The stream of visitors finally slowed, and the departure of the first wagon train from Storybrooke came and went without much notice. Ruby drank in the warmer weather, relieved to be able to enjoy the fresh air. Baby Peter grew quickly, as well, stretching of the clothes that Ruby had made for his newborn-size. He also began to recognize things, his eyes focusing like they hadn't before. Ruby was also thrilled at the first sign of a smile, and she called August over.
"Look, August, Peter smiled for the first time!"
"So?" August shrugged.
Ruby leaned over the baby on the table, her expression bright. "Come on, Peter, smile for your brother. Smile for your mama!"
The infant gurgled and kicked in response.
She laughed and picked him up, placing him on her shoulder so he could look around.
"Well hello there," Archie cooed, coming up behind Ruby. "The world must look so different from way up here." Ruby could smell the scent of him so close.
Along with their plans for the doctor's office and apartment, Ruby enlisted Archie to help her plan the kitchen garden. They were quickly losing time to plant, and she was eager to begin. When Peter was safely asleep and August was outside, Archie laid out the seeds he'd purchased and explained to her what everything was, letting her decide what she wanted to plant and how much.
"They're so small," Ruby breathed, leaning over the table and running her fingers around the little piles.
"They'll be hearty fruits and vegetables in no time," Archie assured her. "Here are the lettuce seeds, and the carrots—here are beets, and potatoes, and tomatoes…."
Ruby nodded, a thrill rushing through her at the thought of helping these little seeds grow into robust plants that would serve their table—or maybe it was from the way Archie smiled at her. She felt like they knew each other more than ever, that it was easier and easier to talk to one another, and she realized how she enjoyed being in his company.
The next day, Ruby awoke to the sun streaming in through the windows, and she breathed a sigh of relief that there was not a cloud in sight—the perfect day to plant.
Later, when Peter was sleeping and August had retreated to the pond for a break, Archie and Ruby began the little garden a few feet away, off to the side of the house. It was already fenced in, and Archie had turned the earth to reveal the rich, dark soil.
Ruby carried the basket with the packets of seeds to the garden, following Archie, who had the hoe and spade ready to go and propped against the fence.
"Alright, Teacher, I'm ready to plant," Ruby said, her voice light.
Archie looked over his shoulder at her and raised an eyebrow. "Teacher, huh?"
Ruby shrugged. "In this case at least."
Archie chuckled. "I won't get too cocky, then." He put on his gloves and took the hoe in hand. "I'm going to go along and dig the trenches, and you can come behind me and drop the seeds evenly inside. Then we'll cover them up, and water them, and that's it—easy as pie."
Ruby snorted. "Easy as pie?"
Archie turned around, his hands on his hips. "Yes, easy as pie. Are you teasing the teacher?"
Ruby bit her lip and shook her head as solemnly as she could. "No, sir."
He walked to the other end of the garden before turning back to face her. "Why don't you bring the first seed pack down here and we'll start at this end."
"Alright!" Ruby called, looking for the beet seeds. She'd already planned out exactly what would be in each row, and she thought her granny would be proud.
She made her way over to Archie, enjoying the sight of him in his element—his sleeves rolled up, his hat angled slightly, a bit of a tan starting on his muscular arms. They worked quickly together, with Archie digging a slight trench right before Ruby sprinkled the seeds in place. As soon as they fell, Archie would scoop up the dirt with one hand and gently pat it over the seeds.
"How do you plant your cornfields?" Ruby asked, knowing he couldn't possibly do it by hand this way.
"Oh, I have machines for that," Archie explained, shuffling along, bent over the earth as Ruby took even steps. "With Cleo's help."
They continued on their even path, row by row. Ruby couldn't help but notice the flex of Archie's muscles through his shirt as he bent over, working the earth, his shoulders broad and strong.
"Everything okay?" Archie asked, bringing Ruby's focus back to the task at hand. She realized they were at the end of the last row.
"Umhmm," she assured him. "I just—I think you missed something."
"Where?" he glanced up at her and squinted before looking down at the soil.
"Right—there!" Ruby cried, giving him a strong shove with her hip before scurrying past the gate. She shut it closed and turned to see Archie struggling to get up.
Then, he was on his feet, his eyes alight with mischief as he raced towards her. He jumped over the fence and ran towards Ruby, and Ruby let out a squeal as she broke into a run.
