Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides Book #3): A Novel (10 page)

After a hasty lunch of leftover soup, Edward watched Anna hurry through the dishes. “We could’ve gone to Ella’s after church if it hadn’t been for that blasted cat,” he grumbled as he glanced over by the fireplace where the cat lay sleeping. This was not how he’d planned to spend his Sunday afternoon. He envisioned they’d read the
Rocky Mountain News
after lunch, then perhaps snuggle together on the couch and . . .

“I’m sorry, Edward, but as you can see this tiny one needs some tender care.” She frowned as she lifted the kitten from a quilt she’d folded into a bed and smoothed the animal’s matted fur. “Do you have a pair of scissors handy, Edward? I think I’ll have to cut a few of these mats out before I can brush her . . . at least I believe it’s a ‘her,’” she said, flipping the wailing kitty over and staring hard.

Edward peered over her shoulder. “Great, a female cat. I hope you understand you’re not going to keep her, Anna.” He retrieved the scissors from the cabinet drawer. “You hold her and I’ll snip.”

Anna’s eyes grew wide. “Be careful not to nip her skin. There’s only a couple mats, then I’ll give her some warm milk.”

Her eyes filled with tears, wetting her thick lashes. He knew Anna had a tender heart after he’d watched her gaze at the scrawny thing. What was he going to do with her? But seeing the empathy mirrored in her eyes struck a chord in his heart. There was nothing wrong with having a tender heart, though he didn’t want a house overrun with animals.

He sighed deeply. “That should do it,” he said, finishing with the scissors and laying them aside. He brushed off the flying cat hair that had landed on his shirt. “This is why I don’t care for pets in the house.”

Anna poured warm milk into a small bowl and set it in front of the kitten, who was almost too weak to stand. Anna cooed to the kitten and touched her finger to the milk, then to the kitten’s nose, urging her to taste it. The kitten blinked, flicked her pink tongue out, and began to quickly lap up the offered meal. A smile flashed across Anna’s face, and Edward had to smile too.

“I’m going to wipe her down with warm soapy water to remove the dirt and grime. By then she’ll be happy to lie in her little bed.” Anna touched Edward’s arm. “Oh! I forgot to feed Moose and Baby. Would you mind, Edward?”

Edward’s arm tingled where her fingers had touched him, and he grabbed hold of her hand, pulling her to him. “If you promise to make those apple dumplings,” he teased.

Anna put her arms around his neck. “I think I can be persuaded, unless you prefer a different type of dessert . . .”

Edward touched her lips with his fingers. “Well, you little minx . . . I won’t be long. Hurry with the cat.”

She threw him a coy half smile. “I’m not going anyplace.”

His heart began thumping hard as he watched her skip back over to the kitten, whose full tummy pooched out. He hurried out to feed the dogs what was left of the soup. As
he was filling their bowls while they danced around his legs yapping with glee, he drew up short and thought about what he was doing.

How in the world had he let Anna wind him around her finger this way? She’d almost made him forget what he’d said about having pets in the first place. Just look at him—running out to feed
her
dogs while she attended to
her
waif of a sick-looking kitten whose hair shed all over him and most likely the kitchen as well.

When he was finished filling the bowls, he gave both dogs a pat on the head. Well, he’d just have to set her straight but avoid looking into her pretty little face. That’s what always got him into trouble, causing him to drop his usual reserve. The cat would have to go tomorrow!

The kitten leapt around the kitchen like a cricket, exploring every corner. Anna found an old cloth after she heated water for the kitten’s bath. From the looks of it, she was a calico, a pretty white one with black and orange spots. Her nose had a black splotch that appeared to be dirt but, after closer inspection, turned out to be a marking in her fur.

“You’re adorable, missy, with that black smudge,” she said, tapping the kitten’s nose with the end of her finger. The kitten nipped at her fingers with her tiny teeth, and Anna laughed and moved her hand from side to side playfully as the kitten tried to grab hold.

