Chapter 9

Pushing the covers to the edge of the bed, she swung her feet over the side. Bracing her hands behind her back, she pushed herself to a standing position. Using the bed post to help her balance, Elizabeth hobbled over to the doorway, making sure to not to put too much pressure on her injured ankle. She had been stuck in bed for two days with nothing to keep her occupied; besides reading, sleeping, and having her husband for conversation.

She loved listening to him talk about himself and was pleased when he finally decided to open up to her, but she couldn't lie in that bed for another minute.

"Beth what are you doing out of bed?"

Lifting her head, she found Will standing in front of her, his arms crossed over his chest, and a look of concern in his eyes. "I needed to get out of bed. I can't lay there for another minute. Do you have something I could do to keep busy?"

"You are not allowed to put any weight on your foot for at least another day. Bingley gave strict orders when he was here yesterday morning." He said and thought for a moment. "I think I have something you could do, that will not require you to stand on your feet."

She lifted a foot to walk forward and follow him, when she felt strong arms sweep her off her feet. Throwing her arms around him neck, so she didn't fall, Elizabeth glared at him. "Put me down Will. I can hobble to where we are going."

He gazed down at her and smirked. "Maybe I want to carry you." He lifted her a little closer and grunted. "I think you have been eating too many of the cookies I made the other day. You weren't this heavy when I carried you to my room."

She blushed at the other meaning of the words and swatted his arm. "If I remember correctly, you ate half of the cookies yourself. You made three batches and they should have lasted at least a week, but they were gone in three days. When I get back on my feet, I will make sure not to make any cookies for at least a week." Elizabeth patted his stomach to emphasize her point.

Will grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "I might just have to make my own cookies."

"Once I am able to walk around, you will not be allowed near my stove. Where are we going?" she asked when she realized he had carried her out on to the porch.

He walked down the steps and around the corner. Elizabeth gasped when she saw what he had done. A blanket was spread on the grass covered ground. There was a picnic basket sitting in one corner. Looking up at him, she gave him a smile. "You didn't have to do this for me."

Will set her on the blanket and made sure her foot was a little elevated. He sat down beside her and put the picnic basket in front of him. "I could tell how antsy you were getting being cooped up in bed. Since Anna is down for her nap and I finished the planting this morning, I wanted to do something for you."

She grabbed his hands and stopped him from taking out their lunch. "Thank you for doing this. I really needed to get out of the house. If you wouldn't have come in when you did, I would probably be hobbling around outside."

He chuckled as he pictured the image. "I was surprised that you had stayed in bed as long as you did." Will handed her a sandwich and grabbed one for him.

"My ankle still hurt the first day and I didn't feel like getting up. But I am not used to staying in bed for so long and I needed some fresh air." She looked over at the garden plot her had plowed the day before. "When can we plant the garden? You promised you would help."

"If Bingley says you can walk on it tomorrow, we can start planting it in two days. How does that sound?"

"That sounds fine. We didn't have much of a garden back home and I can't wait to sink my fingers into the black soil. I also have to plant flowers in front of house. It needs some color."

"I am sure Anna would like to help with the flowers. I will also put a picket fence around the garden to keep the animals out and let you chose the color to paint it."

Elizabeth smiled at him when she remembered their earlier conversation about which color to paint the house. "Can we paint the fence pink?"

Will shook his head, but a smile graced his lips. "I think we should paint it white. Then it will match the house. You can paint the gate red, to match the barn."

Elizabeth swallowed the rest of her sandwich and lifted a white cloth. Under the cloth were two cookies. Lifting her brow at him, she waved one of the cookies in front of his face. "I thought you finished the last of the cookies. Where did these come from?"

He blushed slightly at being caught. "I hid them for today."

She bit in to her cookie and smiled. "You make very good cookies. Did you receive a reply from Jane yet?" it had been three days since her husband had sent the letter to town with Bingley and she hoped a reply had come already, but knew it was unlikely.

"No, I haven't. It will take at least a week and a half for a letter to travel to Meeker and a reply to make its way back to us." He set the used dishes back in the basket and turned his attention back to his wife. "Would you like to go back to the house?"

"Yes I would. Anna is sure to be waking up soon and I want to play with Scout." She gave him a bright smile. The puppy had kept her company since she hurt her ankle and she enjoyed playing with him.

He stood to his feet and reached down to scoop her in to his arms again. She wrapped her arms around his neck again and looked up at him. He gazed down at her and saw an unasked question in her eyes. "Would you like to ask me something Beth?"

Elizabeth looked away from his gaze and shook her head, but the question still ran through her head. Why can't I just ask him if he wants children of his own? He is so good with Anna and I can picture him with our children one day.

Will started walking toward the house and soon he was climbing the stairs. Opening the door, he walked inside to the kitchen. Setting Elizabeth down in a kitchen chair, he grabbed another one and set her foot on it. "I will see if Anna is awake and then go back outside to grab the basket and blanket."

He watched her nod and walked to Anna's bedroom. Stepping inside, he found the little girl wide awake, with a puppy sitting on her lap. He chuckled as he went to pick her up. "I see the puppy has found a new place to sleep."

