Chapter 6

Elizabeth leaned back on the blanket and looked over to where the men were fishing. They had finished lunch a while ago and Mr. Reynolds wanted to catch some fish for supper. The other men had decided to join him, but she could see a bit of hesitant in Will.

She looked away from her husband's figure and turned to Mrs. Reynolds. "Do any of the young ladies I met today live out of town?"

"Stella Dawson lives about a mile from your homestead. She is the same age as you and recently married John Dawson. I am sure you would be great friends."

Elizabeth tried to place the name with a face. "Is she the one with long blond hair and light blue eyes? She was standing near a tall, quiet gentleman."

"Yes that is her. We have been talking most of the afternoon and I can see someone who wants to talk to you. Go ahead and join him. I will watch Anna for you." Mrs. Reynolds said when she saw Will striding towards them.

She looked up and gave him a small smile. "Would you like to go for a walk, Elizabeth?" he held out his hand for her and gave a hopeful smile.

Elizabeth put her smaller hand in his and let him help her to her feet. Walking by his side, she followed him down a worn trail. The grass was brushing against her legs and her boots crunched on the pebbles scattered about.

Her companion was silent as he led her along. Glancing up at him, she saw that he was staring straight ahead. He stopped her under a large oak tree and motioned for her to sit. Elizabeth settled on the ground and waited for Will to join her.

"It is really beautiful out here." She said and gestured to the open meadow, covered in wildflowers.

"My parents used to bring us out here after church every Sunday. I spent most of my time fishing, swimming, and climbing trees."

"Was Gina your only sibling or do you have more that I haven't met?" Elizabeth asked trying to get him to open up.

"Gina was my only sister, but I do have a brother. He spends most of his time traveling and the last time I have seen him was a few months ago. I don't think you will be meeting him anytime soon." He said as his face became guarded.

She reached up and laid a hand on his cheek. His eyes opened in surprise and he glanced down at her. "You don't have to talk about your family if you don't want to. There are other things I would like to know about you."

Will gave her a small smile at how understanding she was being. "What about your family? Do you have any siblings?"

She chuckled. "I have four sisters."

"How did your father handle five daughters?"

"He handled it pretty well. My father always made time for us, but it is my mother who worries me. She wants all of her daughters to marry."

He gave her hand a squeeze. "Well she got one of them married. Are you the oldest?"

"No, Jane is the oldest. I followed Jane and we have been best friends. I have three younger sisters, the oldest being fourteen."

Will watched as a tear slide down her cheek at the mention of her sisters. Gently taking her jaw in his hand, he turned her head so she was looking at him. "Do you miss your family Beth?"

"Yes." She chocked and the tears started falling. Elizabeth had always been one for adventure, never afraid to try something new, but she never realized how much she would miss her family.

He pulled her to his chest and let her cry. "After the crops are in, you can write, and invite Jane out to visit. It will only take another week to finish everything and then you can write to her. I am sure she is missing you too."

She put a hand on his chest and pushed herself in to a sitting position. Looking in to his concerned filled eyes, she asked, "Really?"

"Yes. Now I think it is time we head back to the pond." He glanced up at the sky. "It is time we were getting back home."

He stood and pulled her up with him. He whipped a stray tear from her cheek and tucked her hand in to the crook of his arm. Walking back the way they had come, he let his thoughts wander. It will be good for her to see her sister again. I need to start thinking about what would make her happy. She is my wife now, no matter how hard I am trying her to stay out of my thoughts and heart.

After packing up the picnic basket, settling Anna in to the wagon, and saying goodbye to their friends, they drove back to the farm. Elizabeth looked in the back of the wagon bed and smiled when she still saw Anna sleeping. She wore herself out playing today. It would be nice for her to have a brother or sister to play with.

As that thought swam around, she looked ahead again, and blushed. Will hadn't even mentioned that topic and she wasn't sure how to approach it. They may not have married for love, but that didn't mean they had to go their whole married lives with no children of their own.

Sitting a little straighter on the wagon seat, her foot hit the bag she had stored under the seat. Reached down, she grasped it, and set it on her lap. Peaking inside, Elizabeth remembered that she had bought a few pieces of taffy. Glancing at Will, she took one out, and held it in front of her. "Will?"

"Yes, Beth?" he asked as he maneuvered the horses around a pot hole in the ground.

"Do you like taffy?" she asked and popped the piece in her mouth. It was chewy and delicious.

He glanced at her curiously. "I do like taffy. What are you eating?" he asked when he realized she had something in her mouth.

Elizabeth gave him a smile, before swallowing her taffy. Reaching in to the bag, she waved a piece in front of his face. She saw his face light up at the sight of the treat. "Would you like a piece?"

Will held out his hand, palm up. She glanced at his hand and shook her head. Taking the taffy, she broke it in half, and laid one of the halves in his outstretched palm. She put the other one back in the bag and put it back under the seat.

He stared at the piece of taffy and turned back to watch the horses. "Why did you only give me half? You ate a whole piece."

"You can have the other half later. I don't want you spoiling your supper." She said with a teasing grin and a twinkle in her eye.

Will popped the piece in to his mouth and started chewing. Glancing at his wife, he shook his head. What has gotten in to her? I have never seen her act like this. There is a lot I have to learn about her.

