12

Hannah couldn’t quite push aside the bitterness as she helped with preparations for supper. Thankfully, Rachel said nothing more about her brother.

Rachel folded a cloth and wrapped it around the handle of the pot. “Why don’t you call everyone in while I move the soup to the table?”

Hannah started to the door. The sun warmed past the cold that settled in every time she thought of Joseph Garnet and their makeshift marriage. What if Rachel was right? What if a real marriage was possible? Perhaps even love…or just affection. That would be enough. Wouldn’t it?

The murmur of voices from the far side of the barn drew her around…and then stopped her short. She peeked around the corner.

Sarah sat on Nora’s hip, while James had laid claim to his father. Nora said something, and Joseph chuckled. Then he smiled.

Hannah pressed against the log wall.

Perhaps Nora’s friendliness to Joseph was innocent—she was ignorant of this week’s events—but Joseph was a married man. He had no right to stand so close to another young woman. Especially one as becoming as Nora Reid.

Stiffening her jaw, Hannah stepped into sight. She leaned against the wall and smiled at her husband.

Another chuckle ended with a cough as his gaze froze on her.

“You’d best come in for supper before it spoils.” Spinning, Hannah turned away. She would go visit the horses. She had lost her appetite, and them she understood.

The mare had wandered to the far side of the pasture to graze near the edge of the forest. The aroma of pine perforated the air as Hannah laid a hand on the black coat. Loose hair gathered with each stroke, the last of the mare’s winter protection being shed. Hannah swept her hand low under the large belly. Soon, Joseph had said. Hopefully before they left to find Myles and Samuel.

If Joseph was earnest that he would help her.

Frustration welled within, and Hannah moved to give the mare a thorough ear rub. She had to gain control over her predicament. But how was she supposed to control a man like Joseph? Hannah lingered with the mare for a while before making her way back to the cabin. The door opened as she approached.

Joseph stepped out. His mouth opened.

Nora came behind him. “There you are. Rachel is putting the soup back over the coals to keep it warm for you.” Her smile held only sincerity. “We are going to dig the potatoes in.”

“I’ll help.”

“No,” Joseph inserted. “You need to rest your arm.”

Hannah returned Nora’s smile. “I am sure we can manage on our own, can’t we?” She strode toward the garden.

A few minutes later, Nora wielded the spade while Hannah dropped small shriveled tubers into the moist ground. Already they appeared half-grown, some even sprouting tiny green leaves. Halfway down the row, Nora paused to look across the yard at Joseph, who stood near the barn, watching them in return.

Hannah frowned. “I am sorry to hear of Fannie’s passing.”

Nora nodded. “I miss her. And I can’t help but think what a shame when she had so much to live for. All of this, and two beautiful babies.”

“And a tall, strapping husband?”

Nora glanced at her, and then back across the field. “A woman would have to be blind not to appreciate that.” Her tone held a smile.

It chafed Hannah’s nerves. “You are quite fond of him, aren’t you?”

“I am.” Nora sent the spade deep and leaned around the handle. “But perhaps not as greatly as you.”

Hannah tightened her hand around one of the spongy potatoes. How had her interrogation been reversed? She didn’t want to think, never mind talk about how she felt toward that man. “I would not call myself fond of him.” She was fonder of the thought of strangling him—he was way too unaffected and out of reach.

“Oh?” A grin didn’t reach Nora’s face, but it rose in her voice. She lifted the dirt with the spade so Hannah could drop the tuber in the soil. “My mistake.”

Hannah planted her gaze on the dark earth. “I’m only here to find my brothers. That’s why I came. And as soon as the planting is done, Joseph has promised to help me.” She couldn’t become distracted. Myles and Samuel were all that mattered. She picked up another potato.

Nora didn’t move the spade. “Are they still with the Continental Army?”

“I believe so.” Hoped so.

“While your father fought with the British.”

Hannah pushed to her feet. “Myles and Samuel were not given the option of who they should fight for. Otherwise, I guarantee they would have been at my pa’s side.”

“Then I’m glad they weren’t given the choice.” Nora’s words came out as a whisper, but they might as well have been shouted.

