Jodi Thomas - To Wed In Texas

“I don't know…” she mumbled. “Maybe I should just go back to the house. I've a thousand things to do.”

Daniel cleared his throat trying to think of something to say that might make them more comfortable around one another. If the woman was going to live in his house, he had to be able to talk to her. “Come, you'll be welcome.”

Without another word, Daniel closed his hands around her waist and helped her into the wagon. He told himself he was only being polite; after all, he'd touched her before. She was his wife's cousin, not some stranger. He'd lifted Willow in the wagon hundreds of times while she'd been the twins' nurse. This was no different.

Only he knew better. He wasn't sure how, or why, but it was. The awkwardness between them had nothing to do with his shyness or her inexperience.

She didn't say anything as he climbed up and sat beside her, which suited him fine, he decided. He was not a man who liked idle talk. They just needed time to get used to one another.

Half an hour later, he sat at one end of a long table at the Buchanans' Sunday dinner, finding himself constantly searching the crowd for Karlee. She'd remained silent for the ride out, but once he introduced her to the farmers, she blended in like family.

The Buchanans were hardworking folks with a house built to hold generations. Their men had served on the frontier as rangers and scouts during the war, refusing to fight for the North or the South. At first they'd been alienated by the townsfolk and some still crossed to the other side of the street when a Buchanan neared. But as their losses matched any family's around, most of the neighbors accepted them.

They'd been the first to welcome a Northern preacher, even though the entire lot of them had a problem making it to church regularly.

Deuteronomy Buchanan was the eldest man. At fifty he had half a dozen grown sons, but Deut still answered to his ma. She might be called Granny by all her children and grandchildren, but she ruled like a general.

At the Buchanan Sunday meal, talk and food were plenty. Granny never turned help away and grinned when Karlee politely offered after the introductions. Karlee seemed to know what to do. She worked alongside the other women, talking and laughing as though she'd been to dinner a hundred times. Daniel couldn't help but notice she did what needed to be done, pitching in with the serving as well as the cleaning.

“My four oldest boys will be leaving at dawn tomorrow.” Deut drew Daniel's attention back to the conversation. “There's real money to be made in the drives.”

“I hate to see them go,” Daniel injected, “with all the trouble around.” He didn't have to say more, Daniel knew Deut kept up with the problems even if he rarely said anything.

“Me and the three youngest will still be here.” Deut chewed as he talked. “But those who are married need to fill their pockets and settle into their own places. They figure four months on a drive will pay them enough to do just that. This land will have several more homes on it by planting time next year.”

“You're probably right,” Daniel answered as he watched Karlee circle the room with a tray of seconds.

“You say your cousin is single, Reverend?” Deut Buchanan asked, with his mouth still full of mashed potatoes. “Fine looking woman to be left on the vine.” Except for his mother, Deut was the oldest and therefore given free range to state any opinions.

Daniel frowned. “Yes, she's single.” All the men within hearing distance of Daniel's comment were staring in Karlee's direction. The entire clan seemed to be on a population frenzy, birthing and marrying as fast as they could. “She came to Jefferson to help me with the twins,” Daniel added. “Not to marry any of you Buchanan boys.”

Deut laughed, spitting a snow of potatoes. “Don't get riled up, Reverend. We only took Willow away from you 'cause Sammy loved her so. We know you have to have a woman to help out at your place. If I'd had a few daughters and not so many boys, I might could have saved you the trouble of sending for a woman.”

“But Pa, she's got red hair and the greenest eyes I've ever seen.” Ray sighed deeply, “and her hair. Did you ever see a woman with so much red hair?”

“Now you forget about courting her, Ray. The preacher's got no woman. He needs her more than you do. Besides, you got another year before you're twenty and at the hurry-up stage for marrying.”

Daniel was thankful for all the people talking around him. He couldn't have said a word if his life depended on it. He wished he could scream that he had had a woman and wanted no other now, or ever. His grief had settled into anger over the years. Anger at the world and at himself for caring so deeply.

But Deut was right, Daniel needed Karlee. With all her imperfections and strangeness, he needed her. He couldn't raise his daughters alone. If he tried, he guessed Gerilyn would be knocking at his door demanding custody of the girls. She'd married a man with enough money and power to put up a fight if it came to that. They were just waiting for him to make a wrong move.

He stood so suddenly half the room turned his direction as though expecting a speech. But when he said nothing, they returned to their conversations and food.

Daniel walked the length of the long dining room and entered the kitchen. Like everything else in the Buchanan homestead, the room had been built for a large family. Karlee was cleaning the table where everyone under twelve ate while several women hurried the children, including the twins, outside to play.

Daniel stood in the doorway for a minute, unaware of anyone in the room except Karlee. She might not be a cook, but she knew her way around cleaning. He couldn't help but wonder if she, like himself, pushed herself to work harder than anyone else so she would be exhausted enough at night to sleep.

When she finally glanced up, he asked, “We need to talk, Miss Whitworth. Want to see the bayou?”

“Now?”

“Now.” He walked outside, hoping she'd follow. There were plenty of women to finish and watch the twins. The Buchanans treated child rearing with the herd philosophy. Except for sleeping, the children all stayed together and the adults took turns sitting on the nest. They traveled in a pack, with older ones taking care of younger. His twins loved the attention.

Daniel marched past two huge live oaks and headed toward the bayou where old cypress trees tiptoed into the water's edge. He didn't bother to turn around. If she followed, she followed. He'd not beg for her attention.

When he reached shade so thick it seemed like twilight, he stared out across the bayou, listening for the sounds of passing boats. The air hung damp and warm for late February, but the wind off the water was cool. He could almost close his eyes and think he was back home in Indiana. As a boy, he'd loved rowing out to the center of the lake near their farm. When the day got hot, he'd lay down in the boat and let the sun warm him as he listened to water lap against the sides.

“I'm sorry.” Karlee broke into his thoughts. “I didn't mean to fall asleep in church. I know you're probably mad at me, but not speaking to me won't solve any problem.”

Daniel turned around to face her and was surprised to find her so close behind him. She still wore the tea towel she'd tucked into her waistband as an apron. “I'm not mad at you.” He tried to think of how to put words together as he backed away from her a few steps. “I can't blame you. I'm not much of a preacher.”

“Oh, no.” She lied. “You're fine, just fine. I didn't sleep last night. I was trying to think of some way to say thank you for letting me stay. I want you to know I'll try real hard to help out. I'll learn to cook and I'll take good care of the twins and I'll…” She paused, trying to remember a well-rehearsed speech.