Convenient Christmas Bride (9781460389034) Read online

  She heard the girls stirring, but decided not to rush them. She stepped out on the back porch and pulled bacon from the larder. She did a quick check of the other contents and found quite a bit of meat. There were several packages marked Rabbit and those she had no problem with, but the ones marked Squirrel gave her a moment’s pause.

  Anna Mae shivered from the cold air whipping at the bottom of her dress, and hurriedly reentered the house. She put bacon in the pan and set it on the stove. Next she whipped up three eggs with a little milk, salt and pepper, and dipped in it three slices of bread from last night’s supper. She set another pan on the stove and put in the bread to fry.

  The whines and calls from the bedroom had gotten louder and she could barely control her burst of laughter when she peeped around the door. Ruby, with one leg over the rail, could neither get herself over enough to fall to the floor, nor climb back in the crib. Considering she was only about a foot and a half off the floor, the fall would not have hurt her, but her diaper had caught on a decorative wooden knob and she pretty much hung suspended in the air. Rose sat staring at her as if to say, “I told you not to try it, but you wouldn’t listen. Now what are we going to do?”

  Anna Mae masked her humor and rushed to rescue Ruby. “You naughty girl. What are you doing?” She unhooked the little one and set her on the bed. Then she reached for Rose, who’d stood up with arms raised. Anna Mae could barely scold for laughing. “What if you had fallen and banged your head, Ruby?”

  “Uby bad.” Rose had no intention of taking her sister’s side.

  “No bad. Me no bad,” Ruby insisted, as Anna Mae pulled off the soiled diaper and set her on the chamber pot.

  By the time she freed Rose of her soiled diaper, Ruby had used the potty and was running happily around the room in her gown, with her backside showing. Giggling as Anna Mae tried to catch her, she screamed with joy to be finally caught, tossed in the air, then pinned on the bed.

  Minutes later, with both freshly diapered, Anna Mae carried a girl under each arm into the kitchen. She set them at their respective places and hurried to rescue the bacon and bread. She saw Rose shiver and realized she had let the fire get too low, which had been good for cooking breakfast and her cleaning spree, but bad because the house had gotten chilly.

  As she stoked the fire, Anna Mae couldn’t help but worry about Josiah’s reaction to her rearranging his home. Would he like it? Or demand she put things back the way she’d found them?

  Chapter Ten

  The sound of a wagon coming down the dirt road drew Anna Mae’s attention. Rose and Ruby were playing with their pull toys. She looked out the window and saw Mrs. Linker and her daughter draw up in the yard.

  The Linkers were their closest neighbors. Josiah had said that they were the first to greet him and the girls when he’d moved in. It looked as if the two ladies were going to be the first to welcome her, too.

  She stepped out on the porch to greet them. “Mrs. Linker, Margaret, come on in here and get warmed up.”

  “Thank you. We thought we’d bring a loaf of Margaret’s favorite apple bake bread.” Mrs. Linker was a tall woman with gray hair that she kept pulled into a bun on the top of her head. She wore a brown housedress with matching brown shoes and a bulky coat that came a little below her waist.

  Margaret climbed down from the wagon. She was dressed much like her mother, only instead of a bun on her head, her hair hung to her waist in a long braid down her slim back. “I hope you like it as much as I do,” Mrs. Linker said, hurrying up the icy steps.

  “I’m sure I will.” Anna Mae held the door open for them to pass. Her gaze swept the room, searching for the twins. Both girls stood beside the couch, eyeing their neighbors.

  “Oh, Margaret.” Mrs. Linker’s voice held a strong suggestion of reproach. “I can’t believe we forgot our wedding gifts in the wagon. Will you run out and get them, please?”

  “Sure, Mama.” The girl left quickly, without a backward glance.

  “You didn’t have to get us a wedding gift,” Anna Mae protested as she took the bread. She inhaled the sweet smell of apple and cinnamon. “This is gift enough. I can’t wait to try it.”

