Chapter Fifty Two
Grete took her evening meal with Kai in the boys' bedroom. Heath was out on the ranch late catching up on some of the work he and Nick had missed this week. It had been the first full day back since finding Grete and returning them to the ranch.
Kai was talkative during the meal and his mother just looked at him with thankfulness and gratitude. Jarrod and Lisette stopped by and brought him a new set of marbles and cookies from the general store, and a dime novel from the newsstand at the railroad.
"Thank you! I am going to add them to my set. When school starts next year, I will have the best set in my grade. Yum, these are good. Did Cousin Adolf make them?"
The adults shared a look, "No the lady who works at the general store."
"I miss Cousin Adolf."
"I know you do." Grete ruffled his hair
"Where is Henry?" Lisette tried to change the subject.
"Reading to Uncle Nick and Miss Anna."
"We brought him something from town too." and they headed down the hall.
"Ma, I know something happened the night we left the bakery. Did we do something wrong?"
"Oh my min skat (my treasure)—you did nothing. I should have told Cousin Adolf about Heath. I was just keeping it to myself and Cousin Adolf found someone else for me to marry. I surprised him."
"Ahhhh, he will love Papa. He rescued us and he is going to teach me to ride. And he lets me talk about Fader."
"Yah, he's a good man. We are blessed, my young man."
"I include him in my prayers."
"As do my min skat."
Heath cleared his throat in the door, "And you two are an answer to my prayers —-"
Grete smiled at him; he was sweaty and dirty from the long day but his lopsided grin made her heart quiver.
"I didn't know you were home, husband"
"Papa, glad you are back. I wanna hear about the quail. Please tell me you checked on them."
"I shore did. But let me get cleaned up first."
"I will go downstairs and fix you a tray."
"Nah Grete, you need your rest."
She winked with her blackened eye, "It's no trouble husband. I got up and around today. I just want to feel normal again—"
"Ok then. See after I get changed."
—-&—
Heath stopped for a moment and heard Rosa come down the hall.
Rosa knocked on the door, "Ma'am here are your things. I am sorry they could not be repaired. I did my best. Mrs Barkley would like to pay call on the dressmaker when you are up to it."
"Thank you, Rosa. I appreciate you." Grete wistfully smiled back. She was uncomfortable asking for anything in fear they saw her as unappreciative.
Heath came back down the hall and saw the boys readying for bed. He updated them on the quail, the new foal and the calving in the pasture.
Anna was there to read to them and he told them goodnight.
He pushed open their bedroom door and found Grete waiting. He forgot all about asking about Rosa and if she needed anything. The memory of coming to the ranch with one set of work clothes and Victoria making sure he fit in with his brothers had come to mind in the water closet.
Heath appreciated her beauty as he winked at her. She had changed into the blue robe with a blue nightgown peeking out. She had lit a small candelabra of Victoria's and brought up a tray of food for Heath. A small peach tart with an intricately decorated crust and a single candle in it on the side.
"That looks too pretty to eat."
She demured, "Danke."
"Are we celebrating something?" He cocked his head as he picked up a biscuit with roast beef.
"Today is our two week anniversary—-we were married downstairs two weeks ago on the fifteenth."
He swallowed his mouthful of biscuit and chased it with the lemonade she handed him.
"Happy anniversary, Grete. Sorry I forgot!" he said sheepishly.
"I just wanted a reason to celebrate us. You saved my life, you took on me and Kai—-just wanted to thank you. Went downstairs and baked some tarts. It was good to be in the kitchen again. Silas and I had a good time. He's a wonderful man."
"Yep he is. The best. And you don't need a reason to celebrate us. We can celebrate any day of the week you want—-specially if you bake something that smells this good and that pretty little blue nighty goes good with your pretty blue eyes."
"Audra gave me some things when I came here. I liked this nightgown. Never had anything but muslin."
"It sure is pretty and knowing my sister, she didn't even miss it."
She giggled, "I think you are right."
"We haven't had much time as husband and wife—we was only two days in when them fools carried you off. Do you need anything? How are ya feeling?" remembering Rosa in the hall.
She was touched by his concern, "I am content with you, your family and our Kai. They have been everything I could dream of."
He was trying to figure out how to tell her to get whatever she wanted or needed—without her feeling like what she had wasn't good enough. He kept running words through his head. But she surprised him with her next words.
"Heath, I accidentally heard about Brother Jehu's sermon. Naming me a witch from the pulpit."
Heath snarled and picked up some more food from his plate, "Who told you?"
"It doesn't matter. They didn't mean for me to hear. They were actually defending me."
"Jealous son of a—That's all. No one will believe it."
"Yes they will and so will Kai's schoolyard mates."
He frowned.
"I talked to your mother. She says the best course is to hold my head high and go into town like nothing happened—in a few weeks—-get it over before school starts in the fall, September. I really am not up to it with Kai hurt and my jaw just yet but she said she will go with me every time. And she wants to talk to Reverend Stacy too ."
"Oh honey, I am glad Mother talked to you. Pretty wise lady. I have learned a lot since I came to the valley and most of it from her. But Grete—iff'n her way doesn't work, I will work it out my own way." in a menacing tone.
"Let's give it time. Now tell me about your day." calming him with her touch.
He relaxed and finished his meal. She cut the tart as he talked.
He stopped his conversation as she delicately handed him the tart. The aroma of peaches caught his nose and her touch awakened his desire. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips to kiss. She ran her index finger across his lips and traced the fullness of them.
He quivered at her touch. She reddened with warmth and he thought the look in her eyes mirrored his.
"Grete, are ya feeling up to uh us—?"
"Yes," she barely whispered as she fed him the rest of the delicate tart.
"I don't want to hurt ya," as he squeezed both her hands trying to read her yes. He didn't want to pressure her for anything with her extensive injuries but he decided she really wanted him as well.
He asked again, "Are you sure? We don't half to."
"I do," she said a bit louder.
He got up and locked the door; she stacked the dishes on the tray.
"I already said good night to Kai. Anna will make sure he gets to sleep."
Heath lost his reservations and smiled, "You minx. You planned this? I am mighty proud to be your husband. I am a lucky man."
She walked over to the bed and took off her robe. She hung it on the poster of the bed and looked beckoning over her shoulder. The blue silk nightgown clung at the right spots. Heath wasted no time and came up behind her. He pulled her close and kissed her neck. He began undoing her blonde locks and she closed her eyes enjoying his touch. He was careful not to jar her face or jaw. He willed himself not to look at it—the anger overwhelmed him when he thought of those men hurting his bride.
She pressed herself back into his arms and he was no longer able to think about anything but his third night with his new bride.