His Convenient Wife Page 15

  “Oh, you don’t have to go through all that trouble for me,” Harriett replied.

  “It’s not any trouble. I used to take Maggie to see my folks at least once a week. Maggie likes going there.”

  Maggie nodded and told Harriett, “Grandma nice.”

  Harriett fiddled with the ribbon around her waist. “Yes, she is.”

  “You know Grandma?”

  “I’ve met her.”

  “See her a lot?”

  “Well, no. Only if she comes over to my house.”

  Maggie’s eyebrows furrowed. “She not here.”

  “I meant my other house. I mean,” Harriett cleared her throat, “the house I used to live in before I came here.”

  “Did marry other pa?”

  Stan chuckled at the surprised expression on Harriett’s face. “You’ll get used to it,” he assured her. “Children ask a lot of questions, and some will startle you.”

  Despite the pretty shade of pink that crept up Harriett’s cheeks, she told Maggie, “No, I didn’t marry someone else. Your pa is the only one I married. I used to live with my parents. It’s the way things are. You live with your parents, and when you grow up, you’ll get married and live with your husband.”

  “My ma didn’t.”

  Since Harriett didn’t seem to know what to say, Stan rubbed the girl’s back. “Granted, that’s true. Your real ma didn’t, but I think you’ll be a lot happier if you do it the way Harriett did.”

  Or maybe not. Harriett had married him out of a sense of obligation. It wasn’t because he loved and cherished her, as should have been the case. But that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be that way in the future.

  Yesterday, he’d taken the time to talk to her—really talk to her—and got a chance to see a side of her that he never knew existed. Harriett had always been in her sister’s shadow. Rose took center stage in everything, and people were drawn to her because of it. He’d been no different. Like a lot of others, he overlooked Harriett.

  But now, he knew what he’d been missing all those years, what he’d been too foolish to see. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  Turning his attention back to the flowers, he asked, “Harriett, would you like me to get seeds from my mother? She won’t mind. She has more than enough.”

  Harriett bit her lower lip in the cutest way, and the familiar lines showed up on her forehead.

  He hadn’t realized she was so sensitive to the needs of others. How often did she do things to please someone else with little regard to herself? Reaching across Maggie, he placed his hand on her back and gave her a smile he hoped would reassure her. “I mean it. My mother will be fine with it. You won’t be imposing.”

  She finally relaxed and returned his smile. “Alright.”

  Glad she accepted, he gave her a gentle pat then set his hand back at his side. “I’ll go tomorrow.” Not sure if she’d accept the invitation, he asked, “Would you like to go with me when I get them?”

  She hesitated for a moment before answering. “You want me to go with you to your parents’ place?”

  “Yes, I would.”

  At first, he thought she was going to say no. But then, she turned her gaze in his direction. “I can see you’re sincere in having an amiable relationship. The least I can do is meet you halfway. I’ll be happy to come with you.”

  Amiable relationship? He had plans to do more than that. He fully intended to be married to her in more than name only. She was far too lovely to just be friends with. He’d make love to her tonight if she’d let him. Even now, the thought of cupping her breasts in his hands and feeling her legs around his waist made him hard. He had no idea someone who was so shy could excite him so much.

  He quickly shifted to hide the evidence of his arousal. When he proved himself worthy of her, he’d get to consummate the marriage. He could wait until then. Forcing his attention to the path in front of them, Stan led the horse away from the house and toward the pasture.

  ***

  Harriett’s stomach was tied up into all kinds of knots when Stan pulled up to the front of his parents’ house the next day. She had only seen them when they came to celebrate a special occasion with her parents when Emily and Isaac were there. She’d never had a reason to come over here to see them. So she didn’t really know them very well.

  But she was determined to step out of the safe and familiar world she was used to. Besides, sooner or later, she’d have to visit Stan’s parents at their home. She had to press through it. She couldn’t hide from them forever.