  “Nonsense. Though our gift really won’t be much of one until spring.”

  Now what did that mean? Anna Mae frowned. “I don’t understand.” She set the bread on the table.

  Margaret hurried back through the door carrying a large wooden box much like the one Josiah used in the wagon for the girls. It jostled against her as she hurried to set it down by the fireplace. “Here you go.”

  A weird yet familiar sound met Anna Mae’s ears. Rose and Ruby hurriedly toddled to her, grabbing her skirt in their chubby little hands. Then it dawned on her what she was hearing. Her mouth dropped open. “You brought us chickens?” She turned to the women. Although Mrs. Linker quickly hid her smile, Anna Mae could see it in her eyes.

  “Yep, all farms need a mess of chickens. ’Course, I only brought you three, two hens and a rooster to get you started.”

  Anna Mae worried her lower lip with her teeth. “It’s a lovely gift, but I don’t have a place to keep them.” She didn’t want to offend the Linkers, and even though chickens scared her, the idea of having fresh eggs appealed to her. But where would they keep them?

  “I’m sure our sheriff will be able to build a chicken coop in no time.” Mrs. Linker rubbed her hands together to warm them up. “How about we make a hot pot of coffee to go with that bread and have a nice chat?” she suggested, looking longingly toward the kitchen.

  “Of course.” Anna Mae nodded, still worried about the chickens. What would Josiah say when he came home? Did he know how to build a chicken coop?

  Margaret followed her mother to the kitchen table. “I told you we should have waited.” Her gaze moved to Anna Mae, who continued to gnaw her bottom lip.

  The older woman waved the statement away. “Nonsense.”

  Anna Mae dislodged the girls from her dress and Ruby immediately plopped to the floor. Anna Mae hurried to the stove and put on a fresh pot of coffee, while wondering what she should do with the chickens. “I don’t suppose you’d want to hang on to them for me until we can get the coop made,” she suggested, bringing a knife to cut the bread, and several dessert plates to the table.

  “They’ll be fine in that box for a couple of days.” Mrs. Linker licked her lips in anticipation of eating the bread. “Be sure and tell the sheriff that we clipped their wings, so if he wants to put them in a bigger box until you get that coop done they won’t fly off.”

  Anna Mae didn’t even want to think what the inside of that box would look like in a couple days. And just who would take those chickens out in order to clean the coop. She couldn’t. Simple as that. To say she was scared out of her wits at the thought of handling the chickens would be putting it mildly. She returned to the cupboard and took down three saucers and cups.

  Rose pulled on her skirt. “Eat!” she demanded.

  The Linkers had shaken her up so much she’d all but forgotten about the little girls. Her gaze darted about the room, searching for Ruby. She found her still sitting on the floor, staring at the chicken-filled box. Confusion laced her tiny features. Anna Mae felt the same way.

  Again the thought rushed through her mind—what was Josiah going to think of the “gift”? And until the coop was built, where were they going to keep the chickens? Surely after a day the box would start to smell, and then what?

  Mrs. Linker and Margaret enjoyed their coffee and apple bread. The twins smacked their lips as they ate their share.

  “This is a mighty nice place ya got here.” Mrs. Linker looked around with interest. Anna Mae felt pride in all she’d accomplished earlier in the day. All the things that didn’t belong had been removed and the walls and floor had been scrubbed, swept and mopped. The smell of Dutch Glow furniture polish
and the shine of the stone hearth in front of the fireplace caused her confidence to spiral upward.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Linker. It’s a very nice home for sure.” Anna Mae didn’t know if it was proper for her to speak so about her own house, but it was the truth and surely one couldn’t go wrong talking honestly. “There is still so much to be done. I’m sure there’s laundry waiting somewhere, but I haven’t found it yet.” She laughed self-consciously.

  “Oh!” Her neighbor clapped her hands. “Speaking of laundry...” She grabbed a flimsily wrapped present from the counter where Margaret had placed it earlier. “These are for you and Sheriff Miller.”

