Henry slowly paced off the dimensions for his new laboratory. The solid ring of axes echoed across the open field as some of the men split logs, while others made use of long knives to cut the grass in the meadow. Normally the constant noise wouldn’t have bothered him at all. Henry had learned to block such distractions out of his mind long ago. But today each little sound seemed to grate against his nerves. And he didn’t need to consult one of his books to know why.

Phebe. Whenever she was close, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She had a soft loveliness that grew more appealing every day, and he liked everything about her. His wife was both practical and kind, a combination he’d only ever seen in his sister and his brother’s wife.

But Phebe was different from them too.

She had something that was uniquely hers. Something he couldn’t put his finger on, but which drew him in like a moth to a flame. Henry ran a distracted hand through his hair. It made no sense to him, but he couldn’t deny it either. He was happy at the thought of spending the rest of his life with Phebe. But that wasn’t his immediate problem.

Still waiting for the right moment to have their wedding night was.

When he realized he’d paced far over the number he’d set for the longest side of his laboratory, Henry stopped and let out an exasperated huff. He’d have to start over again. For the third time.

“How much more of this grass do you want us to cut?”

Jake’s voice came from right behind him. Startled, Henry whirled around to find the hand frowning.

“What are you doin’ way out here? I thought that place you wanted built was goin’ to be put up a ways back there?” Jake pointed over his shoulder.

“I’m thinking.” Henry flushed red at the snap in his voice. It wasn’t like him to bark at people, and judging by the surprised look on Jake’s face, it was obvious he thought the same thing.

“I’m sorry,” Henry apologized, his embarrassment easing when Jake grinned back at him. “I have a lot on my mind.”

“Got anything to do with you sleeping on that cabin’s porch last night?” Jake shrugged when Henry glared at him. “None of my business, but I saw you out there like you was guardin’ the door. A man should protect his wife, but I’m thinkin’ you could do that just as well from inside the cabin.”

Since Henry felt the same way, he couldn’t conjure up one solid argument in return. Instead, he sighed and looked at the lake, the blue of its water peeking through the trees at the edge of the clearing. “It’s not that easy.”

The older man snorted at that. “Then you’d better be findin’ a way to make it easy, or you might find yerself walkin’ off a cliff while yer doin’ all that thinkin’.” He shrugged. “Now, how much more of that grass do we need to be cuttin’?”

Turning his head to look at the growing pile Jake was pointing at, Henry did a few mental calculations before nodding his approval. “That will do for a start. It needs to be spread out so it can dry more quickly.”

“All right, boss.” Jake gave him a quick salute before walking off, leaving a bemused Henry staring after him.

Make it easy. Jake was right. If the perfect moment wasn’t going to present itself on its own, then it needed a solid push in the right direction. That wasn’t actually mentioned in The Gentleman’s Guide to Domestic Tranquility, but he was sure that it should have been.

Henry started back toward the center of the field, his head down as he considered his options. When he came to a satisfactory conclusion, he picked up his pace, craning his neck to find Reb. Before they’d left San Francisco, it had been decided that Jake would be in charge of the work crew, and Reb would handle all the supplies. And right now, Henry needed something he’d neglected to bring with him. A quick question to one of the men cutting grass had Henry switching directions and heading for the barn. As soon as he stepped into the cool interior, he spotted Reb cleaning out a stall. When the lanky southerner saw Henry, he stopped what he was doing and walked over to meet him.

“Need something, Henry?”

“Indeed, I do.” Henry smiled. “I want you to send a supply wagon into town right away.”

Reb silently scratched his chin for a moment. “But we jest came from town. We ain’t supposed to go again until the end of the month.”

“We need to go now,” Henry said, standing his ground on the matter. “I’ll make you a list, and you can send one of the men today. And tell him he needs to be back within a week.”

Still looking confused, Reb nodded anyway. “If’n it’s that important, I’ll go myself.”

“That would be fine.” Henry beamed his approval. “You get the wagon ready while I make up that list.” And at the top of that list would be a mattress.

“All right.”

Henry started to turn when he remembered something else he’d need to have done. “Reb, do any of the men know how to make furniture?”

Reb nodded. “Most of ’em, except maybe Ed. He’s mostly good at handling the stock. What’re you needin’?

“A bed frame.” Henry strode out of the barn, ignoring the big grin and wink from Reb.

“That’s right, Squealer. The correct answer is four.”

Phebe smiled when the young boy held up his slate for the other children to see. When Mite clapped her hands together, Phebe had to stifle a laugh at Squealer’s blush.

Since the men had arrived to start the work of turning the old mill into a proper schoolhouse, Phebe had the children sitting around her in a quieter part of the field, their slates and primers on their laps as they worked at the various tasks she’d assigned them. She smiled when Martha walked up and gave a quick signal with a tilt of her head. Realizing Martha wanted to talk to her, Phebe rose to her feet and brushed the grass and dust off her skirt.

