Summer 2012, the Krause family farm
Kate stumbled out of bed the next morning. Her head felt too big for her body. Instinctively her hand drifted toward her stomach. Lack of sleep was not good for the baby. A frown flitted across her face as her fingers rubbed her lower abdomen. In the last century, people believed scaring a pregnant woman could mark her unborn child, and God knows, she’d been afraid last night. Just thinking about that scream made her heart jump. She’d torn up the stairs and awakened her sleeping husband. A rabbit, he’d murmured into her ear as he pulled her into his arms. Who knew rabbits screamed? She shook her head and stood, shoving her arms into her robe. Sleep had eluded her long after Joe’s easy breathing filled the room. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind filled with the image of a poor bunny in the grip of a predator. She’d tossed and turned until finally falling asleep in the early hours of the morning.
Tightening the belt on her robe, she squared her shoulders. Buck up, she told herself firmly. This wasn’t the city. There’d be a lot of different sights and sounds, and if she wanted to fit in, she needed to learn how to adapt. She couldn’t go running to her husband every time she was faced with something strange.
Problem resolved, she made her way out of the bedroom and down the hall. At the top of the stairs, she paused. The smell of fried bacon and fresh coffee drifted up the stairwell and her stomach growled in response. At least there was one advantage to her mother-in-law staying with them . . . Breakfast.
As she approached the kitchen, she heard Joe’s chuckle and stopped.
“It was a rabbit, Ma,” he said, his voice filled with humor.
Trudy answered in a low voice, but Kate was too far away to make out her words. She took a few steps and stopped.
“Superstition and old family legends,” Joe said, the humor gone. “And I don’t want you filling Kate’s head with a bunch of nonsense.”
“I tell you, it’s a sign,” Trudy replied, her voice louder.
“Don’t be silly—”
Kate heard the clatter of something hitting the sink.
“Your grandmother heard that scream, and two months later, she received word that your uncle had been shot down over Vietnam.”
A chill tickled the back of Kate’s neck.
“Grandma was a flake. She wound up in the nursing home not knowing which way was up,” he shot back. “And according to Dad, she never mentioned that old tale until after Uncle Fred was killed.”
“I don’t care what you say. For over one hundred and forty years, people in this family—”
A chair scraped across the kitchen floor.
“Come on, Ma. Do you really believe some rabbit meeting its fate is a harbinger of doom?”
“My boy . . .” Trudy’s voice took on a tone Kate had not yet heard her use—soft, gentle, and full of love. “I raised you strong, and you’ve always made me proud. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”
“Ah, Ma,” Joe replied sheepishly, “I’ll be okay. Don’t fuss over those silly old stories.”
“I can’t help it. Your new wife—”
“Hey,” Joe cut her off, his voice teasing, “haven’t I always told you that you’re my best girl?”
Kate felt a stab of jealousy.
“Yes.”
“Look, Kate’s my wife—and I love her—but you’re my mother.” The teasing tone was gone and he sounded deadly serious. “You think I’m going to forget everything that you did for me growing up?”
“No.”
“You and Kate just try and get along, and everything will be fine. No more talk about that stupid legend, okay?”
Kate strained to hear Trudy’s low reply, but she was too far away.
“I’ve got to get going. When Kate gets up, tell her—”
No, he couldn’t leave before she had the chance to see him. Hurrying into the kitchen, Kate shoved the overheard conversation out of her mind.
“Good morning,” she said brightly and quickly crossed to where her husband stood at the counter. She stood on tiptoes and raised her face for a kiss. When Joe bussed the side of her cheek, her smile slipped.
Kate turned and greeted her mother-in-law.
Trudy’s eyebrows lifted in response and flicked a hand toward the table. Any softness she might have shown during her conversation with Joe had disappeared. “Have a seat. The bacon’s getting cold.”
Joe pulled out the chair for Kate and, once she was settled, looked first at his mother, then at Kate.
“I’m going into town,” he said, draining the last of his coffee. “I’m meeting Tom, then we’re driving over to the Rodman place to see if we can talk some sense into Ed.”
“Humph,” Trudy snorted, “that’ll be the day. He’s known all along that fence line was on our land. He’s not going to change it now.”
Joe’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll see about that,” he said, smacking his cup on the counter. “One way or the other, he’s going to move that fence.”
Trudy placed a hand on his shoulder. “Be careful, son,” she said, her voice tinged with concern. “Ed Rodman’s been stubborn and ornery since the day he was born.”
“Don’t fret, Ma,” he said, removing her hand and squeezing it. “Ed’s not going to pull anything with the sheriff standing there—”
Kate shot out of her chair. “Wait—what’s this about a sheriff?”
