Reverie (Hollow Hearts Book 1) (6 page)

“I did,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “That was the first quilt I made after moving here. I was so shocked by how cold the nights were that I was determined to make a quilt for my husband and I that would keep us warm. I worked on that quilt for quite a while, and there were more than a few nights that my husband went without dinner so I could finish it.”

“It’s just lovely!” Hetty might have had skill with embroidery, but she’d never been able to master quilting. The pattern was full of triangles of various colors and fabrics and each piece was stitched perfectly. She knew how much work must go into creating such a piece, but it looked nearly effortless as it lay perfectly across the bed.

“Thank you, dear. Why don’t you get settled and then join us in the kitchen? I have chicken soup ready.”

“That would be wonderful,” Hetty said.

Elizabeth smiled and shut the door.

Hetty took a deep breath and looked at her surroundings. The room was no bigger than her room at Mrs. Calhoun’s, but there was a sense of comfort within the walls. She could tell this family took pride in their home and had no intention of surrounding themselves with furniture and possessions they couldn’t use. This house was lived in, full of memories, and she imagined much laughter. Hetty was thankful she could be part of it in some capacity.

It didn’t take her long to unpack her belongings. She placed her books on the nightstand, her brush and mirror on the dresser next to her small bottle of rose perfume and the one picture she had of her parents. Her clothing went in the drawers and her shawl went on a small hook she found on the wall. She took a moment to check her hair, hoping it hadn’t been destroyed on the ride, and made her way to the kitchen. Elizabeth was standing at the stove stirring her soup with one hand and removing bread from the oven with the other.

“Is there anything I can help with, Elizabeth?” Hetty said, feeling slightly odd just standing in the kitchen.

“Not a single thing.” Elizabeth looked over and smiled before returning to stir the soup. “You can take today to get settled. Tomorrow I’d welcome the help.”

For the first time Hetty noticed the tiredness within Elizabeth’s face. Her movements, while graceful, did their part to reveal a bit of weakness. Hetty suddenly understood why Isaac and Elias wanted her to rest. “I’m not used to sitting around,” she said as she took the wooden spoon from Elizabeth’s hand. “This is why I’m here. Please let me finish.”

Elizabeth looked surprisingly grateful and whispered, “Thank you, dear,” as she took a seat at the table.

Hetty looked around to familiarize herself with the kitchen, reached for a stack of bowls, and dished up healthy portions of soup. She set each aside to cool slightly and proceeded to slice the bread. She noticed the table was already set with silverware and butter, so she carried each bowl carefully to its place. As she placed the bread on the table the room erupted in noise. Elias came in with Lottie giggling on his shoulders. Isaac trailed behind him. They laughed together as each took a place at the table—Isaac at the head, Elizabeth to his left, Elias to his right, and Lottie next to her father. It wasn’t until Elizabeth instructed Isaac to say grace that the room grew silent and all eyes turned to her.

Elizabeth spoke first. “Hetty, dear, why aren’t you sitting with us?”

Hetty twirled the towel in her hands as heat rose to her cheeks. “I just assumed I would eat when you all are finished.”

“Why on Earth would you do that?” Elizabeth was stunned.

“Well, it usually isn’t customary for the help to eat with the family,” Hetty said, noticing a smirk on Elias’s face and humor in Isaac’s dark eyes.

“The help? Oh, good lord! Boys, tell her!” Elizabeth motioned to one of her two sons to explain.

“Well, Hetty, since you are the help...” Elias said, but was quickly cut off by his brother.

“Don’t tease the poor girl, Elias. You’ll make her jump out of her skin,” Elizabeth said.

Hetty noticed both sons smiling in attempts to contain their laughter.

“Hetty, in Mother’s house everyone who enters is considered family. It doesn’t matter if you work here or are just visiting. Everyone is welcome at our table and you are no exception,” Isaac said, rising to escort Hetty to the place next to Elizabeth. As he pushed in her chair he leaned down and whispered in her ear, delighting in the color rising on her soft neck, “Now you’re family, too.” A moment later he placed a bowl of soup in front of her.

Hetty began to relax while the banter among the family members continued. There was talk of chores that needed to be done, a horse gone lame, and predictions of an early winter. Hetty listened, enjoying the rich flavor of the soup, and interjected a comment or two when she felt comfortable. It wasn’t until the meal was nearly over that Hetty noticed the shyness covering Lottie’s face. She’d barely touched her lunch.

Hetty smiled, made eye contact with the girl, and whispered across the table. “Grown-ups talk too much.” The girl’s face lit up and she smiled back at Hetty.

“I’m three,” she announced proudly.

“I’m nineteen,” Hetty replied, hoping the girl would continue to warm up to her.

“Are you going to live here?”