Before she knew it, his arms were around her and she was helpless in his grasp. "Archie—Hopper!" she gasped, unable to catch her breath from laughing as she wriggled to break free, her feet in the air for a moment.
"Is that any way to treat a teacher?" Archie teased, his hands gripping hers as he strove to keep her in place.
Ruby felt pure delight bubble in her chest at the silliness of it all, acting like school children as the sun shone down on them. She fought and squirmed, desperate to get away, though she revelled in the feeling of his arms around her, the strength of his body pressed against hers. It was a lightness she hadn't felt in ages.
"Let me—go!" she cried half-heartedly with a final yank of her arm and twist in her step. It was enough to throw off their balance, and they swayed before toppling to the ground.
Archie connected with the ground first with a groan, breaking their fall, and Ruby landed on top of him, her arms pinned between them.
They were both panting heavily, catching their breath and laughing as their eyes met. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest through her own. Ruby's gaze fixed on Archie's, his clear blue eyes searching hers, and they both grew serious. Ruby was suddenly very aware that she was lying flush atop him, their breaths mixed in the small space that separated their lips. For a flicker of a moment, Ruby felt the full danger she was in, the pull between them—and for a moment, she was completely helpless to the desire to close every inch of space between them, to give in to the heat rising in her core, to connect her lips with his. She could see the longing in his own eyes, mirroring her own, and it both thrilled and terrified her.
Then, something cold snapped in her, and she pushed herself off of him, scrambling to stand up.
"I'm—I'm sorry—I hear the baby," Ruby mumbled, rushing to the house and brushing the dust off of her skirts, not daring to look back.
She rushed to the safety of the bedroom and peeked into the cradle to find Peter sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the world around him or his mother's presence. Ruby shut the door and took a deep breath, her pulse beating wildly as she fought to make sense of her emotions.
Why on earth did he have such an effect on her?
After the incident, Ruby felt more distant from Archie than she'd felt in awhile. At first, she was careful to give him some space, at least as much as was possible in the little cabin. She didn't want to lead him on and appear like she felt more than she did. She could imagine her grandmother's chastisements from when she was younger, and she hoped she had not fallen into careless habits. Archie deserved so much better.
Soon enough, she forgot to keep her distance, however. She brightened in his presence, relaxed when he came near. And yet, she realized that he was on his guard, somehow. He was still kind and considerate, but she sensed that he was holding back—a word here, a gesture there. That veil, more thin than before, was raised between them again, and the regret stabbed at her like a shard of ice lodged under her ribcage.
The necessity of routine melted the ice slightly. Ruby was excited to join Archie on her first proper trip to town, though she fussed over the baby, wrapping him more snugly than was necessary at the end of April. Archie chuckled as he held Peter while Ruby climbed into the wagon. "I think you might have forgotten a layer," he told her as he handed the baby to her.
If Ruby didn't have her hands full, she would have swatted him. "I just wanted to be careful," she explained.
The journey was longer than Ruby expected, but she didn't mind. A different landscape was a welcome sight, and she didn't even mind the bumps and jolts of the wagon. August was excited for the day trip, as well, and he and Ruby entertained each other while Archie kept silent.
The cluster of buildings that made up the town came into view, and Ruby's heart leapt as if it was Boston itself. While she loved the wild nature of the frontier, there was something invigorating about the main street of Storybrooke—already bustling in its own way, such a contrast to the sleepy town Ruby remembered from when she'd arrived in September. Wagons drove down the street, ladies walked along the boardwalk of storefronts, men leaned against buildings with their hats tipped as they discussed the business of the day. As they drove past the chophouse, Ruby could hear loud chatter coming from inside.
Archie pulled Cleo up in front of Mr. Gold's shop. "Woah, girl," he said as he pulled on the reins. He turned to August. "Now, make sure you stay close by," he instructed his son. "Miss Ruby has to care for Peter, and I don't want you making any other concerns for her, okay?"
"Yes, Pa," August mumbled.
Archie hopped down and tied Cleo up before hurrying over to take Peter from Ruby's arms. Her hand met his, and she could feel the strength in his grip as he helped her down.
With Peter back in her arms, she followed Archie to the door beside Gold's shop. "This is the doctor's office," Archie explained, pulling out the key and turning it in the lock.
