Clover caught the glint of laughter in Molly’s eyes and grinned. “At last,” she cried, clapping her hands together and doing a brief jig around the kitchen.
“Best not do too much of that, or your man will be thinking you are tippling.”
“You cannot know how badly I needed a success.” She hugged Molly, laughing at the woman’s wary expression. “I was beginning to fear I would never get it right,” she said as she put her bread on the cutting board.
“I do not think I have ever seen anyone be so delighted over one bleeding loaf of bread—well, save for them what be starving.”
“‘Tis not the bread really, ‘tis the success. I have been here a month and it seemed I would never get anything right. Oh, I have gotten close, but never from start to finish all on my own. This shows me that if I stick with it, I can succeed.”
“I understand,” Molly said as she started to set lunch out on the table. “Still, you expect too much too fast. You were not raised to this life—I was. Truth is, I have been surprised that you are learning asfast as you are.” She looked at Clover. “Or that you keep at it when most women of your class would have given up.”
“But I am no longer of that class.”
“True, but most folk cling to old ways. If you stop fretting so, I wager it will come easier. Sweet Lord, girl, do you really think I never make a mistake?”
“I have not seen one yet.”
“Well, I be trying too hard to be perfect.” She grinned when Clover laughed. “No, ‘tis just luck. Once you learn the basics, I will be showing you the tricks I have learned to hide mistakes. Things like how to patch that shirt you done scrubbed a hole in.”
“Oh, you saw that, did you? It was silly, but I was reluctant to ask you how to get that stain out. I am forever asking you how to do things.”
“Good thing you did not waste your time. I saw that stain and knew there would be no getting it out. The shirt can be mended, and I know I will not have to be showing you how to do that. Now go and ring that dinner bell.”
Clover stepped out on the front veranda and clanged the bell. She smiled faintly as she watched everyone gather. She had only a brief sight of her mother, for the woman always went in the kitchen door and straight up to her room to prepare herself for the meal. The twins went to the pump to wash up just like the men. She watched Lambert and Shelton exchange splashes with the twins and Ballard genially scolded all four of them. Ballard was good with the twins, patient yet firm, and the boys had clearly made him their hero.
“Do not run in the house,” she reminded her brothers as they dashed past her. She had to bite back asmile when she saw Lambert and Shelton immediately slow their pace.
Ballard draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into the house, regarding her in a way that made her blush. Without words he told her he was recalling their earlier lovemaking. He grinned at the fleeting embarrassment she could not hide and she slipped free, hurrying to help Molly finish setting out the dishes.
She watched carefully as everyone ate. Her bread disappeared quickly and she savored a secret sense of accomplishment. Clover knew the quality of her cooking would never become the be-all and end-all of her life, but this first success was important.
“One of the local lads stopped ‘round this morning,” Ballard announced between mouthfuls of Molly’s apple cake. “The spring get-together is planned for a fortnight from this Saturday. There will be dancing and drinking and a fine table of food.”
“And some fighting,” murmured Shelton.
“Ye shouldnae give the ladies such ideas, lad.” Ballard smiled faintly at a frowning Agnes. “There may be a set-to, but ‘tis usually a small fracas, quickly subdued. Folk come to enjoy themselves and dinnae want trouble.”
“Can we go, Ballard?” asked Damien.
“‘Tis up to your mother, laddie.”
Agnes briefly dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “Are children allowed?”
“We are not children,” protested Damien.
“Here now, laddie, ye shouldnae speak to your mother that way. ‘Tisnae respectful, or kind either.”
Damien flushed. “I am sorry, Mama.”
“Much better. And aye, Agnes, they allow children,”Ballard said. “Most folk out here must take their bairns or leave them home alone.”
“Well then, the twins shall go,” Agnes said, smiling when the boys cheered.
“Is it not a rather busy time of year to have a celebration?” Clover asked.
“Verra busy, but ‘tis one reason we started having this revel. By then most folk have done all their planting and have earned a wee bit of fun. Aye, and we like to visit after the winter.”
“Of course. I forgot how far apart people are out here. ‘Tis not like in town where you sometimes see far more of a person than you care to. Where is the get-together held?”