He turned back ahead and saw the little house coming in to view. Seeing the grayish boards, he remembered his earlier idea of painting the house. He would have to ask Beth if she wanted to help with it.

Pulled the team to a stop, he jumped down, and tied the reins to the hitching rail. Walking around the other side, he reached in to the back, and picked up Anna. She stirred in his arms and opened her eyes, "Hello there sleepy head."

Anna giggled and squirmed to be let down. He set her on her feet and watched amused as she ran for the porch. Turning his attention back to the wagon, he saw a wistful expression on his wife's face. "Beth, are you ready to come down now?"

She snapped her eyes away from the little girl and turned to look down at him. Standing up, she grasped his shoulders as he lifted her down. He set her on her feet, but didn't immediately let her go. Will's eyes flicked to her eyes and back to her lips.

Elizabeth saw his hesitation and decided to take matters in to her own hands. Standing on her tip toes, she reached up, and pressed a kiss to his lips. Pulling back, she quickly fled in to the house.

He spun around and watched her enter the house. Raising a hand, he racked a hand through his hair. Grabbing the reins he led the horses down to the barn to be unhitched. As he was forking hay in for them to eat, his thoughts wander to her kiss. Her lips had tasted of taffy. They were soft and he wanted to kiss her again.

Setting the pitchfork against the far wall, he excited the barn, and made his way back to the house. In one hand he held the picnic basket and in the other the brown paper bag she had left under the seat. Entering the house, Will stopped in the doorway of the kitchen.

Elizabeth was moving about, getting something ready for supper. Her skirts swished around her feet as she walked. Her hair had fallen loose from its bun and strands were framing her face and sticking to her neck. Even from behind, he knew she was a beautiful young woman. Why did she come out here and marry me? She is only twenty years old and could have married someone closer to her age, instead of a man who is twenty eight, and is raising his two year old niece.

Striding in to the kitchen, he cleared his throat, and set his burdens on the table. He gave her a smile when she turned around, and walked back out to wash up. A few minutes later, he walked back in to the kitchen, and reached to pick up Anna.

"How is my girl doing today? Did you have fun playing at the pond?"

Anna looked up at him with bright eyes and placed a kiss to his cheek. "Yes, I had fun."

Will smiled at her and reached down to pick up her doll. Setting it on the table, he looked up at Elizabeth. "Do you need any help with supper?"

She turned from the stove and smiled at her little family. "No I don't need help. It is almost finished. So you just sit there with Anna and I will set everything on the table." Turning back to the stove, she checked the chicken, and found that it was done.

Dishing it onto a plate, she set it on the table, along with a few slices of bread, jam, and fried potatoes. She got Anna's plate ready first and set it in front of her. She then dished food onto the plate and bowed her head when Will started saying grace.

After they had finished their meal, she set all the dishes on the counter, and filled a tub with hot water. The bubbles floated in the air and Anna ran forward squealing with delight. She chased a few of them around the kitchen before they finally landed on the table and popped.

Sinking her hands in to the soapy water, Elizabeth started on the dishes. She set the clean ones on a towel, planning on drying them later. Looking over her shoulder a few minutes later, to make sure Anna was still occupied on the floor with blocks; she noticed Will was leaning against the counter, a plate in his hands.

"Did you decide to help with the dishes?"

He gave her a sheepish smile. "It looked like you could use some help. I felt useless just sitting there." Will set the dry plate with the others and reached to grab another one. Whipping it dry, he decided to ask her a question that had been on his mind since they returned from church. "Would you like to help me paint the house?"

Elizabeth turned around so she was facing him fully. He saw her eyes light up with excitement and a smile lit her face. "Could we paint it red?"

He shook his head. "We are not painting the house red. Everyone would be able to see it for miles."

Taping her chin, she thought of another color. Cocking her head to the side, she asked, "What about pink with black shutters?"

Will walked forward and used his thumb to wipe the bubbles off her chin. "How about we paint the house white with blue shutters? We can paint the barn red if you like."

She took her time answering him. "I like your idea, but you have to help in the garden when it is time to plant it."

"I think I can handle that." He set the plate on the counter and backed away. Walking over to the table he picked up Anna and looked over her shoulder. "I am going to put Anna to bed and then go out to the barn. I need to check on one of the mares that is close to foaling." He said before walking to the bedroom.

Elizabeth set the last clean dish on the counter and whipped it dry. Opening the cupboard doors, she put away all of the clean dishes. She had just finished cleaning up the little kitchen, when Will walked back in to the house.

He sat down at the table and seeing that she was finished, he motioned for her to join him. Elizabeth walked over to the table and sat down. She had grabbed a piece of mending and started working on it while her husband read.

His voice flowed over her and she let herself relax. Working her needle in and out of the fabric, she glanced up at him after a few moments, and found that he was watching her. "How is the mare doing?"

"She still has a few more days before she foals I think. When she has the foal, you and Anna can name it." He said and softly closed the Bible.

She set down her finished mending and stood. "I will think of a list of names for the foal. I am heading to bed now. Goodnight Will." She walked past him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Will caught her wrist and stopped her. She turned back to him, a question in her eyes. Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her lips. "Now you can go to bed Beth. Goodnight."

Elizabeth gave him a smile before slipping in to her room. After changing in to her nightgown, she slipped under the blanket, and lay there staring at the ceiling. Today has been an interesting day. Turning over on her side, she fell asleep with a smile on her face.