“Yes, I am. I’m going to be helping your grandmother. And hopefully finding some time to play with you.” Hetty handed the child a second piece of bread and watched her giggle.

“Are you going to be my mommy?” Lottie asked.

The entire table went quiet and all eyes turned to Hetty. She knew she needed to answer appropriately for such a young child, but she didn’t want to overstep her bounds.  “I am going to be your friend. Is that okay?”

The child beamed, looked at her daddy and shouted, “She’s my friend!”

The tension at the table disappeared immediately and conversation returned to the friendly banter that Hetty was quickly learning was common in this family, this wonderfully warm family.

Isaac and Elias walked toward the barn in silence. The first meal shared with Hetty had Isaac’s nerves on edge.
Why did I whisper in her ear?
he thought.
I shouldn’t care at all if she sits at our table.
But when he saw her standing back as if her role meant so little that she was unworthy of sharing a meal with them, something snapped. He couldn’t stand the thought of her thinking so little of herself. He could tell family was foreign to her.
Maybe she’s never been part of a family? Maybe she doesn’t understand what that means.
He was yanked from his thoughts when Elias stopped in his tracks.

“She’s quite a nervous little thing,” Elias said.

Isaac grunted. He already felt on edge and he didn’t want to speak of Hetty and cause any more strange feelings within.

“I was glad to see her jump right in to help Mother. I think she’ll fit in nicely.”

“I suppose so.” was Isaac’s only reply.

“I enjoyed getting to know her on the ride out this morning. She asked about Rachel.”

Isaac’s eyes widened.
Why would Elias say anything about Rachel to this stranger? The woman was dead and her memory needed to stay that way, too.

“
She got me thinking.”

Isaac wanted to go down this road less than he wanted to talk about Hetty, but he couldn’t help himself. “About?”

Elias smiled. “I think I might be ready to get married again. I miss Rachel, I do. But it would be good to move on. Find someone nice. Maybe grow the family a bit. Lottie would benefit from a mother, someone to help her as she grows. None of us know a thing about raising little girls.”

Isaac felt a sense of rage building within him. His brother couldn’t possibly be thinking of Hetty in that way. The woman just got here. She hasn’t even settled in yet and Elias barely knew her! “I’m not going to have you mess this up for Mother, little brother!” he said through gritted teeth.

“What are you talking about?”

“Stay away from Hetty!” he growled, his nerves even more on edge.

“Hetty? You thought I was referring to Hetty? Relax. I’m not thinking about anyone in particular. I was just thinking out loud.” He paused. “She is a sweet girl, though.”

Isaac grabbed the collar of his brother’s shirt and brought his face directly in front of his own. “Save your flattery for someone else! Rachel should have at least taught you that.”

Elias pushed his brother back. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Isaac, but you better back off. You’re treading on dangerous territory. You know nothing about Rachel!”

“I know more than you think I do.” Isaac began walking away.

“What does that mean, brother?”

“Nothing. Never mind. Just don’t use this as an opportunity to find yourself a wife. She is here helping mother. Nothing more.” Isaac continued walking at a faster pace, ignoring the words he could hear his brother shouting...

“Pretty big talk for someone who says he doesn’t care.”

Hetty woke in her small room feeling refreshed. She’d slept surprisingly well in such a new environment and was eager to begin her day. The sun was not yet peeking behind the horizon and the house remained quiet. She moved from underneath the warm quilt and placed her feet on the chilled floor. Dressing quickly in an old work dress, Hetty washed her face, fixed her hair, and made her way to the kitchen. Though she hadn’t discussed the extent of her duties with Elizabeth, Hetty was excited to help and breakfast seemed the best place to start.

Entering the kitchen she noticed a basket of eggs sitting on the table.
Isaac or Elias must have already collected them
, she thought. Not wanting to make them wait too long for their breakfast, Hetty easily built a fire in the stove. She started the coffee, quickly mixed a batch of pancakes, and began frying bacon. Within minutes the room warmed and the smell of breakfast moved through the house. Just as she finished frying the eggs, Isaac entered through the back door.

“Good Morning, Hetty. It smells wonderful.”

“Thank you. Everything is ready. I haven’t seen Elias yet and your mother and Lottie are still sleeping. Should we wake them?”

Isaac didn’t relish the idea of having breakfast alone with Hetty. He wasn’t sure what was happening within him, but her presence unnerved him in a way he’d never experienced. He wanted to get to know her, learn what it was that made him so quick to defend her, but he was afraid.
Afraid of what?
His heart had long ago been hardened. No matter who this girl was, Isaac was sure she couldn’t soften it. “Elias already left. He had some fence repairs to tend to, so he left early. I think maybe we should allow Mother to rest a while longer. You won’t mind joining me for breakfast?”

