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Boaz's Wager Page 9


  He groaned and rolled onto his back. The last thing he wanted to do was tell her why. It was just easier if they could go back to how things had been up to this point. He didn’t know the best way to proceed. Did he come out and tell her why he couldn’t be intimate with her? Did he act as if nothing happened? Would she even accept his reason for not wanting to consummate their marriage? Probably not. She’d be just like his first wife. She’d want to have a child. That was the only purpose for them being in bed together anyway.

  If only he hadn’t kissed her, he wouldn’t be in this position right now. But now that he was, he was afraid of what would happen next.

  Chapter Eleven

  Boaz heard Eva enter the kitchen the next morning and waited for a few minutes, keeping his eyes shut in case she checked on him. When he was assured that she was busy making breakfast, he quickly collected the blanket and pillow and carried it to her bedroom, as was his habit. He put his things away and quickly washed up before putting on his clothes. She never went into this room when he was in here, and though he didn’t think she would this morning, he rushed through combing his hair and trimming around his goatee.

  Good. Now he was fully dressed. There was no reason for her to think he was interested in matters of a personal nature if she happened to pass by. The last thing he needed to do was give her any more ideas. He studied his reflection in the mirror over the wash basin and saw the effects of a poor night’s sleep. It wasn’t too much unlike how he looked the first night after he got drunk. Gritting his teeth, he headed for the doorway. No. He looked like he hadn’t gotten much sleep. He didn’t look like he’d been drunk. He’d never look like that again.

  He made it to the kitchen. He almost hurried out of the house, but the longer he put off seeing Eva, the harder it would be. He was going to face her, and whatever she wanted to ask him, he would answer honestly. It wouldn’t be easy, but she deserved that.

  When he stepped into the kitchen, she was setting an omelet on a second plate. Well, that was a good sign. She was willing to make him something to eat. Hopefully, it meant she wasn’t mad at him.

  “Morning,” he ventured, cautiously going to the table.

  To his relief, she glanced up at him and smiled in a way that let him know everything was going to be alright. He hadn’t messed things up by sleeping on the couch last night.

  “Good morning, Boaz. You have good timing. I was just about to tell you breakfast is ready.”

  “Thank you.” And he meant that for more than the breakfast. She was willing to forgive him for not accepting her invitation to her bed. As he sat down, he added, “For everything.”

  She filled up their cups of coffee then brought them to the table and held out his cup. “You’re welcome. It’s not hard to make omelets, though.”

  He took his cup and took a sip. “I meant thank you for everything you do around here. For me and the children. I want you to know that I appreciate it. You’re a good woman.”

  She sat across from him and smiled. “Thank you.”

  He picked up a large forkful of the omelet and began to eat, relieved that things had gone back to normal. As long as he didn’t mess things up by kissing her again, everything would be just fine.

  ***

  “Why didn’t you ask him why he kissed you?” Rachel asked.

  Glancing at her friend who was sitting on the bench next to her, Eva pulled the strings of her purse and sighed. “I lost the nerve.” Her gaze went to Leroy and Hannah who were running along the grass in the park, chasing his frog. “I don’t know anything about being romantic with a man, Rachel. When I married Boaz, he slept on the couch. I thought when he kissed me, it’d be a good time to invite him to my bed, but he said no.”

  “You came right out and asked him to your bed?”

  “Well, I said he could sleep in the bedroom if he wanted. I couldn’t come right out and ask him to join me. Did you do that with Herb?”

  “Oh, I didn’t need to.” Despite the blush on her friend’s face, she continued, “I assumed I’d be in bed with him on our wedding night so I followed him to the bedroom and…well…he didn’t need any prompting to get started.”

  “Really? You didn’t wait?”

  “I saw no reason to. He was my husband.”

  “Maybe, but you just met him.”

  “I had planned to honor my wifely obligation to the man I was supposed to marry in Jordan, and my mother had told me what to expect, so I was prepared. Besides, as soon as I talked to Herb, I knew he was perfect for me.”

  “How could you know?”

  Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know. It was just a feeling I had. I liked him right away.”

  Eva shook her head. “You’re braver than I am. I couldn’t be with a man I didn’t know. I have to get to know him first.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with waiting and being cautious. Maybe Boaz is still waiting. He might be as uncertain about the whole thing as you are.”

  She considered her friend’s words. “You think so?”

  “Why sure. Women aren’t the only ones who are careful about these things. You said he married you because he wanted a mother for his children, right?”

  Eva nodded.

  “That part was easy for him. He didn’t need to think through that one,” Rachel said. “But love is something that requires more thought.” When Eva raised an eyebrow, she giggled. “For you two. I’m not talking about me and Herb.”

  Eva’s lips curled up into a smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe he just needs a little more time to get used to being married to me. I already know he’s attracted to me since he kissed me.”

  “One thing I know about men, they don’t kiss a woman unless they find her attractive.” With a nudge in her side, she added, “I told you you were pretty.”