Hannah dropped the potato. She’d tell this girl exactly what she thought about her Patriot friends who spouted rhetoric about freedom, but did not afford the same to others. The happy squeals of children stole her words.

Rachel approached, babe on hip, James running, and Sarah toddling along.

“I should not have said that,” Nora mumbled.

“Why not? It’s obviously the way you feel.” Hannah tipped her chin high and stalked away, past Rachel, to the cabin. Her arm stung anyway. She should have listened to Joseph. Though she definitely wouldn’t make a habit of it. She should never have married him—forfeiting her own freedom. He and any of the Reid girls were much better suited.

~*~

Bone weary, Joseph didn’t wave, he just nodded goodbye to Rachel and Andrew. Behind him, Nora stood with little James cuddled against her chest. The poor lad looked worn out. But no wonder, the sky was darkening, giving them no option but pause for the night…and the Sabbath.

“Here comes Papa now,” Nora whispered, swaying with the sleeping child.

Sure enough, Benjamin Reid directed his wagon past Andrew’s and into the yard.

“What about Hannah?”

Joseph frowned. “What about her?”

It was just light enough to see the tinge of red rise in Nora’s cheeks. “I’m sure neither Mama nor Pa would mind if she stayed with us. I know Rachel doesn’t have the room in their cabin, and you…” Concern lit her eyes.

As far as she knew he was now an unmarried man, and Hannah was a lovely young woman with no attachments.

“The barn is comfortable enough for me.” Not exactly a lie, though he had no intention of sleeping there. He was tired and stiff and wanted his bed. “I assure you, we have and will maintain everything above reproach.” Not hard to do when married to the woman.

“I’m afraid Hannah would probably prefer to stay here. I said something…” Nora shook her head. “But if you decide you should like to return to the comfort of your home, the invitation is open to her.”

Benjamin’s wagon rolled to a stop and Nora moved to the back.

“I’ll ride back here, Papa, so James can sleep. He’ll spend the night with us, if that’s all right.”

“Of course. I’m sure James will enjoy some time with his grandparents. We don’t see enough of him or his sister.” He smiled and looked at Joseph. “Is there anything else we can do for you, son?”

“No, sir. We got a fair amount accomplished today, so if the weather holds, all will be well.” Especially now that he didn’t have to worry about raids against his farm. However, while the rest of the community remained under threat, was he wrong to do what he could to protect his family and livelihood? It wasn’t as though he’d sided with the British. He helped Nora into the wagon, and then bid her and Benjamin goodnight. Joseph wasn’t sure if he would even have the strength to wash up before falling into his bed. He needed sleep. He set his hand to the latch and gave a shove. The door jerked against the bar and stopped. He tried again. Why would the door be barred? Unless…His exhaustion stoked his anger, and he plowed his shoulder into the solid wood. “Hannah!”

“Yes?” Her voice came from the other side of the door.

“Unbar this door.”

“Why?”

“Because this is my home, and I want my bed.”

“And yet did you not just declare that you are more than comfortable in the barn?” Her tone sharpened, grating against a stone. “I do hope so.”

This couldn’t be happening. Joseph pressed his forehead into the door. “I beseech you. Let me in so I can go to bed.”

“It is no longer your bed.”

Or his home, by the look of it. With the door barred, and the windows too small, the precautions he had taken to keep raiders out now worked against him. “What about a blanket? It’s already mighty chill out here tonight.” If he could get her to open the door for just a second, he would easily be able to force his way inside. “Please, Hannah.”

Silence suggested she considered his request, and he held his breath.

“Very well.”

Again silence, and he braced himself against the door. Waiting.

“But first I will watch from the window to make sure you’re by the barn.”

No. He sagged. “Why can’t you just open the door, woman?”

She laughed out loud. “So you can plow your way in here? Do you think I’m daft?”

“I wish you were.”

“So we’d share more in common?”

Joseph gritted his teeth. “Maybe you’re correct. If I had any intelligence, I would have never agreed to help you, never mind marry you.”

