Chapter Thirteen
“He’s settled and seems comfortable,” Trevor said as he walked into the kitchen that night. The house was as they had left it. Mrs. Abernathy had done an incredible job feeding the chickens, which seemed well. There was a bowl with eggs on the counter along with a note telling she exchanged them every couple of days. Next to the bowl was money which she got from selling the extra eggs. She’d taken a portion of it for herself as agreed.
They had plenty of food thanks to Cookie, so none of them were hungry. Hank had hurried off to his house earlier after they’d settled Daniel.
Now she and Trevor were alone in the kitchen in awkward silence. Both turned to each other at the same time. She looked away first.
“This is ridiculous,” Ruby mumbled.
“Come sit down. Please listen to me.” Trevor took her hand leading her to the front room.
“Not now, please,” Ruby pleaded tugging him toward the bedroom. “I’m exhausted. Please let’s get some sleep. We can talk tomorrow.”
He nodded. “Very well.”
Thankfully the water in the basin was fresh, and very cold. Even with the fire blazing in the hearth, every inch of the house took forever to warm.
Unprepared for the chill, Ruby went about undressing and rinsing her face from the day’s travel. Not feeling clean enough to get into bed, she dunked the cloth into the water and hurried closer to the fire to wash off more.
Trevor watched his wife prepare for bed. Her teeth chattered, but she refused to go to bed dirty. She bathed often and washed from head to toe almost nightly before going to bed. He’d grown accustomed to her fresh scent.
After rinsing his face in the frigid water, he removed his clothing, washed himself, and put on clean underwear. If his wife didn’t like going to bed unwashed, she probably didn’t appreciate him laying beside her dirty. So since their second week of marriage, he’d begun doing the same every night.
They slipped under the blankets and she immediately huddled against him. “I am not sure where the heat from the fire is going, but it doesn’t seem to be coming into the house.” She shivered.
He nodded in agreement. “It’ll take a bit for the house to warm up. I’ll make sure to add more wood during the night. It will be warm after a bit.” He planned to get up and check on Daniel anyway.
“Good night,” Ruby whispered, her warm breath fanning across his chest.
Thankfully when he put his arms around her and kissed her forehead, she didn’t protest.
Sometime later, Trevor woke. Moans came from outside the room. After carefully settling Ruby away from him, he rushed to see what happened.
Daniel sat on his bed. While he held his left arm, he rocked and let out a low groan. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Within seconds the room was brighter when Trevor lighted a lantern. “What happened?” He didn’t want to touch Daniel’s arm and cause him more pain, but at the same time he would have to.
“I rolled onto it and it jarred me awake. I sat up and went to stand to get water and fell right on top of it.”
It was hard not to flinch knowing how much it had to be hurting. “I’ll get you something for the pain.” He lifted the bedpan out. “Relieve yourself first. Once I sedate you, you’ll be asleep past morning.”
***
“You were right, it is much warmer. How many times did you get up last night?” It was only he and Ruby at breakfast. It had taken quite a bit of laudanum for Daniel to finally sleep. Trevor didn’t expect he’d wake for a couple more hours.
It had been a good night despite having to get up to see about his brother. Each time he’d climbed into bed, Ruby had instantly moved to snuggle against him. Apparently, she’d become used to the cramped small bed back at the army camp. It didn’t bother him in the least to have her soft curvy figure flattened against his.
“Twice. Checked on Daniel and added logs to the fire in both rooms. He needed pain medication. I ensured he can’t roll to his side, so we’ll need to keep an ear out for him.”
Ruby studied her hands for a moment. “About your apology, I accept it. However, you must understand that I will not stand to be spoken to in that matter ever again.”
“I vow never to disrespect you Ruby. Never again will I raise my voice to you.”
In her gaze he saw questions, she was assessing whether he was being truthful or not. She didn’t trust him and Trevor didn’t blame her at the moment. He’d jumped to conclusions refusing to listen to her and instead insulting her by suggesting she was a woman of loose morals.
Now as he took his beautiful wife in, he could not believe how stupid and rash he’d been. Jealousy did that to a man. He’d been jealous.
Shaken by the knowledge of how deep his feelings were for her, his chest constricted. In just a few weeks, he’d lost his heart to Ruby. He’d fallen for the woman and had been too wrapped up in everything else to realize it.