The space was as Archie had described—small, but suitable. There was already a set of drawers along one wall, and a bench with a backrest. Ruby could see it placed close to the door for patients waiting their turn to see the good doctor.
"I thought we could section this back part off to make a separate room," Archie said, gesturing to where a wall would be. "Then there could be some privacy."
"That sounds perfect."
Near the front door was a staircase, and Ruby followed Archie up to what would be the doctor's living quarters. It was small, like the room below, and with one room, would only be suitable for a bachelor. Ruby hoped it would not be needed as long-term accommodations, but she knew she could make the space cozy.
"We'll need some furniture, of course," Archie said, stepping into the confined space, and August paced around the room. Ruby took it all in from the doorway with Peter resting on her shoulder.
"You weren't exaggerating when you said it was small," Ruby said with a chuckle. "The poor man will scarce have room for a bed and a table. We'll have to have him over for some civilized meals, if it's not too far a journey." Ruby froze, realizing what she had said—realizing that she would not be around for any such meals.
Archie simply nodded.
"Look, Pa, I think I can see our house from here!" August cried, looking out the window at the back of the room. Archie swiftly crossed the room and joined his son at the window, giving Ruby a moment to collect herself.
"I think it's too far away, Son, but it's definitely just over that hill," Ruby heard Archie say.
They spent some more time exploring while Ruby made mental notes about what she wanted to order from Mr. Gold and Belle. The apartment was far from spacious, but it had a generous amount of windows—an unexpected luxury. Ruby wanted to paper the room in a light colour—perhaps a meadow green—to take advantage of the light. Though it was not the fashion of the dark colours seen in Boston, she thought it would make the room feel more airy and welcoming. With some curtains on the windows, it would be a fine space for one of Storybrooke's most respected citizens.
As they continued their examination of the office, returning downstairs to the main level, Ruby realized she missed Archie's usual closeness. He would often brush past her with a hand on her shoulder, or stand behind her with his palm resting on her back.
Now, that was gone.
She shook her head at herself, reminding herself not to invent meanings where none were to be found.
A knock at the door made them all jump, and Archie rushed to see who the early patient was.
"Jefferson!" Archie exclaimed, opening the door to a young and very well-dressed man with a little girl beside him. She looked to be about the same age as Emma Nolan, if slightly younger. "Grace!"
Archie crouched down to be on eye level with the little girl. "How are you today?"
"Very well, thank you," the little girl replied as she hugged her father's leg.
"I thought I saw Cleo outside, so we came to see how preparations are going with the doctor's office," the man—Mr. Madden, Ruby presumed—explained as he took a step inside. "Tsk, tsk," he continued with a mock frown as he looked around the room. "Archie, you're going to have to do better than this if we're to keep a doctor in Storybrooke. We'll scare the poor man away with such primitive lodgings." The serious expression on his features melted away, and he grinned.
Archie grinned back before he took a step towards Ruby. "Jefferson, I'd like you to meet my"—Ruby noticed the pause before he finished—"my wife, Ruby." He gestured towards her but did no more. "Ruby, this is Mr. Jefferson Madden and his daughter, Grace."
Ruby beamed at the man and the little girl. "Hello! It's so nice to finally meet you." The man was relatively young—younger than Archie, but older than herself. He was extremely well-dressed, with a richly-embroidered burgundy waistcoat underneath a well-tailored jacket, complete with a deep red cravat. He was very handsome, too, in the way that Peter had been handsome, with his dark brown hair and a little bit too much confidence. Ruby wondered how the man could still be single, though perhaps the loss of Grace's mother was recent.
The little girl wore an elegant pink dress, complete with matching ribbons in her hair. Her colouring was not as dark as her father's, but rather a light chestnut brown. All in all, she looked as pretty as a china doll, complete with the sweet smile she donned as her grip on Jefferson's leg relaxed slightly.
"Hello, Grace." Ruby could see the girl's eyes dart up to the baby, and she bent down. "This is Peter," Ruby said, turning slightly so that Peter could see the little girl. Peter continued sucking on his first, and Grace giggled.
"We were just stopping in before we went to place our order with Mr. Gold," Archie explained as Ruby stood up.
"Oh, good! I caught you at just the right time," Jefferson replied. "I've opened an account for this space in particular, so make sure you include all orders for this office on that tab. Ah—" Jefferson added when Archie began to protest. "I insist—that's the deal."
