“What made you think that? It could have been any of the boys.”
It was Bella’s turn to giggle. “Yes, but Andrew is the one who is sweet on you. So it made sense he would do something special like this for you.”
Emma grinned. “I don’t know that he is sweet on me, but he is very kind and understanding.” She started walking back up the path that led to the house. “We’d better hurry. Fay and Rebecca are waiting to fit your wedding dress.”
Bella groaned. The thought of spending more time being stuck with pins and told to stand up tall made her want to run back to the outhouse.
As if she could read her mind, Emma teased, “Don’t even think about going back to the outhouse.”
Bella discovered that the afternoon hadn’t been so bad after all. The three women worked on her dress while the children played outside. The men went about their chores and things seemed to settle down a bit. Perhaps it was because Emma had pulled the other two ladies aside and explained Bella’s feelings.
As soon as the dress was complete, the four women began to make dinner. The beans had been on the stove most of the day and the roast in the oven, so all they had to do was make the potatoes and other vegetables. Joy loved making cookies. She and Emma had made a fresh batch that morning, so even dessert was prepared.
Bella found herself looking up the road for Philip’s return. He’d gone to tell his brother and sister-in-law that they were getting married. If he didn’t hurry back, he was going to miss his own wedding.
Anxiety hit her like a punch in the stomach. Had he left for good? Was he planning on coming back? Bella told herself she was being ridiculous, but the sudden fear was very real. She hated being this dependent on another person. Maybe she should talk to Philip about getting a job in town, once they were married. Would he go for such a thing? Or would he want his wife to stay home and pretend that theirs was a real marriage?
Philip, Josephine and Hazel arrived at the Young farm a little before dusk. He was thankful that the women had agreed to ride their own horses instead of bringing a wagon. It would have taken much longer to get back if they had brought the wagon.
Caleb spotted him and came running. “Philip! You came back!”
He dropped from the horse. “Of course I came back.”
Caleb stubbed his toe against a small rock and sent it sailing across the yard. “Well, I wasn’t so sure you’d be back.”
Philip kneeled down in front of the little boy. Mark ran up to stand beside his brother. “As long as the Lord will allow me to live and breathe, I will never leave you.” He pulled both boys into a hug.
“I told you he’d come back,” Benjamin said, coming to a halt beside them. “Hi, Aunt Josephine, Aunt Hazel.”
Both women slid off the backs of their horses. “Hello, Benjamin.” Josephine gave him a hug.
When she released him, Hazel grabbed the boy. “Benny Young. You have got to stop growing.” His head came to her chest. She released him, then turned her attention to the other two boys. “You must be Caleb and Mark.”
At their nods, Philip made the introductions. “Boys, this is your aunt Josephine and aunt Hazel.”
“Oh, Philip, they are adorable.” Josephine smiled down at them.
“Now, Josephine, don’t embarrass the boys. I want you to meet Bella, so let’s head to the house.” Philip handed the horses’ reins to Benjamin. “Do you mind taking care of the horses for us, Benny?”
“Naw, we’ll take care of them. Won’t we, fellas?”
Caleb and Mark nodded eagerly. Philip watched them lead the horses into the barn. It broke his heart that the boys hadn’t thought he’d come back. Had the same thought crossed Bella’s mind? He hoped not.
Philip opened the door for the ladies and then followed them inside. The smell of roast and potatoes greeted his hungry belly and it growled its approval.
Bella came through the kitchen door with a wide grin. Her hair looked a little mussed and her checks red. Was that joy he saw in her eyes? Had she missed him?
Don’t kid yourself, Phil. Your family is overwhelming and she’s simply happy to see a familiar face, he told himself.
He stepped around Josephine and Hazel. “Bella, I’d like you to meet my sister in-law, Josephine, and our next-door neighbor Hazel. Ladies, this beautiful young woman is my future wife, Bella.”
Bella stepped up beside him and grabbed his hand. She held on as if she was drowning.
Philip looked down at her, puzzled. Her eyes had gone from joy to wariness in the few moments it had taken him to make the introductions. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Oh, we are so happy to meet you,” Josephine said as she offered Bella a quick hug.
Hazel stood back and eyed the younger woman. She gently pulled Josephine back. “Josie, give the girl some breathing room. She looks like she might just pass out from all this attention.”
Bella squared her shoulders and smiled tightly. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
Josephine’s expression said she didn’t understand why there was so much tension in the room. Philip didn’t really understand it, either. What was wrong with Bella?
She squeezed his hand tighter. “I’m sorry. I guess I should have warned Philip that I’m not very good around a lot of people. The last couple of days have been a little stressful for me. It’s not you. I just...”
Hazel smiled. “Girl, there is no reason to explain. There’s nothing wrong with you. I don’t care much for crowds myself. That’s why I live on the outskirts instead of in town.”
“Is that Hazel’s voice I hear out here?” Rebecca asked, coming through the kitchen door. She wiped her hands on her apron and hurried into the room for hugs.
Philip watched Bella’s face. He noted the tightness around her mouth and the paleness of her skin. Gently he tugged on her hand. In a soft voice he asked, “Would you like to go with me to the barn to check on the boys?”
“That would be lovely.” She sighed. Relief washed away a little of the tightness on her face.
The other women were busy catching up as they hugged each other and oohed over new hairstyles and dresses. “If you ladies will excuse us, Bella and I are going to go check on the boys.”
“You kids go on,” Hazel said, smiling at them with understanding.
Rebecca called over her shoulder, “Hurry back. Philip, we still need to make sure that your suit will fit.”
“Ma, I’m not wearing a suit.” Philip propelled Bella from the house.
Bella giggled. “Do you really think you are going to get out of wearing a suit to your wedding?”
“Yep. I hate being trussed up in layers of clothes. I’m going to wear my jeans, boots and a new shirt. It’s blue. I got it while we were in Dove Creek.” He winked at her and headed away from the barn and toward the creek.
“I thought we were going to the barn.”
“We were, but now that I know she wants me to hurry back, I think I’ll go somewhere else.” Philip grabbed her hand and made a run for the tree line.
Bella laughed as they cleared the yard. “You are a mess, Philip Young.”
He slowed down but continued to hold on to her hand. “How were things while I was gone?” Philip realized that he’d taken Bella from the house so fast that she didn’t have time to get her coat. He released her hand, slipped out of his coat