She set the last dish on the counter to dry and shook the thought out of her head. She wiped her hands on her makeshift apron, anticipating the arrival of her own when Hank turned up. No, this was her home now. Best get used to it as fast as she could.
Chapter 12
Meg had just hung the dishtowel she’d used for an apron on the hook by the sink when she heard voices outside on the porch. She peeked out the window and saw one of her family’s buggies, the one Hank used most, and she was surprised at how comforting it was to hear her big brother’s voice. It had been a strange, emotional day, after all, and she walked toward the front door to join them.
“Hank, I had no idea,” she heard Sam say to her brother, and she drew her hand back from the doorknob, not exactly wanting to eavesdrop but not wanting to interrupt, either.
“That was pretty clear from your face when you realized it was Meg.” Hank chuckled and Meg smiled to herself. What must have gone through all of their minds when they realized? She didn’t even want to know. She had enough to worry about in her own head.
“Are you…we…all right that we went through with it?” Sam asked his longtime friend. Meg’s heart swelled with the understanding that Sam had concern for his relationship with Hank, and she thought it admirable.
“Sam, it was completely unexpected, even a shock I will say. But as I’ve had time to think about it, it’s all coming together in my head. I haven’t been listening much to Meg lately, and I guess I should have.”
Meg gasped and her heart leapt into her throat as she listened to Hank’s confession. It sounded a lot like it was going to turn into her confession about her feelings for Sam, which she was in no way ready to reveal. She reached hastily for the knob and swung the door open just as Hank said, “She’s been talking about—”
“Oh, Hank, thank you so much for bringing my things,” Meg said as fast as she could, hoping to stop the words that she knew were coming next.
“Hello, Meg.” Hank stopped mid-sentence and turned toward her, taking off his hat and looking at her curiously, cocking his head to one side and squinting his eyes.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” she said as her hand rose to her cheek.
Hank laughed and clapped Sam on the back. “I was just trying to see if you looked any different now that you’re a married woman.”
Meg drew in a sharp breath as her face turned scarlet, she was sure. All she wanted to do was push Hank into a puddle, but she thought maybe a married woman wouldn’t do that.
“Hank, it’s only been a few hours,” she said through her embarrassment and looked at Sam, her eyes pleading with him to say something.
She caught his smile before he could wipe it away, and she felt a little better when he turned to Hank and said, “Uh, just so you know, we’ve discussed this and although Meg will be staying here during my mother’s visit, she has a separate room and there will be no…uh…”
Sam cleared his throat and Hank said, “Thank you for that, Sam. I realize it’s none of my business, but under the circumstances, that might make Pa feel a little better.”
“Are you going to tell him?” Meg said, her eyes widening. Her pride was stung that her personal life was up for discussion with everyone.
“What, you don’t want me to? He’s still reeling, and not sure why you would do such a thing.”
Meg turned as footsteps sounded on the wooden porch steps.
“Let’s sit on the porch if we’re going to talk for a bit. I’ll be back with some lemonade,” Sam said, gesturing to the porch swing and heading inside.
As the door shut behind Sam, Hank and Meg sat down. She turned to her brother, her heart swelling with affection for him, memories flashing through her mind of the last few years at Archer Ranch.
“Hank, you know how hard it’s been for the last few years, since Mama died.” Meg rested her hand on her brother’s arm.
Hank let out a sigh and passed his hand along the rim of his hat as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I sure do. Pa’s a little better, but things are still tough. It was a miracle he came around with Clara, wanting everything to stay the same.”
“Exactly. And I know it hasn’t been very long, and you probably haven’t even gotten over the surprise of me being a bride yet. But you know the family. You know our history. Do you think for one minute that Papa would have willingly let me move on with my own life? Accept another loss of that magnitude?”
Hank sat up and looked at his sister, and she thought she saw understanding in his eyes. “I wish I could say I was surprised the other night when he wouldn’t even agree to allow suitors. I had planned to see if I could talk to him about it, but there hadn’t been a good time yet.”