“I think I’ll call you Cricket since you resemble a cricket leaping from place to place.” She scooped up the kitten and, sitting down in the chair at the table, dipped her cloth into the warm water to begin wiping the kitten’s eyes clean. At first Cricket flinched, but Anna’s touch was soothing and she
was able to wipe all the fur down. Afterward she dried and buffed the kitten’s long hair with a towel.

“This has to be the fastest bath in history, because you’re no bigger than a mite!” she told the kitten.

It was at this point that Edward strode back into the kitchen, not smiling as he had when he’d left. He paused as if to say something then looked as though he thought better of it.

“Look.” Anna held the kitty up. “Isn’t she pretty with all these markings? And she’s clean now.” But he only stood with his hands in his pockets. “I’ve decided to name her Cricket. What do you think?
Goed?
” Something was wrong with Edward. Had something happened while he was in the backyard?

“Doesn’t matter since you won’t be keeping her. Look, Anna, I was thinking . . . you can’t continue to bring animals home with you.”

“But you said—”

“Never mind what I said. I had a weak moment. You tend to do that to me.” He folded his arms across his chest.

She wrapped the kitten in a towel and held her close. “I don’t understand.”

“For one thing, I don’t like cat hair floating in the air.”

“Okay. I’ll keep her combed and will dust every day.”

“I don’t like having the dogs inside because they run all over the house and get into mischief.”

“I promise to keep them on the porches or in the yard.”

He paused, his jaw set in a firm line. “I don’t like the excrement they leave in the backyard. It causes flies, and that’s not sanitary.”

“I’ll pick it up and discard it, and I promise to keep the yard clean of the mess.”

“And . . . I don’t like sharing
you
with them.” His eyes became steel-gray points as they honed in on hers.

Aha! Now she was beginning to get to the root of the problem. He was jealous of her time spent with them.
My goodness!
Would he be this way if they were to have a baby?

“I see . . . Then I’m very sorry I disobeyed your rules. I wanted to help Moose and Cricket escape a worse fate.” As if in response, Cricket purred so loudly that they both could hear her. “You have to admit, she’s a darling little kitty.” Anna stared down at the kitten perfectly content to sleep in the towel in her arms. “As soon as I get more nutrients into her, she’ll fill out and I can find a home for her.”

“Tomorrow.” His answer was firm. “She looks content enough. She’s warm, fed, and bathed. That’s hardly what most street urchins receive.”

Anna stroked Cricket’s back. “Edward, did you even listen to the reverend’s sermon today?”

“Of course I did.” He turned at the kitchen doorway to face her with a scowl. “Why?”

“The reverend said we are to care for animals as well as our fellow man,” she said softly, not wanting to sound like it was a reprimand.

Edward pursed his lips. “That doesn’t mean you personally have to start caring for every stray one that crosses your path.”

“But what if I feel I must in my heart? What then?” She eyed him with a level gaze.

He drew in a deep breath. “I’m not sure. I’ll have to consider that. But now I’m going to go read the newspaper.”

Cricket purred, burrowing against Anna contentedly. Anna felt her husband’s displeasure and blinked back tears. She thought that when he’d allowed Baby to stay, they’d agreed that the house belonged to both of them. Could it be a reminder was needed again? Perhaps she needed to give him more of her undivided attention.

She bent down and tucked the kitty into the bed. She was already looking healthier with clean fur. Anna removed her apron, smoothed her hair back in place, and unbuttoned the top button of her crisp blouse. She needed to spend time with her husband.

Edward lowered the paper when he heard Anna enter the room. He hadn’t been able to read the first line with all the angst he was feeling about the dilemma with the pets. He realized it was her nature to have such empathy, but he wanted a wife who spent her free time with him. Not three animals. The sooner she got rid of the kitten, the better.

“Cricket is fast asleep. Thank you for feeding the dogs for me. I appreciate it.” She sat down next to him on the couch, her hip touching his, and he felt warmth spread down his leg.

He laid the newspaper aside. “I didn’t mind. But Anna, you really must find a home for the kitten in the next couple of days.” He shifted to better see her face, and his eyes slid down to the narrow V at the top of her blouse, exposing the graceful curve of her neck as her chest rose and fell gently.