“Not at all.” She smiled. She filled a plate with a hearty helping of bacon, eggs, and pancakes and placed it in front of Isaac. “Let me pour you a cup of coffee.”

Within minutes they were seated at the table, both with full plates. Isaac gently took her hand in his. “Do you mind if I say grace?”

“Please,” Hetty said.

He bowed his head, closed his eyes, and took a breath. “Lord, we thank You for this meal before us. We ask that You use it to nourish our bodies so that we may better serve Your purpose. And, Lord, we thank you for bringing Hetty into our lives and hope that her presence will be a comfort and help to us all.” He held her hand a second more before releasing it, unable to resist the softness for just a moment more. He looked up and noticed tears in her eyes.

“Hetty, is something wrong?” he asked, concerned.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said, waving her hand to dismiss the question. “Please don’t mind me.”

“But you look upset.” His brow showed more worry than she expected.

“It’s just...I don’t think anyone has ever said a prayer for me before,” she whispered, unable to meet his intense dark eyes.

Isaac was stunned.
No one had ever prayed for her?
He found that hard to believe. It was just a simple prayer, but clearly it meant more to her. For him, praying for those around him was a habit. He always included family in his worship, both privately and whenever they prayed aloud together. It was the only way he knew how to pray—including the people he cared most about. “Hetty, I use my time of prayer as a chance to show I’m grateful. You’ve been here less than a day and already you’ve helped us, you won over Lottie almost instantly, and we should all be grateful.” He moved his head indicating he wanted her to meet his eyes. And when she did he felt a pull in his heart. “We are thankful you’re here with us.”

Hetty finally looked in his kind eyes and knew he meant what he said. Here sat this beautiful man with the most amazing family and he was thankful for her. Her presence. Her work. Her place here. “Thank you, Isaac.”

He smiled and began eating his breakfast. “I’m going to take a wild guess that you don’t have much experience with family.”

Hetty chuckled. “That’s true. Your family is the first I’ve ever really been around.” Soon she was telling him about the death of her parents, her time in the orphanage, and how she’d come to work for Mrs. Calhoun. She explained how no place had ever felt like a home. She was either surviving Catherine’s harsh hand or existing only as an employee. She hoped someday to have a place of her own—one that wouldn’t disappear on her, as so many things seemed to do.

Isaac listened intently. He absorbed every word of her story and found himself wishing she had been blessed with the same family joys he had. He knew he was lucky to have two parents who adored him and his brother so much. He knew how hard they had worked to give them a home they could be proud of and countless memories to fill their hearts. He wished she’d experienced some of the same traditions he’d enjoyed as a child—decorating their tree around the holidays, the turkey hunt at Thanksgiving, the apple picking they did each fall. His mind began to race as he realized she would be here this year for the holidays. Perhaps he could help her enjoy some of the benefits of family that she had yet to enjoy. Maybe he could show her what family was all about.
Where were these thoughts coming from
? he thought.
Why am I suddenly so concerned with her understanding of family?
The thoughts troubled him, and he couldn’t understand his sudden need to mend her insecurities.

As Hetty finished her story, she rose from the table and began washing the dishes. She suddenly felt shy that she’d revealed so many details to a man she’d known for so little time.
What he must think of me!
she thought. She couldn’t deny she felt comfortable around him. Despite their first awkward encounter, she felt a pull toward his kind nature. Something about him made her believe everything would be okay. Somehow she’d make it through, and maybe her dreams of her own family would remain intact. He’d taken the time to include her in his prayers. She became overwhelmed with a feeling of gratefulness that she’d accepted this job. While her knowledge of family was limited, Hetty knew she could take care of them and she could do it well. She’d only ever wanted a family of her own and, for now, maybe she could pretend the Wheeler clan was hers.

Hearing movement behind her, Hetty turned to see Elizabeth and Lottie strolling into the kitchen. She stopped what she was doing and immediately fixed them each a plate. “Good morning, ladies. Are you hungry?”

“Goodness. I’m not sure I’ve slept this late since, well, ever. Son, why didn’t you wake me so I could help Hetty?”

Hetty interrupted before Isaac had a chance to answer. “We thought you might enjoy the extra rest. Besides, I have no trouble handling breakfast.” She placed the plates on the table while Elizabeth and Lottie took their seats. She returned a moment later and refilled Isaac’s coffee, noticing the smile he gave her so willingly.

“Hetty and I already ate, mother, and I need to get to the shop. Promise you’ll rest today.” He rose and kissed his mother on the cheek. He downed the last of his coffee and placed his cup in the sink. “Don’t let her fool you, Hetty, she’s a hard one to keep down.”

“Be off with you, son,” Elizabeth said, trying to sound annoyed, but the sparkle in her eye gave her away.