  “But I thought the chickens were our gift.” Anna Mae unwrapped two striped dishcloths with the letter M cross-stitched in the lower right-hand corner. She ran a finger over the monogram. “These are lovely, Mrs. Linker. I don’t think I’ll ever use them. They’re too pretty.”

  “Pish, now don’t go getting no ideas they’re special. Just plain cotton, but they make good dish towels. You use them, you hear? The best thanks you can give a person is to put their gifts to good use. Same as with them there chickens. You raise ’em and they will supply you with eggs and baby chicks and then you can have fried chicken for Sunday dinner.”

  So that’s that, Anna Mae thought. You got chickens as a wedding gift and you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Linker and Margaret.”

  An hour later, she was no closer to a solution as to what to do with her new gifts. Mrs. Linker and Margaret waved goodbye and turned their wagon toward home. Anna Mae closed the door and scooped up the girls. “Nap time.”

  “No nap,” they both protested with a yawn.

  “Yes, nap. You need to rest and I need to think.” She carried them into the bedroom and put them in their bed.

  “Tisses!” Rose demanded.

  Anna Mae laughed. “Okay, I’ll give you kisses, but only if you promise to go right to sleep.”

  Both girls nodded.

  She kissed them each on the cheek and they both lay down with cheeky grins on their faces. “Remember, you promised to go to sleep.”

  They closed their eyes and pretended to be asleep. Anna Mae returned to the sitting room. She left the door open so she could hear them and then sat down on the couch.

  The chickens grumbled low in their throats. At least she thought it was a grumble. Again she shook her head. What was Josiah going to think of having three chickens in the house? She didn’t want three chickens in the house. She knew what he’d think. Chickens belonged outside. At this rate he’d think her crazy for keeping them inside and there would go any chance of her finding love with him. Anna Mae sighed her prayer. Lord, what am I going to do about this?

  * * *

  The sun was setting when Josiah rode Roy into the yard. He looked to the house, expecting to see Anna Mae in the window or at the door. Disappointment hit him unexpectedly when she didn’t appear in either. “Come on, Roy, let’s get you settled in the nice warm barn.”

  He groomed the horse with an air of calm and self-confidence that belied his anxiety to rush in the house and check on things. All day he’d wondered what Anna Mae and the girls were doing. He’d worked in his office, sorting through the mail and new wanted posters. Then he’d checked with all the businesses to make sure everything was running smoothly. It was a habit he’d gotten into when he’d started as sheriff of the small town. Not only was it neighborly but it also assured him that no one had seen any shady characters about town. Then, Emily Jane had run into him and invited him to the bakery for lunch, which he’d gladly accepted. Still, he couldn’t seem to get his mind to focus on the job or lunch. His thoughts continually strayed to Anna Mae and the twins.

  He finished with Roy and then headed to the house. When he walked in Josiah was surprised to hear the clucking of chickens. He followed the sound and found Anna Mae in the spare bedroom, trying to herd two hens and a rooster into a corner, where she’d piled up furniture to create a pen of sorts. Feathers floated about the room as if the birds had been chased for quite a while. Anna Mae seemed unaware of him standing in the doorway watching her. Every curve of her body spoke defiance.

  Her hands trembled as she eyed the chickens. Every time they moved, she jumped. Was she scared of them?

  “I’ve about had it with you three. Either you get into this pen or so help me, you will be Sunday dinner for sure.” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at the unruly animals. Did she really think they’d do what she said?

  Her back was to him, but Josiah could see that half her hair was up and the other half down. Feathers stuck out of the locks that hung against her neck, giving him the impression that one of the chickens had decided to make its nest there. A grin teased his lips. Anna Mae’s sleeves were pushed up and she had scratches along both arms.

  Still unaware of him, she mumbled, “I wonder how one goes about killing two hens and a rooster?”

  The rooster squawked and entered the pen. The two hens hurried after him.