“I know. You told me. Do you remember what you said when you changed your mind about me keeping Baby?”

He groaned and rolled his eyes, knowing full well what he’d said.

“I’ve been thinking . . . until I can find homes for Moose and the kitten, what if I had a small area in the barn to put them in for part of the day?”

He looked at her sweet face full of hope. She reached out and ran her fingers lightly along the back of his neck where his hair curled, stroking it gently. He felt instant desire flash through him, and he had to control where his thoughts were taking him.

“There’s not much space in the barn—” he began.

She leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. “Would you at least think about it, please? It’d only be for a short time, I promise.”

The sweet fragrance of her hair tickled his nostrils, and he longed to remove the hairpins and run his fingers through the silkiness of it. “You hardly know anyone around here, so how do you intend to find them homes?”

“I’ll figure something out.” She lifted her head, then kissed him sweetly on the mouth. “How about we take a walk?”

That was not what he had in mind, but at least he would be with her. “Okay.”

She took his hand and rose. In the hallway, still holding her hand, he started for the front door, but she pulled him in the other direction. “Not that way—I meant a walk to the bedroom.” Anna’s lips tilted into a delicious, tempting smile.

His legs almost folded like gold chains at the end of a watch fob when she gave him that kind of look, but he was only too happy to follow her upstairs to their bedroom, where the afternoon sun slanted warmly across their bed.

The snow was nothing more than a memory Monday morning, melted by the brilliant sun and dripping off the roof by the time Anna stepped out to do her marketing. She breathed deeply of the invigorating, fragrant air and sauntered down the sidewalk, happily humming to herself. She didn’t mind the chill, and as long as the sun shone, she was in good spirits.

After she’d fed the animals, she’d added a paintbrush and a tube or two of paint to her shopping list. Then she picked up the wicker basket and went to tell Edward she was leaving. She peeked into his work area to kiss him goodbye, but grew puzzled when he quickly hid something under a muslin cloth and had a peculiar expression on his face. He probably thought she would break something he was working on
again
, or he was going over his list. Soon she planned to tear her list in half, and he’d be glad to get rid of his too.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed by her the night before that just after he’d left her breathless from his kisses, he’d removed his trousers and shirt, then carefully and deliberately folded each piece and draped them over the back of a chair before climbing into bed. Goodness! If he chose to do that every time, she might be fast asleep by the time he finished. Why,
he’d even made sure the sheets were tucked back in place properly this morning when she was making the bed.

She smiled. That was just part of who Edward was, and there was no hurrying him or changing him.
Mmm, I wonder . . .

The market was a few blocks away, and the walk would do her good as she planned what to buy. Her thoughts kept straying back to last night. She loved being held in the curve of Edward’s arm after they’d doused the lights. A satisfying ending to a perfect, lazy Sunday. There had been no more mention of using the barn for the dogs, but she was worried about them when winter set in—although, if Edward had his way, Moose and Cricket would be gone.

A voice behind her called out, and she turned around. “Anna, wait for me.” Callie scurried up the sidewalk to Anna, her shoes tapping out a sharp staccato.

“Good morning, Callie.”

“Morning.” Callie paused a moment to catch her breath. “I saw you and thought we could walk together. I was on my way to pick up a few things at the mercantile.”

“That would be lovely. I’m about to do the same.”

“I saw you leave church early yesterday. What in the world were you doing with a cat in the sanctuary?” Callie asked. She and Anna fell into step together and proceeded down the sidewalk.

Anna giggled. “It seemed the kitten found me.” She related how the cat got tangled under her skirts.

“So what did you do with the kitten? I’ll bet Edward was none too happy.” Callie grinned at her.

“You’ve got that right. But let’s just say with some friendly persuasion, I was able to take her home and get her cleaned up. But the worst part is that I’d already rescued an old dog
earlier. I’ll tell you all about that later. Maybe we could have tea after we complete our shopping?”

Callie hooked her arm through Anna’s. “Sounds like a perfectly good idea to me.”