“All right, you ladies have a good morning. I’ll see you at lunch.” Isaac put on his hat and made his way to the door. Before stepping out he turned to Hetty. “The breakfast was wonderful, Hetty, and the company was even better.” Then he was gone.

Hetty didn’t realize she was holding her breath. She let out a deep sigh. The kitchen suddenly felt empty without Isaac’s presence. But she wouldn’t allow herself to dwell on their strange breakfast together this morning. She wanted to continue her day and spend a bit of time with Elizabeth learning the tricks to running a ranch house. She poured herself a second cup of coffee and sat down at the table where Elizabeth and Lottie seemed to be enjoying the meal just as much as Isaac had.

“Hetty, thank you for making breakfast for all of us. You’ve certainly wasted no time in getting to work, though I thought we’d take today to get you settled and show you around before you took on so much,” Elizabeth said between bites of bacon.

“This is why I’m here, Elizabeth. I want to help you—make things a little easier for you. And don’t be fooled—I enjoy this kind of work. In fact, it hardly feels like work at all,” Hetty said.

Frankly she loved all aspects of domestic work. Even during her time at the orphanage she would pretend the laundry was for her family or her own loved ones had used the dishes. She relished each task when her imagination allowed her to believe it was her own family she was caring for.

“I understand what you mean. My parents were so worried when I married my husband that I’d be overwhelmed and would work too hard as the wife of a rancher. My father was a newspaperman, and we always had the luxury of a housekeeper. I don’t think they realized that taking care of my family never really felt like work. It was more of a calling.” Elizabeth patted Hetty’s hand and rose from her chair.

Hetty turned and smiled at Lottie, eagerly shoving bites of pancake into her mouth, maple syrup dripping down the corners. “I think someone is a bit of a messy eater.” She moved over to Lottie’s side and used her towel to wipe the dripping mess. “Lottie, are you enjoying your breakfast?” Hetty asked with a laugh.

“It’s good,” the little girl said before shoving in another bite.

“I thought Lottie and I might give you a bit of a tour today. Show you around outside. It seems the rain is holding off for now and I’d love to show you the garden and let you get a feel for things. Our timetable is a bit different from what you’re used to, I imagine. We tend to rise before the sun and go to bed when it disappears.”

“I think that would be lovely. Why don’t I finish up in here and then I’d love to take a tour with you.”

Hetty finished the breakfast dishes and decided to go ahead and prepare lunch, not knowing how long the tour of the ranch would take. She mixed up a batch of bread and moved it to the side so it could rise while they were outside. She found carrots, onions, and potatoes in the root cellar and began the makings of a rich stew. She left it on the back of the stove to simmer, and when she was sure her work was done, she prepared to be introduced to the ways of the Wheeler Ranch.

The weather, though slightly chilly, was perfect for exploring outside. The sun was working hard to peek through the clouds, and Hetty was grateful for the bit of warmth it provided. There was a slight breeze and she felt her hair trying to dance in its movements. With Elizabeth by her side and Lottie holding her hand, they made their way toward the garden. Hetty was not surprised at the size—knowing it took quite a bit to make it through a Montana winter. She was in awe of the beauty, though. The entire garden was contained with a whitewashed picket fence; the rows of autumn produce were perfectly arranged and growing strong, and beautiful rose bushes ran along the front side. She spotted several rows of trees beyond the garden, and Hetty assumed that was the small orchard Elizabeth mentioned.

“Isaac has been so kind to help out here this year. I normally love being in my garden, but I just haven’t had the strength lately,” Elizabeth said.

Hetty bent to pull a random weed from one of the rows. “He’s done a wonderful job! Your garden is just beautiful. Mrs. Calhoun had a small garden out back that Sol would tend, but it was nothing like this.”

“Feeding a family out here is a little different in winter. Sometimes the weather prevents us from getting to town for quite a while. That’s why we do so much preparation. We want to be ready when the cold weather moves in. Plus, the boys end up eating more than you’d think just to keep their strength up when doing such physical work each day.”

Elizabeth explained how and when she canned the variety of vegetables within her garden, and how most would simply be put in the root cellar to use as needed. She pointed out the chicken house, explaining that Isaac and Elias handled that chore as well as keeping them stocked with meat during the winter. There was always chicken available, as well as venison, buffalo, pork, and, by Thanksgiving, turkey!

They left the garden and headed for the orchard. Elizabeth pointed out the variety of apple trees within each row and how every fall they host a gathering for friends to harvest the crops.

“I’m excited you’ll be here this year for our apple festival. Many of the surrounding farmers come to help us, and in exchange we give them a bushel or two to take with them. There’s music and food and fresh cider. It’s my favorite time of the year.”