She wrestled with herself for a few minutes. The house only had two bedrooms. Was she selfish enough to confine Cody to the floor indefinitely? It didn’t seem fair. But when she thought of sharing the bed, her palms turned clammy.
A light snore interrupted her thoughts. Deep, even breathing came from the foot of the bed. He must have fallen asleep.
Ella relaxed. No decision had to be made tonight. She could ponder it more later. Maybe now she could fall asleep too.
But sleep wouldn’t come. She sighed, letting her thoughts wander. After the wedding, her panic hit strong and hard. Knowing that she now belonged to another scared her. But in her heart, she knew she made the right decision—not only for herself, but for her new family. She’d seen the way Cody’s tension melted after the preacher pronounced them husband and wife. He carried a heavy load on his own. If she could help lift it, she’d do so happily. And she already felt an attachment to her new children.
A little alarm in her head warned against letting down her guard, but she tried to ignore it. If this marriage was going to work, she needed to attempt trusting her husband, and she had to gain his trust in return.
Ella stifled a sigh. That wouldn’t be easy, not for her. Trust had to be earned. Though Cody showed signs of being a good man, and though he had Travis and Cassie’s approval, Ella’s fear of men ran deep. Howard had ensured that.
A tear escaped.Why did I allow myself to stay in such a horrible situation?Tori often told her she needed to grow a backbone, but Ella hadn’t been able to. Her one act of defiance had been leaving home and traveling to Harmony Springs. And that only happened because she feared for her life. Shoving the memories away, Ella turned her focus elsewhere.
This house had been a sweet surprise. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but it wasn’t this. Cassie had mentioned her brother built the house for her, and Ella could see the feminine touches that had to have come from her sister-in-law. While the structure of the home itself was solid and pleasing to the eye, the details inside revealed a woman had lived there. Lacy curtains hung at the windows, nicely upholstered furniture decorated the rooms, and pretty carpets accented the hardwood floors.
Most likely, the barn was just as well built. She’d have to explore it tomorrow.
An odd noise sounded over Cody’s breathing. She sat up, straining her ears. A whimper. From the children’s room? Ella pushed the blankets aside and set her feet on the floor. She nearly gasped at the cold. Back in Boston, servants kept the fires stoked to ward off the winter’s chill. Here, things were different. Though she didn’t remember it being so chilly at Travis and Cassie’s home. But she’d also never gotten out of bed in the middle of the night.
Shivering, she headed out the door to the next room. Addie sat in her crib, sniffling. When she saw Ella, she reached up her arms.
Ella lifted the child. “What’s the matter, sweetie?” she whispered.
Addie gnawed on her fingers. Another whimper passed her little lips. The child’s gums must still bother her. She wrapped the baby in a warm blanket before making her way to the stairs.
The dark discombobulated her. Ella had no idea where matches might be to light a lamp. She moved slowly, one hand in front of her to make sure she didn’t crash into anything. It didn’t take long to find the kitchen. By then, her eyes had adjusted to the dark. She found a pitcher of water and a rag. Dipping a finger into the liquid, she found it to be cold. Ella soaked the rag, wrung it out, then offered it to Addie. The child chomped on the cloth.
Exhaustion filtered through Ella’s limbs. She made her way back upstairs. Cody’s gentle breathing remained deep and even. Ella crawled under the warmth of the covers and tucked Addie in beside her.
Tomorrow, her life as a rancher’s wife began.
CHAPTER 7
Icy cold woke Cody. He groaned, his body wracked with shivers and his neck stiff. Why was he so numb?
Slowly, events from the night before flashed through his mind. Dinner at Cassie and Travis’s. Telling Travis he intended to take a wife. Ella offering herself for the role. Their wedding.
And his new sleeping arrangement on the floor. Cody glanced at the grate. Stone cold. No wonder he couldn’t feel his legs. He struggled to his feet, hopping in place to get his blood pumping.
His new wife roused. She looked around, confusion shadowing her face. Then her gaze landed on him, and she sucked in a breath. “Oh. I guess it wasn’t a dream.”
One side of Cody’s lips twitched. “No, ma’am.”
She eyed him, pulling the blankets up to her shoulders. “You’re cold.”
There was no denying her simple observation. Cody nodded once, reaching for his warm flannel overshirt. “It’ll be better once I start the fires.”
Ella ran a hand through her tangled hair. “Will you show me how?”
He paused, one arm halfway through the sleeve of his shirt. “You?”
She slid from the bed, wincing when her feet touched the icy hardwood, though she tried to hide her shock. “Yes. It’s something I have to learn, isn’t it? You’ll be out on the range during the day. The fires won’t keep themselves going.” She turned back, tucking the covers around something. A tiny baby sigh escaped the blankets. Addie?
Ella turned toward him. “She was uncomfortable during the night. Her gums hurt. I decided to keep her with me.”
Why did she sound defensive? He held up his hands. “Fine by me.”
She stared at him a moment. A little smile soon tugged at her lips. “You’re different.”