Edward placed the mother-of-pearl watch face and clasp he was working on inside a piece of soft chamois, slid it into his jeweler’s case, and locked it. He felt like he could conquer the world after the wonderful evening spent with his sweet wife. She never ceased to amaze him. She had a certain childlike quality but became very much a woman when she was in his arms. The effect she had on him was astonishing, but it was good. It was hard to say no to her, and he found himself taking a walk out to the barn to consider allowing her a small area to pen Baby and Moose—and Cricket, though he hoped not for long.

Cricket! What a funny but appropriate name for the kitten. Only Anna could come up with something like that.

Cloud, his dappled gray horse, greeted his owner with a snort as he walked past. Edward patted him on the neck and held out a carrot for the horse to gobble down. “I’ll turn you out to have a little freedom here in a minute. Most of the snow’s gone and you’ll be fine,” he said to his horse as though he were a friend.

He guessed his feelings about Cloud weren’t much different from how Anna felt about Baby. Now that was a switch in thinking for him. A horse you needed, but a dog? Then he remembered how badly he’d wanted one as a child. His father had told him to put such foolish notions out of his head. He snuffed out the vision of his father sprawled out in a drunken stupor on the couch as quickly as if he were
dousing a fire. It was best to put it behind him, but it wasn’t an easy thing to do.

Edward shuffled over to the other side of the barn. He reckoned it was feasible to section off a small spot, but he didn’t want to tell Anna just yet. He didn’t want her to think he gave in too quickly. Maybe he could pick up some wire after he stopped by the bank today. He lifted the latch from the stall and led Cloud outdoors, then headed back inside.

Edward was busy with his regular customers and the morning flew past quickly. He had a meeting with Waldo Krunk at the bank, so he flipped the sign on his shop door from O
PEN
to B
ACK
S
OON
and turned the key, knowing Anna wouldn’t be back until later.

Callie suggested they have tea at the Red Rose after they completed their marketing since it was just across the street.

“Then I shall have to get back home,” Anna said. Both of them left their purchases to be picked up on their way back.

“What’s your hurry, Anna? It’s not like you have children at home that need looking after.”

Anna felt her face warm. “At least not yet.”

“How I’d love to have that to look forward to,” Callie said as the waitress seated them at a table near the window.

Anna stared at her friend as she spread her napkin in her lap. “Callie, don’t you have a beau? A woman like you should be inundated with marriage proposals.” Anna meant it. She enjoyed Callie’s easy, friendly manner, but she also gave Anna a sense of calm and centeredness.

“There have been a few, but I think they’re only after the money that my father left me.” Then she chuckled. “If only they knew . . .”

“Knew what?” Anna pressed.

Callie sighed. “Truly, most of the money is gone. In fact, I’ve considered selling the house, but I’m not sure where I’d go if I did. The only job I’ve ever had was keeping the books for my father’s law practice, and it’s hard to get someone to hire a woman in such an environment. Besides, jobs are scarce.”

The waitress brought a teapot of fine rose porcelain and placed it on the table along with their cups. “Will there be anything else, ladies?”

“That will be all, thank you.” Anna smiled up at the waitress, who bobbed her head at them and then scurried away to her next customer.

Callie poured their tea while Anna thought of what to say. “I don’t want you to leave, Callie. We’ve just become friends. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to the money?”

“I don’t mind. My father was generous to a fault. He had a tender heart and was always lending money to friends, never expecting them to repay, and so they didn’t.”

Anna stirred sugar into her cup of tea. “That’s really not a fault, though. It sounds to me like he was tenderhearted. Better that he was generous than a tightwad, as long as his own family was cared for,” she said. The noise of the restaurant patrons faded into the background as she focused her attention on her friend’s earnest face.

Callie nodded. “Oh yes, of course he took care of us, but people took advantage of his kindness. The house is paid for, but it requires a lot of maintenance. Most of which I’m not able to do.”

“I wish I could be of help, Callie. Oh! I just had a thought. Have you ever considered renting out a room or two? It’s a large house.”

“No, not really. I’ll give it some thought, though. Now
enough about me, I want to hear all about married life. Is it wonderful?” Callie’s eyes sparkled.

