“You’re right, Daniel,” Jimmy admitted ruefully. “I should have said no when she asked to help with the fence posts. I did, actually, but I should have insisted.” He sighed regretfully and Daniel saw the remorse on his face, “I was having difficulty in fixing that part of the broken fence where those critters try to harm our livestock. Ruth was taking a walk past the fence, and she held the post so I could affix the barbed wire to it. She did a good job …” his voice trailed away.
“It’s alright, Jimmy,” Daniel patted him on his shoulder, “she can be stubborn and I’m sure you tried your best. She just can’t takenofor an answer when it comes to pitching in.” Daniel was aware that Ruth tended to help wherever she could even if it was outside her normal duties.
“I’m surprised, Daniel,” Jimmy looked amused and rubbed the back of his neck. “You seem relaxed and happier around her.”
“What do you mean?” Daniel’s expression sobered as he watched Jimmy.
“You just seem happier,” Jimmy remarked with a small shrug, his eyes darting to the corner of the barn. “It’s good to you smile again, that’s all.”
Daniel cleared his throat, “I’m just happy that there is someone to look after Matthew, and she is doing a good job of it. Matthew has taken quite a liking to her.”
“Yes,” Jimmy grinned at Daniel. “I think she’s doing a fine job, and I sure do agree that Matthew has cottoned to her.”
Muse snorted and rolled on her side. Jimmy knew that her time was getting closer. Twenty minutes later, the birthing of the foal began with the appearance of the first small hoof.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jimmy beamed from his position crouching by the mare’s side. He was at the ready in case Muse came to any difficulty, or if the foal should experience distress.
“She’s settled in now, hasn’t she?” Daniel observed. “Do you think she is happy here? It’s all new to her.”
“Huh?” Jimmy asked in confusion. He frowned, one brow raised and asked, “Are you talking about Muse or Ruth?”
“Ruth, of course,” Daniel responded as if it should have been obvious. “Do you think Ruth is happy here?”
“She looks happy to me,” Jimmy surmised with a shrug. “I don’t see why she wouldn’t be. You’ve given her more than she probably expected.”
Daniel was silent, comforted by Jimmy’s encouragement. He wanted Ruth to be happy at the ranch; he wanted her to call it home. It must have been difficult for her to leave the only life she knew. He remembered when he left Pennsylvania and returned to the ranch. Although he had grown up at the ranch it had been hard to leave the life he had established for himself, and he missed Mary Jane. She had been very dear to him and Ruth reminded him of her, yet they were so different.
He was glad that he let her stay at the ranch. She was thoughtful, kind, and very good with Matthew. Daniel rubbed his face with both hands. What was he thinking? He couldn’t think such things. She looked after Matthew and that was all, nothing more.
Chapter Thirteen
“Oh, Ruth,” Elizabeth clucked, looking troubled. “I don’t know what you were thinking.” She dabbed gauze soaked in diluted phenol on Ruth’s blistered hands. “I know you had good intentions but look at your hands; Jimmy should have given you gloves. I can bandage your hands. They should be fine in a day or two.”
Ruth felt a bit silly sitting at the kitchen table having Elizabeth minister to her hands. Elizabeth was gentle, but Ruth was remembering Daniel’s concern when he examined her hands in the barn. She recalled the feeling of his hands touching hers, which caused a flush even now.
Elizabeth shook her head again. “Maybe next time you’ll think about gloves first.”
“Elizabeth, I’ll be fine, but I promise to wear gloves next time,” Ruth assured her. “Thank you for tending to me.” She tilted her head, listening, and heard a baby’s sleepy cry. “It sounds like Matthew is awake; I better go to him,” she smiled and thanked Elizabeth again before heading upstairs.
She didn’t think helping Jimmy was such a big deal. She used to help her father all the time around the ranch, and her heart tugged painfully at the memory of him. She missed him dearly. Ruth accepted he was gone, but the pain of his death was still fresh in her heart. She remembered God’s word in Matthew 5:4,“Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.”
She found Matthew standing in the crib rubbing his eyes, and when he saw her his face lit up.
“It’s about time you woke up,” Ruth teased and gently chucked his chubby cheek. He giggled and caught her finger in his fist. She picked him up, wincing a bit as she felt her palms sting as she propped Matthew on her hip. Perhaps her days of vigorous ranch work were over, and Elizabeth was right to scold her. She enjoyed helping, but also realized she wouldn’t be able to look after Matthew if she had scrapes and splinters on her hands half the time.
Daniel, Ruth thought, and blushed. He’d asked her to call him by his first name, which caused a thrill to run through her. And yet, she was just Matthew’s nursemaid—would it be appropriate to call Daniel by his first name? Then again, both Elizabeth and Jimmy called him by his name, but they had known Daniel for years. She gave herself a mental shake and decided she would just need to become accustomed to saying his first name without feeling shy.
After washing Matthew’s hands and face, she held his small hand and helped him down the stairs to the dining room. She placed Matthew in his high chair and gave him some wooden blocks to play with as she pulled up a chair beside him.
Ruth Daniel and Jimmy conversing as they entered the house. They were both beaming, and Ruth guessed the birth of the foal went well. They were full of excitement and pride, and Ruth caught up on the good news as they took their seats at the table. As Elizabeth set the food out, Ruth noticed that she placed a crystal glass at Daniel’s place, along with a bottle of whiskey.
“Elizabeth,” Daniel stopped her as she bustled about the dining room. “Just water for me, please. You can remove the bottle.”
Elizabeth looked surprised, but she grinned. “You bet I will!” She removed the whiskey bottle and within minutes had replaced it with a pitcher of fresh water.
“Da-da-da,” Matthew babbled, stretching his arms out to Daniel, who came over and hugged him tightly.
“Hello, my boy!” Daniel beamed, and for a brief moment his eyes met Ruth’s, which made her stomach flip when she saw the twinkle there. He kissed Matthew’s cheek before taking his seat at the table.