Archie sighed with a smile. "Alright," he agreed. "I promise, I'll put it on the account."
"Excellent," Jefferson said with a self-satisfied nod before turning to Ruby. "And I'm sure the missus will hold him to that."
Ruby felt a faint blush in spite of herself, and she shifted Peter from one shoulder to the other. "I'll do my best."
"Now then," Jefferson said with a clap, bending down slightly as he looked at August and Grace, "I think we've earned ourselves a treat. Who wants a peppermint stick from Mr. Gold's?"
"Yes, please!" August exclaimed, and Grace bounced in place.
With that, the little gathering traipsed next door to Gold's General Store, and Ruby managed to raise her brows at Archie as he locked the door.
"I know," he mouthed with a smile.
Jefferson certainly was a larger-than-life-personality, but, Ruby decided as the two families placed their orders, she very much liked him. His charm was more than surface-level, and his questions to Ruby were genuine in their interest. Despite his fine clothes, worth more than most in Storybrooke could afford, there was a warmth about him—a sincerity that drew her in. She also learned a little more about how he knew the doctor that was coming, and Ruby sensed there was more to their connection than he let on. His eyes seemed to cloud over with a seriousness, a sadness that Ruby suspected he did not let himself feel often.
She'd have to ask Archie if he knew more.
The trip into town provided a much-needed respite from all that needed to be done on the homestead, but Archie wasted no time in throwing himself into the planting once he had all his seed and a couple new replacements for worn-out parts for his equipment. Ruby could see him at work in the field with Cleo from her view at the sink, and more than once she wished he wouldn't push himself quite so hard. The sun beat down on him, and she could see the sweat gleaming from his forehead and arms as he paused once or twice to take his hat from his head and wipe his brow. Then, with a flick of the reins and a "ha!" to Cleo, the pair were off again, walking up and down the length of the field, digging tidy rows with the plough that would soon hold small seeds with the promise of a great harvest.
Ruby shook her head at his refusal to come in for lunch with her and August, but soon she found she enjoyed the break in the day when she would take his meal to him. Often, the short trek included Peter wrapped up tightly in a sash, held in place on her chest. The cuckoo clock would strike noon, and Ruby would head out the door, Peter gurgling away. With a quick stop to the pump for the fresh, icy water, mother and son then turned towards the field, a lunch basket on her arm, a water pail in hand.
Ruby would lift her hand to shield her eyes and her gaze would land on Archie as he spotted her from a distance. Cleo would be tugged to a stop—more than happy to obey—and Archie would rest the plough on the ground before joining Ruby and Peter under a nearby tree.
"I can't say it's anything special," she would warn as she held the basket out to him. "Just another sandwich, and maybe a treat." If she was feeling generous, she would include a biscuit with some butter and jam.
"Hey, I am not going to complain about lunch coming to me," he would say with a chuckle, taking the basket and unwrapping the provisions carefully from the handkerchiefs. "Anything you bring me is delicious," he assured her, his eyes shining in anticipation right before he took his first bite. Ruby couldn't help but grin back as she gently laid the water pail on the ground beside him.
Such moments were brief, however, and Ruby realized the pang in her chest was disappointment at how he ate up quickly, bringing an end to their little respite together.
Their evenings, too, were far shorter than they had been. The sun extended the working hours more and more, and bedtime was early with the need to be rested for the day ahead. Then again, while she was reluctant to say good night to Archie, she knew she should be glad for him to get as much rest as he could, since he would otherwise brush aside any concern she showed for how hard he worked.
"I'm fine," he would say for the countless time. "The planting is almost over, anyway. Just a few more days."
Ruby had no choice but to smile and nod in agreement, taking note of the shadows under his eyes and the scruff along his jaw, and maybe offer him a cold drink. At least she could take care of everything inside the home and ensure, with August's help, that the rest of the simple chores were done with the animals.
It was enough to keep her busier than ever, and she realized with a stab under her ribs that the days flew by much more quickly than she'd have liked. In fact, much to her surprise, she was annoyed that May was sprung upon them so soon. She was not ready to bid farewell to the comfort that the last couple of months had been for them all, for the warmer weather brought change closer and closer—a change for which she was less and less ready.
… A change that she would be happy to ignore.