company, that’s all I ask. The days will be yours to do as you please. You would not have to cook or clean house that is all taken care of.’ Where was Too Gum he wondered, both he and the dogs seem to have disappeared. He looked about him but turned back abruptly at the sound of her laughter.
‘What are you laughing at?’
‘Well here we are we have sat and poured out our souls to each other, you have asked me to marry you and I don’t even know your name.’
He extended his hand in mock solemnity, ‘Helmut Kruger, Miss, pleased to make your acquaintance.’
She looked at this kindly man and wondered can I entrust the rest of my life to him. But what is the alternative, to always live in someone else’s house never my own and be nothing more than a paid employee. Here he is offering me independence and self esteem plus a chance to pursue my interests. But what of love, is that not important. She quickly pushed that thought to the back of her mind she would never feel love for a man again after John.
‘Pleased to make your acquaintance Mr Kruger, I would be honored to accept your offer of ‘marriage’.’
At that instance he wanted to shout and laugh and tell the whole world but no he knew one wrong move now and he would lose her. He could tell she was still a little hesitant and indecisive.
‘May I call you Katherine, or do you prefer Kate or Katie.’
‘I have always been called Katherine.’ Only John had called her his Kate and that was a part of him that she could never share.
‘Well then Katherine we have a bargain and for my part I am delighted. I don’t want to put any pressure on you but I really have to get back to the farm so I suggest that we go back into town now and get married immediately. We can collect your things from the Doctor’s house and take everything back in one trip. Is that all right with you or would you rather stay in town until I return in the spring?’
She briefly hesitated and then said, No I really don’t want to presume on any one any more I would prefer to go back with you now.’
‘Good, then I will apply for a marriage license immediately we get there and while we wait for that we can collect your things and I would suggest you make a list of anything that you think that you will require. It gets very cold in the winter so make sure you have ample warm clothes. I will go to the bank and open an account for you and please feel free to get whatever you need.’
‘Thank you, I do have a little money of my own I am sure it will be enough for my needs.’
‘I will still open an account. If you don’t want to use it at the moment that’s fine by me. Whatever you decide to do with it that is entirely your business. Do you have a great many things to collect by the way?’
She smiled, ‘you may wish you had never asked me to marry you when you see how much there is. There is a large scotch chest, several cases and a piano.’
‘You’re telling me that you play the piano?’
‘I play, but not very well.’
‘I am sure you play beautifully, it will be a pleasure to hear you play in the evenings.’
‘Oh, I nearly forgot, I also have a canary, the doctor’s wife gave him to me she thought he might cheer me up. Would you mind if I brought him too?’
He let out such a roar of laughter that it startled her. ‘I’m sorry, if you rather I leave him behind…’
‘No, no that’s not it. I am just trying to imagine what Jeremiah will say about it.’
‘Jeremiah! I thought you lived alone?’
‘Jeremiah is a ginger tom cat, a very ugly tom cat.’
‘You own a cat called Jeremiah.’
‘No I don’t own him he owns me and lets me share the house with him in return I have to feed him and provide him with a fire in the winter.’
She laughed and felt a little less disquieted about marrying him. She knew from experience that people who treated animals well were usually kind to people as well.
‘Lets get going shall we, Too Gum, Moss, Bing, where have you all got to?’
‘We here, we pack up now?’
‘Yes we will pack up now but we have to return to town.’
Thinking that they were going to return the woman Too Gum set about loading the wagon.
‘We may have to stay a few days; Miss Marchant has agreed to marry me.’
Too Gum stopped what he was doing and stared at the ground. Helmut looked at him, and realized that he was about to cry. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Me velly pleased that you have such fine lady for wife but you have no need now of cook and housekeeper.’
‘I have already agreed that you should come with me I haven’t changed my mind,’ he turned and winked at Katherine and continued, ‘I’m sure she can’t cook as good as you.’
He was rewarded with a smile from ear to ear. Then in his usual precise methodical way Too Gum set about loading up. They lapsed into silence on the return trip as if each had suddenly became aware of the enormity of what they were about to embark on. Yet it wasn’t a tense silence, just a companionable silence.
It was noon when they arrived. It had been agreed that they would stop by the river and Too Gum would be left in charge of the cart and animals. Meanwhile Helmut and Katherine would walk the last half mile into town. He left Katherine at the general store with strict instructions to get whatever she needed. He then went and arranged for a marriage license after which he made his way to the bank but was stopped by a voice calling him.
‘Helmut, Helmut.’
He turned to see his friend James coming behind him. ‘James I was about to come and see you shortly. I was just on my way to the bank.’
‘I thought you left yesterday.’
‘I did but there have been certain developments and I had to come back.’ He wasn’t sure how to go about telling him he was going to get married in three days time to a woman he had only met last night. ‘Do you think that I could stay with you and Jean for a couple of nights?’ Katherine had already said she would stay at the doctor’s house. She was sure that they wouldn’t mind.
‘Well of course you can, is something wrong?’
‘No nothing is wrong just the opposite actually. But I would like to tell the both of you at the same time, so I will talk to you both this evening.’
‘Can we expect you for a meal? You know Jean; she loves to cook for you. She thinks you don’t feed yourself properly.’
‘Jean wouldn’t be happy until I was the same size as you.’
‘You are right there.’
Being an astute judge of character James knew that his friend was holding something back.
‘If
