and tables were set up in the yard, and all that was left was to cover them with tablecloths and arrange the small centerpieces she’d put together with foliage found around the ranch. Hetty couldn’t deny her excitement for the day. If only she could shake the terrible memory of Isaac’s hateful words from the other night. What had come over him?
Isaac hadn’t spoken a word to Hetty since their conversation on the porch the other night. Of course she hadn’t gone out of her way to speak to him either. She’d kept her head down, completed her work, and retired to her room as soon as she was able each evening. Elizabeth even questioned Hetty, curious if she was working too hard, but Hetty assured her whatever was going on could be cured with a good night’s rest. She didn’t dare tell Elizabeth how Isaac had treated her. It wasn’t her business and, truth be told, she was rather embarrassed about the whole thing.
With one last sigh Hetty rose from her bed. She washed her face, dressed quickly in her nicest work dress, and took an extra moment to brush her brown waves before securing her hair in a braid that would last through the day’s excitement. She reached for a clean apron from the pantry on her way to the kitchen and began the day’s breakfast routine. Festival or no festival, the Wheeler family needed to be fed.
Isaac sat and let the stillness of the barn wash over him. He’d sneaked out of the house early this morning as he’d done for the last couple of days. He’d skipped breakfast in an effort to avoid as much contact with Hetty as possible. His stomach grumbled, but he tried to ignore the ache. Oh, how he’d love some of her hot, buttery pancakes. He’d wash it down with a steaming cup of coffee—strong and black—just the way she knew to make it. The kitchen would be warm and inviting, the fire causing Hetty to perspire as she moved through her morning routine. She’d hum to herself as she brought him coffee. He’d catch her winking at Lottie as she poured a bit of extra syrup on her plate. She’d listen intently to Elizabeth’s suggestions and she’d genuinely laugh at Elias’s attempts to joke around.
She blends in , he thought. Why did I have to attack her like I did? Isaac replayed the whole scenario over and over again, and he still couldn’t justify his poor behavior. He knew she hadn’t done anything wrong on the porch that night. It wasn’t in her nature. She was as proper and pure as he’d ever seen in a woman. Her first concern when accepting the job was how appropriate it would be to live on the ranch even with Elizabeth as a chaperone. Why had he thought, even for a moment, that she was crossing a line with his brother? He knew better.
Isaac ran his fingers through his thick hair. It was jealousy and fear. Plain and simple. He’d seen what appeared to be a tender moment between Hetty and Elias, and his mind snapped. He couldn’t control the envy pouring through him, the anger at his brother, and the fear that Hetty was possibly no different from Rachel. His self-inflicted penance had been to avoid her. Avoid the house. Avoid the family. But he knew he couldn’t keep up the avoidance. Not only did Hetty deserve an apology, but the ranch would soon overflow with friends and neighbors harvesting the apple crop and engaging in the season’s best fellowship, and he needed to make things right. But how?
He needed to tell her the truth.
Hetty smiled and watched the many children run and play in the yard of the ranch house. Their giggles filled the air and Jasper soaked up each and every bit of attention they paid him. Women chatted and tended to the occasional scratch or scrape. They adjusted hats, re-tied scarves, and used their motherly words to ward off a scuffle or two. The tables in the front yard overflowed with so much delicious food. The cakes, pies, breads, stews, roasts, and vegetables created a wonderful aroma and added a pleasant atmosphere to the day
Isaac hadn’t spoken a word to Hetty since their conversation on the porch the other night. Of course she hadn’t gone out of her way to speak to him either. She’d kept her head down, completed her work, and retired to her room as soon as she was able each evening. Elizabeth even questioned Hetty, curious if she was working too hard, but Hetty assured her whatever was going on could be cured with a good night’s rest. She didn’t dare tell Elizabeth how Isaac had treated her. It wasn’t her business and, truth be told, she was rather embarrassed about the whole thing.
With one last sigh Hetty rose from her bed. She washed her face, dressed quickly in her nicest work dress, and took an extra moment to brush her brown waves before securing her hair in a braid that would last through the day’s excitement. She reached for a clean apron from the pantry on her way to the kitchen and began the day’s breakfast routine. Festival or no festival, the Wheeler family needed to be fed.
Isaac sat and let the stillness of the barn wash over him. He’d sneaked out of the house early this morning as he’d done for the last couple of days. He’d skipped breakfast in an effort to avoid as much contact with Hetty as possible. His stomach grumbled, but he tried to ignore the ache. Oh, how he’d love some of her hot, buttery pancakes. He’d wash it down with a steaming cup of coffee—strong and black—just the way she knew to make it. The kitchen would be warm and inviting, the fire causing Hetty to perspire as she moved through her morning routine. She’d hum to herself as she brought him coffee. He’d catch her winking at Lottie as she poured a bit of extra syrup on her plate. She’d listen intently to Elizabeth’s suggestions and she’d genuinely laugh at Elias’s attempts to joke around.
She blends in , he thought. Why did I have to attack her like I did? Isaac replayed the whole scenario over and over again, and he still couldn’t justify his poor behavior. He knew she hadn’t done anything wrong on the porch that night. It wasn’t in her nature. She was as proper and pure as he’d ever seen in a woman. Her first concern when accepting the job was how appropriate it would be to live on the ranch even with Elizabeth as a chaperone. Why had he thought, even for a moment, that she was crossing a line with his brother? He knew better.
Isaac ran his fingers through his thick hair. It was jealousy and fear. Plain and simple. He’d seen what appeared to be a tender moment between Hetty and Elias, and his mind snapped. He couldn’t control the envy pouring through him, the anger at his brother, and the fear that Hetty was possibly no different from Rachel. His self-inflicted penance had been to avoid her. Avoid the house. Avoid the family. But he knew he couldn’t keep up the avoidance. Not only did Hetty deserve an apology, but the ranch would soon overflow with friends and neighbors harvesting the apple crop and engaging in the season’s best fellowship, and he needed to make things right. But how?
He needed to tell her the truth.
Hetty smiled and watched the many children run and play in the yard of the ranch house. Their giggles filled the air and Jasper soaked up each and every bit of attention they paid him. Women chatted and tended to the occasional scratch or scrape. They adjusted hats, re-tied scarves, and used their motherly words to ward off a scuffle or two. The tables in the front yard overflowed with so much delicious food. The cakes, pies, breads, stews, roasts, and vegetables created a wonderful aroma and added a pleasant atmosphere to the day
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