  “Now that’s more like it.” She rushed to shut the makeshift door. “You guys aren’t as tough as I thought you were.”

  The rooster changed his mind and ran out of the pen toward her. Anna Mae jumped back and looked as if she might run for the door. When she saw Josiah, she came to an abrupt stop. Her eyes were wide and her breathing quick.

  He couldn’t contain his merriment any longer. Josiah burst out laughing. He slapped his knees. “You’re scared of them? And you let them loose in here?” he asked, still roaring with laughter.

  “What was I supposed to do with them? They would have died in that box.” Her lip trembled and tears welled in her eyes.

  Josiah immediately sobered. He never could stomach a woman’s tears. “Aw, Annie, why didn’t you wait until I got home?” He walked across the room and dropped an arm around her shoulders.

  “If I’m going to take care of them, I have to overcome my fear. You won’t be here all the time,” she stated, trying to look brave and failing miserably.

  “Where did they come from?” They looked like Rhode Island Reds. The rooster strutted about his new home and the hens followed him dutifully.

  “Mrs. Linker gave them to us as a wedding present.” Anna Mae smiled up at him, a sheen of purpose in her observant eyes. “Can we keep them? She assured me that come spring the hens will start laying eggs. Just think, we wouldn’t have to buy eggs and I might even get enough to be able to sell them at Carolyn’s store. Wouldn’t that be something?”

  Where was the woman who moments before had been scared of the chickens? “You do realize you’ll have to feed them? Water them? And collect those eggs, don’t you?”

  “Of course.” She pulled out of his embrace.

  She confused him. “But you’re afraid of them,” he pointed out.

  “Well, yes, but I’ll just have to overcome that.” Determination laced her pretty brown eyes. “If I can face down a roomful of children, I can face three chickens.” She looked back at them and shuddered.

  “I’m sure you can,” he chuckled.

  Anna Mae offered him a sweet smile. “Would you like a slice of apple bread and a cup of coffee? Both are still warm.”

  “I’d love some.” He started to follow her through the doorway.

  She held her arm out and planted a palm on his chest. “No bread until those chickens are in the pen where they belong.”

  Josiah watched her turn and head to the kitchen. A grin spread over his face as he called, “Annie, I hate to tell you, but if you’re going to sell eggs at the general store, you’re going to need more than two chickens and a rooster.”

  After putting the chickens in her makeshift pen, Josiah entered the sitting room. He stopped. In his rush to discover the chickens, he’d not paid much attention to the rest of the house. She’d rear
ranged the furniture. The scent of lemon oil reached his nose. The whole house seemed so clean and fresh. Well, all except the spare bedroom where the chickens now resided.

  He heard the soft rustle of her skirt as she approached him from behind. “Do you like it?” The uncertainty in her voice had him answering quickly.

  “I do. It’s different, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.” Josiah glanced over his shoulder and offered her a smile. Where had she put the girls’ corral?

  “The twins are getting too big for that pen you had, so I moved it to the back porch for the moment.”

  Was she a mind reader? Josiah studied her serious face for a moment. “How will we keep them out of trouble?”

  Anna Mae’s tinkling laughter would have been endearing if it wasn’t pointed at him. “There are two of us now to watch them, and they need to be able to explore and learn what they can and can’t do.”

  Josiah doubted the wisdom of letting them run free, but since she was the one watching them most of the time, he’d let her make that decision. He nodded. “Fair enough.”

  “Are you hungry for something more hearty than apple bread?” she asked, returning to the kitchen.

  He followed. “No. I had lunch with Emily Jane and William. She asked if she could bring the rest of your stuff out and I told her sure. I hope you don’t mind, but I also invited them out for dinner.”

  That smile he’d begun to love graced Anna Mae’s face again. “Of course I don’t mind. I started a stew earlier; it won’t take long to whip up a pan of corn bread to go with it.”

  “You are amazing, did you know that?” The words came out of his mouth faster than his thoughts.