She smiled, then hurried inside the cabin, suddenly not quite as weary.
“Ifyouwanttomake a little girl cry, again, that’s entirely up to you,” Theo said in a casual tone as he poured a second cup of coffee for himself and filled Rena’s half-empty cup.
Her head snapped up, and she glared at him. “I didn’t make anyone cry unless it was that smart-mouthed miner who tried to tangle with me on Thursday.”
Theo raised an eyebrow, took a sip of coffee, and resumed his seat at the table.
Since it was Sunday, she looked forward to an entire day to do nothing but rest. Yesterday, she’d washed all their dirty laundry, baked enough bread, cookies, and biscuits to carry them through to next Saturday, and cleaned the cabin. Theo had taken care of tasks outside that they’d not had time to attend to during the week.
Although she would have doubted the possibility after her first day of work, Rena had made it through a week at the mine. When she’d picked up her pay Friday evening, Cade had told her she’d done a good job and he’d see her on Monday.
Buoyed by his praise and the begrudging nod from Ike, a wave of satisfaction rolled through her at being able to competently handle a job many men couldn’t or wouldn’t.
Rena didn’t like blasting and still cringed each time they set off a charge, but her hands no longer shook like a leaf caught in a tornado whenever she got near the crates of dynamite.
“You did set ol’ Bickley on his ear with that verbal lambasting you gave him.” Theo grinned as he helped himself to another slice of the cinnamon loaf Rena had baked for breakfast. They’d both slept in that morning, then Rena had made breakfast while Theo had seen to the chores.
“He deserved it after what that dimwit said to me.” Rena felt like punching something as she recalled how angry and mortified she’d been when one of the miners had suggested she get a job at the Ruby Palace in town instead of taking work only a man should be doing. Bickley was lucky she hadn’t popped him right in the nose.
“True, he did, but I wasn’t referring to anyone at the mine. Last Sunday, which we never did get around to discussing, when I showed up at church without you, Gabi was distressed. She cried when she found out you wouldn’t be joining us for lunch. She thought it was terribly sad you were here all alone.”
“Oh,” Rena said, unaware Gabi had been upset. She didn’t want to make the little one cry, but the child didn’t realize all the extenuating circumstances of why Rena avoided attending church.
“If you want to make those big blue eyes of hers well up with tears again, that’s up to you, but you could at least come to town for lunch. R.C. and Anne Milton invited us to join them at their house. Josh and Gabi will also be there. Gabi is quite fond of their son Mike.”
“Which ones are the Miltons?” Rena asked, stalling for time as she tried to think up a good excuse to stay home.
“R.C. owns the livery and blacksmith shop. The family lives in that big house behind the livery on the other side of the pasture. If they keep having more kids, they might need to add on more rooms.”
Rena gave Theo a curious look. “How many children do they have?”
“Five at last count, but I think they’ve only been married about nine years.”
“Oh, my.” Rena wondered what it would be like to have siblings. Theo and Laura were as close as she had to any, and she adored them both.
“If you wanted to come along, we could take that cherry cobbler you made for dessert tonight, and you’d get to meet one of the nicest couples who live in Holiday.”
Rena felt her resistance wavering. Theo knew she cared for Gabi and wouldn’t want to make the child upset. He also knew after spending all week surrounded by dirty, hardworking men, she would enjoy some female company. Although Mrs. Bailey and her sister had both been friendly and kind, Rena hadn’t spent more than a few minutes talking to either of them since all three of them were busy working.
“Fine. I will go with you today. Nevertheless, if lightning shoots out of the sky and strikes the church, you have to acknowledge I gave you fair warning and the blame does not rest on me.”
Theo grinned, leaned over, and kissed her cheek. “Warning acknowledged, but I think you’ll find everyone, including our Maker, quite pleased to see you there.”
Rena finished her breakfast and washed the dishes while Theo saddled Scout and Thomas. She packed the cherry cobbler she’d baked into a basket padded with dish towels, then hurried up to the loft to see what she could wear to church. She no longer owned a dress and had cut up her last petticoat to use for undergarments.
