Before she could begin, Pepper ran in the barn door, skidding to a stop amidst a pile of hay. She bent, her hands on her knees while she tried to catch her breath.
“Pepper, what is it? Papa?” Meg stood and wiped her hands on her apron.
Her sister shook her head slowly and stood.
“No, not Papa. There’s someone here to see you, though.”
Meg peered out the barn door toward the house and her stomach hit the ground as she recognized Sam’s buggy tied up in front of the ranch house.
She took several steps backward, her hands held up toward Pepper as she shook her head. “No, Pepper. I don’t want to see him. I can’t.”
Pepper glanced over her shoulder, her eyes wide. “I don’t think—”
“I’m not surprised you don’t want to see him, Meg, but may I come in for a moment?”
Meg’s hand flew to her chest as Mrs. Allen walked in the door and looked around the barn, her smile broad.
“So this is what a cow looks like.” She rested her hand on Pepper’s shoulder and winked at her. Pepper ran out of the barn like a shot as she looked back at Meg and smiled.
Meg sighed and rubbed her eyes, willing them to stay dry. “Hello, Mrs. Allen,” was all she could get out for fear that they wouldn’t.
“Hello, my dear. It’s so very nice to see you.” She closed the distance between them and pulled Meg into a hug.
Meg felt herself melt against the kind woman’s shoulder, and the tears did not obey her request, flowing down her cheek unbidden.
Mrs. Allen took Meg by the shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “Look at you. You don’t look much better than your husband.”
Meg’s hand rose to her hair as her heart stopped for a moment, then beat faster than she could remember it ever having done before.
“What do you mean? What’s the matter? Is Sam ill?”
Mrs. Allen laughed. “Ill? Well, I suppose you could say that. He’s not slept since you left, I don’t believe, nor eaten, either. No matter what I try to do, he hasn’t spoken until just very recently.”
“Oh.” Meg dropped her head and tugged at the pockets of her apron.
“And you look as if it’s been the same for you, my dear. Sam is up at the house, on the patio, and would like to speak with you.”
“Mrs. Allen, I—”
“For me, Meg? Please? Just hear him out.”
Meg took in a deep breath as she met Mrs. Allen’s eyes—the same blue as her husband’s. They were kind, and soft, and her heart pinched at the request.
She couldn’t imagine what Sam had to say—he’d been very clear prior—but she decided to humor Mrs. Allen. After all, they’d put her through quite a bit and it was the least she could do.
Mrs. Allen held out her arm to Meg, and she wove hers through it as they walked up to the main house.
“You know, my dear, things aren’t always as they seem. I appreciate you giving my son an audience when he clearly doesn’t deserve it, after all this folly.”
“I do apologize for all of it, Mrs. Allen. We really did think we were doing the right thing.”
Mrs. Allen patted her hand as it rested on her arm. “I know, my dear, and it ultimately was a very kind and generous thing for you both to do, albeit a bit misguided.”
Meg opened the front door, holding it open for Mrs. Allen. As she turned and looked onto the patio, her stomach clenched as she saw Sam pacing. His hat in his hand, he turned it round and round and appeared to be speaking to himself, but as she walked closer, she saw that her father sat off to the side as he listened quietly to Sam.
“Why don’t you go on, dear. Your father offered to show me the stables, so we’ll be off while you two talk. Can you believe I’ve never been in stables before, either? Hazards of growing up in a city,” Mrs. Allen said as she winked at Meg.
She poked her head out the patio door. “Mr. Archer, I’m ready for that stable tour now.”
Her father jumped at the sound and nodded to Mrs. Allen. “Certainly. Now is a good time.” He turned to Sam and extended his hand, shaking it strongly. Sam nodded to her father and said, “Thank you, sir.”
Her father smiled and turned to Meg. “My pleasure, Sam. My pleasure,” he said, and held his arm out for Mrs. Allen, and they were off.
Sam looked as if he might drop his hat when Meg walked through the patio door. He turned right and left, looking for somewhere to put it, settling on the chair behind him.
“Thank you for seeing me, Meg. I had no right to expect you to. Would you sit down with me for a moment?” He gestured to one of the chairs on the patio and took the one right across from her as she sat.