was hard. For so long she’d been on her own—responsible not only for her own life but for that of her grandmother. She wasn’t accustomed to anyone wanting to care for her, for a change—someone who wanted to share her burdens. Hadn’t he been overjoyed when he’d learned of her pregnancy and insisted they get married sooner rather than later? She needed to learn how to rely on her husband.
Turning toward him, she smiled. “I’m sorry. I do trust you, and if you think Dr. Adams is the best choice”—she hesitated and swallowed hard—“then that’s good enough for me.”
A broad grin crossed his face. “That’s my girl.”
Kate fell silent as they left Dutton and continued to head north on the county road. Soon the small town was replaced by field after field of crops growing in the hot summer sun. They drove by a few farmsteads, but mostly the landscape was nothing but flat land with an occasional rise. The only other buildings Kate saw were long, narrow sheds; and as they drove by, she caught the distinct odor of manure. Crinkling her nose, she tapped the window.
“What are those?”
“Hog confinements.” Joe glanced out his window. “They hold maybe seven to eight thousand hogs.”
Kate waved a hand in front of her nose. “No wonder it smells.”
“But, honey, hogs are mortgage payers.” Joe shot her a grin. “And that stink is the smell of money.”
She didn’t care if hogs were moneymakers. She couldn’t imagine breathing that odor day in and day out. “Are there any near your farm?”
“No—not any big operations.” He gave her thigh an affectionate squeeze. “Don’t worry, city girl. Our hog lots are away from the house.”
She continued to watch the landscape until Joe nudged her arm.
“There. Up the road,” he said as he turned off onto a gravel road. “That’s my farm.”
In the distance, a large white farmhouse sat on a slight rise, and Kate felt her excitement kick in. At last, she’d see where she intended to spend the rest of her life.
Joe slowed and made a turn onto a long driveway leading up the rise. Closer now, the two-story house was even bigger than it had appeared in the distance. It was surrounded by maple trees and had long windows shaded by lace curtains. A wide porch wrapped around two sides. The house looked solid, like something that had withstood the test of time. A delighted smile played across Kate’s face as the car came to a stop.
“Here we are,” he said, shutting off the car and leaning over to give her a quick kiss. “Welcome to your new home. I know you’ll be happy here.”
Home. A thrill ran through her as she glanced back at the house and was surprised to see one of the lace curtains flick to the side.
“Joe,” she said, turning back to him, “there’s someone at the window.”
“Umm . . . I didn’t expect—” He broke off suddenly and his cheeks flushed as he pulled the keys and opened his door. “I’ll explain inside.”
Kate’s attention returned to the house. Explain inside? Her mind flew to what that explanation might be. She’d heard about how neighborly farm families were, and she wondered if Joe hadn’t planned a little surprise for her by inviting all of his neighbors by in order to welcome his new bride. How sweet, she thought, smiling over at him. Their wedding had been at the courthouse with her friend Lindsay acting as her witness, and a deputy was drafted into the role for Joe’s witness. Kate’s lip curled. The only “guest” had been her grandmother. It hadn’t exactly been her dream wedding, but they hadn’t had the time to plan a large ceremony and reception. Now he was trying to make it up to her.
When Joe got out and retrieved their luggage from the trunk, she flipped the visor down and quickly fluffed her short brown hair. She wished she’d worn a more attractive outfit than a T-shirt and blue jeans. Oh well, she thought, snapping the visor shut, they’ll have to accept me as I
Turning toward him, she smiled. “I’m sorry. I do trust you, and if you think Dr. Adams is the best choice”—she hesitated and swallowed hard—“then that’s good enough for me.”
A broad grin crossed his face. “That’s my girl.”
Kate fell silent as they left Dutton and continued to head north on the county road. Soon the small town was replaced by field after field of crops growing in the hot summer sun. They drove by a few farmsteads, but mostly the landscape was nothing but flat land with an occasional rise. The only other buildings Kate saw were long, narrow sheds; and as they drove by, she caught the distinct odor of manure. Crinkling her nose, she tapped the window.
“What are those?”
“Hog confinements.” Joe glanced out his window. “They hold maybe seven to eight thousand hogs.”
Kate waved a hand in front of her nose. “No wonder it smells.”
“But, honey, hogs are mortgage payers.” Joe shot her a grin. “And that stink is the smell of money.”
She didn’t care if hogs were moneymakers. She couldn’t imagine breathing that odor day in and day out. “Are there any near your farm?”
“No—not any big operations.” He gave her thigh an affectionate squeeze. “Don’t worry, city girl. Our hog lots are away from the house.”
She continued to watch the landscape until Joe nudged her arm.
“There. Up the road,” he said as he turned off onto a gravel road. “That’s my farm.”
In the distance, a large white farmhouse sat on a slight rise, and Kate felt her excitement kick in. At last, she’d see where she intended to spend the rest of her life.
Joe slowed and made a turn onto a long driveway leading up the rise. Closer now, the two-story house was even bigger than it had appeared in the distance. It was surrounded by maple trees and had long windows shaded by lace curtains. A wide porch wrapped around two sides. The house looked solid, like something that had withstood the test of time. A delighted smile played across Kate’s face as the car came to a stop.
“Here we are,” he said, shutting off the car and leaning over to give her a quick kiss. “Welcome to your new home. I know you’ll be happy here.”
Home. A thrill ran through her as she glanced back at the house and was surprised to see one of the lace curtains flick to the side.
“Joe,” she said, turning back to him, “there’s someone at the window.”
“Umm . . . I didn’t expect—” He broke off suddenly and his cheeks flushed as he pulled the keys and opened his door. “I’ll explain inside.”
Kate’s attention returned to the house. Explain inside? Her mind flew to what that explanation might be. She’d heard about how neighborly farm families were, and she wondered if Joe hadn’t planned a little surprise for her by inviting all of his neighbors by in order to welcome his new bride. How sweet, she thought, smiling over at him. Their wedding had been at the courthouse with her friend Lindsay acting as her witness, and a deputy was drafted into the role for Joe’s witness. Kate’s lip curled. The only “guest” had been her grandmother. It hadn’t exactly been her dream wedding, but they hadn’t had the time to plan a large ceremony and reception. Now he was trying to make it up to her.
When Joe got out and retrieved their luggage from the trunk, she flipped the visor down and quickly fluffed her short brown hair. She wished she’d worn a more attractive outfit than a T-shirt and blue jeans. Oh well, she thought, snapping the visor shut, they’ll have to accept me as I