  Stan set the brake, and Maggie didn’t even wait for him to help her out. She just scooted over Harriett’s lap and jumped down from the buggy. Then, she bolted to the front door, calling out that she had arrived. Harriett would have laughed if she wasn’t so nervous.

  Stan turned to her. “How long did you want to stay?”

  Harriett clasped her hands together and shrugged. “I figured I’d stay as long as you wanted to. These are your parents after all.”

  “They’re your parents by marriage. You have every right to say how long you want to see them.”

  Why was he asking her to make such a difficult decision? It would really depend on how well things went. If they couldn’t find anything to say to each other, then a shorter visit would be better. All she’d said to them in the past was a hello and good-bye. Her brother and parents had done all the talking.

  To her surprise, Stan scooted closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “You have nothing to worry about. They already like you.”

  “They hardly know me,” she whispered, trying to ignore the way her skin tingled. Would she ever get over the thrill of being touched by him?

  “Fair enough. They know more about you than they actually know you. But over the past few days, I’ve gotten to know you, and you’re far more wonderful than I ever imagined. I want to kick myself for all the times I was too stupid to realize it.” Then he leaned closer to her and kissed her cheek. “I won’t ever make that error again.”

  Did he really kiss her? She was tempted to pinch herself, thinking she must be dreaming, but then she heard Maggie calling out to them and turned her gaze to the porch. Sarah, his mother, waved to them.

  He greeted his mother and hurried out of the buggy to come to Harriett’s side.

  Harriett bit back her disappointment. He probably only kissed her because his mother was watching. Such foolish notions of him wanting to kiss her. It was just like it was in the past. She’d spent most of her time daydreaming about what it’d be like to be touched and kissed by Stan Craftsman. Truth be told, it was better than she’d ever imagined. Too bad it didn’t mean anything to him.

  But he was making an effort to get along with her. She needed to remember that. Theirs was a marriage of convenience, and he was making the most of it. At least, he cared enough about her to not come out and compare her to her sister. He couldn’t help but notice the differences, she was sure. Rose wasn’t the least bit shy, she could make people laugh, and, better yet, she made friends easily.

  “Mind if I help you down?” Stan asked.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she murmured, realizing he’d been holding his hand out to her. She accepted it, and despite her intention, almost tripped on the hem of her skirt as he helped her down.

  He caught her and chuckled. “I certainly don’t mind an excuse to hold you,” he whispered.

  She wasn’t sure what to think about his comment but quickly steadied her footing so she didn’t have to hang all over him. This wasn’t a good way to get on his mother’s good side. Clearing her throat, she mumbled, “Thank you,” and headed for the porch, careful to lift the hem of her skirt so she wouldn’t trip again.

  “I’m glad to see you,” Sarah told her, opening her arms to offer her a hug.

  Despite her unease, Harriett hugged the woman. She didn’t make it a habit of hugging people she barely knew. That was something Rose did. And it was another example of why Rose attracted people and she di
dn’t.

  When the hug ended, Harriett forced aside her uncertainty and said, “I’m glad to see you, too.”

  Stan came up to them and placed his hand on the small of Harriett’s back. “I hope you’re not busy,” he told his mother.

  “Not at all,” Sarah assured them. “Come on in and have something to eat and drink.”

  “I don’t want to impose,” Harriett said.

  “You’re not imposing. I’m glad you came.” Sarah gestured to the parlor. “Make yourself at home.”

  Maggie ran on ahead of them, and Stan kept his hand on the small of Harriett’s back, something that alarmed her as much as it excited her. She wished she knew the proper way to respond to him. Did she smile at him? Did she ignore him? Did she slip her arm around his? Did she thank him?

  In the end, she decided to ignore him. Not because she wanted to be rude but because she didn’t want to trip again and needed to focus on what was in front of her. When they got to the parlor, she was ready to sit in a chair, but Stan steered her to the couch.

  “Why don’t we sit here?” he asked, his voice very pleasant in her ear.