“Of course you say so now that your family and land are safe. Maybe I should have let Otetiani have his way with this puny farm of yours.”

“We all would have been better off!” Joseph pushed away from the door and walked several paces. He threw his hands up in the air. Now what? His anger deflated. Incensing her didn’t help his plight, but he held little hope for reconciliation. Better to concede for now and save his energy for warding off the night air.

~*~

His footsteps moved away from the cabin, and Hannah leaned into the door to listen. Was he really leaving? Or was this another attempt to get her to open the door? He was right about the chill, the temperature had dropped steadily as soon as the sun started slipping away. Was she really making him sleep in the barn? Though well into May, and not likely to freeze overnight, it would hardly be comfortable. She should make sure he had at least one blanket.

But that would require her to rein in her pride.

Hannah sagged against the heavy bar, twice the thickness as the one he’d used to lock her in the bedroom the first night. Seemed longer than five days ago. So much had changed. She bristled at seeing him with Nora, and his continued denial of their marriage. If he wanted to pretend they weren’t husband and wife, he’d better get accustomed to nights in the barn. She crossed into the bedroom. The quilts lay flat across Joseph’s bed.

Their bed.

She sat on the edge. Despite the understanding they had reached, the last few nights she had hardly slept with him beside her. And tonight she’d probably lay awake wondering if he were freezing. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t leave him out there. Not without something to keep him warm. Perhaps if she accidently let him back in, she could maintain her pride.

Hannah gathered the two heaviest quilts and plucked the lamp from the table. The night air met her with its cool fingers, and she hastened to the barn. All sat still, laden with a low glow from the short wick. The flame flickered, creating an array of dancing shadows over the straw-littered ground beneath her feet, the single stall, farm tools, sacks of grain seed, and mounds of last-year’s hay. Joseph was stretched out, arms folded across his chest, eyes closed. She leaned the lamp nearer. Surely he wasn’t already asleep. “Joseph?” she whispered.

He shifted again, but didn’t open his eyes.

With another step, Hannah drew closer and peered down at the man who was now her husband. In sleep, some of the hardness had faded from his features, returning him to the young man she had known. The slight curve of his eyebrows. The slope of his jaw. No wonder she’d been attracted to him as a girl. And yet he had always remained distant, detached from even the efforts of Fannie to catch his attention. Had she finally succeeded? Or, as Rachel had insinuated, had she merely been convenient? Even after marriage to a woman who adored him, did Joseph Garnet understand love? Or did he simply not like being alone and cooking for himself?

Perhaps that was another reason he had agreed so quickly to Otetiani’s proposition that they marry. It probably would have been only a matter of time before Joseph asked Nora to wife if his precious farm hadn’t been threatened.

Hannah pushed away the souring of her thoughts and set the lamp aside so she could lay the quilts over him and tuck them around his shoulders. The crevice between his eyes relaxed, and his lips parted with an outward breath. Warmth brushed her face, and she paused. What would it be like to be cherished by such a man? To be held? Kissed? Loved?

She hurried to her feet. Better to keep her distance and her anger, or she would lose herself in more ways than she already had. No matter how optimistic Rachel had been.

~*~

Joseph shivered and reached for the quilt, pulling it up over his shoulders. Hay prickled his neck, and tickled his face. He forced his eyes open to the hazy morning light pressing through the cracks in the barn. He blinked and shoved upright. The quilt fell across his lap.

A quilt?

Last evening’s events rolled in his weary brain. He’d not had a quilt when he’d collapsed here. Cold seeped through his sleeves as he gathered the quilts and stood. Only to stumble over the milking stool. He kicked it out of the way. He didn’t have a milk cow anymore. A yawn stretched his mouth, and he hurried to the cabin. With his hand on the latch, he closed his eyes. “Please, Lord.”

The door swung open under his pressure, and he stepped inside to warmth. The fire had been banked but under the layer of ash large logs glowed in the fireplace. He dropped the hay-laden quilts to the table. A second yawn watered his eyes, and he stumbled into the bedroom where his lovely bride slept. He dropped onto the bed beside her and pulled the blankets over his thawing body. She’d likely be the death of him.