I am up early Sunday morning. Figure I should get a head start on wood. There is some scouting around and I find some dead trees that don't take much effort to bring down. Then the pickup is loaded. An old saw for now. A chainsaw when I can afford it. Soon I'm shirtless and splitting wood. I notice at some point; Anna is standing there watching me with two coffee cups.
"Come here Sugar and take a break."
Coffee sounds mighty good, but not before I have some of Anna's lips.
Anna says.
"Bring some of that wood inside and I'll get the wood stove going. Breakfast will follow soon after."
So, I do, and Anna gets busy in the kitchen. I return to my wood chopping. Lily comes out, still in pajamas with a large glass of milk. She plops down and watches. The sweat is rolling down me in rivers. Anna brings me more coffee and I take a break.
Lily talks.
"Chuck, do you love my momma?"
That kind of caught me off-guard,
but I answer.
"Yes, Lily I do love your momma."
Lily thinks for a moment and asks.
"Do you love me too?"
I know the answer is important. So, I say.
"Yup, I love you just as much as I love your momma."
This makes her smile.
I really wasn't ready for her next question.
"You two gonna get me some brothers or sisters?"
I stopped and sat down next to Lily and answered.
"I don't know the answer to that Lily. But I hope so."
She was happy with that, and we sat together in silence for a bit.
Not long after, Anna calls us in for breakfast. There was sausage and eggs with toast. I was famished. I had things to be done today. The barn will need to be ready soon. The owner wants to move cattle and a few horses out here. The barn is a priority. Anna joins me in the barn after the kitchen is cleaned up. The two of us make some good progress and Lily runs around exploring and playing. I keep lookin' up at the haymow with already fond memories.
Anna says.
"Keep your mind on the job. Time for that later."
And she adds a giggle.
The work is hard and plentiful. I can't remember ever being happier.
The barn gets to be in shape. The corral needs a little attention too. Anna makes us all some lunch. As soon as that is finished, its back to work. I intend to make good on my word to the owner. The barn and outbuilding have some old tools here and there. They ain't nothin' fancy but they work. Knock off some of the rust or give it an edge and they're fine. I even found an old grinding wheel. The wood will need to be replaced. A couple of pitchforks, some shovels and there were even a few old oil lamps in the outbuildings. They will be useful.
By the time the end of the day was around, Anna and I was powerful dirty. I had rigged up an outside shower for now. At least until the inside was done. We both cleaned up and headed in to relax and make some supper. Anna took great joy in parading around in just a towel for me to see. Lily had played and run around all day. She was bushed. I don't know that she's ever had this much room to run. I will have to return to work tomorrow. Anna was going to stay on at the house to clean and work. No more café work for her. She was looking forward to being a mom and stay-at-home spouse. Wife, I like the sound of that.
We three settle down to a simple dinner. The refrigerator is old but works okay. It will be an early morning for us. Lily is cleaned up and changed for bed. Anna and I follow not long after. Hopefully, Lily's bedroom furniture comes in soon. But this is okay for now. It is a good night's sleep. A little different being out here. A different kind of quiet. Out here you can hear the wildlife. It was a good sleep.
I felt Anna get out of bed early. She was gonna fire up the wood stove and make us breakfast and coffee. Now I could have slept, but I didn't. Anna got some help with all that. Lily, however, slumbered on.
Anna and I sat with coffee. She speaks.
"Sugar, I got a list of things we could use from town. Could you check on Lily's bedroom? Then I got a grocery list."
I take a quick glance.
"Yeah, I can do this."
It then occurs to me that she has no transportation if I have the truck. Really, I don't need the truck if I have a horse out here. Then Anna can have the truck all day. I will get this all worked out. Lily plods out and the three of us eat. It's time for me to leave. I am followed on to the porch by my two girls.
I stop, turn, and speak.
"Come here you two."
Hugs and kisses for both my girls. Just as I'm gettin' into the truck, Anna asks.
"You got a rifle in there?"
For an answer, I pull out an old Winchester. It works well and is accurate.
I ask.
"You know how to use this?"
Anna takes it from my hands, sees that it is loaded and speaks.
"You see the hanging limb?"
She brings up the rifle, aims, and a tree branch falls about seventy-five yards away.
I speak.
"Well, I guess you can."
Anna answers.
"Dad taught me to shoot."
So, I leave the rifle with Anna and a couple boxes of shells.
Work is busy for a Monday. Lots to do. Riding fence lines, making repairs and keeping an eye on cattle and anything else that might pop up. I figure I'll have lunch with my girls. Instead of the truck, I ride a horse and take another with me. There are also all the necessary items to care for a horse properly. Anna wasn't expecting me for lunch. So, this was a pleasant surprise. She and Lily had been doing more house cleaning and repairs. The place was shaping up. Anna had sun tea ready and everything. Lily and I put the extra horse in the barn and make sure she has all she needs. Lunch is ready. We eat as a family. Then I get ready to mount up and head back out. I remind Anna I will be a little late because of going into town with her list.
Just before I get up on the horse, Anna comes to me and speaks.
"You hurry home Sugar. I'll be waitin'."
The afternoon went by quickly. I made my way into town. Lily's bedroom furniture was ready and loaded. Then Anna's want list. It consisted of seeds and other garden items. Seems a garden was in our future. It was a bit late in the season for this, but I wasn't going to tell her that. Then the grocery store. Lots of staple items, stuff you only buy now and again. I've never set up housekeeping before. It was all new to me. But I trusted Anna.