“Everyone, keep working. Just another quarter hour and then we’ll get started on our chores.”

As the group bent over their slates, Phebe followed Martha until they were both out of earshot of the children.

“Been scoutin’ around in the woods.” Martha kept her voice low. “Saw a wagon comin’ along the main road. It’s headed this way.”

Since there could be all kinds of places a wagon could be headed, Phebe shook her head. “What makes you think it’s coming here? There must be at least a dozen towns around the lake.”

Martha grinned, showing the wide gap between her front teeth. “I seen five kids in the back of that wagon, and one man drivin’ it. He goes by the name of Old Ben. I know him from the mines.” She bobbed her head up and down. “He don’t have no kids of his own, but he never did cotton to see ’em workin’ in the mines. I’m thinkin’ he rounded up the ones he could find and he’s bringin’ all of ’em here.”

Phebe’s instant smile didn’t even begin to convey the happiness inside her. She was thrilled. Five more young minds for her to give knowledge to and help find their way in the world. But practical matters would have to be dealt with first. She looked over at the small group sitting on the ground.

“Micah? Would you go find Mister Henry and tell him I’d like to talk with him right away?”

As the oldest of the children scrambled to his feet and raced off, Martha laughed. “My boy does like to run.” She gave Phebe a considering look. “You goin’ to talk everythin’ over with that husband of yers? He don’t strike me as bein’ too practical.”

“Henry has a wonderful mind,” Phebe said, immediately leaping to her husband’s defense. “And he’s very kind and considerate.”

“He likes you too.” Martha laughed when Phebe clamped her mouth shut. “I can tell.”

“How?” Phebe bit her lip after the question simply slipped out. But Henry’s odd behavior had kept her feeling completely off-balance all morning. First he kissed her as if she were the only woman alive, and then he walked out the door? And as much as she told herself it didn’t matter, she was becoming increasingly upset wondering about their wedding night. Or the lack of one.

Martha grabbed Phebe’s arm and pulled her farther away from the children. “It’s easy enough to tell from the way he’s always lookin’ at you.”

“He is?” A warm glow bloomed in the pit of Phebe’s stomach.

“But he’s actin’ like he’s wound tighter than some fancy watch.” Martha nodded when Phebe stared at her. “Jake told me. He also said yer husband slept in front of the cabin door.” Martha’s eyes narrowed as she kept her gaze on Phebe’s face. “Now why is that? Ain’t he doin’ right by you?”

“Of course he is,” Phebe stammered, well aware of the heat on her cheeks. “He’s a wonderful provider.”

“That ain’t what I’m talkin’ about.” Martha crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

Phebe knew exactly what the plain-speaking woman was referring to, but was torn between modesty and wanting to talk the whole thing over with someone. Finally, her practical side won out. She had no idea what she’d done to make her husband shy away from the marriage bed, but the much more experienced Martha might know.

“I’m still a bride and not a wife,” Phebe said, her face burning even hotter.

“Yer husband ain’t taken you to his bed yet?”

Well, that certainly was speaking plainly enough. Taking a deep breath, Phebe shook her head. “No, he hasn’t.”

Martha’s eyes rolled upward. “It sure ain’t because of somethin’ you did, girl, so git that look of misery off yer face.”

Curiosity won out over her shyness and Phebe crossed her own arms as she matched Martha’s stance. “How can you be sure of that?”

The older woman laughed. “I know men. I worked with ’em all my life, and was married to one of ’em. Like I said, I’ve seen the way that man looks at you. I don’t think there’s anythin’ you could do that would put him off like that.” She raised a hand and stroked it down her chin. “Must be somethin’ else that’s keepin’ him back.”

Feeling helpless, Phebe dropped her arms to her sides. “What else could it possibly—”

“Phebe?”

She froze at the sound of Henry’s voice. Turning around, she stared at him, her mind completely blank.

Henry’s gaze darted over to Martha and then back to his wife. “You wanted to talk to me?”

Remembering the five little ones headed their way, Phebe reached out and latched on to Henry’s arm. “Children. Martha saw a wagon with five children in it, and she said they’re coming here.”

Her husband glanced over at the woman grinning at both of them. “You’re sure, Martha?”

“Yep.”

“Five more. I see.” Henry clasped his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels. “We’ll need a place for all of them to sleep. They can’t stay in the wagons.” He glanced over his shoulder. “The barn has a large loft. We could arrange that into sleeping quarters fairly quickly.”

“An excellent suggestion.” Phebe beamed at Henry before giving Martha a triumphant look.

“I’ll take care of it.”

As Phebe watched her husband stride off, Martha moved to stand beside her.

“Girl, once we git these little ones settled and supper over with, you ask that man what’s what.”

Stunned to hear the exact same words that Madam Wigg had said also come out of Martha’s mouth, Phebe stood motionless, her eyes opened as wide as saucers. Martha shook her head before cradling her rifle and trotting off toward the trees.