She turns abruptly and reaches behind her, pretending to move a bushel of apples around. The stand is busy and sweat trickles slowly down her spine from the oppressive heat of the day.
"Kate, hurry up, we're busy." Her father whispers harshly just behind her. She nods and slowly turns around, avoiding eye contact with the tall man who just walked up to the stand. She can feel him watching her and swallows, averting her eyes while she smiles and talks with another customer. She prays that her father is the one to help Elijah and she won't have to talk to him, stuttering and blushing her way through the interaction like she always does. Lately, his attention always unsettles her and turns her into a sheepish stuttering mess.
She finishes with Mr. Willis, a regular to the stand, and the next woman steps up, bringing Elijah and his heavy gaze one step closer. She flicks her eyes up to his face and his dark green eyes that watch her so closely. Her eyes skitter away, cheeks pinking.
A few feet away, the tall, broad man grins, observing the small, sweet woman before him. Her little frame is held up by a body made strong by working on her family's farm and orchard. A fact that makes him sure she will do well by marrying him and coming to live with him on his own farm. He straightens his back, thinking of this beautiful woman becoming his wife. Her skirts swirl around her as she travels back and forth amongst the stand, filling baskets with apples and handing them over to each customer, smiling brightly. Her father is still busy with a customer and the woman in front of him finishes with her transaction, leaving him to take the hat from his head and step up to the counter. Kate stares up at him with her large brown eyes, looking nervous but still giving him a gentle smile.
"Good morning, sir." She says softly, greeting him like any other customer.
"Ma'am." He replies, dipping his head toward her.
"How much can I get for you today, Elijah?" She asks him, her voice quivering ever so slightly over his name. He grins at the pleasure that runs through him hearing her speak his name.
"I'll take a bushel, please." He says, his deep timber making Kate's heart thump. She nods once and turns to start filling his bushel with the shiny red fruit. "Will you be at the barn dance tomorrow?" He asks her, twisting the rim of his brown hat in his hands.
She tosses the response casually over her shoulder to him. "I'm not sure, it depends on if I get my chores done in time."
"Well, I hope to see you there. Will you save a dance for me if you're able to make it?" He asks, grinning. She glances back at him, her eyes slipping quickly away from his. Her skittish behavior making him chuckle quietly while he takes in the back of her neck and her fine form. She's busty but thin at the waist, with wide hips that are covered by the layers of her breathable cotton skirts. He can only imagine the way she would feel in his arms, not to mention the way she would feel amongst the sheets of his bed. He swallows, bringing himself back in line and away from these dangerous thoughts.
"I make no promises. What if my ankle is sore tomorrow?" She asks, avoiding making commitments to the large man behind her. She finishes with the basket, picking it up and turning to the counter with it.
He laughs, "Your ankle?" He asks, his cheek dimpling and his broad smile shining. "Do you plan to twist it between now and tomorrow evening?" He asks.
"You never know what may happen." Is all she says. "Your apples." She pats the bushel and pushes it gently forward. "It'll be ten cents today."
His grin remains, but he watches her closely and says quietly. "You know that I want to marry you, Kate." Her face falls in surprise, her eyes shooting to his as she laughs anxiously. "You know that I do."
Stunned, her mouth drops open for a moment. "With your eyes you may have tried to convey your feelings, but never with your words." She says, placing both hands on the edge of the wooden counter to steady herself. She glances nervously around them, embarrassed that anyone might hear them speaking about this. The women of the community would have a hay day to overhear such a juicy bit of gossip.
He continues grinning at her, "You're right. It was my mistake to think I might win you with mere longing glances." He jokes, chuckling deeply. She huffs a laugh, her brows drawing. He digs in his pocket and brings out a handful of change, holding out his hand with the necessary amount. He waits until she offers her own hand, her soft palm opened to him. He draws his over top of hers slowly, letting his knuckles drag ever so slightly against the tender skin, then turning his wrist and letting the coins clink into her palm. He passes his fingertips over hers as he withdrawals his hand and she draws a sharp breath, glancing up at him with round brown eyes. Her hand closes over the money but she remains frozen, swallowing hard.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Kate." He says gently. She nods, dazed, her hand tingling where he touched her. Elijah tips his hat back onto his head and carries his bushel contentedly away, oblivious to the chaos that has begun to ensue within the woman he left stunned at the counter.
Kate swallows thickly and tries to get her head back on straight. It's too busy a day to not be focused on her work. Had Elijah ever been so straight-forward with her? Such words and promises of marriage are not taken lightly and she knows he's completely serious. He's been far too interested in her to speak like that and not mean it. He's not a cruel man. She flashes a look quickly to her father. If he heard his speech, he would surely consider her engaged now.
The day dragged, the heat only making it that much slower. Kate returned to the farm with her father late in the afternoon, both exhausted, but with too many chores left to take much of a break.
She sits with her mother at the small table in the kitchen, nibbling on a piece of buttered toast while her mother shells peas beside her.
"Ma..." Kate begins, trying to find the right words without giving too much away. There is still too much she is unsure of. "If a man were ever interested in me...should I...well, should I encourage it?" Her mother looks over at her slyly and grins.
"Are you asking because someone has shown interest, dear?" Her mother asks.