Setting Scout on the floor to follow them out of the room, he reached down and swung Anna in to his arms. Making his way back out to the kitchen, he set the little girl on the floor and handed her a pile of blocks and her doll. Scout trotted over and lay down beside her.

Seeing that she was occupied, Will glanced at Elizabeth before making his way outside. Walking around the corner, he grabbed the basket, and blanket. Carrying them back to the house, he set them by the door, and walked back to the kitchen.

Taking the coffee pot off the stove, he poured two cups of coffee, and set the pot on the back of the stove. Setting one cup in front of his wife, he took a seat across from her, and set his own cup down. "Would you like to ask the question you didn't want to ask while we were outside?"

"Do you want children of your own?" she blurted and quickly averted her gaze.

He sat there for a moment absorbing her words. I knew that question was going to come up, but I didn't think it would be so soon. I thought she would want to get used to being a wife before becoming a mother.

Grabbing her hand, he willed her to look at him. Once she lifted her head again and caught his gaze, he saw the uncertainty and fear vanish from her hazel eyes. "I do want children of my own, but I won't push you. I want to make sure you are ready for it and if it something you want."

"I do want children, but I am enjoying learning about my husband right now."

Will placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. "We can talk about it more later. Would you like some more coffee?" he asked when he saw her cup was empty.

"No, I have had enough for now." She pushed her cup away from her and folded her hands on the table.

Will gave her a small smile and grabbed both of their cups. Pushing his chair back, he stood, and set the cups on the counter. He looked out the window and saw storm clouds building in the west. We need the rain. Turning his attention to the sun, he realized that it was time to start the evening chores already.

Turning around, he leaded his back against the counter. "I will go out to do chores in a few minutes and we might be getting some rain."

"I will play with Scout and Anna while you are outside." She said, but wished it would rain without a thunderstorm. Elizabeth had always been afraid of thunderstorms since she was a child. She didn't mind the lightening, but the thunder still sometimes scared her, and she could never sleep during them.

He nodded and walked to grab his hat and slicker in case it started raining before he got back in from the barn. Stepping outside, he could feel the rain in the air and knew it would start coming down soon. Walking across the yard, he opened the barn door, and stepped inside.

Making his way along the aisle, he fed the horses and threw them each a pitchfork full of hay. Grabbing the milk pail, he sat down on the stool, and started milking Star. She moved her head to look at him and he gave her a pat on the flank. "I will be done soon Star."

A few minutes later, he grabbed the milk pail, and walked to the barn door. Peering outside, he saw that it was starting to rain. Pulling the slicker over his head, he put his arms through the sleeves, and reached down to grab the pail again.

Stepping out in to the drizzling rain, he latched the barn door securely behind him, and turned to trudge back to the house. He bowed his head against the rain and mounted the steps. Opening the front door, he set the pail down, and shook some of the rain from the slicker.

Taking the wet item of clothing, he hung it on a peg, soon followed by his hat. Grabbing the pail again, he walked in to the kitchen and set the pail down. Elizabeth and Anna were sitting at the table reading a story book.

Grabbing a bowl of fruit he set it on the table. Slicing the rest of the bread, he set it on a plate along with some jam. Will grabbed some cuts of ham and the dishes that needed to be on the table.

Elizabeth looked up from reading Anna her story and saw that he had supper all ready for them. She made up at plate for Anna and set it in front of the little girl. Handing her a fork so she could eat her food, she saw Will sit down across from her.

He had put together his own plate and also one for her. She smiled her thanks and bowed her head for his prayer. After the prayer she dug in to her meal and heard the sound of raindrops hitting the roof. I hope I will be able to sleep tonight.

A while later she pushed her plate away and looked up when her husband pushed back his chair; he grabbed their empty plates and set them in the dish water. Plunging his hands in to the water, he washed the dishes, and set them on towel to dry.

As he finished the last of the dishes, he heard Elizabeth finishing her story to Anna. Drying his hands on the towel, he hung it up to dry, and turned around. Looking towards the table, he saw that Anna was starting to fall asleep in her chair.

Walking over to her, he picked her up, and smiled when she snuggled in to his chest. Carrying her in to her bedroom, he quickly got her ready for bed, and laid her down. Spreading the blanket over her, he tucked her in, and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Good night Anna."

Turning to walk back out in to the kitchen, he quietly closed the door behind him, and walked over to the table. A flash of lightening, followed by a crack of thunder lit the room, and shook the house. He saw Elizabeth jump in her seat and laid a hand on her shoulder. "I think we will skip the Bible reading tonight."

She nodded and he could see that she was about ready to fall asleep in her chair. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her to his room, and laid her down on the bed. Another crack of thunder shook the house and she balled her fists in to his shirt.

"Beth, you are going to have to let go of my shirt. I won't be able to sleep standing up like this." He was leaning over her and gently tried to pry her fingers from his shirt.

Elizabeth gazed up at him and whispered, "Will you sleep in here with me tonight?"

Will saw the fear in her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. He motioned for her to scoot over and lay down on one side of the bed. Grabbing the blanket from the bottom of the bed, he settled it over them.

She reached over and placed a kiss to his cheek. "Good night, Will."

He rolled over on his side so he was facing the window. "Goodnight Beth."