Mail -Order Cousins 1 by Joyce Armor

Author:Joyce Armor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical, nebraska, mail order bride, scottish rancher
Publisher: Joyce Armor

Chapter 4

Sophie was cleaning up the evening supper dishes. Ainsley had gone to the stables after saying about two words at the meal, obviously still not making peace with the happy nuptials. Duncan sat polishing his boots by the fireplace. When she put the last dish away, Sophie joined him in the front room, sitting across from him, on the other side of the hearth. She picked up an item from a basket near the fireplace and began sewing. She felt so comfortable here in a way she never had in her previous home. The abode was humble in comparison yet so much warmer, literally as far as her attic room went and perhaps spiritually, as this cabin soothed her soul.

She glanced at her husband, so focused on those boots. Or was he just trying to avoid conversation with her? This marriage business was trickier than she thought. And then something occurred to her.

“Um, Duncan?”

He looked up. She appeared nervous, twisting her shirttails, which were tied in a knot at her waist. He just now recognized the shirt as Morgan’s and felt a momentary sadness before getting back on track. What was bothering Sophie now? Och, life was easier before they married.

“It…uh…occurred to me if we don’t want Ainsley to know this is a marriage of convenience, I cannot sleep in the loft. We need to sleep in the same room.”

And just that last simple statement made his trousers feel uncomfortably tight. He found it difficult to come up with a response. This woman—oh, Lord, his wife—constantly surprised him. Her face was so noncommittal, he could not tell if she was for the idea or against it.

Finally, he said, “Aye, I suppose we should. I can make a pallet on the floor and pick it oop ‘ere Ainsley gets oop in the morning.”

She smiled. “Oh, now that’s just ridiculous. That bed is huge. I’m sure we can both fit in it without touching each other.” And then, almost as an afterthought, she added cheerily, “If that’s what you want.”

She had no idea what she was asking; that was clear enough. Just the thought of sleeping in the same bed with her made him fairly certain he would not get much sleep. Then he realized she was mending one of his shirts. “Where did ye get that?”

She looked up, and he noticed how the light of the fireplace made her hair kind of shimmer. “Oh, I went through your bureau and wardrobe while you were out today. I hope you don’t mind. You’re kind of hard on your clothing, and I have to have something to do or I’ll go crazy.”

“No, I donnae mind.” But he kind of did. It gave him an uncomfortable feeling even as he appreciated the effort. The more domestic she became, the tighter his collar felt.

She smiled and then stifled a yawn.

“It’s been a long and eventful day, lassie. Why donnae ye go off to bed? I’ll join ye in a while.”

She met his gaze. She knew what he was doing.

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