  Oh for heaven’s sakes. If she didn’t sit down immediately, her knees just might buckle under her. And that would be way worse than tripping. Face warm, she settled on the couch, glad she made it before she embarrassed herself. Stan sat beside her, sitting closer than necessary and held her hand. This was horrible. Her heart was beating furiously in her chest, and it was hard to concentrate. How was she supposed to focus on anything his ma said?

  Before she could suggest that Maggie sit between them, Stan patted the spot on the other side of him. “Grandma will come back with a treat, and I want you to be on your best behavior.”

  Maggie stopped running around the table in the middle of the room and jumped on the couch next to him. “I get treat if good,” she told Harriett.

  “She’s a smart woman,” Harriett replied.

  Sometimes the method had worked for her and sometimes it hadn’t, but she had to admit things had gotten a lot better ever since the night she stormed out of the kitchen. Maggie might not be calling her Ma or be as excited to see her as she was to see Stan’s mother, but it was a start.

  His ma came into the room and set down a tray holding a pitcher of lemonade, cookies, and fudge on it.

  Stan let go of Harriett’s hand and picked up a piece of fudge. “You must have something important going on if you made fudge.”

  With a smile, Sarah whispered, “You pa’s been craving it for a while now, so I thought I’d make it.”

  “Then we’re lucky we stopped by when we did.” Turning to Harriett, he added, “This doesn’t last long around here. You should eat one before they’re all gone.”

  Since he gave it to her, Harriett took it.

  He then proceeded to give a piece, along with a cookie, to Maggie.

  “Will you be staying here for supper?” Sarah asked as she sat in the chair near them.

  “Oh, well,” Stan glanced at Harriett, “we hadn’t talked about it yet. I told Harriett you have some flower seeds, and I thought I’d come by to see if you wouldn’t mind giving us some.”

  “I’d be happy to.” Sarah’s gaze went to Harriett. “Would you like to see the flowers I grow?”

  Doing her best to settle the butterflies in her stomach, Harriett nodded. “If you’re busy doing something else today, I can wait.”

  “I’m never too busy for family.”

  Sarah’s smile helped settle Harriett’s nerves enough so that she could eat.

  After Stan swallowed his piece of fudge, he offered Harriett a glass of lemonade. “What do you think?”

  “The fudge is good,” Harriett replied then looked at Sarah. “Thank you.”

  “You should thank Stan’s pa,” Sarah joked.

  “Speaking of which, where is he?” Stan asked. “I didn’t see him in the pasture on our way here.”

  “He went to town,” Sarah replied. “I don’t expect him back until supper. So you see, I had nothing at all to do. I’m glad you came by.”

  “And me?” Maggie asked her.

  “I’m glad you’re here, too,” Sarah said.

  The girl, seeming happy with Sarah’s answer, finished the cookie.

  “Is this all the fudge you have?” Stan asked his mother.

  “I have a small box reserved for your pa. You can have everything on the plate.”

  “See kitties?” Maggie asked, turning to Stan with an expectant look on her face that even Harriett would find hard to say no to.

  He finished his drink then glanced at Sarah and Harriett. “Um, I don’t know if now’s a good time.”

  “If you’d like,” Sarah began, gesturing to Harriett, “I could show you the flowers in my garden while he takes Maggie to the barn to see the kittens.”

  Harriett hesitated to say yes since she wasn’t completely comfortable with the idea of being alone with Sarah, but since Maggie seemed to have her heart set on seeing the kittens, she relented. “That would be fine,” Harriett told Stan.

  Maggie let out an excited cry and jumped off the couch.

  Stan grabbed a few more pieces of fudge, giving Harriett a couple. “I won’t be long.”

  “It’s fine, Stan,” Harriett replied. “Take your time.”

  He paused, and Harriett thought he was going to say or do something, but then he nodded and led Maggie out of the house.

  In Stan and Maggie’s absence, Harriett couldn’t help but notice how quiet the house was. She chewed on the fudge, trying to think of what she might say that Sarah would find remotely interesting, but her mind was blank except for a simple, “This is good,” about the fudge.

