Chapter 13

Will woke a few hours later to the sound of rain pelting the roof and windows. Pushing himself so he was leaning on his elbow, he looked out the window. The rain was coming down hard and he was glad they had gotten the garden in that afternoon.

He looked down and smiled when he saw Elizabeth still curled up beside him. Her hair was spread across the pillow and a few strands were covering her shoulder. He could still see a slight flush to her cheeks from their earlier activities. A small smile was gracing her lips.

A wave of emotions washed over him as he gazed at her. He was scared of letting her in his heart because everyone he loved was not with him anymore. Will didn't want the same fate to happen to her. But it seemed that in the month they had been married, she had somehow broken through the barriers he had constructed around his heart.

Running a hand along her jaw, he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder. He pushed himself to a sitting position and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

Leaning over he grabbed the clothes he wore earlier and quickly dressed. He turned back to the bed and finished buttoning his shirt. Tucking the blanket around her, he left the bedroom, and walked out in to the kitchen. Will glanced at the kitchen clock and found that it was a little before four o'clock. He walked to Anna's bedroom and peeked inside.

The little girl was sitting on the floor, stacking her blocks around the little puppy. He gave her a smile and went to sit beside her. "Are you trying to hide Scout?"

Anna handed him one of the blocks and continued stacking them up. "Would you like to come outside with me and help feed the animals?"

"Yes, I help." She stood to her feet and walked to the door. Will chuckled at his little niece and picked up Scout. "You can come with us too." Carrying the puppy to the door, he set him down, and helped Anna in to an oversized slicker.

Grabbing his off the hook, he pulled it over his head, and set his hat on his head. Reaching down, he picked up Anna and the little puppy. Opening the door, he stepped out in the pouring rain, and trudged to the barn.

Swinging the door open, he stepped inside, and latched it firmly behind him. Shaking the water off his clothes, he set Anna on her feet, and let her and Scout walk around the barn. Grabbing the grain pail, he scooped grain in to it, and walked along the aisles. Giving each horse a share, he stopped at Willow's stall, and leaned over.

Will smiled when he saw Willow's little foal sleeping in the corner. The black mare nuzzled his arm and he chuckled. Dumping her grain in the pail, he rubbed her neck affectionately. Something tugged at his pants leg and he looked down to find Anna staring up at him.

"Would you like to see the baby foal?"

"Baby horse," she held up her hands for him to pick her up. Bending down, he scooped her up, and held her so she could look over the stall door. The little foal stood up on shaky legs and curiously came near them.

Anna held out her little hand and giggled when the foal's whiskers tickled her fingers. He pulled her away before the baby could nip at her fingers, and settled her on his hip. Backing away from the stall, he walked over to Star's stall, and grabbed the milk stool. "I am going to show you how to milk a cow today."

Sitting down on the stool, Will set the milk pail underneath, and warmed up his hands. Setting Anna on his lap, he took her little hands in his, and showed her how to milk the cow. She pulled for a while before he set her back on her feet and finished the job.

Patting Star on her flank, he grabbed the full pail, and grabbed Anna's hand. Calling for Scout, Will walked to the barn door, and swung it open. The rain was still coming down in torments, so he pulled his hat lower, and picked up Anna, who held on to Scout.

Trudging through the puddles, he stepped on to the porch, and shook the water from their slickers. He pushed the front door open and set the pail down by the door. Setting Anna and Scout on the floor, he took off their slickers, and hung them up to dry.

"You two are soaked to the skin. Why didn't you wait until the rain let up a bit?" Elizabeth said from the doorway and held three blankets in her hands.

Will's teeth chattered slightly and he realized how soaked they had gotten going from the barn and back. He grabbed one of the blankets she held out and wrapped it around him. He watched as Elizabeth knelt down and dried of Scout, before picking up Anna, and carrying her to her room. Taking the wet dress off her, she took the blanket, and dried her off.

Walking over to the dress, she took out a dry nightgown, and slipped it over her head. Picking her back up, she walked back out to the kitchen, and set her in her chair. She walked over to the stove, grabbed a wooden spoon, and stirred the contents simmering on the pot.

She grabbed a small piece of bread for Anna to chew on while supper was cooking and walked to her bedroom. The door stood ajar, so she pushed it all the way open, and found her husband drying himself off.

His wet clothes were lying in a heap on the floor. She saw that he had a dry pair of jeans on, but had yet to put on a shirt. Walking further in to the room, Elizabeth stood in front of him, and reached up to take the blanket from him. "If you keep running it through your hair, you won't have any left."

