Olivia shook away the memory that was bound to bring tears to her eyes. She quickly made the bed and turned to clean up at the washbasin. She poured water into the basin from the pail beside it and washed her face.
The water was cold and refreshing. She dabbed her face on the towel Cora had given her and strode to one peg on the wall to retrieve the brown homespun dress.
After adorning the dress and feeling good in it, she slipped her legs into Cora’s small boots. The boots were a little tight, but she didn’t mind. She plaited her hair into a single braid and left the room.
She quietly walked down the hallway toward the sound of voices she was hearing. She located Boone and Cora in the kitchen.
Boone was partaking in breakfast at the table while Cora stood beside the wooden stove frying eggs.
“Good morning,” she said at the kitchen door.
Boone bestowed on her a bright smile while Cora turned from the stove.
“Oh, child. You’re awake. I was going to bring you breakfast,” Cora remarked, beaming from ear to ear. “I trust you had a good night's rest.”
Olivia returned their smiles. “I sure did.”
Boone nodded. “You’re welcome to join me.”
Olivia shook her head. “Thank you, sir.”
She strode to the backdoor and took the corn broom lying beside it.
Cora looked at her with surprise in her blue eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Reddening a little at the intense gaze from the couple, she replied, “I want to sweep the—”
Cora didn’t let her finish before she laughed and shook her head. “Child, you don’t need to do that. I have already done the chores around the house.”
“But, I have to do something,” Olivia couldn’t help protesting.
Back in the Indian village, she had been used to carrying out various chores from fetching water to weaving baskets or taking care of the children. And as a guest of the Stanfords, she couldn’t imagine not carrying out tasks.
Smiling, Cora answered, “Yes, you do and that’s sitting at the table and eating your breakfast.”
Olivia giggled at the older woman’s words.
“Come on, Olivia. Join me,” Boone invited. “Leave the broom.”
Cora clicked her tongue. “I don’t even think you should be on your feet. You should be lying down and resting from your ordeal.”
Olivia blushed and returned the broom to its position. She reached the table and pulled out a chair. Hardly had she sat down when Cora placed a plate heaped with slices of cornbread. She placed another plate with strips of bacon and then another with a large quantity of fried eggs.
Blushing, she said, “Surely this is too much, Cora.”
Cora placed her hands on her hips and gave her a look that a mother would give a stubborn child. “Hush, child, and eat. You need some meat in your bones. You’re bordering on being skinny.”
Olivia’s blush deepened. She had a slim physique, but no one had ever called her skinny before. She wasn’t much of an eater. Singing Clouds complained all the time that she didn’t eat much. That she had consumed that much food the previous day was because of her famished state.
“Thank you, Cora.”
Olivia tucked into the sumptuous meal while Boone poured her a cup of coffee from the jug on the table. She felt pleasure at the warm manner in which the couple were treating a total stranger. They reminded her of her parents, who had also welcomed strangers to their home.
Olivia had just finished eating when she heard the front door open and close.
“Cora. Boone.”
A thrill went up to her spine at the sound of his voice. She had thought about him a lot, which was quite unusual of her.
