opened her arms. Simon released his hold on Nora, and his mother hugged her close. Over Nora’s shoulder, however, Ma’s gaze was narrowed at him. If that was the worst he had to deal with, he would survive. His family had certainly had more reasons to complain about him in the past.
Beth set a place for Nora, and everyone shifted around so Nora could sit next to Simon at his customary place on the bench facing the window. She was smiling again, her cheeks rosy with pleasure at their attentions. Whatever trouble he’d had with his family over the years, he knew they would be kinder to Nora than her brother and sister-in-law had been.
It was him they had the most trouble with.
Everyone had just settled down, with Beth and their mother bringing in the food from the kitchen, when James returned from the barn.
“What did I miss?” he asked, taking a seat beside Rina.
“Simon and Nora are married,” his wife told him.
James tilted his head to one side as if shaking something out of his ear. “I must have spent too much time logging today. The crack of the ax has addled my hearing. I thought you said Simon got married.”
“I did,” Simon gritted out, readying himself for an endless barrage of his brother’s teases. “Nora is my wife.”
James rose and extended his hand across the table to her. “Welcome to the family, Nora. It’s refreshing to find one of us who knows his mind when it comes to brides.”
“Yes,” Catherine said with a look around him to Rina. “We did have to do a bit of convincing to help you see the value of marriage.”
James sat back down. “At least Levi didn’t have to kidnap me a bride.”
Drew flushed.
James leaned back. “Indeed, Simon always knows what he’s doing. You must be someone special, Nora, for him to ask you to marry him.”
“Actually,” Nora said, “I asked him.”
James blinked.
“Simon,” Drew put in, his voice catching on a laugh, “say the blessing so we can eat.”
Normally, his brother’s habit of ordering them around grated on Simon’s nerves. But the honor of saying grace usually fell to Ma or Drew. That his brother had given it to him meant something.
He just wasn’t sure what.
Everyone around the table bowed their heads and clasped their hands before them expectantly. He’d heard ministers recite a common prayer before a meal, but his family generally simply prayed about whatever was on their minds. They most likely wouldn’t want to hear what was on his mind at that moment—relief that his confession was over, concern for the future—and he wasn’t so sure his thoughts were fit for the Almighty’s ears either. Then again, it wasn’t as if He listened overmuch to Simon’s petitions. Still, he bowed his head.
“Thank You for this food, Lord, for the seed it grew from and the land that nurtured it. Thank You for the strength to harvest it and cook it. May it be a blessing to our bodies. Amen.”
Amens echoed around the table, and his family began passing the porcelain tureen of venison stew, the platter of biscuits, the pat of butter and jar of apple preserves. He could feel Nora relaxing beside him, her shoulders coming down, her head easing up.
“So,” James said, digging his fork into the stew, “you asked Simon to marry you. I like a woman with gumption.”
Rina smiled as she cut a piece of venison in two, knife and fork held properly.
Nora wrinkled her nose. “I don’t have a lot of gumption, I fear. I’m just glad he agreed.” She favored Simon with a smile that made everything taste better.
“You came with the Mercer Expedition,” Drew put in. “What made you join the ladies in venturing West?”
“I wanted to live my own life,” Nora replied. “Perhaps find a little adventure.”
“And so you married Simon,” James said triumphantly. “Excellent choice. Always the adventurer, that’s our Simon.”
Simon glared at him. “I’ll leave the adventure to those who act first and regret it later.”
Catherine passed Nora the platter. “More biscuits, Nora? You’ll find that Levi has the lightest hand.”
Down the table, Levi cocked a smile. “Ma taught me well.”
Ma smiled too. “I taught all my children to cook.” She nodded to Nora. “But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t welcome new recipes or another hand in the kitchen.”
“I’d be happy to help,” Nora said.
Given what she’d faced with her brother, Simon wasn’t about to see her forced into labor again. Not that his family was demanding in that way. They all shared the chores, and help was received gladly. But Nora found it hard to say no, and he feared she’d soon find herself overwhelmed with their requests.
“Nora plans to continue working,” Simon advised them all. “She has commissions she must meet.”
“Like my new waistcoat,” James agreed, reaching for another biscuit.
“I’m sure I’ll have time for other things,” Nora said with a look to Simon.
He’d have to advise her about his family later. For now, he let the conversation veer off to other things and finished eating.
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