  Maybe Rachel was right. Maybe he just needed a little more time before he was ready to be intimate with her. He was nice to her that morning during breakfast, saying he was glad she was there and calling her a good woman. He was happy with her. Everything was going well. She was probably rushing things. Last night, she probably caught him off guard. She’d give him more time to adjust to her and be ready for him when the time was right.

  “Thanks, Rachel. I always feel better when I talk to you.”

  Rachel smiled at her. “I’m glad we ended up in this town. I would never have gotten to know what a wonderful person you are.”

  “You didn’t know that when I was your teacher?”

  “You weren’t a friend back then,” Rachel answered, shooting her a pointed look. “There’s a big difference between the two.”

  “I suppose there is.” Eva grinned. “As your teacher, my job wasn’t to be your friend. It was to teach you. I couldn’t be the sweet, lovable person I really am during that time.”

  Giggling, she stood up when Eva rose to her feet. “You had all your students fooled. None of us thought you were capable of being sweet or lovable.”

  With a roll of her eyes, Eva chuckled and told Leroy and Hannah it was time to go. “I need to pick up my spectacles. Then I’m going to pick up a children’s book from the mercantile. Would you like to come along?”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  Eva glanced at the children and saw that they hadn’t made a move to get the frog in the bowl. With a sigh, she headed over to them. “When I say to get the frog, I expect you to do it right away. Understand?”

  “Yes, Ma,” Leroy said and hurried to put the frog in the bowl.

  Eva blinked, not sure she heard him right. Did he just call her ‘Ma’? “Leroy?” she ventured, making sure she’d heard him right.

  He turned to look up at her. “What, Ma?”

  Tears filling her eyes, she knelt beside him and hugged him. She had no idea it’d feel so good to be called ‘Ma’. “Oh Leroy, that’s so sweet.”

  When she released him, Leroy’s eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not sweet. I’m a boy.”

  “I didn’t say you were sweet. What you sai
d was sweet.” Noting this only confused him more, she patted his shoulder and stood up. “Never mind. We need to go to the doctor’s and then the mercantile.” She waved Hannah to join them and they headed for Rachel who was waiting for them. “Today I’m going to get you two a book full of wonderful stories that will whisk you away to magical lands where anything is possible.”

  “A book can do all that?” Leroy asked.

  “It can by the power of your imagination. All you two need to do,” she glanced at Hannah, “is close your eyes and imagine everything as I read it. You do that and it’ll be as if you’re there.”

  “That doesn’t sound fun,” Hannah replied.

  “Oh, it is. And you’ll see how fun it is when I’m reading to you tonight.”

  Though Hannah didn’t look convinced, Leroy seemed intrigued by the prospect.

  “Don’t worry, Hannah,” Eva assured her. “You’ll see what I’m talking about tonight.”

  Rachel joined them and they went to pick up the spectacles. Afterwards, they entered the mercantile. While Rachel went to pick up a few items, Eva paid for the beautiful hardbound book and adjusted her new spectacles so she could read the spine. She opened the book and flipped through a couple pages, delighted when she realized that she could read the words perfectly. The town certainly had a good doctor.

  Shutting the book, she turned her attention to the owner. “Is it possible to get more books similar to this?”

  “Yes, but it’ll be a few months.”

  “That will be fine,” she replied, glancing at Leroy who ventured off to the front of the store. “Leroy, get back here.”

  “The boy isn’t bothering me.”

  “I appreciate that, but he needs to mind what I say.” Turning her attention back to the boy, she said, “You need to stay with me. I don’t want you to go running off in case I lose you.”

  Though hesitant, he obeyed, his shoulders slumped.

  The mercantile owner chuckled. “I know it doesn’t seem like a compliment, but he feels secure with you since he’s testing his limits.”

  With a smile, her gaze went back to him. “You’re probably right.”

  Rachel came up to the counter and placed the packages of flour, sugar and coffee down. “What book did you get, Eva?”

  “A collection of short stories by Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote some of the most delightful stories that I just know Leroy and Hannah will enjoy. I’m hoping to expose them to Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s work, too.”

  “You used to read those in the schoolhouse.”

  “They’re timeless tales. Every child should hear these stories.”

  Eva waited until Rachel paid for her items then told the children it was time to leave. “Mind your manners and don’t dart out of the store, Leroy,” she kindly admonished, not wishing for him to run out into the road like he had the other day.

  “I did enjoy those tales,” Rachel said as they left the mercantile.

  “Did you?” Eva asked, pleased to know her desire to pass on her love of stories had succeeded.

  “Yes. I think those stories are ideal for children.”

  “Did you ever read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte?” Eva had once suggested it to Rachel but never knew if Rachel had read it because Rachel stopped going to school shortly after that.

  “I did,” Rachel replied as they crossed the street. Giving a tentative smile in her direction, she added, “My sister-in-law Emily said there was nothing more boring than that book, so I read it to find out if she was right.”

  Eva’s jaw dropped. “She said that?”

  Rachel shot her a teasing grin. “I did find parts of the book tedious at times, but overall, I enjoyed it.”

  “What could possibly be tedious about Jane Eyre?”

  She shrugged. “Parts of it rambled.”

