Nate and John talked about farming while Branch quietly ate. Lucy sat on one side of him and Theo on the other, with Katherine at the end of the table and John at the head.
Branch was grateful for the machinations put in play that ended with him seated by Lucy. Her fragrance of nutmeg and roses was an enchanting combination, because it smelled feminine and also of home.
Wiggling beside him drew his gaze around to Theo, who was eating his meal quietly, but with a hearty appetite. The lad was full of restlessness that, according to Lucy, only quieted when he was asleep.
“Did you find any interesting bugs today, Theo?” Branch asked, leaning close to the boy.
Theo glanced up at him and smiled. The child’s hair was standing up every which way, as though it had never made an acquaintance with a comb, and his nose was slightly red on the end from so much time out in the sun, but his pleasure at being at the farm was unmistakable.
And why wouldn’t Theo enjoy being there? Any active boy would likely prefer the adventures of farm life to being stuck in a shop in town where his outdoor activities were limited to working in their small garden or accompanying his mother or sister to the market.
It was a shame Theo couldn’t remain at the farm. Branch had a notion the boy would thrive here. Lucy had once mentioned Theo wanted to be a soldier or a farmer, depending on the day. Branch had no doubt the full measure of being on the farm would tip the scales toward the profession of the child’s grandfather in short order.
“Grandpapa and I found a …” Theo paused, as though he searched his thoughts for the word. He scrunched up his face and looked skyward, then finally turned his gaze to Branch. “What do you call it when something, like a bug, is dead, and the body is left behind?”
“A carcass?”
“Yes! That’s it! Grandpapa and I found a carcass of a bug. It was enormous with a black body, and red eyeballs, and orange wings. Grandpapa said they made a terrible lot of noise for the whole month of June, but then they disappeared. He said the last time he remembers seeing them, Lucy was a baby. When we found it, I picked it up, and it looked like this.” Theo rolled his eyes back in his head, stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth, and flung his arms akimbo as he slumped in his chair.
Branch couldn’t help but laugh, causing Lucy to look at him and then at Theo.
“Theodore! That is not at all proper for the dinner table,” she said in a tone heavy with disapproval, although Branch saw humor in her eyes.
“Aw, Luce! I was just telling Branch about finding that ol’ bug.” Theo looked down at his plate, clearly unhappy at being taken to task for his theatrics.
Branch knew that feeling well, so he patted Theo’s shoulder and winked when the boy looked up at him.
Theo’s good humor and appetite were quickly restored, and conversation around the table resumed.
When everyone had eaten their fill, Lucy rose and retrieved a large plate that had been set to the side. Branch was certain he couldn’t eat another bite until he realized it was a tansey pudding, as Sarah always called them. Instead of serving it with cream, though, Lucy sprinkled sugar and a little nutmeg over the top before she cut it into wedges, like a pie, and served it.
Branch cut into his with enthusiasm and finished it before Theo had taken two bites.
“Would you like more?” Lucy asked with a raised brow, looking at him with a knowing smile. She seemed to be aware of his sweet tooth.
“I would. It was delicious.” Branch held his plate out to her, and she slid another slice onto it.
“Lucy made it,” Katherine volunteered, smiling at Branch in a way that might have made him nervous if he hadn’t already realized she was quite interested in seeing if something developed between him and Lucy.
He hoped she wouldn’t be terribly disappointed when nothing did. At least not now. Lucy was still so young, and Branch was deeply involved in the war. He had no time for proper courting or caring for a wife.
Perhaps in time, he and Lucy might come to an agreement, but it wouldn’t be any time soon.
Branch leaned back and drew in a deep breath, his nose filling with Lucy’s soft scent.
Then again, putting off happiness when he could die any day didn’t seem particularly wise either.
The intelligent thing to do would be to discuss matters with Lucy.
Yet, he didn’t want to encumber her, especially since this time with her grandparents was precious to both her and Theo. He just wanted her to enjoy her visit, not be weighed down with heavy thoughts.
Determined to relax and enjoy the evening, Branch drew in another breath and slowly released it, then let the tenseness in his shoulder float away on the evening breeze. He loved being out in the country, where it was peaceful and clean and fresh. It was also several degrees cooler than it had been in Philadelphia. The bricks, of which so many buildings were constructed in the city, seemed to hold the heat and radiate it off the cobblestone streets.
“Lucy, why don’t you take a stroll with Branch. It’s been a while since he’s been to the farm to visit. You could show him the improvements I’ve made in my flower garden,” Katherine said, attempting to appear far more innocent than Branch knew her to be.
However, since Katherine was pushing him toward Lucy and he had no objection to that, he nodded and stood. “Miss Carlson, might you accompany me for an amble among your grandmother’s posies?” He held a hand out to Lucy.
She looked up at him with a mixture of mirth and mischief in her eyes, her enticing mouth turned up in the barest hint of a smile. “I suppose I could tolerate your company well enough to accomplish the task.”
