“I feel well-rested, thank you. What can I help you with?” She asked, determined to take on her role.
Beuna stepped back from the stove in surprise. The timid girl from the night before was gone, and the woman who stood in the kitchen this morning was stronger, more determined, and more confident. “If you are sure, you can lay the things for the coffee.” Rosaline could see that the woman was both impressed and taken aback as she smiled at her.
She let Buena show her where everything was, but took it upon herself to pour the water into the kettle that hung over the fire and spoon the coffee grounds into the pot.
The cabinet that stood behind where she had been sitting the day before held a China set with blue patterns of windmills and farms.
She carefully took them out and placed them beside the plates that Buena had already set, taking extra care to note where everything was so she could do it on her own the following day.
Her pulse began to race at the sound of approaching feet. She knew that Arthur was already out in the yard. She’d heard him this morning when he’d gone into the nursery and greeted Robbie and Buena.
Thomas came into the kitchen. She immediately noticed that he’d trimmed his beard and slicked back his hair with a comb. He cut a dashing picture in a clean shirt, and the only thing amiss was the dark rings around his eyes. He looked as though he’d had a rough night. It made her wonder if he’d been out drinking.
Arthur had explained all of her prospective husband’s habits in the letters.
“Good morning,” he greeted hesitantly as he took his chair.
Rosaline brushed a tendril of hair behind her ear and pulled herself together. “Good morning,” she smiled. “The coffee is almost ready.”
She saw the same look of surprise on his face that she had seen on Buena’s.
“I hope you slept well,” he asked slowly.
“Like a baby,” she said as they held each other's gaze for a moment. She thought she could see a look of relief in his eyes. He’d been worrying about her.
Something had changed in the space of a night. His manners towards her were no longer gruff and dismissive.
She blushed and looked away before busying herself with the coffee. The rich aroma that filled the kitchen let her know that it was almost ready.
If she was going to impress him, there wasn’t any time to examine her feelings.
The coffee was brewing nicely over the fire as she up the mutton cloth that hung on the wall next to the hearth before carefully lifting the pot from its hook and carrying it over to the table.
She removed the lid from the porcelain pot she’d taken from the cupboard along with the cups, and filtered the coffee through a cloth, catching the coffee grounds as the dark liquid flowed through and into the pot.
Once all of the coffee was filtered she returned the kettle to the fire and took the pot to the table to pour a cup for Thomas. She smiled as she passed him the cup, his fingers momentarily brushing against hers as he accepted it.
His hands were rough and callused from years of working on the ranch.
She turned away and tucked her hair behind her ears, flustered from the small but intimate touch.
Buena had finished cooking the breakfast and called out the back door for Arthur to come in.
Rosaline took her place and waited for the others to join them, averting her gaze deliberately from Thomas. She couldn't control the beating of her heart whenever their eyes met.
Arthur came in and took his place before leading them once more in prayer.
Over breakfast, a livelier atmosphere prevailed than that of the evening before. Thomas had even joined in the conversation a few times, contrary to last night when he’d kept his mouth closed and his eyes on his plate. She was beginning to feel more at ease in his presence as she caught glimpses of a man who wasn’t as gruff as he had made himself out to be.
They finished their breakfast and Rosaline helped Buena clear the table as the men sat and finished their coffee.
Buena announced that she was going to see to Robbie when they were done. “You are welcome to come and help me, dear,” she addressed Rosaline when they were done washing up. “Unless you’d like to use the morning to get to know the place?”
Rosaline was about to reply, when to her great surprise, Thomas cut in.
“Actually, I was wondering if Rosaline would like to come and take a walk with me,” he suggested. “There is something I would like to discuss with her.
The kitchen was silent as Arthur and Buena exchanged hopeful glances.