Anna laughed. “Yes, it is quite wonderful . . . at least for the most part.”

“You seemed inseparable at the rodeo when I caught a glimpse of you,” Callie teased. “Are you implying not every aspect is great?”

Anna ran her finger around the rim of her teacup thoughtfully before answering. “It’s just that Edward and I are different personalities, though we do care deeply for one another. He’s just so . . . so . . .”

Callie raised an eyebrow. “Particular?”

Anna laughed again. “How did you know?”

“We grew up together, remember? Edward’s a good man, but he doesn’t like anything in his world out of order. Correct?”

“Exactly. We got off to a bad start the very first day when he handed me a list.”

“A list?” Callie’s eyes widened. “A list of what?”

Anna shrugged. “You know. Things I was to accomplish each day. Like washing, cooking, cleaning—”

“Are you serious?” When Anna nodded, Callie continued, “Ridiculous. Yes, those things must be done in every household, but one certainly doesn’t hand it to his new bride!”

“He did. But then I’m not perfect either. I didn’t tell him about Baby, my dog, until she arrived at the door. And since then I’ve rescued another dog and that kitten at church.”

“Do tell. I can’t imagine Edward giving in to that at all. He’s too fastidious,” she said with a grin.

Anna told her how Moose protected her and how she persuaded Edward to let him stay for the time being—and Cricket too. “Oh, we butted heads a bit . . . but the making up was
grand.” Anna thought back to Edward’s gentle touch and warmth filled her heart. “I admit, I’d much rather be painting or be outdoors, but I won’t have time for that.”

“I’m sure marriage is give-and-take. My mother always told me to let the man believe that the things he opposed at first, but later agreed to, were his ideas all along.” She giggled. “You’ll just have to find time to do some of the things you like.”

Anna nodded her agreement, then suddenly noticed the restaurant was very full now. She was mildly surprised when she saw Daniel walking in their direction.

“Hello, Anna, Callie.” His rich baritone vibrated from deep within his thick chest. With his striking good looks and muscular frame, he seemed to fill the dining room. Ladies’ heads turned as he walked past, his boots pounding loudly against the hardwood floor.

Callie nodded in greeting.

“Hello, Daniel,” Anna said. “I so enjoyed your performance in the rodeo. I had no idea you were such a wood craftsman
and
a cowboy.”

He laughed good-naturedly. “It’s a side interest. Ever since I was a kid I’ve enjoyed horses, but I enjoy creating with my hands too.”

“And you do that well,” Callie murmured. She lowered her eyes.

Anna noticed a faint tinge of pink in her friend’s cheeks.
So . . . she likes Daniel, but does he know?

“Would you care to join us?” Anna asked.

“Oh, no thanks. I’m here to meet up with my dad today. Just wanted to say hello to two of the prettiest ladies in the room,” he said. His eyes wandered over to Callie, and Anna saw the corners of his mouth give way to a soft smile.

“Ha! I’m not sure about me, but I agree that Callie is a beauty.” Anna knew she was matchmaking, but she couldn’t seem to help herself with the possibility of the two of them courting. “Wouldn’t you say?”

“She is lovely indeed,” Daniel replied.

“Thank you,” Callie said shyly. “You and Anna have something in common—she likes animals too. In fact, Edward has allowed her to have a couple of dogs and a kitten.” Callie repeated what Anna had told her about the pets.

Daniel’s eyes widened, then he slowly turned to Anna. “You must have cast a spell over my friend.” He grinned.

“Hardly that. I convinced him that it’s the humane thing to do,” Anna quipped.

Daniel shifted his weight, moving aside to let a waiter with a heavy tray pass. “I agree with you about that. Maybe you should consider organizing a sort of shelter for forgotten animals.”

“What a wonderful idea.” Anna was thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to Edward first. I’m not sure he’d let me go that far.”

Callie bobbed her head in agreement. “I wouldn’t press my luck just yet.”

“Oh, I have a feeling you can get him to listen to any idea you have, Anna.” Daniel tipped his hat. “I’d best be on my way.”