“Ruby I...”
“I am not finished.” Ruby jutted her chin in challenge. He nodded so she’d continue.
“I come from a very close family. My parents have always been loving to each other. Sure, they had disagreements over the years, but never did my father ever speak unkindly to my mother.” She took a shaky breath. “I came to find a husband and a father for my children. I came with their blessing. Understand this Trevor Collins.”
Her gaze was direct, eyes clear as she emphasized what she was about to say. “I have no doubts they will welcome me back into their home if I return. My family is not so pretentious to turn a daughter away for having made a mistake.”
His stomach pitched. “I hope it won’t come to that Ruby. I promise to do my best to keep you here with me. I’ve grown to...care for you a great deal.”
At his declaration her eyes narrowed. “You care for me?”
“I was deranged with jealousy after seeing you fleeing from that idiot. If I’d had known he meant you harm, I probably would have killed him that day. I’m a fool.”
Ever so slowly her right hand moved over her chest as she grasped his words. “I have to be thankful that you weren’t aware then. I am sorry for how you must have felt in that moment.”
“Do you know what happens in a couple days?” Trevor diverted the conversation.
Ruby frowned. “No I am not aware. What happens?”
“The Christmas festivities. Everyone in town will be there.”
Immediately her countenance changed and not for the better. Wide eyed, she looked about the house as if hoping something would materialize. “Oh no. I’d planned to make a new dress for the party. Now I’m not sure it can be done.”
He covered her hand with his. “What if I cook and such so you have all day to sew. Do you think it can be done then?”
It was endearing to see her bite her bottom lip in thought. “I believe so. I have the fabric already and if you’ll check to see if my trunks arrived, then I don’t have to make under skirting which would take too long.” She was already heading to the once empty room where she kept her sewing basket and fabric. Soon she’d have items spread over the table and he wouldn’t see her for hours.
Trevor followed her. “After Daniel awakens, I’ll get him settled and go see about your trunks.”
Ruby stopped and turned to face him. Then she shocked him by hurrying to him, wrapping her arms about his neck, and lowering him for a kiss. Although it hurt his split lip, it was the sweetest kiss he’d ever experienced. Pain be damned, he could kiss her all day long. “Thank you so much Trevor. I appreciate you being so understanding about this.”
Now he wanted to puff his chest out. “I understand how important these things are for women.”
Her giggle made him smile. “You have absolutely no understanding of women do you?”
It was true. What he knew about women was based purely on his medical experience. “I will let you know Mrs. Collins that I have learned a great deal by observing you.”
“Thank you for this. I will finish this dress in time for the party. I can’t wait to see everyone. Anna, Charity, Julia and Sarah will all be there. It will be an unforgettable night. We’ll finally be able to share how we’re doing and what all has happened since our wedding day.
She let out a happy sigh and rushed the table.
Ruby did not join him and Daniel for supper. His brother kept stealing glances toward the bedrooms. “I know this is none of my business, but are there problems between you and the Mrs.?”
“We’re working things out. Haven’t known each other long and I am not the smartest when it comes to women,” Trevor replied, garnering a chuckle from his brother.
They continued eating as Trevor told his brother about the wedding, the snowstorm, and the misunderstanding at the army camp. Daniel interjected with comments about his own marriage and understandably agreed that Trevor had been rash in his reaction to the situation with Ruby and Tarvis.
It was like nothing he’d ever known. Having a brother, a family. Trevor’s heart could barely stand it. Each time his brother spoke, he hung on every word as if trying to memorize the sound of Daniel’s voice, the countenance of his sentences, and pacing of the words. Emotions rushed through him and it took will power not to jump from his chair and hug Daniel.
“Where’d you go?” His brother’s question brought him back from his musings.
“I was considering how strange it is to have you here. Talking to you. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to see my brother again. And now here you are.” He couldn’t stop the wide grin. “And giving me advice, just as an older brother should.”
Daniel lowered his gaze, but not before Trevor caught sight of the shine in them. “I often dreamed of a day like this too. I had two arms instead of one though.”
“One and a half,” Trevor jested, glad to hear Daniel chuckle at the joke.