“Now see what you did, Ma?” He shook his head. “You’ve upset Kate.” He released his mother’s hand and placed his on Kate’s shoulder, gently guiding her back to her chair. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it, sweetheart. I can handle Ed. Once he sees things my way, it’ll be fine.”
“But—But,” she stammered.
He smiled down at her as he patted her head. “I’ve got to run.” He shot a look at his mother. “Don’t work her too hard, Ma. Remember what I said and that Kate needs time to adjust.”
Trudy crossed her arms over her chest and said nothing.
“See you ladies at dinner.” Without a backward glance, he was out the door and gone. A moment later, Kate heard the rumble of a pickup pull down the drive.
Silence hung in the air as Kate stared down at the now-congealed eggs on her plate.
Trudy finally spoke. “You need to eat,” she said, pointing at the eggs.
Kate picked up her fork and moved the soggy mess around on her plate. This wasn’t how she pictured the first few days of her marriage: rabbits screaming in the night, a disapproving mother-in-law, and a vanishing husband. Tears threatened to fall from the corners of her eyes. Quickly, she brushed them away and forced herself to take a bite of the cold eggs. Their mushiness against her tongue made her stomach roll. She swallowed and pushed her plate away.
“Thanks, Trudy, but I’m really not hungry. Maybe later I’ll eat a piece of toast.”
Trudy eyed her belly. “Morning sickness, huh?”
Grateful for the excuse, Kate nodded. She stood and, after picking up her plate, crossed to the garbage can and scraped the eggs into it. Turning, she smiled. “I’ll help you with the dishes.”
Her mother-in-law waved her away. “I’ll do them. Why don’t you go back to bed? I heard you up roaming around last night.”
Kate’s lips quirked into a grin. Roaming was not the way to describe her movements last night. After hearing the rabbit scream, thundering would be more descriptive.
Placing her plate in the sink, Kate turned toward Trudy. “I’m sorry I made so much noise, but the scream that I heard frightened me. Did I wake you?”
Trudy’s gaze wandered around the kitchen. “No. I was awake. This house doesn’t always promote restful sleep.”
Kate drew back at the cryptic remark. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” She busied herself wiping off the counters and moving dishes over to the sink. “It’s an old house. Old houses creak and it can disturb a body, if you let it.” She shook the dishrag out over the sink. “I’d just ignore any night sounds, if I were you. It doesn’t pay to go wandering around in the dark.” She began stacking the dishes, but Kate interrupted her.
“Please, let me help you.”
“I think it would be better if you rested,” Trudy replied, keeping her back toward Kate.
“No, honestly . . . I want to help. I don’t want to spend the day in our bedroom waiting for Joe to come home. I’d be bored out of my mind.”
Trudy turned, her eyes narrowing. “You really want to help?”
Joe’s remark about them getting along flashed through her mind. She wasn’t going to be the one responsible for any rift.
“Yes, I’m a part of this family now. I want to do my share.”
Later that night in bed, Kate wished she had taken Trudy’s advice. Her ankles were swollen and her body ached in ways she’d never felt before. They’d cooked two big meals and, after each one, cleaned the kitchen until it gleamed. They also weeded the garden; swept and dusted the downstairs; and washed, folded, and ironed two large loads of laundry. Thinking of the latter, Kate grimaced. The woman ironed pillowcases, of all things. Didn’t she understand the meaning of permanent press? At supper, she’d caught the gleam in Trudy’s eye when she’d asked her if she’d ever “put up” sweet corn. That was Trudy’s plan for her tomorrow, and she couldn’t wait to see what it entailed. Kate’s vision of spending lazy summer days, swinging in a hammock, seemed foolish. There was too much work to be done.
But what Kate regretted most about the last twenty-four hours was the lack of time she’d spent with her new husband. Not counting the time they’d spent sleeping, they’d been together less than three hours, and those hours had included his mother. The only time they’d been alone was in the privacy of their bedroom—and when he’d wanted to make love, she hadn’t had the energy.
A bitter tear slipped down the side of her face. She wanted to be a good wife and make Joe happy, but the truth was she didn’t know how. If today was any indication, years of nothing but endless work stretched before her.
She dashed the tear away. No, that was unacceptable. She loved her husband and she loved her unborn child. She would create a life in this place and she wouldn’t allow it to be measured by the amount of work she accomplished each day. She’d find joy and she’d find happiness.
If Trudy thought to break her and make her feel that she wasn’t a fit wife for Joe, Kate would prove her wrong. She’d work harder, longer, faster until Trudy was forced to accept her. She’d had to deal with her grandmother for years, and if now she had to handle her mother-in-law, then so be it.
She would not fail.