Will's hands fell to his sides as he let her finished drying him off. She reached over and handed him his shirt. He quietly slipped it on and buttoned it.

"Why didn't you wake me when you went out to do chores?"

He grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on the palm. "You looked so peaceful; I didn't want to wake you."

She reached up and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Supper will be ready in a few minutes." Turning to the door, she went to go and check to see if it was finished. Grabbing the wooden spoon, she stirred the soup, and tasted a little bit. Satisfied with how it tasted, Elizabeth grabbed the bowls that were sitting beside the stove and dished it up.

"Here, let me help with that." He said from beside her. Grabbing one of the bowls, he brought it to Anna, and set it in front of her. Walking back over to the stove, he reached for the next one, and placed a kiss on his wife's cheek.

Elizabeth gently shooed him away and told him to go and sit down. Bringing her own bowl, she sat down, and handed everyone a piece of bread. Bowing her head, she listened quietly as Will said grace.

After he had finished speaking, Will tasted the soup, and let its warm flow through him. Looking up, he asked, "Have you decided on a name for Willow's foal yet?"

She let the list of names run through her head before answering him. "I think his name should be Duke. It was the only one I could think of that fit the little foal."

"I like that name. Are you excited to see your sister? The stage should be coming in a few days, if nothing delayed them."

"I have never been away from Jane this long and I am excited to see her. I was surprised when Mama and Papa agreed to let her journey out here."

"Why is that?"

"They didn't want me to come out here and marry you. I had never traveled outside of Meeker before and I think they were scared that something would happen to me along the way."

Will reached over and squeezed her hand. "I am glad they let you come. If they didn't I would have never met you and we wouldn't be married right now. You brought happiness in to my life, when I thought I couldn't be happy again."

She squeezed his hand in return and wanted to tell him how she felt, but was afraid he wouldn't feel the same way. He could tell she wanted to tell him something, but held off. I will ask her after supper. Finishing the rest of his soup, he pushed the bowl away from him, and stood up to grab a wet rag.

Walking over to Anna's chair, he washed her off. She had somehow gotten soup all over her face and hands. Picking her up, he carried her to her room, and changed her in to a clean nightgown. Carrying her back out to the kitchen, he set her on the floor, and handed her a bowl and spoon to play with.

He straightened to his full height and saw that Elizabeth was starting on the dishes. Walking up behind her, Will grabbed the rag and handed her a different one. "I will wash and you can dry."

Drying her hands on the clean rag, she backed away from the tin tub, and stood close to him. He handed her one of the clean bowls for her to dry. "Why are you doing the dishes?"

"Do I need a reason to help my wife in the kitchen?" He scrubbed at another dish before handing it to her.

"No you don't. I am always surprised when you are willing to help me."

"Why are you surprised?" He turned to her and raised a brow.

"Most men say that a woman's place is at home in the kitchen or taking care of the children, but you help out with Anna and in the kitchen."

"My father always helped my mother while we were growing up and they always seemed to enjoy the time spent together. I guess I learned from him that a husband should help his wife and make her job a little easier." He handed her the last dish and dried his hands.

Grabbing the tub, he carried it out on to the porch, and threw out the water. The rain was starting to let up, but it looked like they were going to get another big storm. The ground was muddy, with large puddles in front of the house. Stepping back inside, he hung the tub on the way, and went to find Elizabeth.

She was seated at the table, with a hot cup of coffee in front of her. He noticed there was one by his place at the table and sat down. Taking a sip of the hot liquid, he set it down, and reached for the Bible. Opening it to where they had left off, he started reading.

A short time later, Will looked over, and found Anna asleep in Elizabeth's arms. Shutting the book gently, he pushed back his chair, and walked over to grab the little girl. Carrying her to the bedroom, he laid her down, and pulled the blanket up around her. He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Good night, Anna."

Shutting the door behind him, he made his way back out to the kitchen and found Elizabeth putting away the tin cups. Picking the bowl and spoon off the floor that Anna was playing with earlier; he set them on the counter, and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Elizabeth leaned in to his warm and felt it wrap itself around her. His breath tickled her neck when he asked, "Are you ready to go to bed?"

Turning around in his arms, she kissed him deeply. She wasn't afraid to let her feeling show for him, even though she hadn't told him how she felt. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her to their room. He gently laid her on the bed, before joining her, and wrapping his arms around her waist. Pulling her closer, he kissed her passionately.

Sometime later, he listened to the rain outside the window, as he gazed at her sleeping form. Pulling her in to his chest, he kissed her cheek, and whispered, "I love you Beth."

She snuggled deeper in to his warmth and he smiled before drifting off to sleep.