Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(54)

“It will do them the world of good,” Monica said, taking out a handkerchief to blow her nose. “A puppy and a kitten each. I’ll go and tell Wilfred.”

She ran to the barn and Seth started to lift items from the wagon. “There’s masses of things,” he said. “And Linda sent cakes and other food also. God is really good, isn’t He?”

“He’s amazing,” Hannah replied. “I suggested we make hammocks for them to sleep on but now they’ve got mattresses and all we need to make is bed frames.”

“We’ll start on those later. I did bring the tarpaulin you and I slept on in the barn because we’ve got the house now.”

“I thought you might have someone with you,” Hannah said.

“Have who?” Seth turned back towards the wagon and busied himself with lifting down more items.

"Anyone you might know.”

“Show us,” Lucille said, running out of the barn with the boys close behind her.

“Show you what?” Seth asked.

“The surprise mama says you have for us.”

Seth looked at Wilfred who swung himself out behind his children. “I’m outnumbered,” he said.

“I’m sorry.”

“We’re also all very blessed. They can have one each of each.”

Seth lifted down the box to put on the ground and opened it. Ten little faces looked up and the children screamed in delight. “Choose a kitten and a puppy each,” he said.

The children lifted one of each and cuddled them, their faces a picture of wonder and delight. Hannah bent and lifted the other four all at once. She sat on the ground with them. Pets they had at home and she missed them but they weren’t specifically hers. Seth sat beside her.

“I’ve never got round to keeping pets,” he said. He stroked them in turn. “They are rather cute.”

“They’re beautiful. Have they got names?”

“Linda didn’t say they have.”

“I want to name mine,” Lucille said.

“And me.”

“And me.”

And they would be the biggest healer, Wilfred said, because for the children it was a shock even though they probably wouldn’t verbalise their feelings. They had woken the night before, he continued, and needed some comforting and assurance. He looked at the furniture and mattresses which Seth had leaned against the wall.

“God is good,” he said and turned back into the barn, his voice trailing back. “You need to fuss Ben and Dan, children, or they’ll be jealous. Bring them all in and let the animals meet one another.”

The children fussed them all and it was a while before Seth brought in the toys which also delighted them. They sat to eat from the food Linda had sent and afterwards Seth and Wilfred started on the beds.

It was dark before Seth and Hannah left to return to his farm. They would come back the following day, he said, looking down at the now sleeping children who were surrounded by animals who had all snuggled up together. Would Wilfred and Monica be alright because they could stay if they needed them?

They would be fine, the couple said, and they mustn’t worry about them. They had everything they needed, which included the food Linda had sent and lamps which had also been sent.

Seth was atypically quiet on the way to the farm. Hannah, after a couple of attempts at conversation, gave up. He was getting sick of having her, she felt, and she must go soon. She would get the other Seth to come and help with what needed to be done and then Seth would be free to marry his fiancé. When they got to the farm they carried in the animals and Hannah went for food for them.

“They’re so cute,” she said, looking up at Seth from where she crouched beside them. “Shall I take them upstairs to sleep with me?”

“They’ll grow,” he said.

“Yes, but they haven’t yet.”

“I’ll go and change the sheets,” he said, and virtually ran from the room.

She frowned in concentration. He definitely was getting sick of her and tomorrow she must go. But she hadn’t finished his text yet and she had promised to do some things at Wilfred and Monica’s farm tomorrow.

But she could come back and do that once she was married. She heard Seth run down the steps and he called out. “I’m just going to check on the animals.”

She ran up the stairs and looked at the room she had been assigned. A sizeable room with a single bed. She opened the other door and had a quick peep.

A double bed with a wardrobe and dressing table. It looked rather bare overall. But the room with the single bed had the flowers in the shaving mug which were still fresh and which Seth must have taken upstairs again. There was a pretty nightdress under the pillow. She took it out and held it against her. Far too short and it was definitely for someone who was not as tall as her. Maybe five foot three but not six inches taller as she was. Seth obviously liked small women, which wouldn’t include her.

She folded the nightdress, put it back under the pillow and looked round the room, her face creased in a frown. It had seemed alright sleeping in the barn with Seth but she couldn’t sleep here. It wasn’t for her and it wasn’t fair to be using another woman’s room. It wasn’t right to be here at all and she couldn’t justify it in any way by saying she was helping.