  “The use of language in it is truly inspiring. I’m captivated by every word no matter how many times I read it.”

  “That’s a difference between us. I’d rather the author get to the point and have things happen.”

  “Like in those dime novels?”

  Rachel nodded. “I prefer to read those.” Then, giving her a gentle tap on the arm, she added, “Are you disappointed?”

  “No. It seems that everyone but my parents and me like dime novels. It’s just sad that more people don’t enjoy real books.”

  Laughing, she shook her head. “That’s not fair, Eva. Dime novels are real books. They are called novels.”

  “But they won’t stand the test of time. The books I tried to expose you and others to in the schoolhouse will be around for years, even centuries, to come. After people are done with dime novels, they throw them out.”

  “Who says a book has to last for centuries in order to be worth reading? Why can’t we just enjoy the stories?”

  They turned down the street that would take them to her home, and Eva smiled. “You’re right. After all, the purpose of a story is to entertain. If we all had the same interests, life would get dull.”

  “Agreed. It would.”

  Eva led the children to the front porch and opened the door so everyone could go into the house. Leroy took the frog to the parlor and Hannah followed. “I had hoped by now they would tire of the thing, but they haven’t.”

  “Why would you hope that?”

  “So I can let the thing go back to where it belongs.”

  “Maybe it belongs with them. Maybe it enjoys all the attention it’s getting.”

  Eva grimaced. “I suppose that’s alright as long as the thing doesn’t end up somewhere like my bed.”

  “That’s right because if there’s anything in the bed that’ll disturb you, it should be your husband,” Rachel teased in a low voice.

  Eva gasped. “You’re awful.” Then she broke down and laughed. “Who knew you had such a wicked side to you?” She gestured to the kitchen. “Why don’t you stay for lunch?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “We’ll eat soon,” Eva told the children. “If you need anything, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  “Alright, Ma,” Leroy replied.

  Touched again that he called her ‘Ma’, she smiled at him then headed for the kitchen. She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of hearing him call her that.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Mama,” a soft voice called out from behind her later that day as she was getting Boaz’s supper ready.

  She turned, surprised that Hannah had chosen to speak to her directly instead of using Leroy to talk for her. And—even more surprising—she’d called her ‘mama’. First, Leroy and now Hannah was calling her mother?

  Smiling at Hannah, she knelt in front of her. “What is it, sweetie? Are you still hungry?”

  “No,” Hannah replied quietly. “Read the book now?”

  Recalling the book she’d gotten that day at the mercantile, she rubbed her arms. “I’ll read the book to you and Leroy, but I’m going to do it at bedtime. Can you wait until then?”

  She nodded.

  “I’m excited you can’t wait to hear some of the stories. Really, I am. But I can’t read to you right this minute. I promise you that it’ll be worth the wait.”

  The front door opened and Eva took her hand. “Let’s go see your father.”

  As she led Hannah to the door, she chanced a look in the parlor and saw that Leroy was running around the table, pretending to ride a horse. Chuckling, she turned her attention to Boaz who was putting his hat on the coat tree.

  “Did I do something funny?” Boaz asked.

  “No. Leroy is being cute.”

  “Did you get your spectacles?”

  “Yes. They’re in my room. I don’t wear them until I read. I bought a book today at the mercantile. It’s composed of fables for children. My mother read it to me when I was a child, and I think Leroy and Hannah will enjoy them.”

  “That sounds like fun,” he told Hannah.

  “She’s looking forward to it.” She patted the little girl’s back. “
I’m going to give your father his supper. Then I’ll be ready to read to you and Leroy.”

  Hannah returned to the parlor, so Eva gestured to the kitchen and headed down the hall. “Your supper’s ready.”

  He opened his mouth to speak but then shut it, an indication he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to do it.

  “Is something on your mind?” They entered the kitchen and she went over to the cookstove and took the lid off the pot. Noting that he reluctantly sat down, she encouraged, “I promise not to bite.”

  With a slight chuckle, he cleared his throat and settled into a more comfortable position in the chair. “I was wondering…now that you have the spectacles, do you still want me to read to you?”

  “I enjoy listening to your voice,” she admitted as she poured some stew into the bowl, “but I also don’t want to bore you.”

  “I don’t mind the book. I find it surprisingly interesting.”

  Curious, she cocked her head to the side and studied him. Though he expressed an interest in the book, she suspected that he had another motive for wanting to read to her. And she couldn’t deny the thrill of thinking it might actually be because he enjoyed spending time with her. “In that case, I would be pleased if you continued reading to me at night.”

  He smiled and she knew she was right. He did want to spend time with her.

  She grabbed a spoon then went over to the table and placed the spoon and bowl in front of him. “Would you like some tea punch to drink?”

  “You made tea punch?”

  She nodded and poured him a glass of it. “I had a little extra time on my hands this afternoon and decided to make some. I also made a triple berry pie.”

  “I’ll never turn down an offer for your pie or this punch.” He lifted the glass and gulped it down.

  Surprised he was so thirsty, she retrieved her pitcher and poured him another glass. “You must have been working hard.”