  “I spend half the day stirring it so it’s just right. That’s why I only make it a couple times a year.”

  “I’ve made some of those treats, too. I have to be in the mood to make them.”

  “Me too.”

  After a moment, Sarah asked, “Would you like to eat or drink anything else?”

  Harriett shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m full.”

  Sarah picked up the tray. “Would you like to see my flowers now?”

  “Yes, I would.”

  It’d give them something to do—and talk about—so Harriett wouldn’t have to feel so awkward. With a nod, Harriett followed her out of the parlor. After Sarah put the tray down on the worktable, she led Harriett outside and to the garden.

  “What do you think? See any flowers that catch your interest?” Sarah asked.

  “The tulips are pretty,” Harriett replied as she studied the purple, red, and yellow tulips. “Too bad they don’t bloom for more than a couple weeks.”

  “They’re beautiful,” Sarah agreed, her hands behind her back. “They’re my favorite of all flowers, but I agree with you. They don’t last long enough for me to fully enjoy them.”

  “I think I’d like to have a mix of annuals and perennials.” After considering all the flowers Sarah had, Harriett finally decided, “I’d like some false indigos, yarrows, impatiens, tulips, and cleomes. With Maggie around, I don’t want to spend all my time caring for flowers, but I wouldn’t mind a little time in the garden.”

  “You made good choices, and I can give you a couple of the flowers I already have. That way, you don’t have to plant the seeds and wait for them to grow.”

  “I don’t want to impose.”

  “It’s not an imposition. I’m offering. All we need to do is dig a few up and put them in an old container.”

  “That’s very kind of you.”

  “Well, I’m happy Stan married you. I always thought you were the kind of young woman who’d make a good wife. It’s in how you act. A person’s character is best defined by how they treat others.”

  Letting out an awkward chuckle, Harriett said, “I didn’t think you paid much attention to me the few times we were together.”

  “I did. I noticed how much you helped your mother when she needed it.” Sarah put her hands in
the pockets of her skirt and started walking toward the porch steps then turned to Harriett. “There is something I want to ask you, but I’m not sure how or if it’s even appropriate.”

  “What is it?”

  “Maybe it’s a silly question. I can tell he’s grown to care for you. But I keep wondering, is Stan good to you?”

  Harriett was surprised so many people seemed concerned about whether or not Stan was good to her. She wasn’t sure how husbands typically treated their wives, but she supposed in her case, Stan was as nice as he could be, given theirs wasn’t a normal marriage.

  “He’s very kind, yes,” Harriett replied, not sure what Sarah wanted to hear.

  It was a vague answer, but it was the truth. Stan was considerate toward her needs and sought ways to please her. There was nothing more she could ask of him, especially since he didn’t compare her to Rose, at least not openly. For all she knew, he did, but he kept those thoughts to himself. Yes, he was kind in that regard.

  Sarah breathed a sigh of relief, her body relaxing. “I’m glad to hear it.” Then she led Harriett up the porch steps. “I will gather my gardening tools, and we’ll get those flowers for you.” When they reached the door, she turned to face her. “I hope you don’t think I’m being forward, but I’d be delighted if you stayed for supper. You don’t have to, of course. But I want you to know you’re welcome here.”

  The woman’s kind words set Harriett’s mind at ease. Even if Stan had wished he’d married Rose instead of her, it was apparent Sarah was satisfied with having her as a daughter-in-law. “I’d be happy to stay for supper,” Harriett replied.

  Sarah’s smile widened then she opened the door, and as Harriett followed her inside, she suspected Sarah would be a good friend in the years to come.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Sunday morning, Stan dared a glance at Harriett as they ate breakfast. Ever since they got married, she refused to go to church with him. He could have taken Maggie, but he didn’t think it was appropriate to do so now that he was married. He should take all of them together as a family. They were a family, after all. And he wanted to act like it.