Mail Order Bride: Westward Winds, - [best free ebook reader for android .txt] 📗

He did neither because he heard hoof beats on the lane and he wondered who it was this time of night. Marcus was used to late night visitors because he didn’t require much sleep and was usually up when other people were sleeping. It was still fairly early, however. Geoffrey and Tessa rode into the light thrown by his lanterns.

Marcus gave them a big smile. “Hey, you two. This is a nice surprise.”

“Papa wanted to see your house and I wanted to pick out a book to borrow, if that would be all right?” Tessa said as she dropped Zip’s reins. She’d finally gotten on to ground tying a horse.

Geoffrey followed suit.

“Well, there’s not much to see, but you’re more than welcome, Geoffrey. I’m sure you’ll find something to borrow, Tessa,” Marcus said as he rose from his chair.

Geoffrey climbed the three porch steps and looked at all of the curls of wood on the floor. Three chairs sat across the porch that ran the length of the house. A small table sat by one of the chairs and Geoffrey saw whittling tools and knives sitting on it along with a lantern. A small stack of books sat by the porch railing.

Marcus saw him looking around and said, “My porch might as well be another room. I’m out here most evenings.”

“It’s nice,” Geoffrey said. “It seems like it would be very relaxing after a hard day of work.”

Marcus nodded. “It is. Well, c’mon in and I’ll show you around.”

Tessa had already gone inside. Geoffrey followed Marcus into the small house and found himself standing in a small kitchen.

Smiling, Marcus said, “Welcome to my chaos.”

Geoffrey laughed because that was exactly what Marcus’ house looked like. He was astounded at the number of books in the small space. Tessa crouched in front of a bookcase in the parlor, searching through titles. As he looked at some of the books, Geoffrey saw that Marcus had very eclectic tastes. The books were not arranged in any particular order or even by subject. Fiction and nonfiction were jammed together.

“Marcus, you have quite an impressive collection,” Geoffrey said as he looked at the younger man.

“Thanks. Our pa was an educated man and I guess I followed in his footsteps that way. We don’t have a school so I read whatever I can. As you can see, I’m sort of a packrat when it comes to my books. Even if I’m not going to read a book again right away, I hang onto it. You never know when it’ll come in handy, especially when people around here want something to read,” Marcus responded.

“Yes, I appreciate the one you loaned me,” Geoffrey said. “I’m enjoying it very much.”

“Good. I thought you might. Would either of you like some coffee?” Marcus moved toward the kitchen.

“I would love some,” Geoffrey replied.

“Yes, Marcus. That would be nice,” Tessa said.

Marcus said, “Do you want a little kick to it or just boring old coffee?”

Geoffrey laughed. “A man after my own heart. Please add a kick.”

“None for me,” Tessa spoke up.

“As you wish,” Marcus said in a lofty manner.

Geoffrey found Marcus very amusing. “Are you always like this?”

“Guilty, sir,” Marcus said as he carried their coffees out onto the porch.

They joined him and sat down. Tessa took a sip of coffee and made a face. She switched cups with her father while the men laughed at her.

After swallowing, she said, “I think there is more brandy in that than coffee.”

“Good. Just the way I like it,” Geoffrey said.

Marcus picked up a new piece of wood and turned it around a few times while he made a thoughtful face. Geoffrey watched as he smiled and started carving. Marcus’ hands were strong and his movements sure as he began shaving off large pieces of the wood as he rounded off the corners.

“What are you making?” Geoffrey asked.

“I think it’s going to be a wolf. Speaking of dogs, I wonder where Roscoe got to. Maybe he has a lady friend,” Marcus said with grin.

“Perhaps he does,” Geoffrey said. “How do you know what it’s going to be?”

“Well, I just sort of see it in my head. Each piece of wood has its own spirit, so to speak, and it tells me what it will be,” Marcus said.

Geoffrey thought that was very unusual. “So what you’re saying is that the wood tells you what it wants to be?”

“Yeah, that about sums it up,” Marcus said.

Geoff took a long sip of his coffee and enjoyed the brandy laden drink. “Mmm. That hits the spot.”

Marcus smiled. “I thought you might like that.”

Tessa enjoyed listening to her father and Marcus talk. While her father was getting to know him, Tessa was also gleaning more information about her brother-in-law.

“Who taught you how to whittle?” Geoffrey asked as he looked out into the night.

Marcus’ hands stopped working for a few moments before starting up again. “Ma. She was always working with wood of some sort. She said it relaxed her when she was upset or nervous.”

“Your mother? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a woman doing woodworking,” Geoffrey said.

Marcus' throat became clogged with tears as he thought of his mother. His voice was thick as he replied, “Ma was an extraordinary woman who was strong and kind. Woodworking wasn’t the only talent she had.”

“I’m sure not,” Geoffrey said as he frowned with concern. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Marcus.”

“Don’t think anything of it,” he said. “As closed up as Dean is about his feelings, I’m the exact opposite. I don’t hide my feelings very well and, frankly, I don’t care to. Well, sometimes, anyway.”

“Where does Seth fall in that category?” Geoffrey asked.

Marcus brushed away a tear and said, “Somewhere in the middle, I guess. Seth isn’t as touchy about stuff like Dean and he doesn’t get misty-eyed at the mention of our mother.”

Geoffrey cleared his throat and said, “I, um, noticed that Dean is rather a strict task master.”

Marcus laughed at that. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“Why do you listen to him?” Geoffrey asked. “I’m sorry. I think the brandy is getting to me and I’m becoming nosy.”

“No more than Seth,” Marcus said. “After both our parents were gone, Dean helped finish raising me. I’d just turned fourteen when Pa passed and I was sixteen when Ma died. Dean was the one here with me mostly because Seth was out on the trail a lot. So it fell to him to do it. I guess he became a sort of surrogate father to me. So, that’s why I listen to him. Plus, it’s just easier to go along with him.”

Tessa had seen this aspect of the relationship between Dean and Marcus, so she understood what her brother-in-law meant. She admired her husband for his commitment to his family. There was never any question about how seriously he took his responsibilities. Her mind wandered as Marcus and her father talked of all manner of things for another half hour or so.

When the visit ended, Tessa thought about the rift between her and Dean and looked up at the stars as they rode home. She prayed for some guidance in the matter, but none magically came to her.

Tessa watched as Dean undressed with trepidation. Apparently he wasn’t planning on sleeping in the barn and when he slid under the covers, Tessa knew he wasn’t going to sleep on the floor either. As she got in the bed, Tessa kept as far away from him as she could and lay on her side facing away from him. She jumped a little when he spoke, breaking the silence.

“Tessa, we are gonna talk about all of this, but I need a little time to get my thoughts together about it so that I can have an honest conversation with you,” Dean said.

“How much time?” Tessa asked.

“I’m not sure. I’m not good with feelings and stuff, but I’m gonna try,” Dean said as he remembered Seth’s words.

“All right.” Tessa decided to be patient with him for the time being. “I appreciate that.”

Dean smiled in the dark. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in the other kind of talking.”

Tessa put her pillow over her face and tried to smother the laugh that came out. It amazed her that, even in the middle of an argument, Dean could say something funny like that.

Dean heard her and chuckled. “Is that a yes or a no?”